"The coveted, 'Mark Ellis Reviews' BEST TOILET AWARD"
Mark and Rob are back with another packed episode of Eight or Sixteen! This week, they dive into the best (and weirdest) tech from CES 2025, including Lenovo’s rollable laptops, and a robot vacuum with an Inspector Gadget arm. Mark shares his “Best in Show” highlights, Rob talks WiFi 7 and heated seats, and a bizarre electric salt spoon you didn’t know you needed.
Links
Hotdog vs Chicken: https://bigpotato.co.uk/products/chicken-vs-hotdog?variant=43051952210171
Withings Omnia: https://www.withings.com/uk/en/landing/omnia
Saros Z70 robot vacuum with an Inspector Gadget arm: https://global.roborock.com/pages/roborock-saros-z70
Latest effort from Amagami Ham Ham creators Mirumi: https://www.ux-xu.com/news/ces2025_1
Also Nékojita FuFu: https://www.ux-xu.com/news/ces2025_2 Electric Salt Spoon: https://www.kirinholdings.com/en/newsroom/release/2024/0520_01.html
LG 45” 2160P 21:9 Ultrawide display: https://www.lg.com/uk/monitors/gaming/45gr95qe-b/
Jeff Beck guitar auction viewings until 22nd January (scroll down for the virtual tour): https://www.christies.com/en/events/jeff-beck-the-guitar-collection/what-is-on#exhibition
Razer Project Arielle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8grHBWtgjDQ
M4 Mac mini CNC aluminium case: https://zeerawireless.com/products/zeera-macforge-gen2-cnc-aluminum-case-for-2024-mac-mini-m4
MacPaw Eney AI automation a la what Rabbit said they could do, but for Mac (and might actually work): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWmvO25o6pw
Web-based Eney simulation: https://macpaw.com/eney-waiting-list
ShiftCam Planck 2TB external SSD: https://prelaunch.com/projects/planck-ssd-powerful-storage-hidden-in-your-palm-planck-ssd-powerful-storage-hidden-in-your-palm
DJI Flip drone: https://www.dji.com/uk/flip Nintendo Lego Gameboy troll announcement: https://x.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1877400996462166302
Nintendo Switch 2 trailer launched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itpcsQQvgAQ
InCase “Designed by Microsoft” collection: https://www.incase.com/collections/productivity-accessories
Klack mechanical keyboard simulator app: https://tryklack.com
If you'd like to get in touch with Rob and Mark, you can email them at [email protected].
Eight or Sixteen is a Mark Ellis Media Limited production: https://markellisreviews.com
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59:29
“Demise of the stovetop”
In this episode, Mark and Rob reflect on an eventful 2024, covering everything from travel highlights and their favourite tech purchases to the biggest disappointments of the year. Rob shares his hands-on experience with OneUI 7 Beta, Samsung’s latest innovations, and his new tech toys, while Mark looks back on standout reviews and missed opportunities. Plus, a look ahead at what 2025 might bring, including Apple’s rumored HomePod with a display, Nintendo’s Switch 2, and Samsung’s S25 Ultra.
Links
BookCase by Astropad: https://geni.us/bdfZ
Google/Samsung XR headset - basically Android Vision Pro: https://geni.us/0GRPiR
ResMed $120 Vision Pro Kontor strap with counterweights: https://geni.us/vhV9
Flow Launcher (basically Raycast for Windows): https://geni.us/x3Sj
Official Raycast for Windows waitlist: https://geni.us/THo236T
Festivitas app - Christmasify your Mac: https://geni.us/hRS16r
If you'd like to get in touch with Rob and Mark, you can email them at [email protected].
Eight or Sixteen is a Mark Ellis Media Limited production: https://markellisreviews.com
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1:07:27
"Apologies to Andy McBain!"
Join Mark and Rob for another episode of the Eight or Sixteen podcast and more tech ramblings. From starting to talk about Christmas decorations, to an interesting song about a duck and some grapes, just your typical Eight or Sixteen podcast!
And a personal apologies from Niall to Andy McBain, for the incorrect scheduling....
