Microsoft Did It First Apple - WAN Show September 11, 2026

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on Apple’s September event, especially its new $2,000 foldable iPhone Duo and AirPods updates, debating whether high prices are justified by long-term use and new features. The hosts also cover Kojima’s split from Sony, IKEA’s Skyrim crossover, LG TV spying claims, Nintendo’s tariff-driven sale, HexOS Buddy Backup, and several gaming/device industry stories, mixing product analysis with broader concerns about privacy, pricing, and platform control.

Main Topics: Apple’s September event and the iPhone Duo (Priority: 5/5): The hosts break down Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo, focusing on its thinness, dual screens, under-display FaceTime camera, durability claims, and especially its $2,000 price tag. They debate whether the device is worth it for users who keep phones for many years. AirPods 5 and Apple’s incremental hardware strategy (Priority: 4/5): They discuss the new AirPods line, especially ANC on the cheaper tier, pricing consistency, and Apple’s likely strategy of increasing average selling price while making basic models more compelling. Kojima Productions leaving PlayStation for Xbox (Priority: 5/5): A major gaming-industry story covers Sony ending its collaboration with Kojima Productions on PhysInt, with speculation about budget, missed deadlines, and Death Stranding 2 sales. The hosts think this could be a big Xbox win. PAX attendance and the shrinking video game expo floor (Priority: 4/5): Luke recounts a disappointing PAX experience dominated by tabletop and freeplay areas, with few major AAA or hardware exhibitors. Rumors suggest Nintendo’s pullout triggered a cascade of cancellations, possibly linked to GTA 6 and broader market weakness. Privacy, surveillance, and smart device concerns (Priority: 5/5): The LG TV spying story prompts a broader discussion about smart TVs scanning networks, voice transcripts, ACR, dark patterns, and how device makers monetize ads and data after sale. The hosts contrast this with the idea of a modular, user-owned Framework TV. HexOS Buddy Backup and homelab convenience (Priority: 4/5): They highlight HexOS’s new Buddy Backup beta, which enables encrypted off-site backup between friends’ servers, possibly extending to other NAS platforms. The hosts see it as a strong example of making a normally complex task easy. Nintendo sale, tariffs, and tech pricing oddities (Priority: 3/5): Nintendo’s tariff-related sale is discussed as a rare promotional pass-through of refunded tariff costs. They also touch on the Trump phone price increase and compare brand premium pricing across tech products.

Key Arguments: Apple’s foldable may be expensive, but some users will justify the cost if they keep devices for 5–7 years and value long-term software support. Foldables could remain expensive for years; if so, early adopters may face a choice between buying now or never owning one. AirPods pricing changes may be aimed at raising average selling price by making the cheaper tier more attractive and the higher tier less dominant. Kojima’s split from Sony looks like a clash between auteur ambition and publisher business realities; Xbox may benefit significantly if PhysInt lands well. PAX’s video game floor is weakening because big vendors and hardware brands are skipping events, likely due to cost, market conditions, and GTA 6 drawing attention. LG’s TV data practices highlight how smart TVs are increasingly monetized via ads and surveillance, not just hardware sales. HexOS Buddy Backup is valuable because it turns a technically difficult, but possible, workflow into a one-click feature for ordinary users. Nintendo’s tariff refund sale shows how refunded costs can be converted into promotions, though the hosts note the difficulty of fairly returning money to individual purchasers.

Data Points: iPhone Duo starting price: $2,000 US - Apple’s foldable phone price drew strong criticism during the September event discussion. iPhone Duo inner display: 7.6 inches - Apple says the unfolded screen is 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max display. iPhone Duo outer display: 5.4 inches - The closed form is described as passport-sized. Pre-order date: October 16 - Apple’s foldable phone pre-orders open ahead of launch. Launch date: October 23 - Apple’s foldable phone ships after pre-orders. AirPods 5 starting price: $129 - The base AirPods model now includes ANC and keeps or lowers price relative to prior tiers. AirPods ANC battery life: 5 hours - The more expensive AirPods tier offers five hours of battery with ANC on. AirPods ANC improvement: ~40% - The hosts recall Apple claiming a double-digit ANC improvement, likely around 40%. Kojima split timing: June - Kojima said Sony’s cancellation notice arrived unexpectedly in June. PAX years of decline: Several years - Luke says the expo hall has been getting progressively less interesting over time. Nintendo tariff refund: $300 million - Nintendo reported this refund in earnings after tariffs were ruled illegal. Nintendo sale discount: 30% off - Nintendo’s promotion includes dozens of digital games, bundles, DLC, accessories, amiibo, and apparel. LG TV spying video views: 5 million - The hosts cite the GN video’s large audience as evidence of broad concern. HexOS Buddy Backup beta: Live now - The feature is in beta and supports encrypted P2P or relay-based off-site backups. LG TV ad/metric concern: Plain text transcripts - The researchers reportedly found voice-command transcripts, which LG did not directly address in its response. Hypertune subscription price: $9.99/month or $69.99/year - Intel-backed auto-overclocking tool pricing was criticized as expensive. Hypertune performance claim: Up to 60% FPS improvement - The hosts note that published benchmarks were much lower than the headline claim. Australia fine for noncompliance: AU$109.2 million - Australia’s proposed feed-choice law would penalize platforms heavily for noncompliance.

Pivotal Quotes: "Two grand is an insane amount to spend on a phone." — Luke: Reaction to the iPhone Duo’s $2,000 starting price and the general affordability of foldables. "Why use a $2,000 phone for seven years when you could upgrade a $700 phone three times in that time?" — Hathos (quoted by the hosts): Used to frame the value proposition debate around premium foldables versus cheaper, replaceable phones. "They own the glass." — Linus: Discussion of LG’s ad business and how smart TV companies monetize viewers after the hardware sale.

Implications: Premium phones, smart TVs, and platform services are increasingly sold on long-term ecosystem value, data capture, and convenience—not just hardware specs. Consumers should expect more privacy tradeoffs, subscription-like pricing, and pressure to buy into ecosystems.