Tag: analysis

The end of Windows 10 is coming up, with Microsoft planning to stop support on October 14, 2025. I’ve been seeing the same warnings you probably have — those pop-ups telling you to upgrade to Windows 11 — and I wanted to take a closer look at what that really means for people still using perfectly good older computers.

Check it out in my latest video!

Windows 10 has had a long run, and I’ve always liked how well it performed even on lower-end hardware. The problem now is that Windows 11 has stricter requirements, mainly the need for a TPM 2.0 security chip and newer processors. If you’ve got an Intel 8th Gen or newer, or an AMD Ryzen 2000 or newer, you’re likely ok to upgrade.

Anything older isn’t officially supported, though there are ways around it. Microsoft doesn’t recommend circumventing the TPM chip requirement, and if they make a change assuming everyone has TPM 2.0, it could cause problems later. Business and government users also have to meet compliance standards, so running an unsupported version isn’t an option for them.

To see how this plays out in the real world, I fired up one of my older PCs — a small Shuttle box with a Celeron processor — and ran Microsoft’s PC Health Check app. It said I could upgrade for free, meaning this one squeaks by. Once Windows Update offers it, I can upgrade to Windows 11 in place. As always, it’s smart to back up first, but the process should be straightforward.

If your machine doesn’t qualify or you’re not ready to move on, Microsoft has something called the Windows 10 Extended Security Update (ESU) program. It’s available to consumers for another year, through October 2026. You can join it for free if you sync your PC settings with Microsoft, trade some Microsoft reward points, or pay $30. It’s not a long-term fix, but it buys more time for hardware that’s still working fine.

For people who’d rather try something new, Linux is worth a look. I tested Linux Mint on that same Shuttle PC, running the XFCE Edition since it’s lightweight and good for older systems. It’s surprisingly easy to get going, with a “live boot” option that lets you try it out without installing anything. Everything worked on my demo machine, and once installed, Mint has most of what you’d need — a web browser, office software, and access to more apps through its software manager. It uses about 1.2 GB of RAM sitting idle, so a 4 GB system runs comfortably.

Installing Linux does mean wiping the drive, so backups are essential, but if you’re done fighting with Windows upgrades, it’s a practical way to keep an older PC useful. I’ve noticed Linux often feels faster on aging machines than Windows 11 does, and since it’s supported well past 2029 for Mint’s current version, it’s a stable alternative.

Whether you stick with Windows 10 a bit longer, move to Windows 11, or jump to Linux, you’ve still got options. It’s interesting that after all these years, some of the oldest PCs still have life left in them — they just need a new OS to keep going.

When I was a kid, my dad used to drive me to work with him during the summers. He had this 1990s-era Mercedes-Benz, and every morning we’d listen to New York AM radio on the way in. Imus in the morning on 660 WFAN, and news on WCBS 880 on the way home. It felt like everyone was tuned in. But a lot has changed, and now Congress is stepping in to keep AM radio alive.

Learn more in my latest video.

There’s a bill moving through Congress that will require all vehicles sold in the U.S.—electric, gas, whatever—to include an AM radio. It has bipartisan support, with 60 co-sponsors in the Senate and 241 in the House. All of this support across the political divide means that this actually might happen. Plus, many members of Congress appear on morning AM radio programs so they have a personal connection to their local stations.

Tesla and BMW haven’t included AM radios in their electric vehicles for over a decade. More recently, other manufacturers have removed AM radios from their EVs and hybrids. The motors in electric vehicles interfere with AM reception because they resonate on similar frequencies to AM radio broadcasts. Automakers have instead opted to offer FM or digital streaming options. In some cases, you can even get AM radio through an HD FM subchannel. That workaround seems to have satisfied most customers so far as there hasn’t been a huge consumer outcry.

Still, the bill would give the Department of Transportation a year to write rules requiring all new vehicles to receive AM broadcasts. There’s a small out for EVs: they can meet the requirement with a digital-only AM receiver, which may be easier to implement. The bill also orders a GAO study on emergency alerts and whether AM is still the best option. There’s a 10-year sunset clause too, so the mandate isn’t forever unless Congress renews it.

The National Association of Broadcasters is backing the bill. That’s not surprising—they see it as essential to preserving AM radio’s role in emergency communications. Senator Ed Markey has been a vocal supporter, citing the unreliability of the internet during emergencies. But it’s worth noting the irony here: while he defends AM as a critical emergency resource, broadcasters are encrypting over-the-air TV signals, which in many cases require an Internet connection to tune into. If emergency access is the priority, maybe it’s time to talk about over-the-air TV encryption too.

