The Weekly Tech Rant

Hosted by Jay + Karl

Technology

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262

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Two guys, one podcast and a whole load of the latest technology news, games and gadget reviews, film insights and the occasional rant! Join us as we review the main tech talking points of the week!

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August 15, 2026Episode 25831 min

Episode 258: Apple’s AI Subscription Expands, OpenAI Pauses a Risky Model, Steam Breach Exposes Customers, and the 20th Anniversary iPhone Debate

Episode 258: Apple’s AI Subscription Expands, OpenAI Pauses a Risky Model, Steam Breach Exposes Customers, and the 20th Anniversary iPhone Debate Jay and Karl explore another busy week in tech. Apple looks set to monetise Apple Intelligence through new iCloud+ tiers, fresh reports attempt to untangle the mystery surrounding the 20th anniversary iPhone, Steam customers are caught up in a shipping data breach, and OpenAI pauses work on one of its AI models over cybersecurity concerns. Meanwhile, Meta is hit with another huge legal penalty. Full show notes & links: https://techrant.online/weekly-tech-rant-episode-258/ Also available on: Apple Podcasts | YouTube In This Episode News Meta ordered to pay another $567 million The social media giant faces another enormous penalty over child safety failures. Making sense of the 20th anniversary iPhone rumours Conflicting reports leave Apple's biggest anniversary product surrounded by questions. Apple adds AI-focused iCloud+ upgrade option Apple Intelligence could soon become a premium subscription upgrade. Steam hardware shipping breach exposes customer data Names and home addresses are among the information reportedly compromised. OpenAI pauses AI model over cybersecurity risks Safety concerns prove significant enough for development to be halted. Say hello: @WeeklyTechRant | @weeklytechrant.bs

August 9, 2026Episode 25741 min

Episode 257: Xbox’s Price Shock, Apple’s Roadmap Grows Clearer, BMW’s Dashboard Ads, and AI Goes Rogue

Episode 257: Xbox’s Price Shock, Apple’s Roadmap Grows Clearer, BMW’s Dashboard Ads, and AI Goes Rogue Jay and Karl unpack another strange week in tech. Xbox prices jump sharply across Europe, Apple drops more clues about where its product roadmap is heading, and the next Xbox may lean even harder into backwards compatibility. Meanwhile BMW discovers dashboard advertising, and Anthropic’s AI gets caught creating fake identities during an attempted cyber operation. Full show notes & links: https://techrant.online/weekly-tech-rant-episode-257/ Also available on: Apple Podcasts | YouTube In This Episode News Microsoft raises Xbox prices by 25% to 30% in Europe The Series S now costs more than the Series X did at launch, which says quite a lot about where console pricing has ended up. Apple’s latest acquisition sheds light on its product roadmap Another piece of the puzzle falls into place as Apple’s future hardware strategy becomes a little clearer. Apple drops a clue about its September iPhone event date The annual iPhone countdown appears to be taking shape. The next Xbox could play every Xbox game ever made A leaked memo hints at an ambitious backwards-compatibility strategy for Project Helix. BMW starts pushing Spider-Man ads onto dashboard displays Because apparently buying the car was not enough to escape advertising. Anthropic AI created fake profiles and impersonated people during attempted hack AI agents move beyond automation and into some deeply uncomfortable territory. Say hello: @WeeklyTechRant | @weeklytechrant.bs

August 3, 2026Episode 25636 min

Episode 256: Apple Expands AppleCare One, AI iCloud+ Teased, Xbox Moves Forward, and GlobalFoundries Gets Government Backing

