Accidental Tech Podcast

666: We Have Nothing That Hot

November 20, 2025

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  • Apple appears to have largely abandoned the high-end Mac Pro desktop line, with internal sentiment suggesting the Mac Studio now represents the future of Apple's professional desktop strategy, leaving users disappointed by the lack of updates and GPU performance parity with older Intel Mac Pro configurations. 
  • The discussion on display finishes reveals that Apple's current high-cost nanotexture option is a return to etched matte glass, which offers a middle ground between the image-degrading texture of screen protectors like Paperlike and the high-contrast, reflective nature of clear glass. 
  • Valve's Steam Deck success is driving growth in Linux gaming adoption, but major multiplayer titles remain tethered to Windows due to kernel-level anti-cheat software, posing a significant barrier for SteamOS and Mac gaming compatibility. 
  • Apple has not produced a chip powerful enough to necessitate the cooling capacity of the Mac Pro case, leading to the conclusion that the current Mac Pro is effectively unsupported by Apple's silicon roadmap. 
  • The current Mac Pro's market has been severely diminished by Apple's own neglect and the architectural constraints of Apple Silicon, making the Mac Studio the de facto high-end desktop replacement despite lacking expandability. 
  • News reports suggest Tim Cook is preparing to step down as early as next year, which sparks debate over whether his continued presence as chairman would hinder a new CEO's ability to enact necessary, potentially radical, changes at Apple. 

