690: Turn Left at the Next Tree

The episode starts with the hosts discussing their respective illnesses, illustrating how common and disruptive colds are, especially during pollen season. There’s a humorous tone about denial and the inevitable realization of being sick, setting the stage for a broad discussion that blends personal stories with tech topics.

Barry Rubenstein shares insights on backing up cloud data using tools like Carbon Copy Cloner and Backblaze, emphasizing targeted versus full-volume backups. They also explore how cloud and on-premises backups interact, including approaches like evicting local copies post-backup. The conversation highlights the complexities of modern cloud storage, on-demand files, and backup solutions, noting that some tools handle cloud files poorly, but others are improving.

The hosts discuss Mythos, an advanced language model designed to find security flaws, and compare it with recent models like GPT-5.5. They note that these models are now capable of chaining together complex vulnerabilities, signaling a new level of threat in cybersecurity. The conversation touches on how AI is transforming bug detection, with high-quality reports becoming more common, and underscores the fast pace of AI development, including warnings about widespread security issues like Linux CVEs.

A significant focus is placed on examining Apple’s relatively conservative CapEx and R&D spend compared to industry peers like Google and Microsoft. The discussion points out that while Apple spends billions, other tech giants vastly outpace them in AI and infrastructure investments, raising questions about whether Apple is intentionally holding back or simply being strategic. The potential impacts of this on future product lines, such as the Mac Ultra or iMac Ultra, are debated, considering Apple’s traditional cautious approach and the current component shortages.

The hosts speculate on Apple’s use of 'Ultra' as a branding suffix across multiple products, including the iPhone, MacBook, AirPods, iMac, and Apple Watch. They analyze the possible implications—such as higher-end features, larger sizes, and better specifications—and criticize the potential for unnecessary product segmentation. They discuss rumors about the iPhone Ultra, MacBook Ultra, and other Ultra variants, with insights into what 'Ultra' could realistically signify, from performance enhancements to lifestyle positioning.

Marco recounts his experience training for and completing The Great Saunter, a 33-mile walk around Manhattan, sharing personal insights and reflections on exercise, safety, and planning. He also highlights how AI-powered tools helped him quickly develop a custom navigation app, demonstrating practical applications of AI in managing long-distance activities. The narrative also touches on the importance of separate spaces for cyclists and pedestrians and the significance of personal motivation and community support.

The episode shifts to discussing the widespread hardware shortages affecting Apple and the broader tech industry. The hosts analyze how supply chain disruptions—especially in chips, RAM, and displays—are driving up prices and delaying product availability, impacting consumers and businesses alike. They emphasize the strategic importance for consumers to buy equipment now and speculate on how companies like Apple might respond, possibly by reducing entry-level options or rethinking product lines.

The episode concludes with a call for listener engagement, referencing additional content (like the Shorewalkers’ Great Saunter), and previewing upcoming topics such as software UI design. The hosts encourage membership for exclusive content, sharing a personal story about a supportive listener and his gesture related to Hops, the departed dog, which added heartfelt context to the technical discussions.