The Weekly Tech Rant

Jay + Karl

Two guys, one podcast and a whole load of the latest technology news, games and gadget reviews, film insights and the occasional rant! Join us as we review the main tech talking points of the week!

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 262: Nvidia’s AI Spending Spree, Steam Frame Arrives, Anthropic’s Stark Warning, and Apple Faces New UK Rules

    Episode 262: Nvidia’s AI Spending Spree, Steam Frame Arrives, Anthropic’s Stark Warning, and Apple Faces New UK Rules Jay and Karl unpack another week where AI money seems almost limitless. Nvidia puts $3.5 billion into MediaTek and agrees to buy Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, while RTX 5090 stock mysteriously dries up. Valve’s Steam Frame finally goes on sale with an eye-watering price, Anthropic researchers sound an extraordinary warning about AI risk, GoPro heads into defence and aerospace, and Apple faces new child-safety rules in the UK. Full show notes & links:https://techrant.online/weekly-tech-rant-episode-262/ Also available on:Apple Podcasts | YouTube In This Episode News Nvidia makes a $3.5B bet on MediaTekAnother enormous AI investment reveals how Nvidia plans to defend its position as Big Tech develops more silicon of its own.Nvidia buys Hugging Face for $12.9 billionOne of AI’s most important platforms joins Nvidia as its spending spree moves beyond chips and into the wider AI ecosystem.RTX 5090 stock starts disappearingNvidia is spending billions on AI while gamers are left wondering where its flagship graphics cards have gone.Valve’s Steam Frame opens for ordersThe new VR headset has arrived, but a starting price of £889 makes this anything but an impulse purchase.Anthropic researchers issue a stark warning about AIResearchers inside one of the world’s leading AI companies raise the possibility of catastrophic outcomes as capabilities accelerate.GoPro is acquired and heads into defence and aerospaceThe action-camera company is taking a surprising turn towards government, robotics, aerospace, and defence markets.Apple faces new UK child-safety rulesNew requirements around intimate images on children’s iPhones put another spotlight on the balance between safety and privacy.Say hello:@WeeklyTechRant |@weeklytechrant.bs

  2. Sep 4

    Episode 260: Steam's 12TB Leak, Xbox Cloud Gets Capped, OpenAI Dumps Cursor, and Apple's Smart Glasses Near

    Episode 260: Steam's 12TB Leak, Xbox Cloud Gets Capped, OpenAI Dumps Cursor, and Apple's Smart Glasses Near Jay and Karl dig into another week of questionable decisions and enormous numbers. A decade of Steam data totalling more than 12TB leaks online, Microsoft caps Xbox Cloud Gaming while simultaneously introducing pay-as-you-go access, and OpenAI pulls its models from Cursor following the SpaceXAI acquisition. Meanwhile, Meta faces an $18 billion settlement, Squadron 42 slips again, and Apple's first smart glasses are reportedly getting close. Full show notes & links:https://techrant.online/weekly-tech-rant-episode-260/ Also available on:Apple Podcasts |YouTube In This Episode News Meta agrees to settlement worth up to $18 billionA huge settlement brings another chapter in the fight over social media's impact on young users.OpenAI pulls its models from CursorThe SpaceXAI acquisition triggers a major change for one of the most popular AI coding tools.More than 12TB of Steam files leak onlineA decade's worth of material surfaces in an enormous leak from Valve's gaming ecosystem.Squadron 42 gets delayed againThis time GTA 6 gets some of the blame, despite Rockstar's blockbuster still not coming to PC at launch.Xbox Cloud Gaming gets a 15-hour monthly capEven Ultimate subscribers face new limits on how much cloud gaming their subscription actually buys.Xbox Cloud Gaming gets pay-as-you-go accessMicrosoft caps subscription usage while simultaneously offering another way to pay for more.Rumours Apple's first smart glasses could launch next yearApple's next major wearable category appears to be getting closer, with AI expected to sit at its heart.Say hello:@WeeklyTechRant |@weeklytechrant.bs

  3. Aug 28

    Episode 259: Android Malware Goes Contactless, Apple Unveils M6, Macs Get an Upgrade, and the iPhone Ultra Event Is Here

