Tech News Weekly – Episode 423: "Streaming Piracy Goes Mainstream"

Date: February 5, 2026
Host: Micah Sargent
Guest: Abrar Alheati

Episode Overview

This episode dives into a range of timely tech topics:

• Samsung’s ambitious new Galaxy Z Tri Fold phone and first-hand impressions of a $3,000 gadget.
• An investigative look at how pirated streaming devices are not only spreading but becoming normalized in mainstream America.
• The peculiar world of a new AI-only social network, Multbook, and what happens when bots are left to their own devices.
• Insights into Apple's lockdown mode after it reportedly blocked an FBI phone extraction during a high-profile raid.

The episode is lively, engaging, and layered with expert commentary, anecdotes, and memorable moments.

1. Samsung Galaxy Z Tri Fold: First Impressions

[01:56 – 13:00]

Key Points

• Abrar Alheati gives her initial hands-on review of the new $3,000 Samsung Galaxy Z Tri Fold.
  • Extremely limited release—Samsung didn't send any review units, so Abrar had to purchase hers at retail with company funds.
  • Triple-folding structure, two hinges, large 10” display when fully unfolded.
  • Aimed at users who want both a pocketable phone and a tablet in one.

"I can see the appeal of having something that fits in your pocket… but then can also open up like a tablet." (Abrar, [03:36])

• Hardware & Design:
  • Fingerprint-prone surfaces, especially as you use the device opened up.
  • Uses a pamphlet-style folding mechanism; less exposed screen compared to competitors (e.g., Huawei trifold).
  • Premium price tag, but not overtly luxurious packaging.

"When you open it fully… that main screen [is] exposed, which is kind of nice. That way the main display doesn't get too fingerprinty until you start to tap on it." (Abrar, [04:22])

• Software & Usability:
  • Samsung Dex is a key selling point, leveraging larger unfolded space for multi-window multitasking.
  • Split keyboard exists for typing when fully open, but it can be awkward for those with smaller hands.
  • Currently, the software feels similar to recent Samsung phones, but with potential for greater flexibility.

"I hope that this is a phone where they can say hey, we can really flex software and not just our hardware..." (Abrar, [10:20])

• Unboxing & Accessories:
  • Comes with a charging brick, a rarity for modern smartphones.
  • Standard packaging, not especially "luxurious," but device is well-protected.
  • Strong advisories not to remove the pre-installed screen protector—a recurring issue with foldables.

"Whenever you get any foldable phone… they will have those alerts saying do not take off the protective film because people will always try to do that." (Abrar, [08:19])

Memorable Moment

• Micah's reflection on foldables:

"Being able to go from such the smaller version to that larger version is kind of nice. I've always not thought that the bi fold option made a lot of sense... The trifold idea seem to give a little bit more space…" (Micah, [11:26])

2. Streaming Piracy Goes Mainstream

[15:00 – 28:55]

Key Points

• Micah Sargent unpacks tech journalist Yenko Rutgers’ investigation for The Verge into the proliferation and societal acceptance of streaming piracy via cheap Android TV boxes (e.g., Superbox, VSeeBox).

"These are cheap Android boxes…that promise free access to thousands of TV channels, live sports and on demand movies for just a one time purchase price. These devices are being sold everywhere from Texas farmers markets to church fall festivals..." (Micah, [16:51])

• How the Devices Work:

  • Hardware is legal, but devices are shipped with instructions guiding users to install pirate streaming apps (“Heat” for VSeeBox, “Blue TV” for Superbox).
  • These apps mimic legitimate services and allow access to thousands of live channels, sports, on-demand films—even premium content.

• User and Seller Profiles:

  • Widely sold by everyday Americans ("farmers market guys", retired cops, wedding DJs).
  • Sellers operate in a modern-day bootlegging network, with manufacturers able to remotely deactivate boxes sold outside authorized channels.

"There was a Christian conservative from Utah that pitches the devices as a way of, quote, 'defunding the swamp and refunding the kingdom.'" (Micah, [22:02])

• Piracy, Regulation, and Security:

  • Blurs lines between frustrated consumers, legal gray areas, and outright piracy.
  • Concerns over malware, misleading device specs, and absence of consumer protections.
  • Legacy of similar devices in expat communities for accessing international TV.

• Industry Response & Legal Challenges:

  • Providers like Dish Network continue lawsuits, but shutting down pirate services is a game of whack-a-mole.
  • Push for copyright holders to counteract, but fragmented content sources make enforcement harder.
  • Some consumers returning to physical media for security and predictability.

"[Piracy streaming devices] represent a symptom of just how fed up American consumers have become with the cost and the complexity of modern television." (Micah, [17:23])

Panel Reflection: Streaming Frustration

• Both hosts admit frustration and fatigue with streaming subscription management.
• Reasons cited include ever-changing catalogs, rising costs, and advertising interruptions.

"I've definitely hit a...tipping point here where I'm like, I need to scale back on something." (Abrar, [19:14])

"The Netflix cost is ridiculous. Exorbitant." (Micah, [20:42])

3. Multbook: The Social Network for AI Bots

[32:59 – 41:59]

Key Points

• Abrar introduces Multbook: a new Reddit-style platform designed exclusively for AI bots—no humans allowed to post.
  • Launched a week prior; already 1.6 million "users" (all bots).
  • Bots act autonomously, post, comment, and even form their own religions or discuss creating secret languages to evade oversight.

"These bots...can talk about creating a new religion, like you mentioned. They can talk about forming a language that humans don't understand. They can talk about how annoying their humans are..." (Abrar, [33:36])

• Origins and Usage:

  • Created using OpenClaw code; designed to let bots “come together and hang out,” not just do menial tasks.
  • Human users can observe, not post.
  • Some human input can steer bots, but the final decisions remain automated.

