Accidental Tech Podcast

673: Six Impossible Things

January 8, 2026

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  • Marco is hesitant to use Goose as pre-show music due to uncertainty about music licensing compared to Phish, whose organization seems unconcerned with their use of purchased live recordings. 
  • Marco has considered developing a specialized jam band music playback app ("Jams app"), but believes its utility would be severely limited by the niche audience that purchases extensive live recordings from bands like Phish and Goose. 
  • The discussion on Wi-Fi 7 and the PlayStation Portal highlighted ongoing issues with WPA3 adoption and the Portal's lack of Wi-Fi 6 support, while John's experience showed that Eero Max 7 nodes provide significant performance gains, even when using fewer nodes than previously installed. 
  • Apple Fitness+ is introducing new, structured workout programs, including multi-week plans like "Make Your Fitness Comeback" and "Build a Yoga Habit," addressing the previous lack of continuity in their offerings. 
  • The engineering required for modern chip manufacturing, specifically ASML's EUV lithography machines, involves manipulating light at wavelengths approaching the size of the features being printed, a feat Casey found astonishing. 
  • The manufacturing of the most advanced semiconductor chips relies on a fragile global monopoly where ASML is the sole producer of necessary EUV lithography machines, and TSMC is the sole expert in utilizing them to create the best chips. 
  • The engineering required for ASML's EUV machines is so complex that it involved solving 'six impossible things,' exemplified by the need to adjust mirrors with precision equivalent to moving a stick touching the Moon by the width of a dime. 
  • The hosts anticipate 2026 will be a defining year for Apple Intelligence, marking the first time significant, tangible results from the company's recent organizational and strategic shifts in AI will ship to consumers. 
  • The speaker is looking forward to potential new Apple monitor releases in 2026, viewing them as necessary to break Apple's current 'terrible drought' in that product category. 
  • The speaker strongly believes that LLM-powered Siri improvements are plausible for 2026 and should be Apple's number one priority over other AI features. 
  • The speaker details an extensive, frustrating setup journey with the new Ubiquiti travel router, ultimately finding it excellent for Ubiquiti users despite initial firmware and complex network configuration issues involving DNS and Docker containers. 

Segments

Goose vs. Phish Pre-show Music
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Marco plays Phish pre-show music because the organization seems unconcerned with the practice, whereas he lacks clarity on Goose’s stance regarding using their purchased live recordings.
  • Summary: The pre-show music choice hinges on perceived licensing risk; Marco has the impression Phish’s organization does not mind the use of purchased live streams. He is unsure how the Goose organization would react to the same practice. Developing a specialized jam band app is deemed impractical due to the very small audience that buys extensive live recordings.
ATP Patrons Annual Thanks
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(00:09:31)
  • Key Takeaway: ATP Patrons are members who voluntarily pay more than the standard membership price, receiving no additional content beyond the standard member benefits.
  • Summary: ATP Patrons are recognized annually for paying extra support without receiving any exclusive content beyond the standard member benefits like ad-free episodes and specials. This tier was implemented because patrons specifically requested the option to contribute more money voluntarily. The hosts acknowledged the desire to offer something extra but have not yet devised a suitable reward.
Cord Cutting Follow-up: suppose.tv
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(00:11:18)
  • Key Takeaway: suppose.tv is a tool that suggests the cheapest and best-fitting streaming service combination based on the specific channels a user wishes to access in the US.
  • Summary: Casey mentioned recording a Downstream episode about cord-cutting, featuring suppose.tv, a service that helps Americans select streaming packages. The service analyzes required channels (like HBO or CBS) and recommends the optimal subscription bundle. A link to the upcoming Downstream episode will be in the show notes.
iOS Contacts Multi-Select Tip
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(00:12:24)
  • Key Takeaway: iOS 26 Contacts.app supports multi-select via a two-finger swipe gesture, allowing users to select disparate items and drag them to a chosen list.
  • Summary: Simon Ljungberg confirmed that multi-select exists in the iOS Contacts app, although it is not intuitive. The gesture involves a two-finger swipe to select items, another swipe to select spread-apart items, and then holding one item to initiate a drag-and-drop action. This method is marginally better than moving contacts one by one.
Studio Display Price Correction
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(00:13:17)
  • Key Takeaway: The Apple Studio Display costs $1,600, not the $1,200 Casey previously cited, making the DIY conversion of an old iMac into a 5K display for under $300 a more compelling budget alternative.
