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Examining
Examining episodes
- 70: Wasted BytesThe State of Apple
Daring Fireball: https://daringfireball.net/2025/03/something_is_rotten_in_the_state_of_cupertino
HEY World: https://world.hey.com/dhh/age-is-a-problem-at-apple-f7ae6eca
AI DiscussionReddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1d4h1h9/claude_versus_chatgpt/
Featured MediaIMDb (Buy Now documentary): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34350086/
⌚ Pebble Watch ReturnsRePebble: https://repebble.com/
CNET: https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/pebble-watch-returns-it-might-be-exactly-what-the-smartwatch-landscape-needs/
CONTACTErik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.netKris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website
Website: krishans.ca(Show notes and timestamp images developed with help from ChatGPT)
1 hr 8 min - 69: Kleenex of Video Conferencing
Quantum Computing Breakthrough from Microsoft
- Microsoft News: Microsoft’s Majorana-1 Chip Carves New Path for Quantum Computing
- Nature: Microsoft’s Quantum Computing Bet: Topological Qubits Finally Arrive
- Popular Mechanics: Majorana-1 Topological Qubit Could Revolutionize Quantum Computing
ChatGPT 4.5 (For Pro Users)
- TechRadar: ChatGPT 4.5 is Here for Pro Users Now and Plus Users Next Week – and I Can’t Wait to Try It
- Reuters: OpenAI Rolls Out GPT-4.5 to Some Paying Users, Expand Access Next Week
- One Useful Thing: The End of Search, the Beginning of Research (Related analysis on AI-driven research)
- Our experience with deep research: Erik’s deep research question is still running after a couple of days.
- Inc: Microsoft Says Workers are Already Using AI to Lighten Workloads, at Risk to Their Own Brainpower
iPhone 16E (Assessment of Reviews)
- Wired: Apple iPhone 16E Review
- John Gruber: Daring Fireball’s Take on the iPhone 16E
Framework Desktop
- Polygon: Framework Desktop: Gaming Specs, Price, and Where to Buy
- The Verge: Framework Desktop Announcement – Price, Release Date, and Details
The End of Skype
- Microsoft: The Next Chapter – Moving from Skype to Microsoft Teams
CONTACTErik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.netKris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website
Website: krishans.ca*Show notes and timestamp images developed with help from ChatGPT 4o
1 hr 13 min - 68: DeepSeek Disruption
SHOW NOTES
The Verge: How DeepSeek Crashed the AI Party
The Wall Street Journal: Six Takeaways From a Monumental Week for AI
Nature: How China Created AI Model DeepSeek and Shocked the World
Fortune: Researchers Had a '100% Attack Success Rate' vs. DeepSeek
Microsoft WorkLab: Research Proves Your Brain Needs Breaks
TWiT.tv: Marc or Marx?
CONTACT
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca
46 min - 67: AI, AI, and more AI
News Articles
* Inc.: AI Isn’t Magic, and It Isn’t a Strategy Either
* Ars Technica: It’s Remarkably Easy to Inject New Medical Misinformation into LLMs
* Reuters: OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle to Invest $500 Billion in AI, Trump Says
* MobileSyrup: OpenAI's Operator Can Browse the Web and Perform Actions for You
* Daring Fireball: Siri Is Super Dumb and Getting DumberTips
* Ars Technica: Home Microsoft 365 Plans Use Copilot AI Features as Pretext for a Price Hike
* Thurrott: Microsoft 365 Personal and Family Plans Get New Copilot Features and a Price IncreaseErik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website
Website: krishans.ca
50 min - 66: 2024 Highlights
In this episode, we explored the latest tech highlights of 2025, covering Nvidia's advancements, the rise of AI devices and applications, Microsoft's recall issues, and Apple's innovations with Silicon and the Vision Pro. We wrapped up with a lighthearted tangent on decluttering projects, diving into how we organize our lives amidst all this tech!
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website
Website: krishans.ca
Show notes created with help from ChatGPT 4.
The transcript is AI-generated. Please excuse any errors.
1 hr 32 min - 65: AI Subscription Overload
Erik and Kris explore subscription creep, hidden digital costs, AI tools, and DIY tech, offering tips to regain control over recurring expenses.
