Episode 218: Dial‑Up Farewells, Chip Tax Turbulence, Cybertruck Explosions, and a MacBook Whisper

Jay and Karl dive into the week’s most surprising, strange, and speculative tech headlines — from AOL finally ending dial‑up to the USAF eyeing Cybertruck blast tests, with a spicy chip‑tax twist and a very interesting MacBook rumour along the way.

Full show notes & links: techrant.online/weekly-tech-rant-episode-218/

Also available on:Apple Podcasts |YouTube

In This Episode

News

• AOL finally shuts down dial‑up — yes, it was still running in 2025.
• “Wild” chip‑tax idea — 15% levy on US firms’ China chip sales.
• Intel CEO pushback — turns the proposal around, but his role remains uncertain.
• Early iPhone 17 Pro clone — iOS 18 lookalike surfaces a month ahead of schedule.
• USAF vs Cybertruck — planned blast tests citing potential enemy use.
• Battlefield 6 pricing — not $80 at launch, but future flexibility hinted.

Rumours

• 12.9‑inch MacBook — could be the sleeper hit of the year.

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