TechLinked Podcast Summary

Episode: China's chip breakthrough, RAM crisis affecting PCs/phones, App Store changes + more!
Date: December 20, 2025
Host: Linus Media Group

Overview

This episode of TechLinked dives into a range of breaking tech stories, including China's surprising advances in semiconductor manufacturing, a growing RAM shortage disrupting consumer and enterprise hardware ecosystems, sweeping changes to Apple's App Store policies in Japan, alarming vulnerabilities in PC motherboards affecting cheater detection, and a parade of wild security and robotics developments. The hosts blend deep-dive news analysis with their signature humorous, irreverent banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. China’s Secretive EUV Lithography Project

• China’s Breakthrough: China has reportedly made a quiet but major leap in chip manufacturing by building a prototype EUV (extreme ultraviolet) lithography machine—technology long monopolized by Dutch company ASML.
• Details:
  • The machine fills an entire factory floor but hasn’t yet produced working chips ([00:49]).
  • The project allegedly relied on retired, mostly Chinese-born ASML engineers, lured by attractive incentives—many given fake IDs and instructed to use aliases within the secretive compound.
  • China sourced parts from older used ASML machines, sidestepping export controls ([02:25]).
• Geopolitical Context: If successful, this move would shake up US/Western dominance in advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
• Memorable Moment / Tone:
  • “It’s basically the plot of the Red movies. The retired black ops agents replaced by semiconductor equipment engineers. The only thing these operatives are assassinating is the US Hegemony.” ([02:51])

2. Global RAM Shortage & Effects on Devices

• Crisis Overview: AI companies are buying up huge quantities of RAM, driving a global shortage that’s expected to persist well into next year.
• Market Impact:
  • PC and smartphone makers bracing for price hikes ([03:16]).
  • Apple & Samsung buffered by advance RAM contracts, but may still increase prices:

    “They would have no reason to do that just because every other company in the market is doing that, right?” (tongue-in-cheek, [03:39]).

  • PC enthusiasts are overpaying for older CPUs compatible with more affordable DDR4 RAM ([04:00]).
• GPU Launch Despite Crisis:
  • Nvidia released the high-end RTX Pro 5000 Blackwell GPU with a massive 72GB of GDDR7 RAM targeting AI/creative professionals ([04:28]).
  • Connects the RAM shortage to Nvidia’s rumored slowing of mid-tier gaming GPU production:

    “Well, I guess we now know where all the RAM went.” ([04:51])

3. Apple Allows App Sideloading in Japan

• Major Policy Shift:
  • In response to Japanese regulatory pressure, Apple now lets iPhone users sideload apps via alternative marketplaces.
  • Apple, as always, attaches caveats: it will continue collecting fees even from third-party or web-based in-app purchases tied to iOS apps ([05:12]).
• Developer Backlash:
  • Epic’s Tim Sweeney criticizes Apple for “still taxing developers even when it is no longer providing distribution or payment processing” ([05:44]).
  • Apple’s new developer agreement allows recouping “unpaid fees” from those selling outside the App Store:

    “Your every atom cries out for penitence.” ([06:00])

• Summary:
  • Regulatory progress, but “it’s a little bit more of a sour apple than a sweet one, if you know what I’m saying.” ([06:09])

4. Quick Bits: Security, Privacy & Wild Robotics

• Motherboard Exploit Threatening Riot Games’ Anticheat ([07:05])
  • Riot Games found a flaw in ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, and ASRock boards that allows hardware cheats to run before anticheat software.
  • Riot worked with manufacturers to patch via BIOS updates; players who don’t update are now banned.

    “What about innocent until proven guilty, huh? Some legal system. Sir, this is a hero shooter.” ([07:50])

• LG’s Copilot Misstep
  • LG backtracks after TV owners complain about an unremovable Microsoft Copilot app shortcut. Now users can delete it; LG stresses it was only a shortcut ([08:00]).

    “Turns out quietly injecting an AI chatbot into a device people use to watch movies was not the vibe.” ([08:11])

• Data Privacy Fiasco with Browser Extensions
  • Over 8 million users’ AI chat data (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, and more) secretly harvested and sold by browser extensions, some “featured” in official web stores ([08:25]).

    “That random free VPN you were using for therapy time with your AI girlfriend might have actually been recording the whole time.” ([08:47])

• Amazon Nabs North Korean Infiltrator… via Typing Lag ([08:55])
  • Amazon discovered a remote North Korean contractor by tracing unusually high keystroke latency, leading to their quick removal.

    “Really, that tiny delay suggested the laptop was being controlled from halfway across the world.” ([09:07])

• LimX Dynamics Reveals Tron 2 Modular Robot
  • Chinese company LimX Dynamics debuts a dual-limbed robot that can swap limbs for legs or arms, but not both.

    “Full robot bodies are so 2025.” ([09:19])

    • Host jokes about its originality (or lack thereof) and non-existent Daft Punk soundtrack.

    “Is this like—it’s mating ritual or something? … Whatever it is, it’s working.” ([09:57])

Notable Quotes/Memorable Moments

• “The only thing these operatives are assassinating is the US Hegemony.” – Host ([02:51])
• “This is a hero shooter.” – Host, parodying legal protests over Riot’s anticheat ([07:50])
• “Turns out quietly injecting an AI chatbot into a device people use to watch movies was not the vibe.” – Host ([08:11])
• “That random free VPN you were using for therapy time with your AI girlfriend might have actually been recording the whole time.” – Host ([08:47])
• “Full robot bodies are so 2025.” – Host ([09:19])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• China’s EUV Lithography Progress: 00:45–03:00
• RAM Shortage & Nvidia GPU Launch: 03:01–05:00
• Apple App Store Changes (Japan): 05:01–06:30
• Riot Games Motherboard Exploit: 07:05–07:50
• LG TV Microsoft Copilot Controversy: 08:00–08:15
• Browser Extensions Harvest AI Chats: 08:25–08:55
• Amazon’s Typing Lag Spy Catch: 08:55–09:16
• LimX Tron 2 Robot Debut: 09:19–09:57

Tone & Style

TechLinked’s delivery is lively, energetically irreverent, and satirical, punctuated by puns, offbeat analogies, and geeky asides. Despite the snark, coverage is informed and relevant for both tech insiders and casual followers.