Google Maps, O2 prices and The Hobbit in CNET UK Podcast 318

When Bilbo Baggins sets out on his unexpected journey, he'll need a decent map. Fortunately, Google Maps is back on the iPhone and iPad, which is lucky because if he used the Apple Maps app he'd have ended up not in Middle-earth but the middle of nowhere.

The Hobbit is the first film to be presented at a frame rate of 48fps. We discuss the advantages of high frame rate -- and figure out why it fails so badly in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Speaking of films, we get excited about Pacific Rim's first trailer. And we lament O2's price hike, rounding out a year when the oxygenated network had not one but two major service failures.

And we turn to you, esteemed listener, for your feedback. What are the drawbacks of the Amazon Kindle Fire HD? Which is the better choice: the Google Nexus 4 or the iPod touch? And what's the best Christmas film?

Whether your gadgets are playing up and you need some advice, or you've got an opinion to share about the technology issues of the day, leave us a comment below or have your say on our Facebook page -- it's full of folks who love gadgets as much as you do, plus you'll get plenty of behind-the-scenes glimpses at life at CNET Towers.

To watch the podcast team thrash out the week's tech issues, complete with fancy animations and pictures and videos of the stuff being discussed, just press play on the video below.

To listen to the old-fashioned noise-only podcast, press play above -- or go to the iTunes Store and search for CNET UK. Click on Subscribe Free, sit back and enjoy -- and don't forget to tell your friends too on Facebook and Twitter.