Waveform Podcast: Microsoft x Crocs, OpenAI Models, and New Gadgets

Tech News and Collaborations

• 👟 Microsoft is releasing Windows XP Crocs to celebrate its 50th anniversary, featuring iconic XP elements like the green hill and blue sky wallpaper, complete with Jibbits like Clippy and the Internet Explorer icon.
• 🚀 YouTube is experimenting with a collab feature similar to Instagram and TikTok, allowing posts to appear on multiple channels, though official details are expected in the fall.
• 💡 The implementation of YouTube collabs is noted to be different from Instagram, with separate videos appearing on each creator's channel rather than a mirrored post.

AI and Open Models

• 🧠 OpenAI has released its first open-weight models since GPT-2, allowing for local execution and modification under the Apache 2.0 license.
• 💻 These new models include a 20 billion parameter version comparable to GPT-3.5-turbo and a 120 billion parameter version closer to GPT-4, with the former runnable on 16GB of VRAM.
• 🌐 The release is seen as a strategic move by OpenAI to compete with other open models and encourage development on their foundational technology, potentially influencing future AI applications.

Nintendo Switch Price Adjustments

• 💰 Nintendo has increased the prices of the original Switch, Switch Lite, and OLED models, citing market conditions and tariffs.
• 📈 The price hikes make the Switch 2 appear more competitively priced, with the OLED model now costing $400 and the Switch 2 at $450.
• 🕹️ The price increase on older models is also seen as a way to potentially boost sales of the newer Switch 2, especially given the rising costs associated with manufacturing tariffs.

Ghost 6.0 and Instagram Live Policy

• 📰 Ghost, a newsletter and website builder, has released version 6.0, integrating with the Fediverse to allow websites to function as entities within decentralized social networks.
• ✍️ This update allows users to follow websites directly from platforms like Mastodon, with comments on blog posts appearing on the website itself.
• 🚫 Instagram now requires users to have 1,000 followers to go live, a move criticized for potentially hindering new creators and nerfing features like live streaming from Meta's smart glasses.

Gadget Show and Tell

• 📸 Andrew showcased the Peak Design Pro Tripod, highlighting its improved stability and features for heavier payloads, though noting its larger size and high cost compared to the original travel tripod.
• 🖱️ David introduced the Seenda ergonomic mouse, a budget-friendly vertical mouse with a volume knob and multiple color options, praised for its affordability despite potential durability concerns.
• 📱 Adam presented the MOVAS Tripod Stand, a MagSafe-compatible stand for phones, and the (Not Boring) Camera app, which offers a stylized, retro-film-like photography experience with customizable filters and RAW saving capabilities.