Episode 40: Steam Machine Dead On Arrival?

Valve has officially revealed the Steam Machine, complete with pricing, specifications, and a release date. The idea behind the device is simple: bring the Steam experience into the living room with a compact console-like PC that runs SteamOS and gives players access to one of the largest gaming libraries available.

In this episode, I take a closer look at the Steam Machine and ask whether Valve has created a compelling alternative to traditional consoles and gaming PCs, or whether the price has already put the device at a disadvantage before launch.

Topics discussed include:

What the Steam Machine is and who it is designed for

The impact of rising memory and storage costs on gaming hardware

Steam Machine pricing and available configurations

Breaking down the hardware specifications in plain English

Why 512GB of storage may not be enough for many PC gamers

USB connectivity and expansion concerns

The realities of 4K gaming and performance expectations

Whether 8GB of VRAM is enough for modern AAA titles

Comparing the Steam Machine to current gaming consoles

Comparing the Steam Machine to similarly priced prebuilt gaming PCs

The advantages and limitations of SteamOS

Why the Steam Deck succeeded and whether the Steam Machine can do the same

The importance of value when introducing a new gaming platform

The Steam Machine is not necessarily a bad product. In many ways, it delivers exactly what Valve set out to build: a small, living-room-friendly gaming PC designed around the Steam ecosystem. The challenge is that consumers are being asked to pay a premium for that convenience at a time when alternative options often provide more performance, more storage, and greater flexibility for similar money. Whether the Steam Machine succeeds may ultimately depend less on the hardware itself and more on whether gamers believe the value proposition makes sense.

# Tek With Josh – Episode 39

## WWDC 2026 Is an S Year

Apple's WWDC 2026 keynote has come and gone, and after all the speculation and anticipation, Joshua believes this was an "S Year" for Apple. Not an S-tier year, but an "S" year in the classic Apple sense—similar to the iPhone 3GS, 4S, and 5S—focused on refinements, optimizations, and incremental improvements rather than major leaps forward.

In this episode of Tek With Josh, Joshua breaks down Apple's biggest announcements, including Siri AI, Apple Intelligence enhancements, iOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, and the latest updates to iPadOS. He discusses Apple's new AI-powered assistant capabilities, cloud-based image generation tools, performance improvements, messaging enhancements, parental controls, and the hardware requirements needed to access some of Apple's newest features.

The conversation also explores how Apple's AI strategy compares to features already available on Android and other AI platforms, concerns about device-specific feature restrictions, and whether Apple's latest announcements justify the excitement surrounding WWDC.

### Topics Covered

- Why WWDC 2026 feels like a classic Apple "S Year"

- Siri AI and Apple's new agentic AI features

- Apple Intelligence and on-device AI processing

- Hardware requirements for advanced AI features

- macOS Golden Gate overview

- iOS 27 improvements and quality-of-life updates

- Enhanced Messages functionality

- AI-powered photo editing and image generation

- Improved parental controls and child safety features

- Faster AirDrop and file transfer enhancements

- Apple's approach to cloud-based AI services

- The future of Apple's AI ecosystem

### Key Takeaway

WWDC 2026 wasn't about revolutionary hardware or groundbreaking new products. Instead, Apple focused on refining existing experiences, improving performance, and integrating AI deeper into its ecosystem. For some users, these changes will be meaningful. For others, it may feel like Apple is finally catching up to capabilities already available elsewhere.

Listen, read, and explore more at:

👉 BooksByJosh.com

🎙️ Tek With Josh — Episode 38
LG Was Weird, and I Miss Them

LG is gone from the smartphone market, but their impact is still everywhere. In this episode, I take a look back at one of the most experimental companies in mobile technology and why I think the industry lost something when they left.

From the LG Wing and modular G5 to the V series, Nexus devices, curved displays, dual-screen accessories, and features like double tap to wake, LG was constantly trying new ideas. Not every experiment worked, and some failures hurt the company in a major way, but they were willing to take risks in a way that few manufacturers are today.

I never used an LG phone as my primary device, but I spent plenty of time around them, setting them up for family members, following their releases, and watching them push boundaries while the rest of the industry played it safe. Looking back, I think many of the ideas we take for granted today owe something to companies like LG that were willing to be a little weird.

What We Talk About

Why LG’s departure from smartphones still matters

The LG Wing and one of the strangest phone designs ever released

The LG Rumor, Fusic, and other memorable feature phones

The rise of the LG G2, G3, and G4

LG’s Nexus partnership with Google

The infamous boot loop problems and class-action lawsuit

The modular LG G5 experiment

The creator-focused V series and manual video controls

Curved displays and the LG G Flex

Dual-screen phones, accessories, and other unusual ideas

Why modern smartphones feel less adventurous than they once did

Why This Stood Out

Technology often moves forward because companies are willing to take chances. LG did not always get it right, but they consistently challenged assumptions about what a phone could be. Many of their ideas failed commercially, yet several concepts they explored eventually found their way into mainstream devices.

The smartphone market today is more refined than ever, but it is also more predictable. Looking back at LG’s history is a reminder that innovation often starts with ideas that seem strange at first.

Final Thoughts

LG’s story is not just about a company that left the smartphone business. It is about a manufacturer that was willing to experiment, take risks, and occasionally fail in public. While their phones were not always the best-selling devices on the market, they helped make the industry more interesting.

Sometimes the companies that matter most are not the ones that win. They are the ones willing to try something different.

About the Show

Tek With Josh is a technology podcast that explores the devices, trends, and ideas that shaped the tech world. From modern innovations to forgotten gadgets and industry reflections, each episode takes a thoughtful look at the technology that influences our lives.

Listen, read, and explore more at:
👉 BooksByJosh.com