Tech Tho(ugh)ts

The Right to Repair... Absolutely Nothing.

> We were on the Verge of Greatness… we were this close. > > > That Space Nazi from Rogue One Right to Repair has become a mainstream movement. Bills have been drafted all around the United States with a common goal: being able to fix your things. … It’s just a shame it all had to go down like this. ---------------------------------------- Sources: * The era of fixing your own phone has nearly arrived, The Verge, 2022 Apr 9 [https://www.theverge.com/23017361/ifixit-right-to-repair-parts-google-samsung-valve-microsoft] * Microsoft Funded a Right to Repair Study, and the Results Are Encouraging, ReviewGeek, 2022 May 3 [https://www.reviewgeek.com/116848/microsoft-funded-a-right-to-repair-study-and-the-results-are-encouraging/] * The shareholder fight that forced Apple’s hand on repair rights, The Verge, 2021 Nov 17 [https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/17/22787336/apple-right-to-repair-self-service-diy-reason-microsoft] * “Promoting Competition in the American Economy”, Presidential Document & Executive Order 14036, 2021 July 9 [https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/07/14/2021-15069/promoting-competition-in-the-american-economy] * * New York state passes first electronics right-to-repair bill, Ars Technica, 2022 June 3 [https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/06/ny-passes-right-to-repair-will-require-tech-oems-to-share-tools-diagnostic-info/] * New York breaks the right to repair bill as it’s signed into law, The Verge, 2022 Dec 29 [https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/29/23530733/right-to-repair-law-new-york-tech-hochul-oems-parts] * Gov. Hochul’s approval of Senate Bill 4104-A, Twitter user John Campbell (Gothamist and WNYC reporter), 29 Dec 2022 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230206011423/https://twitter.com/JonCampbellNY/status/1608327624526548993] * How Apple & Big Tech gutted New York’s right to repair bill, Apple Insider, 2023 Feb 13 [https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/02/13/how-apple-big-tech-gutted-new-yorks-right-to-repair-bill] * TechNet’s proposed changes to Digital Fair Repair Act [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23599780-technets-proposed-changes-to-digital-fair-repair-act] (source below) * How Big Tech rewrote the nation’s first cell phone repair law, Grist, 2023 Feb 8 [https://grist.org/technology/right-to-repair-new-york-hochul-big-tech-lobbying-law/] ---------------------------------------- Website: https://techthoughts.gay [https://techthoughts.gay] Instagram: https://instagram.com/techthoughtspodcast/ [https://instagram.com/techthoughtspodcast/] Opening Music: Dark Synthwave [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7jnNM0liC4&list=PLq2aS32V3IdYBWNwcCamJPVu8gurMPUiv&index=3] by MOKKA [https://www.patreon.com/posts/42419577]

Apple's Tumbl(r)ing Chain Reaction [SEASON FINALE]

Happy New Year! Or, well, Mediocre Concerning New Year might be more accurate, for you. It’s 2022 (by the time we are recording this)- and it’s finally time to say goodbye to Season 4! And, what better way to say goodbye than describing the absolute backwards-logic of Apple’s control over the iOS ecosystem. If you’re an iOS user- well, imagine if you couldn’t use the tagging feature of an entire social media website. ---------------------------------------- Sources: * Apple.com, App Store Review Guidelines (25 Jan 2022 Snapshot) [https://web.archive.org/web/20220125024707/https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/] * Tumblr’s Banned Words Google Doc [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YG7E84Dvs2PyoKMgSgZFgEX0Kh0RtJqsazZsyVGY8dk/edit] * TechCrunch, 29 December 2021, “Intel to acquire Tower Semiconductor for $5.4B to build on custom foundry strategy [https://techcrunch.com/2022/02/15/intel-to-acquire-tower-semiconductor-for-5-4b-to-build-on-custom-foundry-strategy/] ---------------------------------------- Website: https://techthoughts.gay [https://techthoughts.gay] Instagram: https://instagram.com/techthoughtspodcast/ [https://instagram.com/techthoughtspodcast/] Opening Music: Dark Synthwave [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7jnNM0liC4&list=PLq2aS32V3IdYBWNwcCamJPVu8gurMPUiv&index=3] by MOKKA [https://www.patreon.com/posts/42419577]

How to React to Change [Blizzard & Apple Updates]

Well, some big names in that title. Apple has recently announced a big change to their opinion on right to repair! Meanwhile, Blizzard… .. … wow guys, are you okay? ---------------------------------------- Sources: * Right to Repair * Apple Newsroom, 17 November 2021, “Apple announces Self Service Repair“ [https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/11/apple-announces-self-service-repair/] * Engadget, 21 July 2021, “FTC votes to fight back against right to repair restrictions“ [https://www.engadget.com/ftc-right-to-repair-policy-statement-203721173.html] * Apple Insider, 11 June 2021, “New York State Senate passes right to repair legislation“ [https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/06/11/new-york-state-senate-passes-right-to-repair-legislation] * Activision Blizzard’s Culture Controversy * The Wall Street Journal, 16 November 2021, “Activision CEO Bobby Kotick Knew for Years About Sexual-Misconduct Allegations at Videogame Giant“ [https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/activision-videogames-bobby-kotick-sexual-misconduct-allegations-11637075680] * The Verge, 16 November 2021, “Activision Blizzard’s rot goes all the way to the CEO, alleges bombshell report“ [https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/16/22785457/activision-blizzard-bobby-kotick-ceo-wall-street-journal-wsj-report-allegations] * The Verge, 16 November 2021, “Activision Blizzard board rallies around embattled CEO hours after damning report“ [https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/16/22785776/activision-blizzard-board-statement-ceo-bobby-kotick] * The Verge, 23 November 2021, “Amid calls for CEO resignation, Activision Blizzard announces a workplace committee” [https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/23/22798473/activision-blizzard-board-of-directors-new-committee] * Activision Blizzard Employees’ Petition for the removal of Bobby Kotick [https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/e/2PACX-1vSbxdA-egrhAK6TcydVcrTqQDDjU7QE4j4jpjwCO2pUIYFmtTjLksl7EBALc8O_Jla2qT1Oy0H5zn66/pub] ---------------------------------------- Website: https://techthoughts.gay [https://techthoughts.gay] Instagram: https://instagram.com/techthoughtspodcast/ [https://instagram.com/techthoughtspodcast/] Opening Music: Synthetic Pleasures by MOKKA [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2B3I6UesKFyI5E2B0QisOw]

