PODCAST · technology
Close to the Metal
by Digital Trends
Close to the Metal is a podcast from Digital Trends that focuses on the geekier side of life. It tackles the topics PC enthusiasts argue over in language everyone can understand. Please subscribe, share, and send your questions to [email protected]. We broadcast the show live on YouTube every Wednesday at 1pm EST/10am PST.
Episodes
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Destiny 2 on PC, VR headsets, IFA news, Skip Ahead
We cover a few topics on this episode, including the impending release of Destiny 2 and which platform is receiving the most interest. We'll also give a Windows Mixed Reality roundup and which companies are producing headsets for the platform. IFA has had some pretty great releases for Quad-Core...
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Windows Mixed Reality isn't so mixed
Microsoft has announced their overall platform for AR and VR, called Windows Mixed Reality. It will come native to the Windows 10 Creators Update and a slew of manufacturers are already working on compatible hardware. Compared to Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive, it's a lower end platform, but could…
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AMD's return to form with Vega and Ryzen
AMD has been going all out recently, with the launch of both Threadripper and the AMD Radeon RX Vega video cards. We'll cover the benefits of Threadripper, how it compares to Intel and the competition and whether or not you should pick one up. For the Vega video cards, they have taken a swipe at...
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We talk back-to-school PCs
With school just around the corner, we discuss the best in laptops, PCs and tablets that are available at a fairly reasonable price. In addition we cover the benefits of the Macbook Pro and what kind of hardware will be essential for the year.
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AMD's Threadripper and Vega
AMD has made a big push to take on all competitors, with the release of the new Threadripper CPUs and Vega RX GPUs. We'll go over the announcements that were made, the details of the chips themselves and how they compare to the competitors.
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How well does your system run 'Playerunknown's Battlegrounds'?
Playerunknown's Battlegrounds has taken the PC gaming world by storm. It's a ton of fun and today we'll go through some of the different ways to make sure it runs at an optimum level on your computer. Throughout the show, we'll also take listener/viewer questions.
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Build your own gaming desktop, or let someone else do it?
So, you're in the market for a Gaming PC. The question is, do you buy one off of the shelf, have one built by a boutique company, or build it yourself? There are pros and cons of each and today we'll tackle all of them. We also take questions live on Facebook and YouTube. You can always send in...
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A Breaking Point For Bitcoin
Cryptocurreny has been a big topic over the last few weeks and for good reason. In addition to Bitcoin and the numerous other currencies out there, Ethereum has been shaking up the market. This has been having a direct effect on actual products, such as the sky-rocketing prices of GPUs. What does...
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The Surface Laptop is in the building
Microsoft finally has a true laptop and today we'll go over it's pros and cons. Windows 10 S is sure to be one of the biggest issues in making a decision to purchase it. Would you purchase a laptop that cannot use Chrome? We also detail the inside workings and the outside, with the surprisingly...
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A PC perspective on E3 2017
Matt Smith and Brad Bourque just returned from E3 in LA and we discuss the PC announcements from the event. From favorite games, to what the big companies had to announce, we cover everything from that angle. Also, we had to touch on the Xbox One X and whether it's evolution is groundbreaking and...
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How close is MacOS to Apple's Core?
With Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference in full swing, we take a look at what they have specifically announced in their line of computers. MacOS seems to be largely neglected, minus some seemingly minor updates. However, the iMac Pro is a high-end machine, but at $5000 is out of most…
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Computex 2017 reignites the fight between AMD and Intel
The annual Computex show is under way in Taiwan, featuring the latest in computing hardware. We'll cover some of the big announcements, including Intel's new answer to AMD with the Core-X Series to combat Ryzen. AMD also has made a jump and is the primary processor and GPU option for 3 new Dell...
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New 2-in-1s breach the surface, but are any winners?
There are new 2-in-1's rolling out today, Microsoft's Surface Pro and Samsung's Galaxy Book. the new (revised) Surface Pro is the latest addition to the Surface line of products. 2-in-1's have proven difficult to master, but Microsoft has consistently shown improvement through various iterations....
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If you build it, will they come?
With Microsoft Build officially over, we take a look at some of what was revealed. New motion controllers for Mixed Reality and perhaps new systems, may open up a bigger gateway for general users to start using VR. Also, the Windows 10 Fall Creator's Update will have some major updates. Timeline...
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Batten the hatches, your system is under siege
Security has had a prime spot in the limelight lately. With the Google Docs hacking situation, Intel's massive issue with their vPro Processors and finally Project Zero's revelation regarding Windows Defender. We'll go through the details of each one and let you know what you can do to protect...
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Microsoft Surface Laptop and Windows 10 S
Microsoft made the big announcement of their new product, the Surface Laptop today. We'll cover what the features are, pricing, what to expect and much more, all while answering live viewer's questions. We'll also cover the new version of Windows, Windows 10 S, who their target market is and...