Book: When Things Don't Go Your Way
By Haemin Sunim----
Digital Privacy and Security
404 Media: Leaked Docs Show What Phones Cellebrite Can and Can't Unlock
Date: August 21, 2024
https://www.404media.co/leaked-docs-show-what-phones-cellebrite-can-and-cant-unlock/?mc_cid=20c535fce7Education and Technology
----
Notion Help Center: Notion for Education
Date: August 2024
https://www.notion.so/help/notion-for-educationErik Christiansen Blog: When Technology Was Simpler: Subscription Creep
Date: August 20, 2024
https://erikchristiansen.net/2024/08/20/when-technology-was-simpler-subscription-creep/CNET: Subscription Creep Costs US Consumers More Than $1,000 a Year, CNET Survey Finds
Date: August 2024
https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/subscription-creep-costs-us-consumers-more-than-1000-a-year-cnet-survey-finds/Computerworld: The Problem with the Subscription Economy
Date: August 21, 2024
https://www.computerworld.com/article/1615394/the-problem-with-the-subscription-economy.htmlAI and Big Tech
----
TechCrunch: Apple Intelligence's Writing Tools Stumble on Swears and Controversial Topics
Date: August 6, 2024
https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/06/apple-intelligences-writing-tools-stumble-on-swears-and-controversial-topics/Forbes: Microsoft Stock Drops as AI Capital Expenditures Surge to $56 Billion
Date: July 31, 2024
https://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2024/07/31/microsoft-stock-drops-as-ai-capital-expenditures-surge-to-56-billion/Thurrott: I Will Not Pay for AI
Date: August 21, 2024
https://www.thurrott.com/a-i/307080/i-will-not-pay-for-aiDIY Tech and Hardware
----
Thurrott: New Raspberry Pi 5 Model is Just $50
Date: August 22, 2024
https://www.thurrott.com/hardware/307235/new-raspberry-pi-5-model-is-just-50CanaKit: Raspberry Pi AI Kit
Date: August 2024
https://www.canakit.com/raspberry-pi-ai-kit.htmlPCWorld: Why You Should Get a Mini PC Instead of a Laptop
Date: August 2024
https://www.pcworld.com/article/2419994/why-you-should-get-a-mini-pc-instead-of-a-laptop.html----
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website
Website: krishans.ca
Show notes created with help from ChatGPT 4.
The transcript is AI-generated. Please excuse any errors.
1 hr 7 min - 64: Mac Mini M1 & AI Retrospective
In this episode, Kris takes us through a comprehensive three-year journey with his M1 Mac Mini, sharing insights and experiences that highlight the device's impact and longevity. Our co-hosts also weigh in, exploring other Apple computers that merit consideration and diving deep into the current state of artificial intelligence. The discussion branches out to speculate on Apple's future moves in AI and what the integration of local large language models into our everyday devices and apps could mean for users.
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
- Mac Mini - Apple: https://www.apple.com/ca/mac-mini/
- Introducing GPTs - OpenAI: https://openai.com/blog/introducing-gpts
- Create or Edit a Copilot GPT with Microsoft Copilot GPT Builder - Microsoft: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/create-or-edit-a-copilot-gpt-with-microsoft-copilot-gpt-builder-cbff42b9-25a9-41b7-95ec-93462d04904b
- Sal Soghoian - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sal_Soghoian?oldformat=true
- Mac OS X Automation: https://macosxautomation.com/
- Sal Soghoian - Automation Advocate - The Omni Show: https://theomnishow.omnigroup.com/episode/sal-soghoian-automation-advocate
- Sal Soghoian Leaves Apple - MacSparky: https://www.macsparky.com/blog/2016/11/sal-soghoian-leaves-apple/
As we look to the future, it's clear that technology and artificial intelligence will continue to evolve in intriguing and potentially unexpected ways. Stay tuned for our next episode, where we'll continue to dissect the tech trends shaping our world.
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca
Website: krishans.ca
Show notes created with help from ChatGPT 4.
The transcript is AI-generated. Please excuse any errors.
1 hr 15 min - 63: AI Soap Opera & Velcro Hacks
In this episode, Erik and Kris tackle the unfolding drama at OpenAI and its implications. Kris discusses his recent AI panel discussion at MRU, while Erik offers an overview of his latest home organization project. Both hosts will share their holiday gift guide tips, perfect for the tech-savvy and the organized.