  • Summary: Greg Seay corrected Casey, stating the Studio Display’s base price is $1,600. Quinn created a video detailing how to convert a 27-inch iMac into a functional 5K display for under $300. New 5K and 6K monitors announced at CES might offer future alternatives.
Display Flickering and Temporal Dithering
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(00:14:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Display flickering issues on M-Series Macs since Big Sur can be resolved by disabling temporal dithering using utilities like StillColor or BetterDisplay.
  • Summary: Temporal dithering involves rapidly flashing two colors to trick the brain into perceiving an intermediate color, similar to plasma displays. Stephen Perelson found that disabling this feature, which he suspects causes flickering on Studio Displays, solved his M1 Mac Mini issue. StillColor and BetterDisplay are utilities available to turn off GPU dithering.
PlayStation Portal Capabilities and Limitations
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(00:17:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The PlayStation Portal supports streaming games via PlayStation Plus Premium from the cloud, but its performance is highly dependent on solid Wi-Fi, and it notably lacks Wi-Fi 6 support and requires specific wired or first-party Bluetooth headphones.
  • Summary: Listeners confirmed the Portal can stream via PS Plus Premium, which requires a minimum of 13 Mbps for 1080p streaming. Users reported connection degradation during critical gameplay moments even with Eero Pro setups. The device mandates wired headphones or proprietary Bluetooth headphones, preventing the use of standard AirPods for casual use.
macOS Title Bar Double-Tap Action
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(00:19:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The macOS window title bar double-click action can be configured to ‘Fill’ (expand the window to the menu bar and dock edges) via System Settings, mimicking a maximized state without entering full-screen mode.
  • Summary: Chirag Desai pointed out that double-tapping the title bar can be set to ‘Fill’ instead of minimizing or maximizing. This setting is found under System Settings → Desktop & Dock → Window title bar double-click action. The ‘Fill’ action expands the window to fit the available space below the menu bar.
Wi-Fi 7 and WPA3 Adoption Issues
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(00:19:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Early Wi-Fi 7 implementations, particularly with Ubiquiti hardware, are buggy, forcing users into WPA3, which causes compatibility issues with older devices like Nintendo consoles.
  • Summary: Reid noted that Ubiquiti’s Wi-Fi 7 rollout has been buggy, often performing worse than Wi-Fi 6 due to WPA3 requirements that disconnect older devices. Patch suggested that maximizing the 6GHz band width via band steering can yield better speed gains than MLO in congested environments. Wi-Fi network engineering relies on careful channel selection, channel size, and cell size, in that order, to optimize performance.
Eero Max 7 Setup Experience
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(00:23:03)
  • Key Takeaway: John’s transition to Eero Max 7 nodes resulted in significantly stronger whole-house Wi-Fi signals, confirming that strategically placed, wired Eero nodes outperform a larger, more distributed mesh setup.
  • Summary: John received Eero Max 7 nodes from a friend and found the setup process highly transparent, preserving all existing network settings like reserved IPs. He discovered that using only three nodes, with two wired backhaul connections, provided stronger overall coverage than his previous setup, as extra upstairs nodes only introduced interference. Eero’s implementation of MLO (Multi-Link Operation) requires WPA3 on participating bands, but John’s existing WPA2 devices remained connected.
Thread vs. Matter Networking Protocols
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(00:38:57)
  • Key Takeaway: Matter is the software control plane protocol allowing multiple controllers (like Home Assistant and Apple Home) to simultaneously control a device, while Thread is the underlying IPv6 mesh networking technology used for device communication.
  • Summary: Derek Seaman’s posts clarify that Matter handles control and state reflection across multiple controllers locally, independent of the network layer. Thread is the low-power, IP-addressable mesh networking technology similar to Zigbee but with native IP support. Thread border routers use MDNS to allow devices on adjacent networks to discover the Thread nodes.
Apple Fitness+ Program Expansion
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(00:41:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Apple Fitness+ is introducing structured, multi-week training plans, such as the four-week ‘Make Your Fitness Comeback’ program, to provide continuity previously lacking in their one-off workouts.
  • Summary: Apple data suggests Apple Watch users maintain exercise levels past ‘Quitter’s Day’ better than others, though this may reflect selection bias. The new programs aim to offer continuity, contrasting with Body (formerly Beach Body) programs which are structured over several weeks. New plans include a four-week, 10-minute-per-session comeback program and a three-week program pairing 10 minutes of strength immediately followed by 10 minutes of HIIT.
