TechLinked Podcast Summary

Episode: RAM Kit Price-ocalypse, Honey lawsuit dismissed, Warner Music/Suno deal + more!
Date: November 27, 2025
Host: Riley (Linus Media Group)

Overview

This episode dives into significant shifts in the tech and gaming world: skyrocketing RAM prices amidst a memory chip supply crisis, a major lawsuit surrounding the Honey extension, and an unexpected alliance between Warner Music and AI startup Suno. The episode also covers smaller but insightful “quick bits” on developing stories in operating systems, malware, hand-held gaming, AI content, and robotics. Riley’s irreverent and jokey tone keeps things lively and approachable.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. RAM Kit Prices Skyrocket

• [00:32] The main story focuses on the explosion in PC RAM prices. Riley notes that some kits now cost up to 250% more since early November due to "AI boom induced panic buying" and a supply crunch.
  • One user saw a 64GB DDR5 kit for over $900, another listed at “nearly two and a half thousand euros in Germany.”
  • Retailers are reportedly switching to dynamic pricing models—“buying RAM like it's gas. Whoa. 20 bucks a gig, pull into that micro center.”
• Industry Reaction:
  • Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney: Prices will be “a real problem for years to come.” (Paraphrased, [01:20])
  • Some journalists now recommend prebuilt PCs to dodge costs, but OEMs like HP plan price hikes and reducing included memory in PCs.
• Memorable moment:
  • Riley jokes, “I guess this means it might be time to get back into retro gaming, folks. Finally, someone might play original Xbox masterpiece Fusion Frenzy with me. I’ve been waiting for years playing by myself.” ([02:15])

2. Honey Lawsuit Dismissed

• [02:30] The contentious class action lawsuit against Honey (owned by PayPal) is dismissed.
  • Background: Content creators (aided by YouTubers like Legal Eagle and Wendover Productions) alleged Honey used “cookie stuffing” to hijack affiliate commissions.
  • Legal outcome: Dismissed because plaintiffs couldn’t show they “actually lost any money”—relying instead on “a hypothetical chain of possibilities,” per Judge Beth Freeman. ([03:30])
  • The judge allows 45 days to amend the argument; otherwise, Riley jokes they “have to install the extension on all their devices and apologize.” ([03:50])
• Notable Quote:
  • “Replacing creators affiliate link URLs at checkout, allowing Honey to pocket the commission.” ([02:50])

3. Warner Music & Suno: From Lawsuit to Partnership

• [04:00] Warner Music Group settles its AI music copyright lawsuit with Suno, pivoting from adversaries to collaborators.
  • Suno can now pay to license music from Warner’s opt-in artists for AI-generated music—e.g., possible “heavy metal versions of Coldplay’s entire discography.”
  • Warner is also selling Songkick, its concert discovery platform, to Suno—giving Suno real-world music industry access.
  • Both pitch the deal as enabling “a closer experience between artists and fans by embracing interactive music.”
• Memorable riff:
  • “As long as you never show it to Chris Martin [of Coldplay]. He’s a soft piano boy, don’t do that to him.” ([04:35])
  • “The interaction happens when you prompt the AI to make an AI song and then after that it’s just kind of normal.” ([04:55])

Quick Bits

4. Aluminium OS: Android for Desktops

• [06:10] Google’s rumored Android-based desktop OS to replace Chrome OS is named “Aluminium OS” (with an extra 'i'), per a leaked job listing.
  • Promises AI at the core for laptops/tablets.
• Notable anecdote:
  • Riley compares Google’s commitment to a friend promising to make mac and cheese, then actually bringing all the ingredients: “Oh my God, it’s happening.” ([06:35])

5. Windows 11 & Malware

• Windows 11’s new App Updates page will support MS Store apps that skip auto-updates.
• New variant of Click Fix malware mimics Windows Update, pastes a malicious command to clipboard, and tricks users into running it.
  • Riley jokes: “If you can’t tell that that’s a fake Windows Update screen, you’re probably gonna get infected anyway. At least they're helping you spend less time getting there—more time to do the dishes.” ([07:00])

6. Rog Xbox Ally Update

• The Xbox-branded Rog Ally gets default game profiles for optimized performance—something even the Steam Deck lacks without mods.
  • Riley: “Even though everything is an Xbox these days, it seems like some Xboxes are more Xbox than other Xboxes.” ([07:30])
  • Bringing it back to “Fusion Frenzy” love.

7. Character AI “Stories” for Teens

• New interactive adventure stories mode unlocks narrated AI conversations, after previous bans on under-18s chatting freely.
  • Riley jests: “It’s okay bud, you can’t talk to your AI girlfriend anymore with no guardrails... but look, we trapped her inside the opening sequence of Skyrim.” ([07:55])

8. China’s Robot Border Guards

• China trials humanoid robots (Oobtech’s Walker series) for ID scanning, crowd control, and factory patrols at borders.
  • Speculates “who needs a Great Wall when you have a robot army?”
  • Suggests Disney could ship Olaf robots for “warm hugs” at winter crossings.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Some RAM kits reportedly jumping up to 250% since the start of November due to a major crunch in memory chip supply brought on by AI boom induced panic buying.” – Riley ([00:32])
• “This is wild. Soon everyone’s gonna be buying RAM like it’s gas. Whoa. 20 bucks a gig.” – Riley ([01:05])
• “The judge cracked it open a little bit again by granting the creators 45 days to edit their argument. If they can’t manage to make it better, then they’ll all have to install the extension on all their devices and apologize.” – Riley ([03:50])
• “Suno will now be allowed to pay to license music in Warner’s catalog from artists who opted into the scheme and use it to generate the heavy metal versions of Coldplay’s entire discography. As long as you never show it to Chris Martin.” – Riley ([04:32])
• “I feel like someone on their staff probably came home to their horribly lonely 17 year old kid and said, it’s okay bud... but look, we trapped her inside the opening sequence of Skyrim.” – Riley ([07:55])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• RAM Kit Price Crisis – [00:32]–[02:20]
• Honey Lawsuit – [02:20]–[04:00]
• Warner/Suno Settlement – [04:00]–[05:10]
• Quick Bits (Aluminium OS, Malware, Rog Xbox Ally, Character.AI, China robots) – [06:10]–[08:10]

This summary captures a frenetic, irreverent, and information-packed TechLinked episode, perfect for listeners wanting a quick yet detailed catch-up on the latest tech news with Riley's signature wit and energy.