SHOW NOTES
AI Soap Opera
- OpenAI Announces Leadership Transition (OpenAI Blog): OpenAI announces significant changes in its leadership structure.
- Sam Altman Returns as CEO of OpenAI (The Verge): Sam Altman reclaims the CEO position at OpenAI, marking a new chapter for the company.
AI Panel Discussion Highlights:
- Context of AI in Research: Discussing the evolving role of AI in academic and professional research settings.
- Panelist Introductions: Each panelist shares their background and how AI intersects with their research.
- Diverse Perspectives on AI: Highlighting unique insights from each panelist, providing a broad view of AI's role in different research areas.
- Practical Applications of AI: Exploring how panelists currently use AI in their work, including specific tools and methodologies.
- Successes and Challenges: Discussing what has worked well in AI-driven research and addressing the limitations and issues faced.
- The Future of AI in Research: Debating whether AI is a permanent fixture in research and the value of investing in AI knowledge and tools.
- AI as Collaborator or Competitor: Examining views on whether AI is augmenting human research capabilities or posing a threat to traditional research roles.
- Human Skills vs. AI Capabilities: Delving into which human skills might remain irreplaceable by AI and what research aspects can be effectively outsourced to AI technologies.
- Impact on Research Quality: Analyzing how AI tools influence the quality and rigor of research and their implications for academic integrity.
- Ethical Considerations in AI Research: Addressing the pressing ethical concerns in integrating AI into research and discussing potential norms for ethical AI use.
- AI, Accessibility, and Inclusivity: Exploring the implications of AI on inclusivity in research, especially between well-funded and under-funded programs, and discussing measures for fair representation.
Organizational Guide:
- Cable Management: Emphasize the importance of Velcro ties for efficient cable organization.
- Labeling Essentials: Discuss the use of label tape and whiteout pens for clear labeling, even without a label maker.
- Consistent Systems: Stress the importance of grouping related items and maintaining a consistent organizational system.
- Space Utilization: Highlight the use of 3M Command hooks for maximizing space, especially inside cupboards.
- Document Organization: Recommend accordion folders for essential document storage, such as receipts and manuals.
- Life Consolidation: Encourage listeners to avoid having multiples of items and to refrain from collecting unnecessary tools (e.g., notebooks, notes apps, to-do lists).
- Digitization and Decluttering: Advice on using a scanner app to digitize important papers, followed by shredding the physical copies, except for sentimental items like children's artwork or personal journals.
- Regular Use and Review: Suggest using items regularly and assessing their utility. If something is not being used or can't be organized for occasional use, consider removing it.
- Routine Organization: Recommend organizing the home weekly and undertaking a major organization twice a year. Each session should focus on consolidating and reducing possessions to make the process more manageable over time.
Holiday Gift Guide:
- Field Notes
- UniBall Jetstream Pens
- Pentel EnerGel Pens
- Sakura Pigma Micron Pens
- USB-C to A Adapters
- "The Daily Stoic" Book
- Asus Optical Drive
- Logitech MX Vertical Mouse
- Evoluent Mouse
- Kobo Clara 2E E-Reader
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca
Website: krishans.ca
Show notes created with help from ChatGPT 4.
The transcript is AI-generated. Please excuse any errors.
1 hr 35 min - 62: Megahertz & Mandating AI Morals
This week Erik and Kris discuss Apple's Halloween-themed 'Scary Fast' event and its slew of new tech, the implications of Biden's AI executive order, and OpenAI's influence on startup innovation.
Show Notes
The Verge, "Apple's Spooky 'Scary Fast' Event Introduces M3 Chip Family,"
- Provides an overview of Apple's October 30th, 2023 event with a Halloween theme and evening timing. Highlights include the M3 chip family introduction and updates to the iMac and MacBook Pro models, new color options, Touch Bar removal, and accessory port choices.
MacRumors, "Everything Announced at Apple's October 2023 Event,"
- Covers specifics of the M3 series chips, the new Space Black MacBook Pro, product configurations, battery life, pricing, performance enhancements, the discontinuation of older models, and product availability.
