Cost of Living·Full Episode

Right to repair, roblox and the robots ruining Christmas

It's the tech show! This week, we wrap our minds around the metaverse and the fight to let consumers repair their own electronic devices, then we meet the menacing cyber bots snapping up popular gifts in the blink of an eye.

The Cost of Living for December 12, 2021

We're talking the right to repair your own devices, the metaverse — and how grinch bots are ruining Christmas (if you wanted a Playstation, at least). (Warner Bros, Anis Heydari/CBC, Michael Nagle/Bloomberg)
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Right to repair

After years of pushback, Apple has agreed to give users access to its manuals and parts — essentially agreeing to let people fix their own devices. 

Some say it's a step forward for the right to repair movement. But does it go far enough? Anis Heydari finds out.

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch bot 

Ever wonder why popular gifts can only be purchased at inflated prices on resale sites like Kijiji? Blame "grinch bots." 

Danielle Nerman explains how these bots work and what could be done to crack down on them.

How Roblox could help you understand the metaverse

Ever since Mark Zuckerberg rebranded Facebook as "Meta", people have been trying to wrap their heads around the idea.

Paul Havaardsrud talks to an expert who explains how the metaverse could transform the way we work, play and spend money — and why 12 year olds might have this thing figured out already.

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