WAN Show: Apple Event Analysis, Arcade & Tech Rants

Apple Event and Industry News

Apple's Autumn Hardware Update

During the latest Apple event, the team discussed new hardware releases, including an entry-level iPad and the iPhone 11 lineup.
• Naming Schemes: The hosts expressed relief at the more streamlined Pro and Pro Max naming conventions, despite initial mockery.
• Hardware Trends: They praised the trend toward thicker phones permitting larger batteries, though the lack of USB-C remains a point of contention.

Apple Arcade Paradigm

Apple's new gaming subscription service was a primary topic of discussion.
• Subscription Model: For $5 a month, users get access to over 100 titles without advertisements or microtransactions.
• Market Impact: The hosts believe this is a strategic move, not just for Apple, but to force the entire industry—including Google and Android developers—to reconsider the current state of mobile gaming, which they described as "trash" due to manipulative "waiting games."

Family Sharing and Corporate Policing

Spotify's Location Tracking

Spotify has sparked controversy by updating its terms to require location data or a verified home address for its "Family Plan" subscribers to combat account sharing.
• Conflicting Definitions: The discussion highlighted the tension between legalistic "cohabitation" requirements and the common definition of family as descendants of a common ancestor.
• Privacy Concerns: Requiring location services periodically poses significant privacy issues, especially regarding the inadvertent tracking of minors.

Retro Hardware and Enthusiast Projects

The Nintendo Virtual Boy

Though largely considered a failure, the team revisited the Virtual Boy with heavy modifications provided by the community.

"It is now 2019, and you and I are looking at this thing, fascinated, and we had a solid amount of fun, and I still have a headache."
• Homebrew Revival: Thanks to the community using the Flash Boy Plus, the hosts were able to play multiplayer Mario's Tennis, a feature that was never officially released.

Display Tech and OLEDs

Linus discussed his transition from an OLED screen to the BFGD (Big Format Gaming Display).
• Full Array Local Dimming: While he acknowledged full array local dimming involves some haloing, the higher refresh rate and peak brightness make it a viable trade-off for his specific use case.
• Future Potential: The potential for upcoming 55-inch OLED displays from manufacturers like Alienware is still a highly anticipated prospect.