In this episode, we discuss some of the biggest news throughout the year. From the Oval Office embarrassment of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to war in Sudan, and the Louvre heist. We discuss how Artificial Intelligence is constantly shaping our world, and what will a world with Netflix acquiring Warner Bros. look like?

This has been a year filled with ups and downs, some inspiring stories, as well as some defeating ones. A year where resilience became a n necessity in the face of more mass layoffs from companies who were constantly turning profit. We've seen gold and Bitcoin hit all time highs, and PlayStation announcing the arrival of the original Xbox original, Halo, to the platform in 2026.

As we mourn the deceased, we celebrate our victories. 2026 is upon us, and as the saying goes: We go again.

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@backyardconversations @iGbenga @TemiDavis @dpencilpusher

Google say they've finally cracked their AirDrop headache. Seems a lot of their users have been clamoring for a way to share outside of Google and into the Apple walled garden. Their prayers may have been finally answered.

PayStack is finally let go of their controversial co-founder and CTO, Ezra Olubi, after a series of old tweets resurfaced alongside recent allegations from an aggrieved ex. This won't be the last we hear of this, as Ezra has shared that his legal team will be looking into the termination.

Apple in their annual holiday tradition have dropped a new ad promoting indie creation with filmmakers and puppeteers making a film with the iPhone 17 Pro. This ad is a stark departure away from what other large tech companies are doing with doubling down on AI replacing artists, or even Coca Cola's recent attempt at AI mega slop.

Abductions of children in Nigeria seems to have stuck around after all these years. This has plagued the country and it has recently gotten some deserved global attention. We question what happens to the kidnappers after the children are rescued, and if there's enough government effort in bringing this to an end.

Donald Trump in the news again this week like he always is, had decided to halt immigration from some third world countries. This came after the shooting of National Guard members, and an Afghan national was named suspect.

Google's AI chips seem to be the talk of the town, and Meta and OpenAI want some of that action. How is NVIDIA reacting to this, in a world where they've been the poster boys for more AI, more compute?

On theme with Google, their recent announcements of Gemini 3 and Nano Banana Pro have been turning heads, and rightfully so. They just need to figure out how to market their products as well as the competition to stay top of mind.

Paystack fires co-founder Ezra Olubi amid sexual misconduct controversy - Techpoint.Africa

Android and iPhone users can now share files, starting with the Pixel 10 family - Google Blog

The Making of The Apple Holiday Film - Greg Joswiak's Twitter

Twenty-four Nigerian schoolgirls released over a week after abduction - BBC

Trump pauses immigration from ‘Third World’ countries: What that means - Al Jazeera

How Google Finally Leapfrogged Rivals With New Gemini Rollout - The Wall Street Journal

Nvidia plays down Google chip threat concerns - BBC

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@backyardconversations @iGbenga @TemiDavis @dpencilpusher

Valve recently announced three new products to add to their family of Steam hardware. The reception has been mostly good, but with a release date of ‘early 2026’ and no price tag yet, will this slate of new devices live up to all the hype it’s been getting?

Tesla and CarPlay have been like oil and water since forever. Now that rumors are circling that the car company has been internally testing a way to incorporate Apple’s smartphone integration system  in their cars, what does this say about Tesla and also CarPlay? Especially now that GM is looking to veer away from it. 

The BBC have been caught in Donald Trump’s crosshairs after they aired a documentary seemingly manipulating his speech and taking it out of context. The British Broadcaster has since apologized but it looks like a lawsuit or some settlement is looming. 

Nigeria continue their quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Gabon are the most recent challengers on their path and they seem to have been brushed off easily. But at what cost? If they are to make it to the promised land, they will need to take destiny into their own hands.

Steam Hardware - Steam

Tesla Is Working to Add Apple CarPlay in Bid to Boost Vehicle Sales - Bloomberg

Trump says he will sue the BBC despite broadcaster’s apology - CNN

Victor Osimhen double keeps Nigeria alive in WC playoff - ESPN

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@backyardconversations @iGbenga @TemiDavis @dpencilpusher

Terrorism against Christians has prevailed for quite some time now in parts of Nigeria. Recently, Donald Trump has declared Nigeria a 'Country of Particular Concern'. What could this mean for the plight of Christians in the Nigerian north where these attacks are prevalent, as well as for Nigeria as a sovereign nation.