Pokemon's Fall From Grace

NOTE: This episode was made before the release of Legends Arceus- it is promising and addresses many of our concerns. You all know the game about catching them all and… animal fighting rings? Well, the last couple of Pokemon generations have been… disappointing, to say the least- so let’s see exactly how far they’ve fallen. ---------------------------------------- Sources: * Nintendo Life, 10 November 2021, “You’ll Really, Really Want To Ensure Your Pokémon Diamond/Pearl Remakes Are Updated At Launch” [https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/11/youll-really-really-want-to-ensure-your-pokemon-diamondpearl-remakes-are-updated-at-launch] * ParallaxMedia.one, 24 November 2018, ‘How To: Making Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee More Challenging” [https://www.parallaxmedia.one/2018/11/24/how-to-making-pokemon-lets-go-pikachu-eevee-more-challenging/] * Kotaku, 21 October 2013, “Think Pokémon X & Y Are Too Easy? Try This.“ [https://kotaku.com/think-pokemon-x-y-are-too-easy-try-this-1448984436] * DualShockers, 12 October 2018, “In Defense of Pokémon X and Y, Five Years Later“ [https://www.dualshockers.com/pokemon-x-y-5-year-anniversary/] ---------------------------------------- Website: https://techthoughts.gay [https://techthoughts.gay] Instagram: https://instagram.com/techthoughtspodcast/ [https://instagram.com/techthoughtspodcast/] Opening Music: Synthetic Pleasures by MOKKA [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2B3I6UesKFyI5E2B0QisOw]

We Wish Nintendidn't

NOTE: Released late and out of order due to technical difficulties! We told you, we’d be back with this. Nintendo has made some pretty strange choices as of late. Well… actually, they’ve always had a few awful approaches to things. So let’s get right into it, let’s talk about the worse side of Nintendo. ---------------------------------------- Sources: Fan-Games: * Polygon, 12 September 2017, “Metroid: Samus Returns review“ [https://www.polygon.com/2017/9/12/16288926/metroid-samus-returns-review] * TheGamer.com, 17 September 2020, “10 Fan Remakes Of Nintendo Games You Have To See” [https://www.thegamer.com/nintendo-games-fan-remakes-must-see/] * Nintendo Life, 6 January 2021, “Nintendo Issues Mass DMCA Takedown, 379 Fan-Made Games Forcibly Removed” [https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/01/nintendo_issues_mass_dmca_takedown_379_fan-made_games_forcibly_removed] ShackNews.com, 29 June 2017, “Fan-Made Halo Game Installation 01 Gets Blessing From 343 Industries” [https://www.shacknews.com/article/100481/fan-made-halo-game-installation-01-gets-blessing-from-343-industries] Nintendo on Competitive Smash Bros.: * Iven Global, 18 March 2021, “Sony’s Evo acquisition reveals Smash missing from Evo Online 2021 lineup“ [https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/13573/smash-evo-2021] * Polygon, 19 November 2020, “Smash Bros. tournament The Big House 10 canceled over netcode“ [https://www.polygon.com/2020/11/19/21578200/super-smash-bros-tournament-the-big-house-10-canceled-nintendo-c-d] * Destructoid, 10 January 2020, “Nintendo president tries to explain why they haven’t supported the Smash Ultimate esports scene“ [https://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-president-tries-to-explain-why-they-havent-supported-the-smash-ultimate-esports-scene/] * Destructoid, 12 July 2013, “Nintendo wanted to shut down Smash Bros at Evo entirely” [https://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-wanted-to-shut-down-smash-bros-at-evo-entirely/] Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack: * Screen Rant, 20 October 2021, “Nintendo Switch Online Expansion’s High Price Possibly Because Of Sega“ [https://screenrant.com/nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-price-sega-genesis/] * Metro News, 18 October 2021, “Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack gets release date after pricing backlash“ [https://metro.co.uk/2021/10/18/nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-gets-release-date-after-backlash-15440491/] ---------------------------------------- Website: https://techthoughts.gay [https://techthoughts.gay] Instagram: https://instagram.com/techthoughtspodcast/ [https://instagram.com/techthoughtspodcast/] Opening Music: Dark Synthwave [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7jnNM0liC4&list=PLq2aS32V3IdYBWNwcCamJPVu8gurMPUiv&index=3] by MOKKA [https://www.patreon.com/posts/42419577]