674: A Reliable, Boring Partner
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Jan 16, 2026 The hosts dive into travel hotspot frustrations, comparing models like the Ubiquiti and Verizon Jetpack. They discuss the looming shutdown of Verizon's cableCARD and its impact on TiVo users. Temporal dithering gets a deep dive, highlighting human vision quirks. CES reveals exciting monitor options, with John criticising Apple's competitive edge. The debut of Apple Creator Studio sparks debates on pricing and subscription strategies, while a partnership with Google over AI models raises eyebrows about reliability. Lastly, the transition of the Apple Card to Chase generates buzz.
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Library Hotspot Frustration
- Casey borrowed library hotspots and tested them with a Ubiquiti travel router, but USB-C passthrough failed unpredictably.
- He can rebroadcast hotspot Wi‑Fi but felt disappointed his preferred USB‑BC setup didn’t work before a trip.
Bring A Dedicated Hotspot
- Carrying a dedicated 5G hotspot gives always‑on Wi‑Fi for multiple devices and instant laptop connectivity.
- Consider day‑pass or chunked data services like Solis to avoid recurring $50–$60 monthly hotspot fees.
Cable Card Phase-Out Looms
- Verizon Fios is moving from cable cards to IP delivery, prompting equipment upgrades without a clear deadline.
- John plans to wait until his TiVo stops working before cancelling his expensive Fios TV service.