On the other side, the Consumer Technology Association is spending heavily to oppose the bill. They argue that nearly everyone now gets emergency alerts through their phones. They cite a survey showing 95% of people remembered getting an alert on their smartphones during a nationwide test, compared to just 1% who heard it on AM radio.

Industry estimates suggest it could cost $3.8 billion to reintroduce AM radios into EVs. Shielding, filters, multiple antennas—it’s not a simple fix. But the law only says a car has to have an AM radio, not that it works particularly well. So automakers may just aim for “good enough.”

AM radio’s advantage is its reach. Because it operates at lower frequencies than FM, its signals travel much farther—especially at night. A powerful AM station can broadcast 100 to 200 miles during the day and sometimes thousands of miles further after dark, thanks to atmospheric bounce. That makes it valuable in emergencies, especially if power is out and people are fleeing in their cars. FM doesn’t cover the same ground, even at similar power levels.

Still, listenership trends are hard to ignore. Back in 2009, the FCC found that just 4% of 12–24-year-olds listened to AM radio. Even among 25–34-year-olds, it was only 9%. The median AM listener back then was 57 years old. In my own YouTube poll, 72% of respondents said they don’t listen to AM radio at all. Just 5% use a streaming app to tune in. It’s anecdotal, sure, but it lines up with national trends.

Despite all that, traditional radio—AM and FM—is still surprisingly strong. A 2022 Pew/Nielsen study found that 82% of Americans tune into radio weekly, and nearly half get some news from it. But podcasting is clearly catching up. According to Edison Research, daily podcast listening has skyrocketed across every age group since 2017. That growth is particularly pronounced among older adults—radio’s core audience.

What’s striking from the Edison Research report is that people mostly listen to podcasts at home. In the car, it’s still over the air AM/FM radio. And most people still commute alone by car according to Census data. Some of the comments on my YouTube poll echoed this. Respondents who retired or no longer have a commute stopped listening to the radio.

So if the radio disappears from the dashboard and a podcast button shows up instead, that’s a major threat to broadcasters. This bill feels like an effort to hold off that transition for just a little while longer.

This mandate, if it passes, won’t turn back the clock and will likely result in interference-ridden radio buttons that EV drivers won’t tune into.

A number of viewers were surprised by the steep import fees on the flash cartridge I reviewed last week for the old Nintendo 64—especially when ordering from sites like AliExpress or Temu. That’s because a major change is now underway with how tariffs are applied to small international packages, and many may be hit with taxes that amount to 145% of the item’s value.

I take a look at this in my latest video.

In the case of that flash cartridge for the Nintendo 64, while the product itself cost $40.84, the final charge ballooned to over $80 once tariffs and taxes were factored in. The bulk of that—more than $38—was tariff-related. This is due to the expiration of the so-called de minimis exemption, which used to shield low-value imports from duty charges.

The de minimis rule allowed shipments under $800 to bypass tariffs, even if the items were normally subject to import duties. It applied to direct-to-consumer shipments from overseas platforms like AliExpress, Temu, and Amazon’s new import-focused app called “Haul.” That exemption has now been eliminated for goods coming from China and Hong Kong.

To illustrate how dramatic this shift is, I recently ordered a Ugoos AM6B Plus TV box from AliExpress. I paid around $158 for it, but under the postal import rules, I would be hit with either a $100 flat fee or 120% of the product’s value whichever the postal service chooses. That flat fee increases to $200 after June 1st.

If the same item is shipped through a private courier like FedEx or DHL, the charges can be even worse. There’s a baseline 20% emergency tariff and an additional 125% reciprocal tariff on certain goods, totaling 145%, resulting in a total tariff of $229.10! Some items like computers and smartphones have been exempted from the reciprocal portion, thanks to lobbying by major tech companies.

Take for instance a mini PC with an Intel N100 chip selling for $139. If it comes via postal mail, the tariff would be around $167 or the $100 flat fee. Through FedEx or DHL, the duty is more fragmented—roughly $38 in this case—but still significant. And this exemption only applies if the item is considered a “computer” under customs definitions. A game console or a TV box would not, even if they have the same components.

