Tech News Weekly 375: Apple's New iPhone 16e – Detailed Summary

Release Date: February 20, 2025
Hosted by: Micah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge
Guest Speakers: Zach Hall (9to5Mac) and Scott Stein (CNET)

1. Nvidia’s AI-Powered Platform for American Sign Language (Signs)

Discussion Between Micah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Micah Sargent kicks off the episode by highlighting an innovative project by Nvidia in collaboration with the American Society for Deaf Children and creative agency Hello Monday. They are developing an online platform named Signs, aimed at enhancing the practice and understanding of American Sign Language (ASL).

• Micah Sargent [01:30]:
  “Nvidia is working with the American Society for Deaf Children and a creative agency called Hello Monday to create an online platform that is called Signs. This platform is actually going to help people to better practice and understand American Sign Language.”

The platform boasts 400,000 video clips representing 1,000 signed words, all validated by fluent ASL users and interpreters to ensure accuracy. This extensive dataset not only serves as a robust learning tool but also allows integration with other applications, fostering a growing ecosystem around ASL learning.

• Jennifer Pattison Tuohy [06:25]:
  “This AI tool kind of analyzes your footage so you get real-time feedback on how your sign language is. So you're literally having it help you. It's being a teacher to help you be able to communicate better.”

Jennifer emphasizes the platform’s potential to assist families, especially those with deaf children, by providing accessible resources to learn and communicate effectively in ASL. She draws parallels to language learning tools like Duolingo but with the added advantage of personalized, interactive feedback.

• Jennifer Pattison Tuohy [09:40]:
  “Teach yourself the wrong way. And then like when you teach yourself French and go and say something really stupid when you're in France, everyone laughs at you. Excuse me. A lot.”

Micah appreciates the platform's emphasis on verified learning, ensuring users develop proper ASL skills without the pitfalls of self-teaching inaccuracies.

• Micah Sargent [08:37]:
  “Having that direct feedback and visual feedback and in particular having feedback that you can trust, I guess is kind of important.”

2. Review of the Skylight Calendar Max

Presented by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

Jennifer shifts the focus to her latest review of the Skylight Calendar Max, a 27-inch digital touchscreen display designed to streamline family scheduling. The device integrates an AI-powered assistant called Sidekick, which automates the input of various household schedules into a centralized calendar system.

• Jennifer Pattison Tuohy [14:30]:
  “This is something that other services do offer, I think. Gemini and ChatGPT you can also use, you can input this data and it should send it to your calendar. But as I describe in the article, it just didn't work as well as Sidekick.”

She highlights the AI’s capability to handle diverse data inputs—emails, photos, Excel spreadsheets—and accurately translate them into calendar events, significantly reducing manual entry time.

• Jennifer Pattison Tuohy [18:59]:
  “This is really, really useful and it's one of the first times I've actually found an AI service to really fit into my workflow and life and I found it really, really useful.”

Jennifer praises the Sidekick feature for its reliability and user-friendly feedback mechanism, which allows users to verify and correct calendar entries via email.

• Jennifer Pattison Tuohy [21:15]:
  “It just sort of says here, did I do it? Is it good? Are we good?”

The conversation delves into how Sidekick differs from other AI calendar tools by providing tangible accuracy and ease of use, making it an indispensable tool for busy households managing multiple schedules.

3. Apple's New iPhone 16e with Zach Hall of 9to5Mac

Hosted by Micah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

In a pivotal segment, Zach Hall from 9to5Mac introduces Apple’s latest addition to their smartphone lineup—the iPhone 16e. Positioned as an affordable alternative within the iPhone 16 series, the 16e aims to balance cost with advanced features.

• Zach Hall [30:27]:
  “The iPhone 16e is affordable. It replaces the iPhone SE third generation and the iPhone 14 in Apple's current iPhone lineup.”

Priced starting at $599, the 16e offers significant upgrades over its predecessor, featuring Face ID, a full-screen display, enhanced camera systems, and improved battery life. Despite its higher price compared to the iPhone SE3, it provides a generational leap in technology that justifies the investment.

• Zach Hall [31:00]:
  “You get more storage and a whole lot more features including Face ID and this full screen display with no home button, better camera system, a lot more battery life.”

A notable omission in the iPhone 16e is the absence of MagSafe wireless charging, which Micah Sargent probes into.

