The WAN Show - eSports in the Olympics?? GTA V PC is Delayed! - Jan 16, 2015

The WAN Show episode dated January 16, 2015 dives into a packed lineup of tech topics and pop culture angles, anchored by Linus and Luke in the studio. The hosts begin with a candid apology for a late start, describing microphone battery changes and the logistics of reassembling gear after their Las Vegas trip. They outline a broad agenda including discussions on e-sports in the Olympics, Google and Microsoft patch policies, Nintendo’s distribution moves in Brazil, and the evolving storage landscape with SSDs. The conversation about e-sports centers on whether competitive gaming should be considered a sport, touching on spectator appeal, historical precedents, and how the Olympic framework handles new events. They acknowledge that the IOC limits the number of events, implying that adding esports would require trimming another discipline, and they debate which mind games or board games might be good fits. The talk then shifts to the broader debate about what constitutes a sport, weighing reflexes, mental resilience, and the validity of comparing chess and other mind sports to traditional physical contests. They also discuss the audience perception of e-sports, highlighting differences between cultural acceptance in various regions and the role of hype versus technical skill. The hosts pivot to a second major thread about patch release policies and the tension between large tech companies over vulnerability disclosures, with Google and Microsoft taking opposing stances on patch timelines and 90-day disclosure norms. The Google versus Microsoft segment unfolds in two stories: one about a Windows vulnerability and patch timing, and another about Google’s own Android WebView vulnerability response strategy, exposing tensions around responsibility distribution and patch cadence for diverse devices. The panel expands on Android fragmentation and the difficulty of guaranteeing timely security updates across a broad ecosystem of hardware and OEMs, noting that many devices run older Android versions like Jelly Bean. They discuss the practical implications for users who cannot easily upgrade devices and the consequences for platform trust when older devices remain vulnerable. The conversation then loops back to consumer devices and software trends, covering MacBook Air rumors, USB-C and Thunderbolt debates, and the potential emergence of Broadwell-based ultrabooks with fanless designs for quiet operation. They compare SSD and HDD economics, referencing experts and CES conversations, and ponder future storage architectures and cost curves as flash storage becomes more economical than spinning disks. The show also touches on the evolving peripheral and accessory market, with sponsor plugs interleaved between segments, and a lighthearted exploration of quirky tech memes and old hardware nostalgia. The discussion about Nintendo expands into Brazil’s distribution challenges, the impact of Brazil’s import tariffs on gaming hardware, and the broader implications for consumers who face inflated prices and limited availability in emerging markets. The team examines how import tariffs shape manufacturing strategies and the rationale for local production incentives, weighing the societal benefits of job creation against the higher costs to consumers and the potential market fragmentation. The RTX-like chatter about SSD longevity and NAS storage leads to a broader reflection on personal archival practices, with personal anecdotes about using iPhones, Android devices, and legacy hardware as part of everyday life, and how storage decisions influence daily workflows. The hosts wrap the long arc of the show with practical takeaways, including considerations for upgrading laptops, the trade-offs of mobility versus performance, and the importance of choosing storage media that aligns with one’s real-world needs. In closing, they tease upcoming product discussions and encourage viewers to participate in polls and sponsor events, inviting feedback on what topics should be prioritized in future WAN shows. The energy remains high, the humor is self-aware, and the audience is urged to stay tuned for more rapid-fire tech analysis and community-driven discussion, ending the episode on a note of anticipation for the next installment.

Topics · technology · entertainment · consumer_electronics · gaming