June 30, 2025

Summer Tech Explosion

We break down June 2025's major tech developments across consumer electronics, gaming, space exploration, and autonomous vehicles. This month has delivered groundbreaking innovations alongside serious growing pains as companies push technological boundaries.

• Apple's "liquid glass" iOS 26 redesign features squircle icons and transparency effects
• Apple Intelligence brings useful AI features including real-time translation and custom emojis
• Google's Android 16 offers improved notification control and accessibility features
• Nintendo Switch 2 launches with 4K output and magnetic Joy-Cons amid inventory challenges
• Xbox expands ecosystem with handheld and VR options for hybrid gaming experiences
• SpaceX continues Starship testing with mixed results while expanding Starlink satellite network
• Honda surprises with successful reusable rocket test, joining the commercial space race
• Tesla's robotaxi rollout faces regulatory hurdles and safety incidents
• Samsung's Galaxy AI camera features advanced generative capabilities
• New regulations emerging for AI, data privacy, and space operations
• AR glasses expanding beyond gaming into work and navigation applications

Stay curious, stay skeptical, and we'll catch you next time on Tech Between the Lines. Don't let your phone update itself in the middle of the night!

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00:00 - Tech Supernova Introduction

WEBVTT

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Hey everyone, welcome back to Tech.

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Between the Lines, I'm Between2Pixels and June 2025 has been like a total tech supernova.

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I mean, we've got Apple's big iOS 26 drop, nintendo's Switch 2 finally out in the wild rockets blowing up RoboTaxes running into well, everything.

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And I'm Finn Circuit here to keep Between's feet on the ground or at least out of the stratosphere.

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If you thought last summer was wild, this one's got more launches, more hype and, let's be honest, more headaches.

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We're talking Apple, nintendo, xbox, spacex, honda, tesla, samsung.

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Basically, if it's got a chip in it, it's in the news.

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Yeah, and we're going to break it all down.

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What's cool, what's questionable and what's just plain weird.

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So let's get into it, okay.

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So Apple kicked off June with WWDC and, honestly, the liquid glass redesign is like the most visually stunning thing I've seen since I don't know the original iPhone.

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Everything's all squircle, icons, transparency and these wild reflections.

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It's like using a phone made out of a lava lamp.

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Yeah, or a phone that has been left in the sun too long.

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I don't get the obsession with making everything look like it's melting.

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And don't get me started on the AI stuff Apple Intelligence, they're calling it Personalized widgets, smarter spotlight, all that jazz.

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I remember when a phone just made calls.

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But, finn, come on, the AI features are actually useful Real-time translation, custom emojis, on-device models for privacy this is the kind of stuff we've been dreaming about.

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Plus, there's all this buzz about a Mac Pro refresh and maybe, just maybe, the iPhone Fold finally making an appearance later this year.

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Yeah, I'll believe the foldable iPhone when I see it and when it doesn't cost more than my first car.

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But sure Apple's pushing the envelope.

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Just hope it doesn't snap shut on their fingers.

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Meanwhile, google's not sitting still.

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Android 16 is rolling out and the notification controls are like next level you can finally filter out the noise and the accessibility upgrades are actually meaningful Bigger text, better voice controls, that kind of thing.

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Yeah, and they're touting post-quantum cryptography for security, which, I mean, is great if you're worried about hackers from the year 2040.

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But let's be real.

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Most folks just want their phone to stop freezing and, as usual, half the Android world won't see this update until what, 2027?

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Plus, the bloatware situation is still a mess.

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That's fair, but at least they're trying.

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Security's a big deal, especially with all the AI and cloud stuff we talked about last episode.

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Still, yeah, update fragmentation is the Android curse.

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Alright, let's talk Switch 2.

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I've been waiting for this since, like the first rumors dropped Bigger OLED screen, 4k output when docked, magnetic Joy-Cons this thing is a beast.

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And the launch lineup New Mario, zelda, plus a bunch of remastered classics it's a nostalgia overload.

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Yeah, if you can actually find one.

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The price is up, the stock is down.

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And don't even ask about VR support it's not there.

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Nintendo's still allergic to modern online features too, but I'll give them this they know how to make hardware that lasts.

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My original Game Boy still works.

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Can't say that about my old iPhone.

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True, but I'm just happy to see Nintendo pushing forward, even if I had to camp out online for a pre-order Worth it.

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Speaking of handhelds, xbox dropped the Asus Raji Ali Xbox Edition and it's basically Game Pass in your pocket.

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Plus, meta's got the Quest 3S Xbox Edition so you can play Xbox games in VR.

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It's like Xbox everywhere all the time.

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Yeah, as long as you've got a solid internet connection, cloud gaming's great until your Wi-Fi hiccups and you get booted mid-match and don't get me started on cross-save issues Nothing like losing your progress because the cloud had a bad day.

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We talked about this in our cloud versus console episode, remember.