• Zach Hall [34:57]:
  “It must just be a cost thing. And one theory was Apple's using their own modem. Now they're replacing Qualcomm modems with their own C1 modem in the iPhone 16e.”

Zach speculates whether the exclusion of MagSafe is a cost-saving measure or related to technical aspects like Apple's transition to its own C1 modem. He notes that while the iPhone 16e supports traditional Qi wireless charging, it lacks the enhanced features and efficiency of MagSafe.

Jennifer offers strategic advice on choosing between the iPhone models, recommending the 16e over the iPhone 15 for better value and longevity.

• Zach Hall [37:58]:
  “My advice for anyone buying a new iPhone in 2025 is if you're looking at the 15, you probably don't want a 16 or 16 Pro. You probably should look at the 16e instead.”

He elaborates on the 16e’s appeal to users of older models like the iPhone SE, iPhone 11, or iPhone 12, emphasizing its superior battery life and performance enhancements.

• Zach Hall [39:56]:
  “If you're currently an iPhone SE user or use an iPhone 11 or iPhone 12 or 12 mini, then I think Apple is especially looking at you because they've got all these different comparisons in terms of battery life and performance.”

The 16e is available for pre-order starting February 21st at 8 AM Eastern, with shipments beginning the following week.

4. CNET’s Scott Stein on Humane’s AI Pin

Featured Guest: Scott Stein

Scott Stein from CNET provides an in-depth analysis of the Humane AI Pin, a device that garnered substantial hype upon its release. Initially envisioned as a futuristic gadget intended to replace smartphones, the AI Pin faced significant challenges post-launch.

• Scott Stein [44:25]:
  “This kind of emerged as this extremely hyped device that looked kind of futuristic and former Apple engineers and designers who wanted this to be the future beyond phones.”

Despite its innovative concept, the AI Pin struggled with functionality issues. Scott recounts his personal experience of using the device, including attempts to utilize it at Disney World, where it consistently overheated and failed to perform basic tasks effectively.

• Scott Stein [52:59]:
  “It overheated at the drop of a head... because it used this incredibly ornery projection system that used lasers that would project onto your hand.”

The AI Pin's reliance on server-side operations rendered it non-functional once Humane decided to sell the device's IP to HP for $116 million. Consequently, all user data is set to be erased by February 28th, leaving owners with a non-functional device and no refund options.

• Scott Stein [45:54]:
  “It's being sold basically for the IP to HP for 116 million... this is going to lose its data February 28th and there's no recourse.”

The abrupt discontinuation and lack of support have left users and tech enthusiasts disappointed, echoing the downfall of previous tech ventures like Palm and webOS.

• Scott Stein [47:38]:
  “Reactions have been really upset obviously, but people acknowledged that it was a bad product from the get go.”

Scott critiques the AI Pin’s fundamental design choice to operate independently from smartphones, creating unnecessary complications and dependencies that ultimately led to its failure.

• Scott Stein [56:41]:
  “I've never liked the idea of having AI manage your life because it's so diffuse and I like to make individual decisions.”

He underscores the importance of seamless integration with existing devices and services, advocating for AI enhancements that complement rather than replace essential technologies like smartphones and smartwatches.

Conclusion

Tech News Weekly Episode 375 delves into significant advancements and challenges within the tech industry. From Nvidia’s benevolent AI endeavor for ASL learning to Apple's strategic release of the iPhone 16e, and the cautionary tale of Humane’s AI Pin, the episode offers a comprehensive analysis of current trends and product developments. Guests Zach Hall and Scott Stein provide expert insights, enriching the discussion with their professional perspectives and firsthand experiences.

For more in-depth reviews and tech insights, listeners are encouraged to follow hosts and guests on their respective platforms.

Notable Quotes:

• Zach Hall [31:00]:
  “You get more storage and a whole lot more features including Face ID and this full screen display with no home button, better camera system, a lot more battery life.”

• Jennifer Pattison Tuohy [06:25]:
  “It's like a Duolingo for ASL that's going to actually really give you this feedback and help you become more fluent and understand the nuances.”

• Scott Stein [44:40]:
  “Humane's AI Pin was trying to think beyond phones, but it didn't work out as expected.”

• Micah Sargent [08:37]:
  “Having that direct feedback and visual feedback and in particular having feedback that you can trust is kind of important.”

Stay tuned to Tech News Weekly for more updates and expert analyses on the ever-evolving landscape of technology.