    Episode 259: Android Malware Goes Contactless, Apple Unveils M6, Macs Get an Upgrade, and the iPhone Ultra Event Is Here Jay and Karl unpack a week that swings from cybercrime to major Apple hardware news. New Android malware turns infected phones into NFC relays for payment fraud, GTA 6 suffers another leak scare, and Apple cuts jobs across its Vision Pro and Siri teams. Then Apple takes over the second half of the show with a new Mac mini, an upgraded Mac Studio, the M6 chip, and confirmation of its iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone Ultra event. Full show notes & links:https://techrant.online/weekly-tech-rant-episode-259/ Also available on:Apple Podcasts |YouTube In This Episode News WindRelay Android malware turns phones into NFC relaysA nasty twist on payment fraud that uses compromised phones to relay contactless transactions.GTA 6 suffers another leak scareIs it a nightmare for the biggest game of the year, or just another blip in Rockstar's long road to launch?Apple reportedly cuts more than 200 Vision Pro and Siri jobsA notable reshuffle across two of Apple's most closely watched future-facing teams.Apple announces an updated Mac miniApple's smallest desktop gets another round of hardware upgrades.Apple unveils new Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 UltraThe compact workstation gets a serious performance boost for high-end Mac users.Apple launches M6 and M5 UltraThe next generation of Apple Silicon arrives, extending the company's performance push across the Mac lineup.Apple announces its iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone Ultra event"Surprise and shine" sets the stage for what could be Apple's biggest iPhone event in years.Say hello:@WeeklyTechRant | @weeklytechrant.bs

  4. Aug 15

    Episode 258: Apple’s AI Subscription Expands, OpenAI Pauses a Risky Model, Steam Breach Exposes Customers, and the 20th Anniversary iPhone Debate

    Episode 258: Apple’s AI Subscription Expands, OpenAI Pauses a Risky Model, Steam Breach Exposes Customers, and the 20th Anniversary iPhone Debate Jay and Karl explore another busy week in tech. Apple looks set to monetise Apple Intelligence through new iCloud+ tiers, fresh reports attempt to untangle the mystery surrounding the 20th anniversary iPhone, Steam customers are caught up in a shipping data breach, and OpenAI pauses work on one of its AI models over cybersecurity concerns. Meanwhile, Meta is hit with another huge legal penalty. Full show notes & links:https://techrant.online/weekly-tech-rant-episode-258/ Also available on:Apple Podcasts | YouTube In This Episode News Meta ordered to pay another $567 millionThe social media giant faces another enormous penalty over child safety failures.Making sense of the 20th anniversary iPhone rumoursConflicting reports leave Apple's biggest anniversary product surrounded by questions.Apple adds AI-focused iCloud+ upgrade optionApple Intelligence could soon become a premium subscription upgrade.Steam hardware shipping breach exposes customer dataNames and home addresses are among the information reportedly compromised.OpenAI pauses AI model over cybersecurity risksSafety concerns prove significant enough for development to be halted.Say hello:@WeeklyTechRant | @weeklytechrant.bs

  5. Aug 9

    Episode 257: Xbox’s Price Shock, Apple’s Roadmap Grows Clearer, BMW’s Dashboard Ads, and AI Goes Rogue

    Episode 257: Xbox’s Price Shock, Apple’s Roadmap Grows Clearer, BMW’s Dashboard Ads, and AI Goes Rogue Jay and Karl unpack another strange week in tech. Xbox prices jump sharply across Europe, Apple drops more clues about where its product roadmap is heading, and the next Xbox may lean even harder into backwards compatibility. Meanwhile BMW discovers dashboard advertising, and Anthropic’s AI gets caught creating fake identities during an attempted cyber operation. Full show notes & links:https://techrant.online/weekly-tech-rant-episode-257/ Also available on:Apple Podcasts | YouTube In This Episode News Microsoft raises Xbox prices by 25% to 30% in EuropeThe Series S now costs more than the Series X did at launch, which says quite a lot about where console pricing has ended up.Apple’s latest acquisition sheds light on its product roadmapAnother piece of the puzzle falls into place as Apple’s future hardware strategy becomes a little clearer.Apple drops a clue about its September iPhone event dateThe annual iPhone countdown appears to be taking shape.The next Xbox could play every Xbox game ever madeA leaked memo hints at an ambitious backwards-compatibility strategy for Project Helix.BMW starts pushing Spider-Man ads onto dashboard displaysBecause apparently buying the car was not enough to escape advertising.Anthropic AI created fake profiles and impersonated people during attempted hackAI agents move beyond automation and into some deeply uncomfortable territory.Say hello:@WeeklyTechRant | @weeklytechrant.bs

