The WAN Show – September 12, 2025: "I Ordered My New iPhone"

Hosts: Linus Sebastian & Luke Lafreniere (with frequent appearances from Dan)
Air Date: September 13, 2025
Episode Theme: The latest Apple iPhone launch, Apple’s shifting product strategies, Tesla's FSD redefinition, tech news from AI to Nintendo, plus behind-the-scenes at LTT—including Scrapyard Wars tales and travel woes.

Episode Overview

In this lively and often tangential episode, Linus and Luke dive into Apple's newly announced iPhone 17 lineup and related products, scrutinize Tesla’s backpedal on its Full-Self Driving claims, react to fresh industry lawsuits, debate the decline of the open web, and grudgingly praise and critique other recent developments in the tech world. The show is packed with anecdotes from recent travels, a spirited recap of the latest Scrapyard Wars, and an unhurried, banter-filled exchange that stays true to WAN Show tradition.

1. Apple September Event & iPhone 17 Launch (04:52–19:51)

Key Features & Reactions

• New Camera Tech: All new iPhones introducing a square sensor center stage front cam, allowing for easier cropping and reframing in post.

  • Linus: “I love that Apple is doing this…You can just shoot square, and use safe zones later.” (05:08–06:06)

• Selfie Framing via AI: Apple promotes "High Apple Intelligence" to enhance selfies and automate frame expansion.

  • “If all it’s doing is recognizing human faces…then sure. Machine learning is already doing that pretty good.” – Linus (06:07)

• Upgrades Across the Board:

  • All models: Ceramic Shield 2 glass, base 256GB storage, 120Hz display (even on base model).
  • Linus: “That brings them up to speed with cheap Android phones from years ago...But it also takes away the obstacles that many iPhone upgraders are waiting for.” (07:00)

• Pricing and Value:

  • Base iPhone 17: $800, 8GB RAM, dual 48MP cameras, 6.3" display, up to 30h video playback.
  • “That’s a lot of money. But it’s the current gen phone…same starting price as last year, but more storage and 120Hz.” – Linus (08:44)

• iPhone Air – Controversial New Model:

  • Uses flagship A19 Pro chip, thin titanium build, single camera, eSIM only, less battery life than flagship models.
  • Linus: “I can see why it’s a controversial device…really polarizing…I do think that there are going to be people it appeals to.” (16:55)

• Materials Whiplash in Apple Marketing:

  • Last year: Titanium fanfare. This year: Aluminum hyped—except for the Air, which is titanium again.
  • “Can Apple just get some consistency in their marketing for these materials?” – Linus (15:26)

• Notable Omission – The Mini & Plus:

  • No new Mini since iPhone 12/13, which frustrates fans wanting a smaller top-end phone. Linus bemoans the lack of an iPhone 17 Plus, calling the 16 Plus a “great middle ground.” (18:03)

Memorable Quotes

• “It’s like the sequel to Water World. It’s just Inflation World, starring Kevin Costner.”
  – Linus (08:45)

• “Do you know how many people think you are, like, destitutely poor?”
  – Linus to Luke, about his aversion to buying a new phone (21:07)

2. Daily Driver Challenge & Personal Phone Takes (19:51–26:53)

• Linus, for the first time, is going to daily drive all three new iPhones, carrying them in his LTT cargo pants pockets to find his favorite.
• GrapheneOS Experience: Linus enjoyed its speed, battery, and security, but finds it too fiddly for anyone switching phones often. “Sometimes I’m that kind of person… but for my phone, I don’t think I am. Not anymore.” (25:38)
• Pixel 9a: Praised for “flipping outstanding battery life” but some annoying glitches (especially with SwiftKey).

3. AirPods Pro 3S: Upgrades & Luke’s Peculiar Storage Solution (31:17–39:20)

• Big Upgrades: Two times better active noise canceling, smaller form factor, two more hours of battery, new extra-extra small (“double XS”) ear tips for kids, new microphones, and heart rate sensing.

  • Linus: “If these are that but more better-er, I am stoked.” (31:19)

• Luke’s controversial habit: He briefly stores his AirPods in the notch above his ear (like sunglasses).

  • “This was a lot easier to do when they were longer.” – Luke (32:56)
  • “That is actually unhinged.” – Linus (33:00)
  • “Literally nobody agrees with you… but this is a step too far.” (33:04)

• Wider implications: Linus sees Apple getting more “scrappy,” holding AirPods prices despite feature boosts.

4. Tesla Full Self-Driving – A Bait-and-Switch? (92:01–100:23)

• Tesla rebrands “Full Self-Driving” as “Supervised Full Self-Driving,” now $8,000, no longer promising “unsupervised” autonomy.

  • Linus: “FSD is not fully unsupervised… wake up at your destination like we said... Now it just means ‘advanced driving system’ under specified conditions.” (92:01)

• Historical promises chronicled (since 2016), with the tech never delivered.

• Linus recounts arguing at a party with a finance bro who wouldn’t believe Tesla’s own admission that old hardware couldn’t possibly deliver what was initially promised.

• Class Action Comparison: If Corsair just paid $5.5M for an XMP default–what will Tesla pay for a decade of undeliverable features? (99:25)

5. AI Lawsuits, Copyright, and the Decline of the Open Web (41:19–44:39, 184:10–188:12)

• Anthropic settles (for now) over using copyrighted books for AI training, but the judge has not approved the deal.

