Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast – “Gadgets We’re Loving Right Now!”
Date: August 8, 2025
Hosts: David Imel, Andrew Manganelli, Adam Molina
(Note: Marques Brownlee is on leave this episode)
Episode Overview
In this lively and gadget-packed episode, host David Imel and co-hosts Andrew Manganelli and Adam Molina—flying without Marques Brownlee—offer a compelling mix of current tech news and hands-on “show & tell” with new favorite gadgets. The discussion spans from the quirkiest Microsoft merch, impactful YouTube and AI updates, Nintendo’s pricing tactics, Fediverse news, and finally the cool gadgets the team is loving right now. The tone is as energetic and nerdy as ever, blending insightful digressions with playful banter and trivia.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Microsoft’s Windows XP Crocs – The Ultimate Nostalgia Merch
[03:01 – 06:15]
- What’s New: For Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, exclusive Windows XP-themed Crocs are being released, pre-sale currently open for Microsoft employees.
- Features:
- Design mimics XP’s classic “Bliss” wallpaper (green sole, blue with clouds upper).
- Comes with 6 “Jibbitz” charms: Recycle bin, mouse cursor, Clippy, Internet Explorer icon, folder, and MSN butterfly.
- Includes a drawstring bag with the Bliss wallpaper design.
- Price: $80.
- Hosts’ Take: All three would happily throw down $80 for these, joking about team photos in matching Crocs. Praise for Microsoft’s unique, “fire” merch compared to Apple’s more subdued branded goods.
- Notable Quote:
“For a $4 trillion megacorp… their merch designers are cooking.” — David [06:12]
“You could have just stopped at Windows. That’s how awesome it is.” — Andrew [02:54]
2. YouTube Collabs – New Way to Share the Spotlight
[06:15 – 13:23]
- New Feature: YouTube is beta-testing collaborative videos, inspired by Instagram/TikTok collab posts.
- How it Works: Videos can appear on both creators’ channels with credit to all, but current testing suggests these may be similar-but-not-identical videos, not a single post mirrored across channels.
- Monetization questions: Still unclear; hosts speculate about implications for analytics, revenue split, and discoverability.
- Smart Move:
“If there’s a very large creator that’s collabing with a smaller creator, now it’s less... ‘maybe I can kind of ride his…’” — David [08:32]
- Concerns: UI quirks (e.g., cluttered titles, verification issues), possibility of features hurting analytics and being abandoned by big creators (e.g., MrBeast).
- Wishlist: The hosts lament YouTube’s clunky manual process for adding video chapters, wishing for a first-party solution.
“Why is still the best way… just putting a part in the description and writing chapters?” — Adam [11:33]
3. OpenAI’s “Open Weight” Models – Breaking Open the Black Box?
[13:30 – 22:30]
- News: OpenAI releases its first “open weight” AI models since GPT-2, available under the Apache 2.0 license (commercial use allowed).
- Explainer: “Open weight” means the model architecture and parameters are public, but not the training data (“not open source”—can’t see what it was trained on, for legal reasons).
- Implications:
- Models can be run locally (smaller one needs ~16GB VRAM, larger one needs a top-end GPU).
- Could spur US companies to compete with open models from China and Meta’s Llama.
- Likely to enable more “run-anywhere” AI tools, potentially bypassing costly API calls.
- Host’s Perspective: The move balances making money via APIs and combating uptake of foreign or open alternatives.
- Notable Quotes:
“To them, it’s better to get people to like [their models]… and then they can figure out how to monetize that later.” — David [17:28]
“It would be cool if things could run locally on your device and not burn all the water on the planet.” — David [21:35]
4. Nintendo Switch Raises Prices – Tariffs and PSYOPs
[26:46 – 36:36]
- What’s happening: OG Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED prices increased by $30–$50 across the board, but not Switch 2 (which is selling rapidly at $450).
- Why?: Likely a tariff response and supply chain play; Switch 2 is manufactured in Vietnam, and Nintendo is trying to avoid consumer backlash by holding its price.
- Analysis:
- Old hardware price bumps make Switch 2 look like a better deal (creating “price ladders”).
- Used Switch hardware is much cheaper online—Nintendo likely makes big profit even at old prices.
- Notable Quotes:
“I feel like this also helps… now the difference [with Switch 2] is only 50 bucks. Might as well get the Switch 2.” — Andrew [30:45]
- Fun Moment: Stick drift confusion on JoyCons turned out to be tilt controls left on.
5. Fediverse Corner – Ghost 6.0 Makes Blogs Social
[37:43 – 42:08]
- Update: Ghost (open-source newsletter/blog platform) now supports Fediverse integration (Mastodon, etc.): your blog/website can be followed/commented via decentralized platforms.