  6. Aug 3

    Episode 256: Apple Expands AppleCare One, AI iCloud+ Teased, Xbox Moves Forward, and GlobalFoundries Gets Government Backing

    Episode 256: Apple Expands AppleCare One, AI iCloud+ Teased, Xbox Moves Forward, and GlobalFoundries Gets Government Backing Jay and Karl dive into another packed week in tech. Apple expands AppleCare One internationally and hints at a premium AI-focused iCloud+ tier, EA’s $55 billion sale edges towards completion, Xbox lays out its post-reset priorities, and the US government backs GlobalFoundries with a major silicon photonics investment. Plus, eBay finally pays the price for one of Silicon Valley’s strangest harassment scandals. Full show notes & links:https://techrant.online/weekly-tech-rant-episode-256/ Also available on:Apple Podcasts |YouTube In This Episode News Apple brings AppleCare One to more countriesApple's unified protection plan continues its global rollout. Tim Cook hints at an AI-focused iCloud+ tierA premium subscription for Apple Intelligence power users may be on the horizon.EA's $55 billion sale nears completionThe blockbuster acquisition appears set to clear its final regulatory hurdles.Xbox outlines priorities after its major resetAsha Sharma shares Microsoft's long-term ambition to dramatically expand Xbox's reach.eBay pays $46M over harassment campaignThe bizarre corporate stalking scandal finally reaches an expensive conclusion.US backs GlobalFoundries with $300M silicon photonics dealWashington deepens its investment in next-generation semiconductor technology.Say hello:@WeeklyTechRant |@weeklytechrant.bs

  7. Jul 28

    Episode 255: Ghost Recon Returns, Britain Bets £708 Million on Tempest, Digital ID Cards Scrapped, and the MacBook Ultra Nears

    Episode 255: Ghost Recon Returns, Britain Bets £708 Million on Tempest, Digital ID Cards Scrapped, and the MacBook Ultra Nears Jay and Karl cover another diverse week across gaming, defence, privacy, and Apple rumours. Ubisoft finally confirms that Ghost Recon will return this August, the UK Government abandons plans for digital ID cards following public opposition, and Britain commits another £708 million to the Tempest next-generation fighter programme. We also look at LG's decision to remove McAfee advertising from its monitors after pressure from Microsoft, before turning to Apple's rumoured hardware roadmap with reports of a redesigned iPad mini and an all-new MacBook Ultra. Also available on:Apple Podcasts | YouTube In This Episode News Ubisoft promises Ghost Recon news in AugustUbisoft confirms the Ghost Recon franchise will return to the spotlight next month. UK government scraps plans for digital ID cards after millions opposedPlans for a nationwide digital identity scheme have been abandoned following widespread public concern. UK pumps £708 million into its future fighter jetThe UK continues investing heavily in the Tempest programme as development of its next-generation combat aircraft gathers pace. LG promises to stop McAfee spam ads following pressure from MicrosoftLG agrees to remove intrusive McAfee advertisements from its smart monitors. Rumours New iPad mini coming soon with these major changesApple's smallest tablet could be preparing for a significant refresh. 'MacBook Ultra' Coming Soon With These 12 New FeaturesA new report claims Apple's highest-end MacBook could launch with a host of premium features. Say hello:@WeeklyTechRant | @weeklytechrant.bs

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Two guys, one podcast and a whole load of the latest technology news, games and gadget reviews, film insights and the occasional rant! Join us as we review the main tech talking points of the week!