TheTechBoy Take Five
Hello everyone and welcome to our first episode of TheTechBoy Take Five, where we break down the top five tech headlines of the day with commentary and analysis. On Saturdays we’ll go live on Pulse: The Heartbeat of America.
1. Steam Machine + RAM Prices
The Steam Machine is finally here, Valve’s new gaming console that runs the Linux-based SteamOS to play Windows games. It’s basically an open-platform mini PC. You can install Windows on it if you want. Specs are pretty solid: a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6-core/12-thread CPU, a semi-custom AMD RDNA 3 GPU with 28 Compute Units, base 512GB SSD, and ports including two front USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, two rear USB-A 2.0, and one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2.
The big problem? Only 16GB of RAM and 8GB of VRAM. Thanks to the AI-driven RAM shortage, the base model starts at $1,049 which is insane for a gaming console. Rational people understand that RAM prices are up right now and should come down soon. This isn’t essential tech. Nobody’s going to die if they don’t buy a Steam Machine today. Just wait.
The Whining From People Is Insane
The PS5 Pro costs $900, and Apple discontinued its $599 256GB base Mac Mini recently, which makes sense because a bunch of dullards kept buying them to run OpenClaw instead of doing anything remotely useful with their lives. Aftermath.site
Unfortunately, some in the tech press are losing their minds, calling pro-AI people “dullards” and “useless” because a game console is expensive. Objectively speaking, artificial intelligence is way more useful than a freaking video game console. How on earth is playing Madden “remotely useful”? This is yet another example of people pretending to be pro-technology while being anti-AI. If they had real environmental concerns about AI, that would be one thing, but whining that Mario Kart costs more is ludicrous. I agree we need more tech news beyond just AI, that’s one reason I’m doing this series. I want to cover more in-depth stories, give tutorials that are interesting, and explain how the tech in this world actually works. But this isn’t the way to do it.
2. Android 17 New Features
Android 17 is officially rolling out to Google Pixel phones (and watches) today. It’s not on other phones yet, but I’ll break down the new features and note what Samsung One UI users might already have from older versions. One highlight is app bubbles, floating windows for multiple apps. Samsung has had something similar for years, which is great for Android overall, but I hope it doesn’t break existing Samsung features. Screen Reactions looks like the coolest new one. It lets you do TikTok/Instagram Reels-style greenscreen videos right in the built-in screen recorder, no extra app or green screen needed.
On the security side, Android 17 brings some solid upgrades. You can now give apps temporary access to your precise location and share only specific contacts instead of your whole address book. That’s way better privacy control. The enhanced “Mark as Lost” feature in Find Hub lets you lock a missing phone with your biometrics. Even if a thief has your passcode, they can’t access your data or turn off tracking. Live Threat Detection is improved to block more suspicious apps and scams, and Advanced Protection mode is stronger against sophisticated threats. They also reduced PIN guess attempts and added longer wait times between failures to stop brute-force attacks.
For folding phones: Android 17 adds a foldable gaming mode. It optimizes the screen real estate with a 50/50 layout, game view on top and a dynamic gamepad below. Perfect for battling, puzzling, and winning. It’ll be available in the coming months, and you can remap external controllers too. They also made memory cleanup more efficient to cut down on frame drops and stutters during high-def gaming.
3. macOS 27 & The End of the Intel Era
macOS 27 is the first version that requires Apple Silicon. The Intel Mac era is officially dead. Macs on macOS 26 will still get about two more years of Safari and security updates, though. Rosetta 2 is still supported for now on M-series Macs but is being phased out. Siri is getting more “advanced,” but it hasn’t rolled out yet so I can’t dive into the features. There are ugh more parental controls and something called Liquid Glass for faster performance overall.
4. 2026 Motorola Razrs
Back in foldable land, the Motorola Razr 2026 lineup is out, and as a Samsung fan, I’m disappointed. We need more real competition. Motorola’s flagship efforts are mostly these foldables, which still aren’t as durable as regular phones. The base Razr 2026 has 256GB storage, 8GB RAM, and a MediaTek Dimensity 7450X, which is not a very powerful chip. In fact, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is 50% faster, though I would like to see the real world impact.
5. Meta Glasses
Meta just dropped its latest AI glasses in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, starting at $299. The new Meta Glasses line features three bold styles including a Kylie Jenner collab, premium colors, and prescription lens support. Powered by the new Muse Spark AI model, they offer hands free Meta AI for real time info, navigation, translation, photo and video capture, and daily task management. With open ear audio, advanced mics, over 8 hours of battery, and a charging case, these glasses prioritize style, privacy, and utility. Available now at major retailers. This could accelerate the shift toward wearable AI as the post smartphone future. I think this will be cool for asking questions and listing to music. God bless and Tech Talk To You Later!!