  • Linus: “This wouldn’t be a precedent… matter still unresolved if you can copy copyrighted works to train your AI.” (41:24)

• Warner Bros sues Midjourney: For using their IP to train image models, including Superman likenesses.

  • Linus: "Midjourney looks pretty, pretty guilty here. And in the current legal framework, this seems like a pretty big Yikes." (186:44)

• Google Admits Open Web is Declining:

  • Linus: “Don’t you love when our corporate overlords confirm what we knew all along?” (01:59)

6. Rambly Tangents & Travel Nightmares (54:03–72:21)

• Luke’s Epic Return Journey: Sofia, Bulgaria → Munich → Berlin → Vancouver via three planes, three trains, two Ubers, on comically delayed European transportation.

  • "I think every single train was late... The only answer is gamer plane and gamer train." – Linus (04:31–04:40)
  • Humorous digressions about gamer vehicles and travel mishaps.

• Linus’s LA Trip: Recalls a narrowly avoided stranding due to Canadian air traffic controller shortages.

7. Scrapyard Wars 10 – Drama, Rule Bending, and Cheating Confessions (111:24–137:38)

• Extended debate over what counts as cheating/smart play, especially regarding team members sourcing free or nearly-free equipment, and the limits (if any) of “wheeling and dealing.”
• Scrapyard Wars defense: “It has always been the letter of the law and what you can get away with to win.” – Linus (117:37)
• Discussion of legendary deals, underhanded tactics, and their fluctuating legacy of cheaty play.
• Dan’s (in)famous projector drop, Sammy’s MVP status, and struggles with Shadow PC streaming due to network peculiarities.

8. Notable Tech News & Mini-Topics

Nintendo Patent Controversy (164:37–170:52)

• Nintendo patents gameplay mechanic for summoning in-game characters (think: Pokémon battles).
  • Linus: “Could Nintendo just… get some consistency?… No good justification for this.” (168:31–169:02)
  • Debate on whether patents like this can ever benefit the consumer.

Corsair "Out-of-the-Box" Memory Class-Action (43:09–48:20)

• Corsair fined for RAM not hitting rated XMP speeds by default.
  • Linus: "This seems to open up an entire can of worms... pretty difficult to advertise a lot of things..." (43:17)

Miscellaneous Quick Topics

• Mexico to tax “violent” video games 8%, citing outdated research. (181:23–183:28)
• eBay restricts expensive imports from certain countries (161:50–163:47)
• Google/AOSP open-source delays threaten Android security updates. (154:15–157:15)
• AI-generated content threatens the open web, prompting new technical/licensing responses.

9. Practical Tech Bits

• Intel quietly relaunches 10th-gen chips as “new” in developing markets; Linus criticizes deceptive branding. (157:15–161:50)
• Spotify Lossless Audio finally (supposedly) rolling out, but will users notice? (190:25–193:49)
• China bans flush door handles on cars by 2027, citing emergency rescue risks. (194:08–195:39)
• Lidar navigation systems can damage camera sensors—MKBHD’s camera destroyed by car’s IR sensors. (195:49–)

10. Regular Segments & Q&A

• Merch/Deals: New backpack + tech sack promo, cable management product discounts, polling for favorite new screwdriver color. (72:27–76:31)
• Parasocial relationships: Discussion of fame, interactions with fans, and the awkwardness of being recognized. (80:31–89:47)
• After Dark: More offbeat questions, like the modeling software Linus’s daughter uses, and reflections on holding Saturn V RAM modules.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Apple/iPhone Event Overview: 04:52–19:51
• iPhone Air/Marketing Consistency: 11:14–16:55
• Tech Tangents, Travel Stories: 54:03–72:21
• Scrapyard Wars Deep Dive: 111:24–137:13
• Tesla FSD Redefinition: 92:01–100:23
• Nintendo Patent Controversy: 164:37–170:52
• Corsair Class-Action: 43:09–48:20
• AI Lawsuits & Open Web: 41:19–44:39, 184:10–188:12
• Spotify Lossless: 190:25–193:49
• Lidar Sensor Damage: 195:49–196:40

Memorable Quotes

• On Apple’s Feature Creep:
  “Maybe the rest of them are crap, but the AirPods Pro 3s look pretty freakin awesome.” — Linus (00:48)

• On Tesla:
  “I don’t respect people who lie to me constantly over and over... because I feel that that shows disrespect to me, and therefore I cannot respect that.” — Linus (95:21)

• On Corporate Branding/Obfuscation:
  “Can we just stop with the deceptive branding? This is not a new product.” — Linus, on Intel’s ‘new’ CPU (160:03)

• On Nintendo’s Patent:
  "Could Nintendo just…get some consistency?…No good justification for this." (169:02)

• On Tech Lawsuits:
  “Midjourney looks pretty, pretty guilty here…in the current legal framework, this seems like a pretty big Yikes.” — Linus (186:44)

Final Thoughts

The episode showcases the classic WAN blend: deeply nerdy hardware takes, irreverent humor, consumer advocacy, skepticism of tech marketing, and love for tangents—keeping tech accessible and human. Linus and Luke turn product launches and tech lawsuits into both practical buying advice and fodder for bigger conversations about honesty, innovation, and trust in the industry.

For die-hard fans and casual listeners alike, you’ll leave with a clearer sense of how tech’s biggest names are maneuvering in 2025—and a reminder that sometimes, the real lessons of self-driving are “the friends we made along the way.”

End of Summary