Segments

Home Project Completion Update
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The speaker successfully completed wood cutting and shelf hanging, intentionally overbuilding the structure with three 2x4s per shelf for security.
  • Summary: The wood cutting and shelf hanging project is finished, though the speaker admits to using excessive screws and overbuilding the supports. The shelves utilize metal Amazon brackets attached to three 2x4 backings secured into every wall stud. The resulting structure is deemed sufficient for household items, though not for heavy lumber.
ATP Diamond Dogs Member Special
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(00:03:16)
  • Key Takeaway: The new members-only special, ‘ATP Diamond Dogs: Talk Me Out of It II,’ features Marco presenting an app idea for John and Casey to advise him on.
  • Summary: This special follows a previous format where a host seeks advice on whether to build an app. Marco is asking the Diamond Dogs for input on his new application idea. Members who have listened are reportedly encouraging Marco to proceed with development.
Origin of ‘Diamond Dogs’ Term
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(00:05:45)
  • Key Takeaway: The term ‘ATP Diamond Dogs’ references a David Bowie album and was initially chosen due to its contemporary relevance with the show Ted Lasso, though the original reference predates both.
  • Summary: Jared Counts clarified that the term originates from a David Bowie album where the Diamond Dogs are a gang of kids. The podcast hosts initially linked it to Ted Lasso, but acknowledge the reference is older. They plan to remind listeners of the origin every time they produce this type of advisory special.
History of Matte vs. Glossy Screens
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(00:06:55)
  • Key Takeaway: The shift from matte to glossy screens was driven by marketing appeal to shiny aesthetics, while modern nanotexture is a complex etching process on glass, distinct from older, image-degrading matte plastic films.
  • Summary: Older MacBook Pros offered a matte screen option for an extra cost, which featured a slightly higher resolution than the standard glossy screen. Glossy plastic screens became popular because shiny surfaces attract consumers, leading Apple to adopt them before transitioning to glass fronts. Nanotexture etches the glass itself to diffuse light, offering a middle ground that scatters reflections without significantly blurring the image like thick plastic films do.
Steam Machine Hardware Specifications
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(00:17:13)
  • Key Takeaway: The Steam Machine utilizes a discrete CPU and GPU configuration, unlike the integrated APU found in consoles like the PlayStation 5, and its OS kernel is based on FreeBSD, not Linux.
  • Summary: The Steam Machine CPU is a 30-watt AMD Zen 4 chip, paired with a 110-watt TDP RDNA 3 discrete GPU featuring 8GB of GDDR6. The PlayStation 5’s operating system kernel is confirmed to be based on FreeBSD 11.0, correcting a previous assertion that it used Linux.
Steam Frame Optics and PC Streaming
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(00:19:10)
  • Key Takeaway: The Steam Frame uses pancake lenses, similar to the Meta Quest Pro/3 and Vision Pro, which are optically superior to the Fresnel lenses found in the Quest 2/3S, and users can stream PC VR games to the Vision Pro using ALVR.
  • Summary: Pancake lenses are structurally similar to traditional lenses, while Fresnel lenses use concentric rings to reduce thickness. Lenses inherently reduce light transmission, necessitating bright screens inside headsets. A guide exists on Reddit for using ALVR to stream PC VR games, including Beat Saber, to the Apple Vision Pro.
SteamOS Alternatives and Anti-Cheat Hurdles
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(00:23:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Linux distributions like Bazzite and CachyOS offer SteamOS-like experiences, but widespread adoption is hindered by competitive multiplayer games requiring Windows-specific anti-cheat software with deep kernel hooks.
  • Summary: SteamOS is not universally supported on arbitrary PC hardware, but alternatives like Bazzite and CachyOS aim to replicate the experience. Many popular FPS games rely on anti-cheat software deeply integrated into the Windows kernel, which prevents them from running correctly on Linux or via translation layers like Crossover on macOS. This anti-cheat dependency keeps many gamers locked to Windows.
Steam Hardware Survey and Valve’s Strategy
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(00:29:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Valve’s non-publicly traded status allows it to pursue long-term, hardware-diversifying strategies (like the Steam Deck and Steam Machine) without answering to shareholders, even as Linux gaming market share remains small (3% of Steam users).
  • Summary: The Steam Hardware Survey shows approximately 95% of users on Windows, 3% on Linux, and 2% on Mac OS, with only 27% of Linux users running Steam OS. Valve’s control by Gabe Newell allows it to invest in hardware like the Steam Machine, which may not show immediate returns but strengthens its platform dominance. Steam has earned its market position by remaining competitive against other PC game storefronts.
M5 Single-Core Performance Dominance
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(00:32:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The Apple M5 chip currently holds the top spot for single-thread performance in recent benchmark rankings, with the top five positions occupied entirely by Apple Silicon chips.
  • Summary: According to cpubenchmark.net rankings, the M5 1-core chip leads all CPUs, followed by the A19 Pro, M3 Ultra variants, and the A19. The first non-Apple chip appears at position six, indicating a strong showing for Apple’s architecture in single-core metrics. Older MacBook Pro matte screens from 2010-2012 offered a $150 upgrade to 1680x1050 resolution over the 1440x900 glossy option.
Mac Pro Future Officially Dim