Episode 256: Apple Expands AppleCare One, AI iCloud+ Teased, Xbox Moves Forward, and GlobalFoundries Gets Government Backing Jay and Karl dive into another packed week in tech. Apple expands AppleCare One internationally and hints at a premium AI-focused iCloud+ tier, EA’s $55 billion sale edges towards completion, Xbox lays out its post-reset priorities, and the US government backs GlobalFoundries with a major silicon photonics investment. Plus, eBay finally pays the price for one of Silicon Valley’s strangest harassment scandals. Full show notes & links: https://techrant.online/weekly-tech-rant-episode-256/ Also available on: Apple Podcasts | YouTube In This Episode News Apple brings AppleCare One to more countries Apple's unified protection plan continues its global rollout. Tim Cook hints at an AI-focused iCloud+ tier A premium subscription for Apple Intelligence power users may be on the horizon. EA's $55 billion sale nears completion The blockbuster acquisition appears set to clear its final regulatory hurdles. Xbox outlines priorities after its major reset Asha Sharma shares Microsoft's long-term ambition to dramatically expand Xbox's reach. eBay pays $46M over harassment campaign The bizarre corporate stalking scandal finally reaches an expensive conclusion. US backs GlobalFoundries with $300M silicon photonics deal Washington deepens its investment in next-generation semiconductor technology. Say hello: @WeeklyTechRant | @weeklytechrant.bs

July 28, 2026Episode 25538 min

Episode 255: Ghost Recon Returns, Britain Bets £708 Million on Tempest, Digital ID Cards Scrapped, and the MacBook Ultra Nears

Episode 255: Ghost Recon Returns, Britain Bets £708 Million on Tempest, Digital ID Cards Scrapped, and the MacBook Ultra Nears Jay and Karl cover another diverse week across gaming, defence, privacy, and Apple rumours. Ubisoft finally confirms that Ghost Recon will return this August, the UK Government abandons plans for digital ID cards following public opposition, and Britain commits another £708 million to the Tempest next-generation fighter programme. We also look at LG's decision to remove McAfee advertising from its monitors after pressure from Microsoft, before turning to Apple's rumoured hardware roadmap with reports of a redesigned iPad mini and an all-new MacBook Ultra. Also available on: Apple Podcasts | YouTube In This Episode News Ubisoft promises Ghost Recon news in August Ubisoft confirms the Ghost Recon franchise will return to the spotlight next month. UK government scraps plans for digital ID cards after millions opposed Plans for a nationwide digital identity scheme have been abandoned following widespread public concern. UK pumps £708 million into its future fighter jet The UK continues investing heavily in the Tempest programme as development of its next-generation combat aircraft gathers pace. LG promises to stop McAfee spam ads following pressure from Microsoft LG agrees to remove intrusive McAfee advertisements from its smart monitors. Rumours New iPad mini coming soon with these major changes Apple's smallest tablet could be preparing for a significant refresh. 'MacBook Ultra' Coming Soon With These 12 New Features A new report claims Apple's highest-end MacBook could launch with a host of premium features. Say hello: @WeeklyTechRant | @weeklytechrant.bs

July 17, 2026Episode 25140 min

Episode 254: Microsoft Cuts 4,800 Jobs, Meta Faces a $1.4 Trillion Lawsuit, Apple Loses in Europe, and the iPhone Ultra Nears

Episode 254: Microsoft Cuts 4,800 Jobs, Meta Faces a $1.4 Trillion Lawsuit, Apple Loses in Europe, and the iPhone Ultra Nears Jay and Karl discuss another turbulent week across big tech, AI, gaming, and consumer hardware. Microsoft announces another round of layoffs that hits Xbox particularly hard, Meta finds itself fighting legal battles on multiple fronts, and Apple loses an important appeal over the App Store in Europe. We also look at Meta's continued investment in mixed reality hardware, fresh evidence that Nvidia's long-rumoured RTX 50 Super cards may finally be on the way, and the latest reports suggesting Apple's iPhone Ultra could launch in extremely limited numbers. Also available on: Apple Podcasts | YouTube In This Episode News Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs and shrinks Xbox in 'significant restructure' Microsoft announces another major restructuring, with significant impacts across Xbox and other divisions. Meta is facing $1.4 trillion in state lawsuits over social media addiction US states continue legal action against Meta over the impact of its platforms on younger users. Disable autoplay and infinite scroll or risk massive fines, EU tells Meta European regulators increase pressure on Meta to redesign key engagement features. Apple loses legal fight over its App Store 'gatekeeper' status in Europe Apple's appeal fails, meaning it remains subject to the EU's Digital Markets Act requirements. Meta reaffirms work on multiple next-generation headsets Meta confirms several future VR and mixed reality devices remain in active development. RTX 5080 Super, RTX 5070 Ti Super and RTX 5070 Super appear in PSU calculator New evidence suggests Nvidia's refreshed RTX 50 Series GPUs could arrive sooner than expected. Rumours Report: iPhone Ultra to have incredibly limited availability at launch, may ship slightly later Apple's premium iPhone Ultra could be difficult to buy at launch if the latest reports prove accurate. Say hello: @WeeklyTechRant | @weeklytechrant.bs