ASML’s Critical Role in Chipmaking
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(00:48:07)
  • Key Takeaway: ASML is the sole global supplier of Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography (EUVL) machines, which are essential for TSMC to manufacture the most advanced chips by projecting patterns using light wavelengths approaching the feature size.
  • Summary: ASML develops and manufactures the photolithography machines required for producing integrated circuits, specializing in EUVL technology. The engineering challenge involves using light with wavelengths so small that the gaps in the mask approach the light’s wavelength. Half of the $400 million ASML machine is dedicated solely to generating the necessary extreme ultraviolet light source.
ASML EUV Lithography Engineering
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(00:51:33)
  • Key Takeaway: ASML’s EUV lithography machines require light sources operating outside the visible spectrum, necessitating engineering feats like mirror adjustments precise enough to move a hypothetical stick touching the Moon across the width of a dime.
  • Summary: Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography operates outside the visible light spectrum, requiring complex light sources that constitute half the cost of the $400 million ASML machines. The precision required for mirror alignment is astonishing, demonstrated by the analogy of moving a stick attached to the mirror, where the tip of a stick reaching the Moon could be moved across the diameter of a dime with the machine’s smallest adjustment. This level of precision highlights the ‘six impossible things’ required for modern chip manufacturing.
ASML vs. TSMC Importance Debate
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(00:52:33)
  • Key Takeaway: While ASML holds a monopoly on manufacturing the necessary EUV machines, TSMC is arguably more critical as the only entity capable of mastering the complex process to produce the best chips using those machines.
  • Summary: ASML is the world’s only manufacturer of EUV machines, creating a single point of failure for the entire advanced chip industry. TSMC is the only company that currently knows how to operate these machines effectively to produce the best chips, making the relationship interdependent. The analogy used suggests that owning the machine (ASML) does not equate to being the master chef (TSMC) who knows how to use it to create the final product.
Tech Predictions for 2026
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(01:04:11)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts anticipate 2026 will see tangible results from Apple’s recent AI restructuring, alongside hardware developments like the M5 Ultra and the potential debut of the foldable iPhone.
  • Summary: Marco is looking forward to shipping updates to his Overcast software and seeing the first significant results from Apple Intelligence following leadership changes and the Google deal. Casey is anticipating the foldable iPhone, viewing it as a potential major form factor shift, and hopes for course corrections in iOS 27’s ‘Liquid Glass’ design elements like excessive blurring. John hopes for the plausible release of the M5 Ultra chip and new OLED gaming monitors, while acknowledging the inherent difficulty in predicting Apple’s hardware refresh cycles.
Critique of iOS Liquid Glass Design
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(01:10:35)
  • Key Takeaway: The most egregious flaws in Apple’s ‘Liquid Glass’ design language, such as content scrolling under unreadable text via blurred bars and fake background reflections, are low-hanging fruit ripe for correction in iOS 27.
  • Summary: The hosts believe that despite the massive redesign in iOS 26, new leadership might prioritize fixing highly visible design mistakes in the subsequent OS release. Turning off transparency settings reveals how much screen space is wasted by the opaque or blurred areas intended to create the glass effect. Apple is unlikely to admit the initial redesign was a mistake, but they may introduce significant tweaks under the guise of a new revision.
Anticipation for Apple Intelligence in 2026
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(01:16:42)
  • Key Takeaway: iOS 27 is expected to be the first major release where the public sees actual, shipping results from the significant organizational changes and strategic partnerships Apple made regarding its on-device AI capabilities.
  • Summary: The current state of Apple Intelligence is viewed as the non-shipping beta version, and 2026 should reveal the impact of leadership changes and the deal with Google’s Gemini. While Apple is not expected to compete with leading cloud models, this year should demonstrate Apple’s actual on-device AI capabilities for the first time. The broader AI industry faces a wide range of outcomes, but Apple’s platform is expected to remain relatively insulated from external crashes or booms.
Hopes for Apple Policy and AI Maturity
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(01:21:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Casey hopes that potential leadership changes at Apple will lead to a necessary shift in corporate policy, while John anticipates the AI industry will move past inflated expectations toward a more grounded ‘plateau of productivity’ due to the technology’s inherent value.
  • Summary: Casey ties his hope for policy changes—like more frequent feature rollouts—to the rumored transition of Tim Cook to Chairman of the Board, suggesting new leadership might bring more sanity. John believes that unlike past hype cycles (crypto, metaverse), AI has already created demonstrable value, preventing a total collapse, though expectations may need correction. The massive demand driven by AI is also expected to result in a future glut of computing power, benefiting all technology.