It’s also worth noting that origin matters. Goods from countries like Vietnam are still eligible for the $800 de minimis threshold and may not be subject to tariffs based on how trade negotitions are going. But customs can scrutinize these claims, especially if the manufacturing process wasn’t substantial enough to qualify.

Both the Trump and Biden administrations have taken interest in closing this de minimis loophole. While Biden’s team signaled support for reviewing it, the Trump administration acted quickly to close it, citing concerns over rising direct-to-consumer imports circumventing tariffs and import controls.

Right now, some platforms like Temu are starting to collect import duties upfront. AliExpress, on the other hand, may notify you of the obligation but leave collection to the post office or your shipping carrier. If duties go unpaid, the packages are considered abandoned and can be destroyed or auctioned off.

Temu does import in bulk and ships products from U.S. warehouses. In that case you won’t see a separate import charge at checkout in those cases, but the tariffs will make their way into the price of the item. Large imports are not exempt from the 145% tax and we’re starting to see companies raise their prices in response.

ASUS, for example, has announced 7% to 9% price hikes on some laptops. Anker is also reportedly raising prices by 18% or more on some items. Framework, which makes modular laptops, is also raising prices. Their situation is complicated since they sell all of their laptops’ individual components as separate products, some of which are subject to duties while others are not. That kind of business model becomes harder to manage under this kind of tariff regime, especially without the lobbying power their larger competitors enjoy.

Soon I’ll be speaking with Nick Mueller from HDRetrovision, a small business that makes high-quality cables for classic game consoles. They’ve carved out a niche in the retro gaming community, but these tariff changes could seriously impact their ability to serve U.S. customers if the costs become too high.

We’re at the start of what looks like a big shift. Prices are already moving up and will likely climb further as current inventories run out and new shipments arrive under the updated rules.

If you’re a regular buyer from international marketplaces, be very careful when shopping to ensure that you won’t get bit with enormous tariff charges when the package arrives in the USA. If the retailer doesn’t collect those fees from you at the time of purchase, you will need to pay them directly to the carrier. If you don’t, you’ll be out the item and the purchase price.

I was away on vacation when Megalag’s video exposing the Honey browser extension went bonkers in the YouTube creator space. This week a class action lawsuit was filed by Legal Eagle against the extension’s owner, Paypal. In my latest video, we dive into the controversy and the lawsuit. I’m not as bullish as some are about the potential to take Paypal to the cleaners over this.

For those unfamiliar with the situation, Honey has been accused of altering cookies associated with affiliate links. Here’s how it works: If you click on an affiliate link I’ve shared in a video description and later use Honey to check for coupons at checkout, the extension reportedly replaces my affiliate code with their own. This practice diverts commissions from creators like me to Honey.

The lawsuit alleges that Honey’s practices interfere with contractual relationships between creators and the affiliate networks they work with. For instance, I agreed to a contract with affiliate network providers that defines how the program works, rules that I need to abide by, and how I will be compensated. The lawsuit argues by replacing my affiliate cookie, Honey effectively disrupts this agreement. There are also claims of unjust enrichment, as PayPal benefits financially from this interference.

It’s worth noting that Honey has openly admitted to its cookie-swapping behavior in the past. Posts dating back to 2019 and 2022 confirm this. So the big question here is not if Honey is doing this but whether their conduct is interfering with the relationships creators have with affiliate providers.

This will be complicated by the fact that Honey has its own contractual relationships with the the same affiliate networks as creators. Because all of these agreements state the “last click” gets the sale – is it interference if everyone has a contract and agreed to how this competitive marketplace works? That will be up to the judge to decide.

Proving damages in this case is likely to be challenging. Affiliate systems rely on cookies, and tracking the origin of every redirected click often involves digging through extensive logs maintained by companies like PayPal. The plaintiffs in this lawsuit believe these records exist, but it remains to be seen whether the court will grant access during discovery. Even if the records can be accessed, it will be very difficult to match individual URLs to specific creators. You can see an example of that in my video.

For creators like me, the discrepancies between clicks recorded on my tracking system and those reported by affiliate networks have always raised questions. While Honey’s actions might be part of the issue, ad blockers, browser settings, and other factors play a role too.

As for the lawsuit, it’s still early days. Class action cases like this can take years to resolve, and even when settlements occur, they rarely offer much compensation for individuals. In most cases, the legal teams walk away with the largest share of the financial outcome. For instance, a previous class action against Apple awarded individual plaintiffs small sums, while the attorneys received tens of millions.