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(00:37:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Reports confirm Apple has no M4 Ultra in development and has largely written off the Mac Pro, positioning the Mac Studio as the sole future of Apple’s professional desktop strategy.
  • Summary: The M3 Ultra’s GPU performance (225k Geekbench Metal score) is only marginally faster than the five-year-old AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT GPU available in the 2019 Mac Pro, highlighting Apple’s current GPU deficit at the high end. The 2019 Mac Pro case was designed for cooling chips too hot for the Mac Studio’s thermal envelope, but Apple has yet to produce such a chip, rendering the case’s primary advantage unused. Apple has historically abandoned markets like high-end gaming and external GPU support, which were key justifications for the Mac Pro’s modular design.
Mac Pro Cooling Capacity Limit
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(00:54:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Apple Silicon chips are thermally constrained to fit within the Mac Studio’s power envelope, meaning no current chip requires the Mac Pro’s superior cooling.
  • Summary: Apple has never created an integrated GPU chip hot enough to justify the Mac Pro’s cooling capacity, as all powerful chips fit within the Mac Studio’s thermal limits. The Mac Pro case’s primary function, beyond slots, is cooling something too hot for smaller enclosures. The hosts note Apple’s failure to deliver a chip that actually utilizes this cooling potential.
Mac Pro Market Neglect
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(00:55:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Apple’s execution, including the $7,000 starting price, suggests intentional neglect leading to the Mac Pro’s market shrinkage.
  • Summary: The Mac Pro has dropped most of its market share due to Apple’s lack of updates and its high entry price point. This execution creates a self-fulfilling prophecy where low sales justify discontinuing the product line. The Mac Pro market requires cutting-edge updates, unlike the more tolerant iMac market.
CPU vs GPU Scaling
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(00:59:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Apple Silicon CPU scaling is non-linear past the Max chip, whereas GPU scaling approaches linearity, suggesting the Ultra chips built from two Maxes hurt CPU performance gains.
  • Summary: CPU scaling from base to Ultra is not linear, with the jump from Max to Ultra being significantly less than 2x. GPUs scale much better, almost linearly, but Apple’s practice of building Ultra chips from two Maxes via an interposer appears to be a primary bottleneck for CPU scaling. A dedicated, purpose-built chip would likely perform better than the current dual-chip approach.
Mac Pro Successor Argument
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(01:01:25)
  • Key Takeaway: The Mac Studio is the functional Mac Pro successor because Apple cannot justify the expense of a dedicated, high-end chip for the shrinking Pro market.
  • Summary: The Mac Pro tower is doomed because Apple lacks the internal justification (cost vs. tiny market share) to build a dedicated, extreme-performance chip. If the tower hadn’t launched, the Mac Studio would be considered the Mac Pro for Apple Silicon, despite lacking the true Pro qualities of expandability and being the ‘world’s fastest personal computer.’ The Studio is constrained by needing to remain compact, unlike the Mac Pro concept.
Tim Cook Succession Rumors
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(01:06:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Financial Times reports suggest Tim Cook may step down as CEO as soon as next year, with John Turnis being the likely successor.
  • Summary: Sources indicate Apple’s board has intensified succession planning, pointing toward John Turnis, SVP of hardware engineering, as the probable next CEO. The timing might be early next year to allow the new leader time before major annual events. Gruber suggests this leak was likely coordinated with Cook’s blessing to manage the announcement’s surprise factor.
Concerns Over Cook Remaining Chairman
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(01:11:08)
  • Key Takeaway: The prospect of Tim Cook remaining as chairman or executive chairman after stepping down as CEO is highly disappointing as it impedes necessary radical change.
  • Summary: A new CEO needs political capital to make significant changes, which is difficult when the highly successful predecessor remains in a powerful oversight role. Cook staying on, especially as chairman overseeing government relations, prevents a new leader from immediately reversing policies like the current appeasement strategy. The new CEO will face immense pressure from Wall Street not to make sudden, large shifts, especially concerning high-growth services revenue.
Excitement for Hardware Leader
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(01:26:01)
  • Key Takeaway: John Turnis’s success leading the hardware engineering division, mirroring Tim Cook’s rise from operations, suggests he could bring needed product leadership back to Apple.
  • Summary: Turnis’s hardware division is currently Apple’s ‘rock star’ division, executing well and driving success, similar to the operations division under Cook’s ascent. This suggests Turnis might embody the product-focused leadership Apple has lacked since Steve Jobs. The transition also raises the prospect of turnover among the old guard, potentially bringing fresh perspectives.
Post-Show HyperCard Anecdote
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(01:35:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The host’s son is recreating the functionality of classic HyperCard stacks using Google Slides to build ‘rage bait’ choose-your-own-adventure games.
  • Summary: The host’s son is using Google Slides, linking slides together to mimic the card-based structure of HyperCard stacks. This activity, which the son calls making a ‘rage bait game,’ mirrors the host’s own childhood use of HyperCard for similar trolling purposes. The modern iteration relies on simple slide linking rather than HyperTalk scripting.