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This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome? That's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50 page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it, ready to make anything online make sense. There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up, required compatibility and availability. Veris18
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Microsoft is testing a copilot feature called PC Insights that can answer questions by reading your CPU, RAM, GPU and storage Task manager. Never heard of her. I'm James strive. This is TechLinked and you have to opt in before you can ask Copilot things like what are my specs? Or what's eating all my ram. Which might actually be Copilot since it ships as a web app with its own edge browser and idles at close to a gigabyte of memory. But Copilot isn't the only part of Windows taking inventory of your PC. An FBI complaint against an alleged hacker has forced Microsoft to confirm a global device ID assigned to your Windows install that handles licensing and store apps. Despite the suspect hiding behind VPNs and proxies, he used the same Windows device for everything. And since GDID ties all of a PC's activity to one identity, it allowed the Feds to connect the dots. Good news for the next of us, though. Next time the Feds come knocking, Copilot can testify your PC wasn't hacking anyone, it was just keeping an empty edge tab warm. Oppo was preparing to pull OnePlus out of the US and European markets. Apparently the global chip crisis and rising component costs have made things harder for smaller phone makers, though the reports don't point to it as the main reason for OnePlus exit. An official announcement with more details is expected in the coming days. As for current OnePlus owners, Oppo plans to continue providing support and updates until the end of their product's previously promised life cycle. As far as new devices, phones already in the supply chain will continue to be sold over the next few months, but once that inventory runs out, no new stock is expected to arrive. Turns out OnePlus never settles slogan was actually more of a regional suggestion. Japan has taken an important step towards cheaper space launches after their space agency, JAXA successfully tested its experimental reusable RV X rocket R5X RV10 whatever. The rocket briefly lifted off, hovered, shifted sideways and landed safely. Sadly, the rocket doesn't appear to be a Gundam. Didn't show off any transforming capabilities and did not combine with other rockets to form some sort of super rocket Zord, which is honestly what I've come to expect from Japanese technology. But c' est la vie. Japan isn't the only country skyrocketing Talking to success China recently hit a major milestone by recovering the first stage of an orbital rocket. The rocket relied on being caught by a giant net on a sea platform instead of using landing legs. Also lame, but China's gonna be netting some cash by slashing launch costs and boosting their ability to compete in the ongoing commercial space race. What an exciting time to be alive. Every day we get a tad closer to stranding some billionaires on Mars. Matt Damon but hey, at least they'll be able to communicate with their shareholders one last time before they go with
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Chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga. Christopher Nolan's odyssey is coming out soon, and I just learned that the quick bits were actually favored by Hermes, the fastest Greek God. What Cable is a free Mac app designed to solve the mysteries hiding in your cable drawer. And I have to say holy crap. Everyone around the office is so excited about it. Just connect a USB C cable to your Mac and the app tells you details like the cable's charging capabilities, the data transfer speeds and display support. Sadly, the app's creator, Darrell Morley, told the Verge that he doesn't plan to make a Windows version because Windows APIs don't expose what cable needs. MacOS has what this app craves. It's got electrolytes and exposed cable data. Proton 11 has arrived, bringing support for more Windows games to the Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and Linux based desktops. The update also includes a long list of bug fixes, updates, Wine, Mono and adds a newer version of FEX to improve support for ARM64 systems. Amongst the newly supported games are older titles that now work properly, like the Twin Peaks inspired Deadly Premonition, Guinness World Record holder for most critically polarizing survival horror game. Pretty neat. AMD hasn't officially announced anything, but a user on the Chinese forum Chiphel appears to have spotted hidden FSR multi frame generation settings. Using the third party Radeon tuner app, the user was able to reveal experimental Radeon driver options including frame generation modes of up to 8x. If the feature launches, it could significantly boost perceived frame rates and help AMD's frame generation technology compete with Nvidia's offerings. Looks like we could be going from chip hell to gaming heaven, huh? Scientists out of the Technical University of Denmark hooked their AI protein model up to a printer sized quantum computer and the model generated new peptides for vaccine development. According to the team, this approach designed more promising peptides than the same one on regular hardware, especially in areas where it had less training data. It hasn't been peer reviewed yet, so like everything quantum, it works beautifully right up until someone looks at it. And a floating robot inspired by the likes of Mew Tinkerbell and Studio Ghibli's Soot Sprites has been designed to explore how humans might interact with safer, friendlier robotic companions. I give you one guess. Researchers behind the bot say its gentle movements and approachable appearance could help it feel less like a cold machine. They're lulling us into a false sense of security. Personally, this Baymax looking whale thingo end we have the monster from Nope. So I am not buying it. Just like I'm not buying that you won't be back here on Wednesday for more tech news. Everyone's also welcome back for more tech news. I'm gonna go pre order some tickets for the Odyssey. Just joking. I already got my tickets. Front row with mirror mmm Quick bits. They can't sit with us.
Episode: Copilot Reads Your PC, OnePlus Exits US and Europe, Japan and China Test Reusable Rockets + more!
Host: James Strieb (Linus Media Group)
Date: July 14, 2026
This episode dives into the latest developments in tech and gaming culture, spotlighting Microsoft's new Copilot PC Insights, OnePlus's withdrawal from Western markets, reusable rocket milestones in Japan and China, and a roundup of rapid-fire quick bits. With the show's signature humor and industry insight, host James Strieb provides commentary, context, and a smattering of memorable jokes on each hot topic.
[00:26 - 01:40]
"Task manager. Never heard of her... Which might actually be Copilot since it ships as a web app with its own edge browser and idles at close to a gigabyte of memory." (James Strieb, 00:32)
"Next time the Feds come knocking, Copilot can testify your PC wasn't hacking anyone, it was just keeping an empty edge tab warm." (James Strieb, 01:15)
[01:41 - 02:05]
"Turns out OnePlus ‘never settles’ slogan was actually more of a regional suggestion." (James Strieb, 02:03)
[02:06 - 02:58]
"Sadly, the rocket doesn't appear to be a Gundam... didn't show off any transforming capabilities and did not combine with other rockets to form some sort of super rocket Zord, which is honestly what I've come to expect from Japanese technology." (James Strieb, 02:16)
"Also lame, but China's gonna be netting some cash by slashing launch costs and boosting their ability to compete in the ongoing commercial space race." (James Strieb, 02:33)
[03:40 - End]
"It works beautifully right up until someone looks at it." (James Strieb)
"They're lulling us into a false sense of security... I am not buying it." (James Strieb)
"Which might actually be Copilot since it ships as a web app with its own edge browser and idles at close to a gigabyte of memory." (James Strieb, 00:35)
"Turns out OnePlus ‘never settles’ slogan was actually more of a regional suggestion." (James Strieb, 02:03)
"...did not combine with other rockets to form some sort of super rocket Zord, which is honestly what I've come to expect from Japanese technology." (James Strieb, 02:20)
"Like everything quantum, it works beautifully right up until someone looks at it." (James Strieb)
"They're lulling us into a false sense of security. Personally, this Baymax-looking whale thing... so I am not buying it." (James Strieb)
In summary:
This episode delivers a witty, rapid-fire summary of major tech and gaming developments, blending practical news (Microsoft’s privacy angle, OnePlus’s exit, reusable rockets) with quirky commentary and punchy opinions familiar to TechLinked fans.