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The Optane Difference
Intel has produced a consumer-level product for their new Optane Memory line, but is it something you'll actually use? We'll cover what uses this new memory has, who it's designed for and what options are available. Will it help in gaming, or actually speed up processing on an SSD, in addition to…
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The RX 570 Live Review
We got our hands on the AMD Radeon RX 570 GPU before today's announcement of the new 500 series and gave it a test. Covering why they are launching the new series, we'll detail the specs, the pricing and the competition, all while answering your questions. We'll let you know why you should, or...
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The Ryzen Roundup
AMD is taking aim at Intel's domination of the GPU market with it's line of Ryzen processors. The 5 line is the latest out and we go in depth with what makes the Ryzen 5 1600X such a good deal. In the process, we go however how many cores does one need, whether the Core i7 and Ryzen 7700K are...
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Does the Windows 10 Creators Update live up to its name?
There were many features promised for the Windows 10 Creators Update and we recently received a look at the newest ones that will roll out soon for everyone. We cover the changes in store for Edge, Game Mode, Beam, Paint 3D, interface tweaks and much more. As far as those promises of a…
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Intel's Optane Memory
Intel will be releasing a consumer version of Optane Memory later in April, but is this something you'll want to pick up? We'll discuss who this memory is targeting and whether that market will be able to utilize it. Also, is this a bridge between HDD and SSD, is it a replacement for one of them,...
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We’re not over the moon about Mass Effect: Andromeda
The first release in about 5 years for the franchise, Mass Effect: Andromeda has been receiving fairly scathing reviews. From issues with the game engine, to render scaling, to characters just dong bizarre things, there is a lot to talk about. We'll cover what we know so far and let you know what...
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Quantum Computers are finally landing, but it’s still early
IBM has made clear their ambitions for Quantum computing. The IBM Q is an actual quantum computing machine that could change the way we live our lives. However, it's still a difficult concept to grasp, as that the technology is truly in it's infancy. Today we'll go further in depth with what we...
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Ryzen is here, but is AMD really back?
AMD has released the Ryzen line of CPUs, but should you buy in? We'll go over the details of the release, where the excel, where they lag behind and who this chip is really designed for. How does it compare to Intel's line and how will Intel respond to what AMD is doing? We'll discuss this and...
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Tonight's the Night for New GPUs
It appears we're about to get a new Graphics Card and a new GPU announcement in the same day. Nvidia is most likely releasing the GTX 1080 Ti. AMD is set give out some more details on the upcoming Vega line of GPUs. Today we'll go over what we know, what we're speculating and what to expect with...
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Greenlight is dead, long live Greenlight
The folks at Valve are finally pulling the plug on Steam Greenlight. While there were some success stories, mixed with some annoying non-games that somehow made it through, they are going to a different model with Steam Direct. We're joined by game developer Mo Cohen, who is the programmer…
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For Honor, Windows Game Mode, and the sharp rise in PC Gaming demands
Modern gaming is placing increasingly higher demans on gaming computers. Today we'll take a look at what those higer frame rates mean and how Windows Game Mode is attempting to adjust systems for it. We'll also analyze the newest Ubisoft release, For Honor. It's an incredible game, but what…
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Windows puts its head in the cloud
While we still consider Microsoft's Windows 10 to be our favorite operating system, there is a lot of competition out there. Google's Chrome OS has converted many bargain-PC users to their platform. We got our our hands on a leaked copy of what is currently being called Windows 10 Cloud. It's not...
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The tricky art of building a gaming laptop
Gaming laptops have been one of the few segments of computing that still remain difficult to perfect. Today we'll cover what generally tends to go wrong with them and how those factors effect performance. We'll also touch on the important things to look for when purchasing your new system and...
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Farewell to Microsoft’s Fedora Guy, Hello to Android apps for Chromebooks
We touch on four different subjects hitting the news and also take live questions. Microsoft has laid off 700 people, including the notable presenter Bryan Roper. Microsoft also added an eBook reader to Edge. Google has announced that all new Chromebooks (and many old ones) will now run Android...
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Nintendo Switch fills a gap in PC gaming
The Nintendo Switch has brought a lot of excitement to the gaming world and today we go in depth with the new system. We'll cover what games will be available, how the system works, the advantages of portability and take view questions. For PC Gamers, the Nintendo Switch fills a gap in a way that...
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Oculus Touch Live Review
The wait is over and the Oculus Touch is now available. Matt Smith gives his review of the new controllers for the Oculus Rift, explaining how they work, where they fall short, how they compare to the HTC Vive and much more. We also take your questions live on Facebook and YouTube.
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The best and worst of computing in 2016
Matt and Brad provide everyone one with a list of their Best and Worst in the world of computing for 2016. The key to it is that they don't know what is on each other's lists. Will they agree, or disagree? Did Apple or Microsoft have a good year? Also, what are you Best and Worst for 2016?
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What can you do about a bad console-to-PC port?
'Tis the season to game. The past few months have been packed with high-profile releases, from Battlefield 1 to FIFA 2017. Many of these major games will be available on not only multiple consoles but also the PC. And that...can cause a problem.