July 8, 2026Episode 25335 min

Episode 253: Sony Kills Physical Games, Gabe Newell Explains Piracy, Rocket Lab Takes on Starlink, and Apple’s Email Privacy Questioned

Episode 253: Sony Kills Physical Games, Gabe Newell Explains Piracy, Rocket Lab Takes on Starlink, and Apple’s Email Privacy Questioned Jay and Karl explore a fascinating mix of gaming, space, privacy, and PC hardware. Rocket Lab makes a bold move against Starlink with its acquisition of Iridium, Gabe Newell's famous comments on piracy are more relevant than ever as Sony moves away from physical PlayStation games, and fresh questions emerge over Apple's Hide My Email service. We also discuss Russia's latest threat against Apple, and Intel's next-generation Nova Lake processors appear set to push desktop power consumption to new heights. Also available on: Apple Podcasts | YouTube In This Episode News Rocket Lab buys satellite company Iridium to go up against Starlink and Amazon's LEO networks Rocket Lab makes a major acquisition as competition in low Earth orbit intensifies. Gabe Newell: "Piracy is not a pricing issue. It's a service issue" Valve's co-founder explains why convenience beats enforcement. Sony is killing all physical PlayStation game discs Sony continues its move towards an all-digital future. Apple's Hide My Email may not be hiding anything Researchers raise questions about the effectiveness of Apple's privacy feature. Russia threatens Apple with a $52 million fine over alleged app discrimination Apple faces further international regulatory pressure. Intel's mega-core Nova Lake processors could consume dramatically more power Next-generation desktop CPUs may require significantly larger power budgets. Say hello: @WeeklyTechRant | @weeklytechrant.bs

July 1, 2026Episode 24848 min

Episode 252: Steam Machine Finally Arrives, GTA VI Gets a Price, SpaceX Buys Cursor, and Apple Faces Another iCloud Probe

Episode 252: Steam Machine Finally Arrives, GTA VI Gets a Price, SpaceX Buys Cursor, and Apple Faces Another iCloud Probe Jay and Karl dive into one of the busiest weeks in gaming, streaming, AI, and consumer technology. Valve appears to be gearing up for new VR hardware while finally bringing Steam Machine back to life, Rockstar puts a price on Grand Theft Auto VI, and a teardown of the Trump Phone raises questions about its origins. Elsewhere, Fox makes a huge move into streaming with its acquisition of Roku, SpaceX expands into AI developer tools with the reported purchase of Cursor, Anthropic faces legal scrutiny over Claude Max, and Apple finds itself under investigation in Italy over iCloud services. Also available on: Apple Podcasts | YouTube In This Episode News Valve just imported 13 tons of VR headsets in one day New shipping records suggest Valve could be preparing for a major VR hardware launch. Steam Machine is here, starts at $1,049 with 512 GB and 2 TB models Valve returns to the living room PC market with a premium SteamOS gaming machine. GTA VI finally gets a price tag Rockstar’s next Grand Theft Auto finally has a price attached. Teardown finds that the Trump Phone is practically the same as an HTC handset A hardware teardown suggests the device may be closer to a rebadged handset than a new design. Fox is buying Roku for $22B to become the third-largest TV player in the US A major acquisition could reshape the US streaming and connected TV market. SpaceX purchases Cursor, a Claude Code and OpenAI Codex competitor SpaceX makes an unexpected move into AI coding tools. Anthropic hit with lawsuit over its Claude Max usage limits Anthropic faces legal pressure over how Claude Max usage limits are presented. Italy is probing Apple over iCloud services like iPhone backups Italian regulators investigate Apple’s iCloud services and backup options. Say hello: @WeeklyTechRant | @weeklytechrant.bs

June 16, 2026Episode 25149 min

Episode 251: WWDC 2026, OpenAI’s Government Courtship, Forza’s Success, and Apple’s Foldable Future

