Topic: Battery Gate

The hosts point out that Hawaii previously tested its siren system for nuclear attack warnings, contradicting claims that they are only for tsunamis. Governor Josh Green’s comments about the state potentially acquiring fire-damaged land for "workforce housing" are met with skepticism. In a separate tech update, Apple is beginning to pay out $500 million to settle the "battery-gate" lawsuit, with eligible users receiving roughly $65 each.

Geekbench discovered that Apple intentionally reduces the processing power of older iPhones as their batteries degrade. While Apple claims this prevents unexpected reboots, critics argue it is a form of planned obsolescence designed to force users to upgrade to newer models. The segment contrasts this with Android phones, where batteries were historically easier to replace.

A technical discussion addresses a bug where Bluetooth devices go into sleep mode during silent gaps in the podcast. This occurs because the show's digital noise gate drops the signal to absolute zero, triggering battery-saving features in headsets that then clip the first word of the next sentence. The hosts discuss potential workarounds, such as mixing in a low-level "comfort noise" signal.