- Why this matters: Ownership and distribution of writing is “back”; echoes a Substack resurgence as creators want autonomy and escape social media algorithms.
- Notable Quote:
“Blogs are back, baby.” — Andrew [39:59]
6. Instagram Live Streams Now Require 1,000 Followers
[42:29 – 47:10]
- Change: To go live on Instagram, users now need 1000+ followers.
- Hosts’ Views: Widely panned as unnecessary; hurts private or small-account use, undercuts new Meta Ray-Bans’ “go live from your glasses” function.
- Speculation that it’s an anti-abuse measure, but easily circumvented.
- Memorable Commentary:
“A thousand followers is a lot… most people do not… Regular people do not have a thousand followers.” — David [43:27]
“People just want Instagram to keep up with their friends. … Not everyone's on Instagram to build an audience.” — Adam [45:44]
Gadgets We’re Loving Right Now: Show & Tell
[50:01 – 75:21]
A candid segment where each host demos or discusses a gadget they’ve been using and loving.
1. David – Peak Design Pro Tripod Small
[50:31 – 61:24]
- Why He Loves It: Heavy-duty upgrade to the beloved Peak Design travel tripod; extra stability for large-format and windy shoots; improved quick-release and ergonomics.
- Caveat: Much bigger than the original; high price ($800–$1,000 for Pro models).
- Memorable Quotes:
“It’s simultaneously too expensive and the best thing ever…” — Adam [51:25]
“Everything about these tripods is definitely about stability and being able to shoot things without any shake.” — David [56:13]
2. Adam – Senda Ergonomic Vertical Mouse
[62:39 – 68:37]
- What Is It: A wild, $20 vertical ergonomic mouse available on Amazon, “white label”-style, with a fun color palette and volume knob.
- Pros:
- Cheap, fun colors, plug-and-play, USB-C charging, Bluetooth and dongle modes.
- Cons:
- Feels cheap, no software (can’t remap knob), questionable ergonomics, unknown durability.
- Notable Quote:
“I was very intrigued by it. I want to see you game with this…” — David [68:37]
3. Andrew – MOFT MagSafe Tripod & Not Boring Camera App
[70:04 – 74:52]
- MOFT Tripod:
- A foldable MagSafe stand/grip for iPhone that doubles as a mini tripod.
- Super handy, especially for creators.
- Not Boring Camera:
- New iOS camera app, part of Andy Allen’s “Not Boring” suite (makes default apps beautiful and fun).
- Mimics old film camera experience (no instant photo review), exquisite UI, cool LUTs/filters, RAW support.
- Notable Quotes:
“I like seeing things that have more intentional design—and more fun.” — Andrew [73:52]
“Us Android people like to have fun too…” — Adam [74:53]
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- “For a $4 trillion megacorp… their merch designers are cooking.” — David [06:12]
- “Blogs are back, baby.” — Andrew [39:59]
- “People just want Instagram to keep up with their friends. … Not everyone's on Instagram to build an audience.” — Adam [45:44]
- “I was very intrigued by it. I want to see you game with this…” — David [68:37]
Trivia Face-Off ("How Well Do You Know Each Other?")
[23:30, 75:21, 78:25]
- A special segment (since Marques is out) with David and Andrew quizzing each other on:
- Most used app in the other’s Screen Time (Instagram, Reddit/Pokemon TCG).
- Apps on each other’s phone dock (Adam reveals his crazy “dock of folders” system, sparking fierce debate).
- Listeners are invited to weigh in on “folder dock” vs. “search everything” home screen philosophies.
Tech News Quick Hits
- Pixel event is in two weeks — anticipation building.
- YouTube chapters UI still broken: hosts express ongoing frustration.
- Fediverse/Decentralized Web Developments: Ghost’s integration with BlueSky/Mastodon via probable bridging; old-school blogging makes a comeback.
- Not Boring app suite: Unique, whimsical, iOS-only upgraded takes on basics like weather, camera, calculator.
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Windows XP Crocs & Merch – [03:01 – 06:15]
- YouTube Collabs – [06:15 – 13:23]
- OpenAI Open Weights – [13:30 – 22:30]
- Nintendo Switch Pricing – [26:46 – 36:36]
- Fediverse: Ghost 6.0 – [37:43 – 42:08]
- Instagram Live Restriction – [42:29 – 47:10]
- Show & Tell – [50:01 – 75:21]
- Trivia & App Philosophy – [75:21 – End]
Bottom Line
This episode captures the team’s knowledge, skepticism, and infectious enthusiasm for both the fun and serious sides of tech. From nostalgic Crocs to AI democratization to the allure of thoughtfully designed accessories and apps, “Gadgets We’re Loving Right Now!” is a treasure trove of recommendations, industry commentary, and the kind of debates only gadget nerds can love.