For now, I’ll be watching this case unfold with interest. While I’m not optimistic about the likelihood of significant outcomes for creators, the attention this issue is receiving could spark discussions about the ethical standards of affiliate marketing and the accountability of major players like Honey.

Canceling internet and cable subscriptions has long been a test of patience. While signing up for service often involves just a few clicks, trying to cancel requires a phone call with retention specialists, and sometimes a lot of negotiation.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently introduced a “click-to-cancel” rule to address this issue, mandating that companies must offer an online cancellation option if they accept online sign-ups. This rule is set to take effect in about 180 days, but the industry is pushing back. The Electronic Security Association (ESA), the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), and the National Internet and Television Association (NCTA) are collectively suing the FTC, aiming to block the rule.

We take a look at their reasons for opposing the rule in my latest video.

The industry associations filing the lawsuit represent companies that would be directly impacted by the new regulation. ESA represents companies that provide home security services, IAB represents a broad range of advertising and subscription-driven businesses, and NCTA advocates for cable giants like Comcast, Cox, and Charter along with a number of cable networks. Their stance is that click-to-cancel is overly broad and doesn’t consider consumer interests or industry realities. They argue the current system benefits consumers, though evidence suggests otherwise.

For consumers, canceling a subscription can be a headache. For instance, Comcast requires either a phone call with a “retention specialist”, a trip to a local store, or even a letter in the mail to cancel. But they offer quick and easy online options for initial orders, upgrades and add-ons.

While the industry maintains that this process is straightforward, consumers tell a different story. Many consumers, like the ones who documented their difficulties on the FTC’s docket, report lengthy hold times and repeated offers instead of straightforward cancellations. Complaints and frustrations are also quite prevelant across Reddit and other social media platforms. This difficulty isn’t exclusive to Comcast; providers like Frontier follow a similar model, offering one-click purchases and upgrades but requiring a call to cancel.

There are notable exceptions, however. YouTube TV and Starlink both allow easy online cancellation, demonstrating that such policies are indeed feasible.

The real reason they are likely opposing these measures is that it makes it easier for consumers to exercise their market power. It’s a question of competition and convenience, both of which would likely improve under the click-to-cancel model.

According to the Wall Street Journal, there are about 24,000 abandoned Redbox kiosks many still containing movies. The company, burdened with significant debt, has found that selling off the movies and scrapping the machines might actually be more expensive than doing nothing at all.

What does this mean for the future of physical media? I explore this in my latest video.

Not all of the machines are collecting dust – some individuals have been able to acquire them, mostly through deals with local junk haulers. There’s even a former Redbox software engineer who has shared backups of the vending machines’ operating systems on a subreddit, allowing people to potentially repurpose the kiosks for their own use.

Interestingly, some kiosks are still powered on and occasionally dispensing movies without charge. One individual documented this phenomenon, walking away with free movies after his credit card wasn’t charged but movies were spit out nonetheless.

Redbox’s financial troubles have also affected businesses that hosted the machines, including Walgreens, which is owed millions in unpaid commissions and operational costs. Despite these machines costing Walgreens about $184,000 a month to keep powered, many haven’t been turned off, potentially in an effort to boost their bankruptcy claim. Other chains face similar issues, as the removal of these kiosks comes with the added cost of safely disposing of their coolant systems.

The broader context here reveals that physical media sales have been in steady decline. According to the Digital Entertainment Group’s market data, sales of DVDs and Blu-rays have dropped by 25% from 2022 to 2023, and the first half of 2024 shows a continuing downward trend. Despite these numbers, there is still a glimmer of hope for physical media fans: sales of 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays have grown by 15%, driven by releases like Oppenheimer and collectible formats such as steelbooks.

This enthusiasm mirrors the rise of LaserDisc in the 1990s. While most consumers opted for the lower-quality VHS format, serious collectors flocked to LaserDisc for its superior video and audio.

The niche market for physical media may shrink, but it’s far from disappearing entirely. Even Nintendo has committed to continuing physical game releases for its new consoles, recognizing that many consumers still prefer tangible products that can be resold.

As Redbox fades, the niche market for physical media soldiers on. There’s still demand, especially from collectors and enthusiasts who value the quality and collectability that digital media just can’t offer. While the era of mass-market DVDs and Blu-rays might be ending, the story of physical media isn’t quite over yet.