Tech Horizons: New iMac, Apple Silicon, and Pixel 4a

Waveform Podcast Episode Summary

This episode of Waveform covers a wide array of tech news, ranging from bizarre product failures to major industry shifts.

The "Wallpaper of Death" Phenomenon

Marques and Andrew discuss a viral issue where a specific sunset image could brick Android phones.

• The issue was found not to be external malware, but an incompatibility with color profiles.
• A specific pixel in the image caused a rounding error in the phone's color gamut conversion, leading to a system crash.
• Key Takeaway: Do not test dubious wallpapers on your personal devices.

OnePlus 8 Pro Privacy Concerns

The hosts revisit the OnePlus 8 Pro camera filter controversy. They conclude that the inclusion of the "Photochrome" filter was likely unintentional and a result of the company burying a feature late in development that they ultimately had to disable due to privacy backlashes.

Future Hardware Expectations

• Apple iMac Refresh: Rumors suggest a design shift towards the iPad Pro aesthetic with thinner bezels and potential Face ID integration.
• Apple Silicon: The hosts share their excitement about Apple potentially moving to their own ARM chips, emphasizing the massive potential for efficiency and performance gains.
• Pixel 4a: Currently in limbo due to Google I/O's cancellation. The hosts debate its viability against the iPhone SE, noting the trade-offs between camera quality, battery life, and overall ecosystem value.

Q&A: Life, Tech, and Quarantine

"I think expectations are the cause for disappointment most often."

The hosts answer community questions, including their preferred tech ecosystems (Mac/iPhone vs. Windows/Android), their stance on buying hardware based on future software promises, and how their habits have changed during quarantine.