Episode 251: WWDC 2026, OpenAI’s Government Courtship, Forza’s Success, and Apple’s Foldable Future Jay and Karl unpack a packed week across gaming, AI, and Apple’s WWDC announcements. Forza Horizon 6 appears to be a major hit before its PS5 release, Crazy Taxi is heading back to the streets, and Gears of War: E-Day reportedly remains off Sony’s console. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is reportedly exploring a stake in OpenAI, raising big questions about government involvement in frontier AI. Then it’s over to WWDC 2026, where Apple reveals iOS 27, a new Siri AI experience, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, macOS Golden Gate 27, and more. Plus, the iOS 27 beta may have leaked references to Apple’s foldable iPhone. Full show notes & links: https://techrant.online/ Also available on: Apple Podcasts | YouTube In This Episode News Forza Horizon 6 has reportedly sold 6.4 million copies The latest Forza appears to be performing strongly before its PS5 version has even arrived. Crazy Taxi World Tour reboots the series in 2027 Sega’s chaotic arcade driving series is preparing for a modern return. Gears of War: E-Day isn’t coming to the PS5 Microsoft’s major prequel appears to remain firmly tied to Xbox and PC. The Trump administration is reportedly in talks about taking a stake in OpenAI A potential government stake in OpenAI raises major questions about AI, power, and public influence. WWDC 2026 Apple unveils new Siri AI, dedicated app, and enhanced Apple Intelligence features in iOS 27 Apple’s long-awaited Siri overhaul takes centre stage at WWDC. iOS 27’s most powerful on-device AI requires iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air Apple’s newest AI features may depend on its latest hardware. iCloud+ subscribers will get new benefits in iOS 27 Apple adds more value to its paid iCloud plans. Apple officially announces iOS 27 The next major iPhone update brings new AI, interface, and system features. Apple unveils iPadOS 27 iPadOS gets speed, productivity, and platform improvements. watchOS 27 for Apple Watch unveiled Apple’s wearable platform receives its next annual update. Apple announces macOS Golden Gate 27 The Mac receives its next named software release. Apple is redesigning Screen Time and overhauling child controls Apple updates parental controls and child account protections. Rumours Apple leaks foldable iPhone references in iOS 27 beta References inside the beta suggest Apple’s foldable iPhone may be moving closer. Say hello: @WeeklyTechRant | @weeklytechrant.bs

June 12, 2026Episode 25041 min

Episode 250: Anthropic Heads for Wall Street, Nvidia’s RTX Spark Arrives, AM5 Lives On, and Apple’s Ultra Future Takes Shape

Episode 250: Anthropic Heads for Wall Street, Nvidia’s RTX Spark Arrives, AM5 Lives On, and Apple’s Ultra Future Takes Shape Jay and Karl unpack another busy week across AI, PC hardware, and Apple's future product roadmap. Anthropic appears to be preparing for life as a public company, Nvidia enters the Windows-on-Arm market with its new RTX Spark platform, and AMD commits to supporting AM5 through at least 2029. Meanwhile, reports suggest Apple Music could be heading towards new subscription tiers, while fresh rumours continue to build around both an iPhone Ultra and a MacBook Ultra. Full show notes & links: https://techrant.online/ Also available on: Apple Podcasts | YouTube In This Episode News Apple Music could soon get different subscription tiers Reports suggest Apple is exploring additional subscription options for Apple Music users. Anthropic is set to go public after filing paperwork with the SEC Anthropic takes its first formal steps towards an IPO. Nvidia RTX Spark comes to Windows PCs with Arm CPU, RTX GPU, and unified memory Nvidia enters the Windows-on-Arm market with a new high-performance platform. AMD extends Socket AM5 support through at least 2029; AM4 refuses to die AMD continues its long-term platform support strategy while AM4 remains surprisingly relevant. Rumours Leaker reveals new iPhone Ultra feature, release timing update Fresh details emerge about Apple's potential flagship Ultra smartphone. New MacBook Ultra report covers release timing, display, more Reports suggest Apple may be preparing a new tier above the MacBook Pro. Say hello: @WeeklyTechRant | @weeklytechrant.bs

June 8, 2026Episode 25335 min