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You should buy a monitor this holiday season
Fortunately, this holiday season is a great time to buy a monitor. Prices have dropped drastically across the board, and deals are tending to stick around for awhile, rather than appearing in a quantity of 10 before vanishing to never be seen again. Today we'll go over everything you need to…
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Apple MacBook Pro live review
The wait is over. After four years, Apple has finally updated its MacBook Pro 13 and 15, revising the design to be slimmer, lighter, and more attractive than ever before. We'll cover the design, the keyboard, the touchbar, performance, portability and more.
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Whoa, 2-in-1s are suddenly good
With the Ultrabook initiative successful and behind it, Intel and the PC industry is moving on to the next challenge -- the 2-in-1. This is vague term covers a very wide variety of laptops that can also serve as tablets. Today we'll take a look at where the 2 in 1's are at now and what pros/cons...
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What do you get from a $10 gaming mouse?
Hardcore PC gamers are willing to shell out serious cash on the right peripherals. That includes mice which, in their most extravagant forms, look nothing like the cheap two-button hunk of plastic that ships with most desktops. In this episode, we review the top selling $10 gaming mice from…
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The new MacBook Pro is revealed, but is it fast?
Apple has announced an update for the MacBook Pro 13 and 15, a pair of laptops that went four years without a chassis overhaul. On this episode we'll go in depth, detailing the new Touchbar, Processor performance, Solid State drive speeds, Graphics performance, Battery Life, Ports and even the...
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Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 and 1050 Ti review
Nvidia's GTX 1050 and 1050 Ti are the company's new budget video cards, with prices that start as low as $110. Can you really use these cards as an upgrade to your existing desktop, and do they beat the competition form AMD?
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Can you really live with just one USB port?
Axing ports has become a trend in modern device design, including laptops. Some of the best new laptops have just one or two USB Type-C ports. Can you really get by with one port, and if so, how? We take a closer look.
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WD Blue SSD live review, and how fast should your SSD be?
Western Digital has released the WS Blue Solid State Drive and we give you a live, hands-on review of the new technology, including price, endurance and performance. From there, we cover the limits of SATA and the rise of PCIe hard drives and the differences between the two. Finally, we'll let…
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7th-Gen Intel Core and Holiday Laptops
The 7th-Gen Intel Core processor (Kaby Lake) will be hitting store shelves in laptops soon. We go in-depth with a review of what this will mean performance-wise. Then Matt will let you know what laptops you'll see the new tech in this holiday season and what his recommendations are in the long run.
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GTX 1060 review, and what’s up with video card prices?
Nvidia's GTX 1060 is the latest in the company's line of mid-range cards, with a MSRP of $200. Today we give a review of this GPU and go a little further into the strange pricing of all cards. Why do they seem to always be priced so high and supply such an issue? We'll let you know that, when/if...
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Does MacOS Sierra prove Apple doesn’t care about the Mac?
Apple has changed the name of their Operating System from OS X to MacOS, in order to fall in line with their cross-brand marketing strategies. But, with the release of MacOS Sierra, is anything really different? We go in depth with a review of the update, what features have improved, where it...
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Should you give the gift of VR for the Holidays?
Virtual Reality is primed to be huge this holiday season and we give you the details on the best sets available. With Samsung's Gear VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PS4 VR and even the smaller random sets, there are is a lot of variety out there. We cover the specs, the price, the games and even the...
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Can the PlayStation 4 Pro defeat budget gaming PCs?
The big PlayStation Meeting announcement let us know that the PlayStation 4 Slim is now the standard PS4 and the PS Neo was not the correct name, all along. The PS Pro will debut in November, with approximately double the graphics power, but a glaring omission. How will this new system compare to...
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A review of the latest Intel Processor: Kaby Lake
Intel has released the latest in their line of CPU's, with Kaby Lake. We'll go into detail on the history of their processors in general and what this new edition brings to the table. Also, tackled are how Core M is effected, what the change from Tick-Tock to Modern revision means and where we'll...
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Will Deus Ex: Mankind Divided also divide PC Gamers?
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is primed to be a huge release. However, some gamers are surprised by the hardware requirements, to run the game at an optimal level. We go in depth with the necessary GPUs, compare it to similar releases and discuss what this means for the future of PC gaming.
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Intel joins the VR Revolution with Project Alloy
The Intel Developer Forum is in full swing and introduced us all to Project Alloy, a fully untethered VR headset. We go into the finer details of the new technology and the RealSense Cameras. Then we discuss Windows Holographic and how the Skull Canyon NUC could integrate with it.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Close to the Metal is a podcast from Digital Trends that focuses on the geekier side of life. It tackles the topics PC enthusiasts argue over in language everyone can understand. Please subscribe, share, and send your questions to [email protected]. We broadcast the show live on YouTube every Wednesday at 1pm EST/10am PST.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Close to the Metal have?
Close to the Metal currently has 51 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Close to the Metal about?
Close to the Metal is a podcast from Digital Trends that focuses on the geekier side of life. It tackles the topics PC enthusiasts argue over in language everyone can understand. Please subscribe, share, and send your questions to [email protected]. We broadcast the show live on YouTube...
How often does Close to the Metal release new episodes?
Close to the Metal has 51 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Close to the Metal?
You can listen to Close to the Metal on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Close to the Metal?
Close to the Metal is created and hosted by Digital Trends.
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