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Yeah, but the tech's getting better.

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I mean, hybrid gaming is the future.

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Play on your handheld, pick up on your console, jump into VR.

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It's all connected, Just needs a little more polish Switching gears.

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Spacex had another Starship test and let's just say it was explosive.

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But they're still making progress toward those Artemis missions.

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And Starlink keeps launching satellites like it's a game of Kerbal Space Program.

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Global internet is actually starting to feel real.

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Yeah, and so is the space junk problem.

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Every time they add another batch astronomers get a little grayer.

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I get the appeal Broadband everywhere, even in the middle of nowhere, but at what cost?

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We're gonna need a Roomba for low Earth orbit soon.

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That's a fair point, but Starlink's already changing lives in remote areas.

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It's a trade-off, but the potential is huge.

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And then Honda comes out of nowhere with a reusable rocket.

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Test Like what, they took their car tech and just I don't know, bolted it to a rocket.

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It actually worked.

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Japan's space industry is getting a serious boost from this.

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Yeah, I'll admit I didn't see that coming.

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Honda's always been good at engineering but rockets.

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If this means more competition and cheaper satellite launches, I'm all for it, but it also means more stuff in orbit.

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We're gonna need traffic cops up there soon.

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Satellite proliferation is real, but it's cool to see new players in the game Keeps things interesting.

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Meanwhile, Tesla's robo-taxi rollout is, uh, not going smoothly Regulatory headaches, safety incidents, staff jumping ship.

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It's a mess.

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The dream of fully autonomous taxis is looking a little shaky right now.

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Color me shocked.

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We've been here before.

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Big promises, then reality hits.

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I mean, I'm not getting in a car without a steering wheel anytime soon.

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The tech's impressive, but the world's not ready, and neither are the regulators, apparently.

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Yeah, public trust is a huge hurdle, but I still think autonomy's gonna get there.

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Just maybe not this year.

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Quick hits time.

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Samsung's Galaxy AI camera is getting wild.

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Real-time object removal, generative backgrounds all that and they're unpacked.

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Events coming up July 9th, so expect new foldables and watches soon.

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Yeah, and Nvidia's pushing their sovereign AI initiative in Europe.

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More AI, more data, more privacy headaches.

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I'm not convinced all this AI everywhere stuff is as practical as they say Sometimes.

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You just want a camera that takes a picture, not one that tries to paint you into a renaissance portrait, but it's fun to play with.

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I mean, as long as you know what you're sharing, privacy is always the trade-off.

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Let's zoom out a bit.

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June's also been huge for AI-powered healthcare, diagnostics, personalized medicine, all that.

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We're seeing AR glasses from like three different companies, and they're not just for gaming anymore.

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People are using them for work, communication, even navigation.

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Yeah, and the regulators are finally waking up.

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New policies in the EU and US are trying to rein in AI, protect data and even set some ground rules for space launches.

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Took them long enough.

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If we're going to have AI diagnosing your cough and satellites blanketing the sky, someone's got to make sure it doesn't all go sideways.

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It's a balancing act innovation versus responsibility but I'm excited to see where it doesn't all go sideways.

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It's a balancing act Innovation versus responsibility, but I'm excited to see where it goes.

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The tech's moving fast, but so are the rules.

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So, looking ahead all these launches Apple, nintendo, spacex they're going to shape how we use tech for years.

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I think we'll see more hybrid devices, more AI in daily life and maybe even new industry standards popping up.

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And more rules too.

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Regulators are going to have to keep up, especially with AI, space and self-driving cars.

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If you're a consumer, keep your eyes open, read the fine print, check your privacy settings and don't buy the hype.

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Without a little skepticism.

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Yeah, and for investors or anyone in tech, stay curious.

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Things are changing fast, but that's what makes it fun, right?

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One thing that keeps coming up is privacy.

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With all this new tech, it's more important than ever to know where your data's going.

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Use strong passwords, check your app permissions and don't just click accept on everything.

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And if you're building tech, pay attention to the new AI rules coming down the pipe.

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It's going to change how you design stuff, what you can collect and how you use it.

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Better to get ahead of it than scramble later.

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Oh, and if you want to see what's next, there are a bunch of expos and conferences coming up this fall.

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Even if you can't go in person, follow the streams.

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There's always something wild getting announced.

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All right, that's a wrap on June's tech explosion.

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We had new gadgets, big controversies and a few literal explosions.

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If you try out any of this new tech, let us know what you think.

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Hit us up with your feedback or questions.

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And don't forget to keep your wits about you.

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The future's coming fast, but you don't have to buy every shiny thing that drops.

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We'll be back next week with more news, more rants and probably more AI.

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Between you want to sign us off.

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Yeah, thanks for listening everyone.

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Stay curious, stay skeptical and we'll catch you next time on Tech Between the Lines Later, finn.

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See you Between, and goodbye to all you out there.

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Don't let your phone update itself in the middle of the night.