The WAN Show - Paid SKYRIM Mods Are Gone! & Apple Watch Costs $85 :p - May 1, 2015

The WAN Show episode dated May 1, 2015 covers a variety of tech topics, anchored by the big news that Skyrim paid mods have been removed, with Valve and Bethesda backtracking on the revenue share model. The hosts discuss the implications for mod creators, the community, and the business considerations behind mod hosting, acknowledging the scale of support and customer service impact. They also touch on Square Enix's DirectX 12 demo and give tongue-in-cheek commentary about misgivings with Final Fantasy, highlighting the ongoing tension between traditional publishers and modern graphics technologies. A significant portion is devoted to the Apple Watch pricing discussion, debating an alleged $85 production cost against consumer pricing and how wearables were entering mainstream conversation. The show then shifts to energy tech, with detailed commentary on Tesla energy products, including the Powerwall and Powerpack, explaining how home energy storage might transform solar power usage and peak-hour dynamics for households. The folding team update provides real-world context for distributed computing efforts in support of disease research, noting their impressive growth in members and daily production potential while positioning the WAN Show as a platform for nerdy enthusiasm and practical demonstrations. There is a measured analysis of crowd-sourced content creation alongside corporate strategies, including the complexities of paid mod ecosystems and their impact on developers, users, and brand trust, with the hosts weighing the pros and cons of monetization for digital content. The episode also covers a quick primer on a lower-level tech topic, the RAM management issues seen on flagship devices, specifically the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, and their impact on multitasking performance, tying it back to software optimization debates in the Android ecosystem. Throughout the discussion, the hosts intersperse sponsor messages and light humor about intros, live stream quirks, and the dynamic chemistry with guests, all while offering practical takeaways for enthusiasts considering future tech purchases and DIY projects. In summary, the WAN Show blends breaking tech news with thoughtful analysis, practical experimentation, and a casual, entertaining tone that fans of Linus Tech Tips have come to expect. It culminates in reflections on how tech innovation, consumer expectations, and platform policies intersect to shape the digital devices and ecosystems audiences rely on daily, inviting viewers to think critically about cost, value, and future trends in technology.

Topics · technology · gaming · energy · science · media · business