The Weekly Tech Rant

Episode 220: iPhone Rules, eSIM Rumours, Battlefield Specs, and Tesla’s Lost Evidence

Jay and Karl break down another week in tech — from Apple hinting at slower rollouts for UK users and the possibility of an eSIM-only iPhone 17 in Europe, to Battlefield 6’s surprising PC requirements, Google’s courtroom win over Chrome, and Tesla’s curious case of “lost” evidence in a wrongful death suit.

Full show notes & links: techrant.online/weekly-tech-rant-episode-220/

Also available on: Apple Podcasts | YouTube

In This Episode

News

• Apple suggests UK users may see slower feature rollouts: tighter regulation could leave British iPhone owners waiting longer for updates.
• iPhone 17 may go eSIM-only in Europe: a move that could mark the end of physical SIM cards in the region.
• Battlefield 6 PC requirements: pretty relaxed, as long as you don’t mind playing at 30fps.
• Google wins Chrome case: no forced sale, and its $20 billion Apple search deal survives intact.
• Tesla claimed to have lost key evidence: but a hacker found it in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Say hello @WeeklyTechRant | @weeklytechrant.bs

Episode 219: iPhone Event, Chrome’s $34B Bid, Fake Phones, and Foldable Futures

Jay and Karl unpack another wild week in tech, from Apple’s September showcase to Perplexity’s audacious attempt to buy Google Chrome, Trump Mobile’s ever-evolving fake phones, and rumours of Apple’s first foldable iPhone.

Full show notes & links:techrant.online/weekly-tech-rant-episode-219/

Also available on:Apple Podcasts |YouTube

In This Episode

News

• Apple’s September iPhone Event: the year’s marquee showcase with new devices and surprises.
• Perplexity’s $34.5 billion bid for Google Chrome: a bold play to shake up the browser market.
• Trump Mobile’s fake iPhone morphs into a fake Galaxy S25 Ultra: when knock-offs get political.
• Trump says the US will take a 10% stake in Intel: framed as the CEO “wanting to keep his job”.
• UK commissioner suggests banning children from VPNs: a proposal unlikely to end well.

Rumours

• Apple home security ecosystem: devices to rival Ring and Nest reportedly in the works.
• Foldable iPhone next year: four cameras, Touch ID, and Apple’s own cellular modem.

Say hello —@WeeklyTechRant |@weeklytechrant.bs

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.

Say hello — @WeeklyTechRant |@weeklytechrant.bs

Welcome to the WTR with your hosts, Jay and Karl, delving into the latest tech news, gadgets, games, and films!

Available On: • Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Youtube | All Major Platforms

In This Episode:

• News
• Birthright citizenship ruling now part of Apple’s appeal argument against Epic Games
• China claims Nvidia built backdoor into H20 chip designed for Chinese market
• TSMC says employees tried to steal trade secrets on iPhone 18 chip process
• JPMorgan doubles down on iPhone Fold predicted release date, pricing, more
• Rumours
• Apple Glasses rumors signal that Apple thinks Mark Zuckerberg is right
• Vision Pro 2 is coming soon, with three new upgrades expected
• AMD's rumoured to be plotting a new ultra high-end gaming GPU

We love hearing from you! Drop us a line in the comments or tweet us at @WeeklyTechRant or @weeklytechrant.bs on Bluesky

Welcome to the WTR with your hosts, Jay and Karl, delving into the latest tech news, gadgets, games, and films!

Available On: • Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Youtube | All Major Platforms

In This Episode:

• News
• NVIDIA's leaked N1x chip for ARM laptops has as many CUDA cores as an RTX 5070 — but don't expect the same performance
• Anthropic is rate limiting Claude Code, blaming some users for never turning it off
• Sony calls Tencent game ‘slavish clone’ of Horizon in new lawsuit
• Trump, who promised to save TikTok, threatens to shut down TikTok 
• Games
• Cleared Hot
• Gray Zone Warfare
• Robocop Rogue City: Unfinished Business
• Battlefield 6

We love hearing from you! Drop us a line in the comments or tweet us at @WeeklyTechRant or @weeklytechrant.bs on Bluesky

Welcome to the WTR with your hosts, Jay and Karl, delving into the latest tech news, gadgets, games, and films!

