Intel's Giant Leak... - WAN Show August 7, 2020

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centered on Apple’s restrictive iOS App Store policies and how they constrained the Floatplane iOS app, including bans on subscriptions, external links, discovery, and user-generated content. The hosts also covered an Intel confidential data leak, the U.S. TikTok/WeChat ban order, Samsung’s product announcements, Tesla delivery/QC frustrations, and several upcoming LMG collaborations and giveaways.

Main Topics: Floatplane iOS vs. Apple App Store rules (Priority: 5/5): The hosts detailed the hurdles of getting the Floatplane app approved on iOS: no in-app subscriptions, no links to external signup/cancellation pages, no creator discovery tools, and severe restrictions on comments/user-generated content. They framed Apple’s policies as consumer-hostile and driven by revenue incentives under the guise of safety/user experience. Intel internal data leak (Priority: 4/5): They discussed a reported 20GB Intel leak containing internal intellectual property, training videos, schematics, roadmaps, tools, and other materials. The hosts questioned how such restricted material ended up on a public CDN and speculated about the security lapse and possible corporate response. TikTok and WeChat U.S. ban order (Priority: 4/5): The conversation covered an executive order barring TikTok and WeChat from doing business with U.S. companies after a 45-day grace period, along with uncertainty about enforcement and whether app-store removal would equate to device removal. They also noted acquisition talks involving Microsoft and practical impacts on users, especially WeChat users connected to China. Samsung Unpacked announcements (Priority: 3/5): They summarized Samsung’s latest devices and software integrations, including Galaxy Note 20/Ultra specs, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Watch 3, and the Z Fold 2. The hosts commented on pricing, device positioning, and the continued weakness of Android tablets, while praising some features like recycled materials and foldable improvements. Tesla delivery quality control criticism (Priority: 4/5): Linus described buying a Tesla Model Y for relatives and criticized Tesla’s delivery process for assuming defects would exist and handling fixes after purchase instead of before delivery. He argued this reflected a broader tendency toward over-engineered, consumer-unfriendly solutions, triggering backlash from Tesla fans. Upcoming LTT collaborations and stream events (Priority: 3/5): They promoted an upcoming PC tech support challenge between JayzTwoCents and Steve from Gamers Nexus, with Austin and Linus co-hosting and systems being given away. They also mentioned a collaboration with Dr. Disrespect and a planned build with TooMad. Community tech frustrations and notification management (Priority: 2/5): The hosts digressed into frustrations with notifications across Android, Teams, reminders, and desktop messaging, arguing that modern systems fail to prioritize urgent alerts and make communication too fragmented. They contrasted this with older multi-service chat tools like Trillian and Pidgin.

Key Arguments: Apple’s iOS policies are framed as safety and UX measures, but in practice they block normal app behaviors like subscriptions, cancellation, discovery, and comments while preserving Apple’s 30% revenue cut. Floatplane had to repeatedly remove or disable features on iOS not because they were technically impossible, but because Apple rejected them even when other similar apps were permitted to do the same. The Intel leak appears to be a serious confidentiality failure, but not necessarily a classic external hack; it may have come from an Intel resource/design center or exposed CDN content. The TikTok/WeChat order is politically significant but technically messy, because app-store bans do not automatically remove apps from devices and sideloading remains possible, especially on Android. Tesla’s practice of delivering cars with known defects and fixing them later is an anti-consumer workflow that should be resolved before handoff, not after. Modern notification systems are poorly designed because they fail to surface urgent items reliably and bury important alerts under low-priority noise.

Data Points: Intel leak size: 20 GB - Amount of confidential Intel intellectual property reportedly exposed TikTok/WeChat grace period: 45 days - Time given before the U.S. business ban order would be enforced Apple App Store cut: 30% - Revenue share discussed as part of Apple’s in-app payment policy Samsung Note 20 starting price: $1,000 - Base price mentioned for the Note 20 Samsung Note 20 Ultra starting price: $1,299 - Base price mentioned for the Note 20 Ultra Note 20 Ultra storage: up to 512 GB - Maximum onboard storage cited for the Note 20 Ultra Note 20 RAM: 8 GB - RAM amount cited for the standard Note 20 Note 20 Ultra RAM: 12 GB - RAM amount cited for the Note 20 Ultra Note 20 battery: 4,300 mAh - Battery capacity cited for the standard Note 20 Note 20 Ultra battery: 4,500 mAh - Battery capacity cited for the Note 20 Ultra Display refresh: 60 Hz - Standard Note 20 display refresh rate mentioned Display size/quality: 1440-class - Note 20 Ultra display described as 1440-class Camera resolution: 108 MP - Primary wide camera on the Note 20 Ultra Optical zoom: 5x - Periscope camera zoom on the Note 20 Ultra Video resolution: 8K - Video recording support mentioned for the Note 20 Ultra PC giveaway systems: 3 systems - Systems to be given away in the tech support challenge Giveaway CPU: Core i7-10700K - Processor included in the giveaway systems Giveaway GPU: EVGA RTX 2070 Super - Graphics card included in the giveaway systems Giveaway monitor: ViewSonic XG270QG - Monitor included in the giveaway systems MassCool case price: $79.99 - Historical price discussed for the AC-equipped case Bounty amount: $2,500 - Linus’s offer for a working MassCool AC case in good condition Tesla delivery purchase: Model Y - Vehicle purchased for in-laws CentOS 6 support: end of life in November - CloudLinux sponsor segment discussing extended lifecycle support

Pivotal Quotes: "Apple happens to glean 30% of the revenue, the top line revenue off of." — Linus: Critique of Apple’s in-app payment policy and claimed motivations "Maybe the solution, instead of building a process where you fix things after the fact would be to build a process where you identify and fix the things before the customer comes to get it." — Linus: Tesla QC criticism "We are going to continue cutting down and worsening the user experience for iOS users." — Luke: Sarcastic summary of Floatplane’s constrained iOS app experience

Implications: The episode highlights growing pressure on platform gatekeepers like Apple and the broader costs of closed ecosystems. It also underscores how security lapses, platform bans, and weak UX patterns can shape product strategy, user access, and public trust.