➡️ Ghost newsletter/publishing platform: https://geni.us/FZtkm8
➡️ Aqara U200 Smart Lock https://geni.us/TcNIK
➡️ Govee Christmas Tree Lights: https://geni.us/e7fZY
➡️ Aqara FP2 presence sensors: https://geni.us/j0PFw
➡️ Philips Sonicare 9900 toothbrush with USB-C charging case: https://geni.us/kXJyBWH
➡️ Suri alternative toothbrush: https://geni.us/35D0qUP
➡️ Smart water bottle: https://geni.us/7DqK9
➡️ Upright Posture gadget: https://geni.us/bYVBD
➡️ Withings U-Scan wee analyser: https://geni.us/pb4HR
➡️ iCloud passwords extension for Firefox: https://geni.us/wjzxQ3
➡️ Wallace and Gromit video shot on iPhone and projected 300-foot high onto Battersea Power Station: https://geni.us/2j3hk
➡️ Apple Christmas Advert: https://geni.us/lXv8E
➡️ M4 Mac mini so small you can fit it in the base of a G4 iMac, as Chance Miller of 9to5Mac has done: https://geni.us/CAILA
➡️ Satechi M4 Mac mini dock: https://geni.us/je6y
➡️ M4 Mac mini adornments: https://geni.us/FO3Mj
➡️ M4 Mac mini Power Mac G3 case: https://geni.us/pOwQ
➡️ Christian Selig’s M4 Mac mini-shaped desk ornaments: https://geni.us/TrH4E5
➡️ Microsoft Windows 365 Link thin client for their Cloud PC service: https://geni.us/IAzsIc3
➡️ Put Windows on your face: https://geni.us/cGvy
➡️ This Is An Xbox campaign: https://geni.us/7SJRKbA
➡️ One UI 7 beta started rolling out today: https://geni.us/L4JJjm
➡️ The Verge subscription - $7 a month or $50 a year: https://geni.us/njr2vai
➡️ Delicious Library: https://geni.us/aklsT
➡️ TinyPod: https://geni.us/XszRc
➡️ Astropod BookCase: https://geni.us/C9RqKf4
➡️ Free alternative for Bartender macOS app: https://geni.us/AZWhZcc
➡️ EE’s WiFi 7 offering - included in 1.6Gb/s plan, or £10 a month on lower tiers: https://geni.us/t4By
➡️ The Duck Song: https://geni.us/JwFKcun
➡️ The Duck Song official plush you can’t buy (but there are knockoffs on eBay): https://geni.us/oo7SbCR
If you'd like to get in touch with Rob and Mark, you can email them at [email protected].
Eight or Sixteen is a Mark Ellis Media Limited production: https://markellisreviews.com
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1:03:04
"Marques has been a naughty boy"
In this episode Mark and Rob dive into the power-packed M4 Mac mini, questioning whether its upgrades are worth the price, and the surprising 3D-printed Mac Pro case that’s making waves. They explore the Oppo Find X8 Pro, growing BlueSky exodus numbers, and why AppleCare+ refunds are suddenly popping up. Plus, Rob’s accidental car purchase, frustration with smart locks, and the return of a quirky Casio gadget!
Links
➡️ 3D Printed Mac Pro case for M4 Mac mini: https://geni.us/BK2qETK
➡️ Jeff Beck guitar auction: https://geni.us/SIzmBA
➡️ Spatialify app to convert iPhone Spatial Videos for playback on Meta Quest: https://geni.us/xP1EM4Z
➡️ Pixelmator bought by Apple: https://geni.us/3ce9V
➡️ Croissant app - crosspost to Threads, Mastodon, Bluesky: https://geni.us/eDqgAve
➡️ Aqara U200 Smart Lock with HomeKey support that fits UK doors: https://geni.us/MlCOI
➡️ Nuki Ultra smart lock just announced - but no HomeKey support: https://geni.us/Zclwann
➡️ Apparently the TinyPod is rubbish according to two-dimensional David on YouTube: https://geni.us/hpwiPTv
➡️ TinyPod: https://geni.us/0jpqdS1
➡️ Whack a tiny Casio Digital Watch on your finger - Casio Smart Ring: https://geni.us/0TkSI
➡️ Or get a massive one: https://geni.us/sp7se
If you'd like to get in touch with Rob and Mark, you can email them at [email protected].
Eight or Sixteen is a Mark Ellis Media Limited production: https://markellisreviews.com.
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1:02:03
“Life is too short for dangly straps”
Join Rob and Mark for more tech waffling and meandering down limitless cultural cul-de-sacs!
If you'd like to get in touch with Rob and Mark, you can email them at [email protected].
Eight or Sixteen is a Mark Ellis Media Limited production: https://markellisreviews.com
Netherlands