The WAN Show - Windows 10 the LAST Windows & Apple Anti-Competitive?? - May 8, 2015

The WAN Show opens with Linus and the team discussing a variety of tech and gaming topics, setting a casual yet informed tone. They reference GOG Galaxy’s open beta and its aim to rival Steam, highlighting DRM-free options and crossplay ambitions as a response to Valve’s dominance. The hosts then unpack Microsoft’s claim that Windows 10 will be the last major Windows release, explaining the idea of Windows as a service and how future updates might roll out to components or apps rather than the entire OS. They compare Windows naming conventions to Apple’s OS naming, joking about potential future versioning and whether public names will continue to be used. The conversation pivots to questions about monetization, such as whether Windows 10 will be free and how Office 365 or OneDrive might subsidize Windows development. The show also debates the possibility of Apple relaunching Beats Music and pressuring labels to drop free streaming options like Spotify, using Taylor Swift as a featured example of artist leverage. The panel moves into the topic of Star Wars Battlefront, pondering changes such as the removal of iron sights and proposing humorous alternate game modes to illustrate their point. Throughout, they intersperse sponsor segments with Lynda.com, FreshBooks, Massdrop, and a discussion about the logistics and humor of running a tech-focused show. The WAN Show’s banter covers the realities of running a content business, including pool party ideas for Community announcements and the feasibility of Patreon support to fund fun, high-cost segments like Team Channel Super Fun events. The conversation veers into how the community enjoys unboxings and other spontaneous content, while acknowledging the challenges of achieving sustainable revenue for such production. They touch on cloud storage integration frustrations with Office 365 and OneDrive, voicing preferences for more flexible, platform-agnostic solutions. The episode also covers the evolving landscape of music streaming, the role of exclusivity in streaming deals, and audience reactions from both paid and free Spotify users. The hosts invite viewer input on whether a paid, ad-free or partly ad-supported streaming model can still deliver value to artists and listeners alike, emphasizing transparency about monetization. They examine cross-platform compatibility in gaming via Gog Galaxy, noting that crossplay with Steam could enhance multiplayer experiences for titles with community-driven co-op components. The WAN Show closes with a look at the broader ecosystem, suggesting that third-party platforms could challenge Valve’s Steam dominance and discussing potential future features like offline support, cross-platform social features, and robust backup options for games. The team ends with a lighthearted tease about continuing the topic slate, thanking sponsors, and promising more in-depth coverage of the most engaging topics in subsequent episodes. Overall the show blends analysis, humor, and fan interaction to explore current trends in hardware, software, music, and gaming. The content demonstrates how Linus and his crew balance editorial insights with personal anecdotes to keep technology approachable for a broad audience. The episode exemplifies the channel’s mission to demystify complex topics while maintaining an entertaining, conversational style that keeps viewers coming back for more. Finally, the WAN Show reinforces its commitment to community engagement, inviting feedback, and experimentation with new formats while maintaining a core focus on technology and gaming culture.

Topics · technology · gaming · business · entertainment