The entire Affinity suite of software has gone free. For good. This former Serif, now Canva owned product is raising concerns in the creative community. Can something so shiny, so beautiful, and as powerful and the Affinity suite actually go free without repercussions down the road?

The king of Pop is back to claim his throne. Michael Jackson has been brought back to our hearts and ears as reimagined by Antoine Fuqua. In an era of biopics selling out theater seats, how well can this film perform?

Apple’s App Store on the web got a facelift and not much else, while the Grammys are looking to alter the future of awards in the country music category thanks to a little problem of Beyoncé winning best Country album that one time.

US President Donald Trump declare Nigeria 'Country of Particular Concern' - BBC

Free Affinity app sparks huge debate among artists and designers - Creative Bloq

Lionsgate’s ‘Michael’ Trailer Becomes Most-Watched Music Biopic Launch With 116.2M Views - The Hollywood Reporter

Apple Launches App Store for the Web - MacRumors

The Grammys Add New Country Category for 2026 - Billboard

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@backyardconversations @iGbenga @TemiDavis @dpencilpusher

Civilians keep bearing the brunt in the ongoing war between the Sudan Military and the RSF. How does the involvement of the UAE in the conflict affect any hope for a ceasefire?

NVIDIA are the first company to hit $5 Trillion market cap barely two years after Apple were the first company ever to get to $3.5 Trillion. Is this a bubble, and will it burst any time soon?

Hurricane Melissa wrecked havoc in Jamaica and left no stone unturned as it traveled through Haiti and Cuba. Aid is needed for recovery, and it makes us question how this money and support trickles down to those who need it the most.

Prince Andrew is in the news over and over again over allegations of a relationship with now late, disgraced Jeffrey Epstein. Will the Royal Family distance itself from one of their own?

The Louvre heist has been in the news for a couple of weeks. What's happening with the alleged suspects, and where's all the bling that was stolen?

Reports of mass killings in Sudan have echoes of its dark past - BBC

Nvidia hits $5 trillion valuation as AI boom powers meteoric rise - Reuters

Hurricane Melissa leaves more than 45 dead as rescue efforts ramp up - Global News

How will Andrew's titles be removed and what happens next? - BBC

Two more suspects charged over Louvre heist taking total to four - The Guardian

Connect with us:

@iGbenga @TemiDavis @dpencilpusher

Samsung have finally delivered their Galaxy XR headset into the hands of some users. How does it compare to the Vision Pro? Does it legitimize Apple’s approach to mixed reality, or is it just another niche product that could fail?

ChatGPT announced a new browser. Is this just another chrome wrapper with built-in extensions, or is it an actual Google Chrome killer?

Microsoft Studios may have just given up the most sacred title in the Xbox catalog by announcing the release of Halo on the PS5. Surely the PS5 is now officially an Xbox?

Meta haven’t stopped poaching AI employees from the competition, but that hasn’t stopped them from laying off 600 employees in their own AI division. What’s the justification behind all of this?  

Meta Lays Off 600 in AI Division After Offering $300M Packages to Top Talent - Yahoo! Finance

Halo: Campaign Evolved launches on PS5 in 2026 - PlayStation Blog

Introducing ChatGPT Atlas - OpenAI

Samsung Galaxy XR hands-on: It’s like a cheaper Apple Vision Pro and launches today - The Verge

Connect with us:

@iGbenga @TemiDavis @dpencilpusher

Gold recently hit an all time high. What does this say about the world economy and who holds the bulk of the planet's gold reserves?

How is the spat between US and China going? Who's instigating and who's going to come out on top?

Israel-Gaza ceasefire means some respite at leas tfor now. How much more before the cycle of violence stops?

Religious killings in Northern Nigeria is gaining international attention. Why now?

Tron Ares is looking to end up a critical and commercial failure. What does this say about the franchise, or even more-so about the leading actor.

