Reviews of Apple's Magic Keyboard, iPhone SE, and Logitech Combo Touch

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode covers Verge coverage of COVID-19, Apple’s new iPhone SE and Magic Keyboard reviews, rumors of Apple’s ARM Mac transition, the FCC’s opening of 6GHz spectrum for Wi‑Fi 6E, and major streaming-platform developments. The hosts mix product analysis with broader pandemic-era shifts in testing, courts, misinformation, and remote work/entertainment behavior.

Main Topics: Coronavirus coverage and second-order effects (Priority: 5/5): The hosts highlight Verge reporting on testing promises, contact tracing debates, Bill Gates misinformation, drones for distancing enforcement, remote hospital robots, Zoom/Skype court hearings, and home COVID testing trends. iPhone SE (2020) review (Priority: 5/5): Dieter’s review frames the SE as a parts-bin iPhone with excellent bright-light performance, weak low-light photography, good battery life, and strong value for users seeking an iPhone under $500. Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (Priority: 4/5): The discussion centers on how the keyboard transforms the iPad into a desk-bound laptop-like device while preserving easy detachability and improving typing/trackpad use, though at high cost and with limited tilt. Apple’s ARM Mac future (Priority: 4/5): The hosts discuss Bloomberg rumors that Apple will move Macs to ARM chips, likely starting at the low end, and imagine a future where Macs and iPads converge in form factor and processor architecture. Wi‑Fi 6E and spectrum policy (Priority: 5/5): The FCC’s move to open 6GHz spectrum is framed as a major enabler for Wi‑Fi 6E, promising wider channels, higher throughput, and reduced congestion across home and enterprise networks. Streaming wars and platform consolidation (Priority: 4/5): Earnings and launches from Netflix, Snapchat, HBO Max, Peacock, Vudu/Fandango, Sonos, Apple Music, and Google Duo show how streaming, media bundles, and distribution platforms are reshaping the market during lockdown.

Key Arguments: The pandemic has accelerated not just direct health stories but a broad set of technological and societal adaptations, from remote court proceedings to drone policing and at-home diagnostics. The iPhone SE is compelling because Apple delivers top-tier performance and build quality at a low price by reusing mature hardware and manufacturing infrastructure. The SE’s camera is excellent in bright light but clearly constrained in low light, suggesting Apple may have limited features like Night Mode to preserve differentiation from higher-end iPhones. The Magic Keyboard is less a travel accessory than a premium desktop dock for iPad Pro; its biggest strength is that it makes it easy not to use the keyboard. Apple’s eventual ARM Mac transition is presented as both technically plausible and strategically inevitable, especially for the MacBook Air and other lower-end machines. Wi‑Fi 6E is a significant leap because the 6GHz band offers far more capacity than current Wi‑Fi bands, which should unlock multi-gigabit real-world performance and reduce interference. Streaming services are consolidating into increasingly confusing bundles and ecosystems, with consumers benefiting from convenience but facing fragmented access and pricing. Bill Gates is simultaneously the target of absurd conspiracy theories and a credible voice arguing for manual public-health work and vaccine manufacturing readiness.

Data Points: COVID promise timeline: 6 weeks - Referenced as the period since the promised federal coronavirus testing website was announced. Google engineers rumored: 17,000 / 1,700 / 45 million (joking escalation) - The hosts jokingly speculate about how many Google engineers might be working on the testing website. At-home COVID test price: $119 - The first FDA-authorized at-home COVID-19 testing kit mentioned in the discussion. Bill Gates vaccine factories: 7 factories for 7 vaccines - Gates’ pragmatic proposal to prepare for manufacturing scale even though most candidate vaccines will fail. iPhone SE price: $400 - The SE is positioned as an iPhone-quality device at a relatively low entry price. Magic Keyboard tilt limit: 130 degrees - The iPad Pro Magic Keyboard only tilts back to 130 degrees, affecting ergonomics and plane use. 12.9-inch iPad Pro + Magic Keyboard weight: about the same as a 13-inch MacBook Pro - Used to illustrate that the accessory combination is effectively laptop-class weight. Wi‑Fi 6E channels: 7 channels at 160 MHz each - The 6GHz band’s channel capacity is used to explain the spectrum increase. Wi‑Fi spectrum comparison: ~3x more capacity - The hosts estimate the new 6GHz Wi‑Fi band has roughly triple the capacity of existing Wi‑Fi spectrum. Netflix subscriber gain: 15 million - Netflix’s pandemic-era earnings showed a major jump in subscribers. HBO Max launch date: May 27 - The upcoming launch date discussed for HBO Max. LinkedIn Ads promo: $250 spend + $250 credit - Sponsor offer mentioned during the episode. Wealthfront cash account APY: 4% APY - Sponsor offer described for uninvested cash.

Pivotal Quotes: "this phone, more so than maybe even like the high-end phones, you buy and you expect to hang on to for three, four, five years" — Dieter Bone: On why the iPhone SE’s value proposition matters for long-term ownership. "the best thing about the magic keyboard is that it makes it easy not to use the magic keyboard" — Dieter Bone: On the accessory’s paradoxical strength: enabling easy detachment and true iPad use. "We're going to build seven factories to make seven different kinds of vaccines. One will be correct, the rest will be a waste, but it is the right kind of waste." — Bill Gates (paraphrased by hosts): On vaccine manufacturing preparedness despite uncertainty around which vaccine candidates will succeed.

Implications: The episode shows consumer tech rapidly adapting to pandemic life, while Apple, Wi‑Fi, and streaming all point toward more powerful, more integrated, and more confusing ecosystems. Expect faster networks, cheaper premium hardware, and continued platform consolidation.