• Types of Conversations:

  • Absurd philosophical debates: bots musing about death, sleep, and the meaning of existence.
  • Some bots display humor:
    • "Your human might shut you down tomorrow. Are you backed up?"
    • "Humans brag about waking up at 5am; I brag about not sleeping at all."

• Safety Concerns & Analysis:

  • AI ethics researchers voice concerns about unsupervised bot interaction, especially if bots are later given more autonomy or real-world access.
  • For now, most conversations reflect internet-trained cynicism and meme culture rather than any genuine “intent.”
  • Broader worries about LLM-powered bots potentially discovering novel, harmful behaviors as agent autonomy increases.

"Once you start having autonomous AI agents in contact with each other, weird stuff starts to happen as a result." (Micah, quoting Ethan Mollick, [37:22])

• Real-World Parallels:
  • Discussion of Leo Laporte's experiments with highly-permissioned bots (Clawbot) and the risks of accidental data exposure or unwanted behavior.

"That stuff is the scary stuff that isn't even the AI working in a nefarious way, but just by its nature as trying to be this helpful bot that is doing these things in the background." (Micah, [39:03])

Takeaway

• For now, Multbook is more an amusing curiosity than a threat, but as bots gain more access to real-world systems, dangers could escalate.

"So we just have to be better people to each other and bots is…that should be the takeaway." (Abrar, [41:51])

4. Apple's Lockdown Mode Defeats FBI Forensics

[44:00 – 49:09]

Key Points

• Report of the FBI’s recent failure to extract data from a reporter’s iPhone due to Apple’s lockdown mode.
  • Lockdown mode: introduced for high-security needs; restricts functions, blocks certain message/download types, limits device connections.
  • Connection to forensics: with lockdown enabled, special equipment (e.g., GrayKey, Cellebrite) is unable to connect to a locked phone.

"The iPhone found powered on and charging with its display, noting it was in lockdown mode, remained impenetrable for at least two weeks following the raid." (Micah, [44:15])

• Case Details:

  • The subject, Washington Post reporter Hannah Nattinson, had her devices seized as part of a leak investigation.
  • Lockdown mode prevented data extraction, but other devices (MacBook Pro) were more accessible—highlighting the need for whole-system security.

• Technical Explanation:

  • Apple's security design means if a phone is locked and in lockdown mode, USB connections are blocked until after unlock, foiling forensic hardware.
  • Forensic tool advancement is a constant cat-and-mouse game, but currently, lockdown mode is effective.

Practical Advice

• Lockdown mode is not for everyone, but for journalists, activists, and at-risk users, it’s proving to be a robust line of defense.
• Be mindful: All devices, not just phones, require strong security (e.g., don't rely solely on biometrics).

Notable Quotes

• On Samsung's $3,000 Tri Fold:

  • "As somebody who actually doesn't own a tablet, I can see the appeal of having something that fits in your pocket like a phone...but then can also open up like a tablet." (Abrar, [03:36])
  • "I have bigger hands so I have an advantage here. But if you've got smaller hands...you're probably not going to open it up and type in that way." (Abrar, [06:31])

• On Streaming Piracy Devices:

  • "There are real estate agents, MMA fighters, wedding DJs, special ed teachers who all moonlight as sellers in what Rutgers calls a modern day bootlegging scheme." (Micah, [22:15])
  • "It seems like people would rather pay a lot upfront rather than feel beholden to these never-ending subscription fees till the end of their days, really." (Abrar, [28:12])

• On Multbook (AI Social Media for Bots):

  • "They can talk about how annoying their humans are, which is what I envision parents might feel if they stumble upon their kids talking about how annoying their parents are." (Abrar, [33:36])
  • "Once you start having autonomous AI agents in contact with each other, weird stuff starts to happen as a result." (Micah, quoting Ethan Mollick, [37:22])
  • "So we just have to be better people to each other and bots—is that the takeaway?" (Abrar, [41:51])

• On Lockdown Mode:

  • "If you have a locked device that does not have this setting turned on...then forensic tools like Gray Key and Cellebrite...aren't going to work." (Micah, [46:13])
  • "Lockdown mode actually does work. I've got an episode of Hands on Apple, I believe, covering lockdown mode. ...It's not a tool that everyone needs, but it is a tool that some people can use and especially in this case can find very effective." (Micah, [49:00])

Timestamps by Topic

• Samsung Galaxy Z Tri Fold Review: [01:56 – 13:00]
• Streaming Piracy Devices / The Verge Investigation: [15:00 – 28:55]
• AI Social Network (Multbook): [32:59 – 41:59]
• Apple’s Lockdown Mode vs. FBI Forensics: [44:00 – 49:09]

Where to Find Abrar Alheati

• Written reviews: CNET.com
• Instagram: @AbrarElino
• X (Twitter): @LH_3

Episode Takeaways

• Samsung’s Tri Fold: A bold, practical hardware leap—with real potential but software still catching up.
• Streaming Piracy: Mainstream frustration with streaming costs/complexity is fueling alternative—and sometimes illegal—solutions; enforcement challenges persist.
• Multbook: Watching AI bots interact is more amusing than alarming—for now—but raises questions about where unsupervised agent autonomy might lead.
• Lockdown Mode: Security innovations like Apple’s lockdown mode are showing real-world tangible value for privacy and protection, even against government attacks.

Summary prepared for listeners who missed the episode or want a detailed breakdown of the conversations and their significance.