Macworld, "Apple's Evening 'Scary Fast' Mac Event Highlights,"
- Dives into Apple's first evening event, detailing GPU improvements, the M3 chip family introduction, new Space Black color options, and Apple's marketing and event filming techniques.
Macworld, "Apple Event Critique: M3 Chips and Marketing Shifts,"
- Focuses on the release of the M3 chips, the pricing strategy for the new MacBook Pro, and the event's experimental presentation style, including filming with an iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Six Colors, "A Magic Number: New MacBook Pros and iMacs Usher in the M3 Era,"
- Likely analyzes the impact of the M3 chip on the new MacBook Pros and iMacs, discussing the broader implications for Apple's product lineup and the tech industry.
Vox, "Biden's Latest AI Executive Order,"
- Discusses the new executive order by President Biden aimed at regulating AI technology and its ethical use, detailing the government's approach to fostering innovation while ensuring privacy, security, and equity.
Futurism, "OpenAI's Stance on Startups and Tech Utilization,"
- Explores OpenAI's position on how startups can leverage its technology, highlighting the potential impacts on innovation and the startup ecosystem, with insights into the balance between collaboration and competition.
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca
Website: krishans.ca
Show notes created with help from ChatGPT 4.
The transcript is AI-generated. Please excuse any errors.
1 hr 28 min - 61: Big 4 Hardware Round Up
This week Erik and Kris discuss hardware and software events by Apple, Microsoft, and Google, and throw in some Meta news for fun. Both co-hosts have been working flat out the last two weeks, so this episode is a little later than normal. Thank you for your patience!
Apple iPhone Event
- Article Title: Apple iPhone 15 event announcements (Source: The Verge)
- Summary: Apple's annual iPhone event showcased the iPhone 15 with its new chipset and improved camera functionalities. The event also marked the introduction of the Apple Watch Ultra, updated AirPods Pro, and USB-C compatibility for certain products.
Microsoft & AI Event
- Article Title: Microsoft Surface Copilot event 2023: biggest announcements (Source: The Verge)
- Summary: Microsoft's latest event featured the Surface Copilot, emphasizing a future rich in AI integration across hardware. Other announcements included new products aimed at enhancing productivity and enriching user experience.
- Article Title: Panos Panay, leader of the Surface and Windows teams, is leaving Microsoft (Source: Ars Technica)
- Summary: Panos Panay, an instrumental figure behind Microsoft's Surface and Windows divisions, is departing from the company. His exit raises questions about potential shifts in Microsoft's hardware and software strategies.
- Article Title: Satya Nadella testifies in U.S. v Google and admits to AI search failure (Source: Thurrott)
- Summary: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's recent testimony in the U.S. v Google antitrust case involved admitting to the company's shortcomings in AI search capabilities. The testimony could have ripple effects on ongoing and future antitrust investigations.
- https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/why-microsofts-ceo-satya-nadella-says-its-co-pilot-ai-assistant-will-be-as-significant-as-pc.html
Google Pixel Event
- Article Title: The Morning After: Pixel 8 Pro, Bard AI, and everything else from Google's Pixel event (Source: Engadget)
- Summary: Google's most recent Pixel event revealed the Pixel 8 Pro, which comes with enhanced camera capabilities and improved processing power. Additionally, Bard AI was introduced as an innovative accessibility feature aiming to assist users with disabilities.
Facebook Rayban Stories
- Article Title: Facebook Isn’t Giving Up on Ray-Ban Stories, Even if It Should
- Summary: Facebook is persistently pushing its Ray-Ban Stories project, a foray into the smart eyewear market, despite lackluster reviews. The company remains optimistic about the long-term prospects of the product, in spite of critical skepticism.
CONTACT
Website:examining.ca
Twitter: @ExaminingPod
Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net
Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca
Website: krishans.ca
Show notes created with help from ChatGPT 4.
The transcript is AI-generated. Please excuse any errors.
1 hr 24 min
About Examining
From the publisher's feed
Examining is a technology-focused podcast that dives deep. Our co-hosts, Erik Christiansen and Kris Hans examine the technology industry, productivity, and education, and provide practical tech tips.
(The podcast started as EdTech Examined in July 2020 with the goal of helping educators transition to online education in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.)