Available On: • Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Youtube | All Major Platforms

In This Episode:

• News
• Apple sues Jon Prosser for his iOS 26 YouTube leaks, Prosser responds
• Meta refuses to sign EU’s AI code of practice
• British government set to back down on secret iCloud backdoor after US pressure
• Apple and Google singled out under new UK Digital Markets regulation
• Microsoft backs away from $80 games, drops The Outer Worlds 2 price to $70 'in line with current market conditions'

We love hearing from you! Drop us a line in the comments or tweet us at @WeeklyTechRant or @weeklytechrant.bs on Bluesky

Welcome to the WTR with your hosts, Jay and Karl, delving into the latest tech news, gadgets, games, and films!

Available On: • Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Youtube | All Major Platforms

In This Episode:

• News
• Switch 2 user warns about accidental ban after playing preowned game cards
• Google confirms it's 'combining' Chrome OS and Android into a single platform
• US Defense Department awards $200 million contract to Elon Musk's Grok aka 'MechaHitler' and is looking forward to deploying it 'in our warfighting domain' 
• Google’s AI can now make phone calls for you
• Rumours
• iOS 26 public beta rumored to launch next week
• iPhone 17 Pro may feature MacBook-style anti-reflective screen
• New iPhone Fold rumors claim more affordable price, ultra-thin hardware

We love hearing from you! Drop us a line in the comments or tweet us at @WeeklyTechRant or @weeklytechrant.bs on Bluesky

Welcome to the WTR with your hosts, Jay and Karl, delving into the latest tech news, gadgets, games, and films!

Available On: • Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Youtube | All Major Platforms

In This Episode:

• News
• Apple announces sweeping App Store changes in the EU
• Apple might ditch internal AI efforts for Siri revamp, use OpenAI or Anthropic instead
• Trump says he’s found a buyer for TikTok
• There's still no sign of Star Citizen 1.0, but it did just get a revamped referral program so the die-hards can tempt in even more saps
• Rumours
• Kuo: Apple to release cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone processor
• Specs rumours for the Super versions of Nvidia's RTX 5070 
• Apple Vision Air Coming In 2027

We love hearing from you! Drop us a line in the comments or tweet us at @WeeklyTechRant or @weeklytechrant.bs on Bluesky

Welcome to the WTR with your hosts, Jay and Karl, delving into the latest tech news, gadgets, games, and films!

Available On: • Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Youtube | All Major Platforms

In This Episode:

• A Duke Nukem TV series may be coming from the producer of the Devil May Cry and Castlevania animated shows on Netflix
• Report: Apple held internal talks about acquiring AI search startup Perplexity
• Apple fires back at court’s ‘punitive’ App Store order in Epic Games case
• War Thunder player once again leaks classified military documents to win an argument
• Microsoft makes Windows 10 security updates FREE for an extra year — but there's a catch, and you might not like it
• The Trump Phone no longer promises it’s made in America
• Rumours
• AirPods Max 2: Here’s what rumors say is coming next
• New iPhone Fold leak details display size, cameras, and more

We love hearing from you! Drop us a line in the comments or tweet us at @WeeklyTechRant or @weeklytechrant.bs on Bluesky

Welcome to the WTR with your hosts, Jay and Karl, delving into the latest tech news, gadgets, games, and films!

Available On: • Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Youtube | All Major Platforms

In This Episode:

• News
• '700 Indian engineers posed as AI': The London startup that took Microsoft for a ride
• Meta wants to give evidence for Apple in UK privacy battle
• Microsoft and Asus announce two Xbox Ally handhelds with new Xbox full-screen experience
• Trump Mobile launches $47 service and a gold phone

We love hearing from you! Drop us a line in the comments or tweet us at @WeeklyTechRant or @weeklytechrant.bs on Bluesky