Apple just dropped some new chips on us. M5 is here with a promise of better faster as with every new generation release. Who's the target audience for this generation?

Why investors can't seem to get enough of Gold - Bloomberg

China Accuses US of deliberately causing panic over rare earth controls, says it is open to talks - CNBC

Israel and Hamas Accuse Each Other of Breaking Cease-Fire as Trump Warns of Conflict Resuming - TIME

The ‘Tron: Ares’ Flop Will Probably End Jared Leto’s Leading Man Career - The Wrap

Apple unleashes M5, the next big leap in AI performance for Apple silicon - Apple

Connect with us:

@iGbenga @TemiDavis @dpencilpusher

Figure AI announced their 03 autonomous humanoid robot. It's supposed to help with culler around the house, as well as sorting packages in a warehouse? We discuss who the target audience is for this product.

NVIDIA is currently the most valuable company in the world. Is this sustainable, or is this some AI bubble that will inevitably burst and catch everyone with their pants down?

What if I told you that video of a cat on a treadmill is fake? How can you tell? We talk about how to distinguish between what's real and what's not in this inevitable slop timeline we've found ourselves in.

Introducing Figure 03 - Figure AI

OpenAI, Nvidia Fuel $1 Trillion AI Market With Web of Circular Deals - Bloomberg

China catching up with US in algorithms despite chip gap says former Microsoft AI head- South China Morning Post

Platforms like Meta and OpenAI's Sora are hell bent on getting users addicted to AI generated mess. They're desperate enough to seemingly operate now without major guardrails. How do we avoid getting caught up in all of it?

Xbox hiked GamePass prices and they're beginning to feel the wrath of their customers in real time.

Amazon unveil new devices and tout Alexa+ as a the feature. Plus we get a new Avatar trailer.

Sora 2 is Here - OpenAI

Meta Launches 'Vibes' - TechCrunch

Amazon Launches Echo Devices - Amazon

Avatar: Fire and Ash Trailer #2 - YouTube

Music: tip toe by baegel

Temi is back on the podcast and he's here to share his experience on his recent trip to Asia. From the affordability to the complex organization of some of these old cities.

We discuss Sony's State of Play and the highly anticipated Wolverine game.

Microsoft's blocking of Israeli Military's access to some Azure services made headlines this week. Is it too little to late, or an insignificant act in the grand scheme of things?

EA Sports are looking to buy out investors in a $50 million bid. What could this mean for the studio and it's coveted franchises?

Spotify has allegedly been filling up its streaming services with AI artists, and I snow taking steps to supposedly take on the problem. Talk about fixing a problem you started.

Music: Happy Again by Rebecca Mardal- Musicbed

Sources:

Sony State of Play - Polygon

Xbox Tokyo Game Show - Xbox Wire

Microsoft Blocks Israeli Military - Al Jazeera

Spotify Addressing AI Slop - The Verge

Apple's annual phone launch sees a drastic new design with the iPhone Air. We discuss the implications of this new design as well as the accompanying iPhone 17 which now feels like a premium entry level phone, and of course the Pro iPhones. 

The Nintendo Switch 2 is doing wonders in the market, but for how long. Surrounded by competition in a growing gaming handheld space, how will Nintendo remain the most synonymous company with convenient on-the-go gaming?

KPop demon hunters is arguably the biggest big screen and small screen hit of 2025 so far. How did it go from a Netflix sleeper hit to a box office hit?

Charlie Kirk, a political commentator and debater was gunned down in broad daylight. What are the implications of this shooting in the US? How do free speech debates thrive in a country that holds this amendment dearly?

Music: Happy Again by Rebecca Mardal

Africa's wealthiest man has some pressing issues with the Nigerian government. We tackle what could be going on, and what is the path forward for him as he tried to build a record-breaking oil refinery in his home country.

President Joe Biden steps down and has now passed on the torch to Kamala Harris. What are her chances of defeating former President Donald Trump later this year in the United States Presidential Elections?

The Olympics are upon us. How do the broadcasters plan to get our attention and keep it?

Also discussed are the Apple TV+ too much money problem, what SearchGPT could be vs. Google Search, and how some foreign financial services are being taken away from Nigerian entrepreneurs and startups.