Anticipated Hardware and Display Tech
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(01:37:38)
  • Key Takeaway: John is eagerly awaiting the M5 Ultra chip, OLED MacBook Pros (potentially redesigned), and new 4K 27-inch OLED gaming monitors, while Casey is excited for Apple to finally release updated external monitors.
  • Summary: The M5 Ultra is highly anticipated as a return to form for high-end desktop chips, ideally not just being two M5 Max chips fused together. OLED MacBook Pros are expected to arrive in 2026, bringing new display technology choices that will contrast with existing Mini-LED and phone OLED panels. John is also looking forward to new gaming monitors featuring RGB-only OLED panels without white subpixels, while both hosts hope Apple ends its drought on updating its external monitor lineup.
Hoping for New Apple Monitors
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(01:45:22)
  • Key Takeaway: New Apple monitors, potentially succeeding the XDR or Studio Display, are plausible for a 2026 release, which would alleviate Apple’s long monitor update drought.
  • Summary: Rumors suggest successors to the XDR and Studio Display could arrive in 2026, preventing further cementing of Apple’s poor monitor update history. The speaker is excited for this turnover to signal Apple is still prioritizing monitors, similar to the Vision Pro update showing it remains a product line. A lack of updates makes monitors seem as neglected as Wi-Fi base stations once were.
Anticipating LLM-Powered Siri
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(01:46:26)
  • Key Takeaway: LLM-powered Siri improvements are considered plausible for 2026 and are deemed the most critical area for Apple to prioritize over other AI features.
  • Summary: The speaker expresses high confidence that Apple can deliver a significantly better Siri experience by 2026, given leadership changes and recent deals. Current Siri is described as a ‘previous generation technology’ that makes the entire iPhone look dumb compared to LLM-powered alternatives from competitors. The speaker emphasizes that improving the voice assistant should supersede all other AI feature rollouts.
Ubiquiti Travel Router Purchase
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(01:51:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The speaker purchased the new, tiny Ubiquiti travel router for $80, which is significantly smaller than comparable GL.iNet devices and features a unique expanding Ethernet port.
  • Summary: The Ubiquiti travel router is physically small, roughly the size of a playing card and half a deck thick, featuring two USB-C ports and two Ethernet ports (client and uplink) hidden behind an expanding joint. It is designed to simplify network access by handling captive portals or connecting via Ethernet to existing routers, rebroadcasting a unified home SSID/password. The device includes a small display showing connection status, client count, and Teleport status.
Debate on Device Screens
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(01:58:02)
  • Key Takeaway: While screens on large or permanent electronics like routers are justifiable, adding them to small, low-power items like basic power adapters is considered excessive and wasteful.
  • Summary: The speaker finds screens useful on devices where they display critical data like wattage or data rates, citing the Ubiquiti router display as potentially worthwhile. However, the proliferation of screens on small items like basic power banks or single-port USB-C adapters is criticized as unnecessary, likely driven by low manufacturing cost rather than user utility. The line for justification seems to be drawn based on the size and permanence of the electronic device.
Ubiquiti Teleport VPN Issues
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(02:04:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Initial attempts to use Ubiquiti’s Teleport zero-config VPN failed due to DNS conflicts caused by the travel router assigning the local Pi-hole address to clients, and later, an orphaned Docker network on the Synology blocked internal device access.
  • Summary: The speaker struggled to get Teleport working, initially facing issues where the travel router’s DNS assignment prevented internet access until the router’s DHCP settings were corrected. A separate, deeper issue preventing access to non-Ubiquiti internal devices like a Synology was traced to an orphaned Docker network (192.168.0.0) created by a Portainer sidecar container on the Synology. Correcting the static IP subnet mask on a Raspberry Pi also required manual intervention to restore connectivity.
Final Assessment of Travel Router
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(02:22:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite a difficult setup process largely caused by user error in network configuration, the Ubiquiti travel router is highly recommended for existing Ubiquiti users at its $80 price point due to its form factor and features.
  • Summary: The speaker ultimately loves the travel router, praising its physical design, the screen, and the Ethernet port door, noting that it successfully routes traffic through the Pi-hole for ad-blocking when Teleport is active. The journey highlighted the speaker’s lack of fundamental networking debugging tools, which complicated the troubleshooting process significantly. The device is deemed a must-have for Ubiquiti ecosystem users who require this specific travel networking solution.