This week's music titled 'High Drama' is performed by Matt Large. Thanks to Epidemic Sound.

In a crazy development during the United State presidential campaign, Donald Trump almost gets killed as a bullet whizzes by his ear and draws blood. We discuss the strangeness of this situation on the pod as we continue to get more information on what happened. Samsung had a marquee event showcasing new products and services. Was it all original, or was there a lot of inspiration from a certain rival?

Football has been all over our screens this past month. We talk about the grand closing of the Copa America and the Euros. Twitter (or X if you prefer) are now testing a downvote button in the app. Let's see how it plays out. Apple were recently caught training AI models with YouTube content without consent. Apparently they're even late to the party on this as Anthropic and NVIDIA have been doing this as well.

A breakdown of some of the news coming out of Apple Park these past few weeks with their AI strategy. We discuss some impressive features and some that could come off as gimmicky. Figma had their annual conference and to no one's surprise, they also announced an AI feature alongside a UI redesign.

Adobe has been raising a lot of eyebrows lately with legislators. We discuss what this could mean for the company and the customer. Microsoft Nigeria have decided to exit the country leading to loss of jobs and a gaping hole in the Nigerian tech sector.

What's happening with Vision Pro sales, and why is Apple changing their forecast for the product? Is the Humane AI Pin really that bad, or is it just poorly executed? Why is there a new blue circle in every Meta app nowadays?

We also discuss Tesla slashing vehicle prices in the wake of stiff competition, the significance of hybrid vehicles, rumors about a Xbox handheld console and what TV shows we're currently watching.

In the most talked about news in tech in the past week, we see a reversal of fortune for Sam Altman in the eventful twists and turns of the Open AI drama.

The Crypto world seems to be unable to rid itself of bad PR in 2023. This time it's Binance's CZ at the center of controversy.

The EU has done a pretty good job in getting Apple to make compromises to its walled garden. This time it's all about messaging.

Apple kicked off WWDC on Monday June 5th and there were a lot of announcements. Dapo and I discuss our favorites and the ones that were not as impressive as we'd hoped. We also go into what some of these announcements mean for the computing industry going forward and if there will be any changes, what role Apple will be playing.

After a long break, we're back to talking! What does Mason Greenwood's dropped charges mean for these types of cases going forward? How much of a mess is the new Naira bills rollout? How far can Apple go with their M-series chips in terms of performance? Who will win the upcoming Nigerian elections?

Mason Greenwood attempted rape charges dropped - BBC

Apple unveils MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max - Apple

The biggest news in a while is of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. We discuss some of the ongoing commentary about her life and legacy and you can be sure that it is not without controversy.

Before Apple's September iPhone event was upstaged by much bigger news, it showcased some of their new devices. We talked about what we like and what we didn't.

Nigeria is exporting oil at it's lowest capacity in over three decades. Can the country ever bounce back from this, and if so how?

Queen Elizabeth II - BBC

Apple Event: The full recap on iPhone 14, Apple Watch Ultra, and much more - 9To5Mac

Nigeria's oil output at 32-year low as thieves hobble output - Reuters

A dark week for Nigerian fighters as both Anthony Joshua and Kamaru Usman lost their bouts. We look forward to what's next for them in the near future.

The pilot for HBO's new series seems to be a success already. We talk about the inevitable competition and comparison with Amazon's Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

Manchester United needed a performance to remember as they faced Liverpool this past weekend and boy did they deliver.

M.I Abaga dropped a new album that is both a good listen and an all round dope body of work.

Joe Biden's camp are trying to relieve some Americans of their student loan debt. We discuss who this affects and what the discussions are around this type of initiative.

Nigeria’s Usman Kamaru, British Anthony Joshua Lose Titles To Opponents - National Insight

‘House of the Dragon’ gets renewed for season 2 after setting an HBO record with premiere episode - CNBC

Man Utd 2-1 Liverpool: Erik ten Hag gets big calls right as Manchester United stun Liverpool - BBC

FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces Student Loan Relief for Borrowers Who Need It Most - The White House

M.I. Abaga - The Guy - M.I. Abaga