The Minus Sixteen Podcast

Apple's scam and the bots are watching! Ep. 81

The DAD's are back, all three of them are together, even after a dicey cyclone in Australia that threatened to keep Daniel away, it cleared just in time for the boys to record.
 
Alex kicks off the chats this week with a close look and discussion at the Oppo Find N5, which then brought about a broader discussion about the state of the foldable market and whether Apple will ever dip their toes in the water with one of their own.
 
David then brings up the state of Apple marketing and how they don't seem to have any cohesion, especially in the light of the Apple Intelligence delay and how they promoted that VERY heavily during the iPhone 16 launch.
 
Chat then turns to YouTube and how changes with ad placement have caused a stir in the creator community recently. Daniel found a tweet that breaks it down and the boys discuss what it might mean.
 
YouTube also seemed to test a new shorts feed that had the boys confused.
 
Bots are watching videos, brands are paying for them and Newcastle will beat Liverpool on Sunday at Wembley, all that and more on this week’s Minus Sixteen!
 
Get in touch: david@talkingtechandaudio.com
 
#apple #samsung #samsunggalaxy #iphone16e #iphonese #iphone #youtube #oppofindn5
 
00:00 Intro
01:52 Oppo Find N5 thoughts & first impressions
05:45 The Oppo launch that never happened
08:02 The reasons for the limits on battery sizes
09:55 The beauty of foldables
11:53 The history & future of foldables
16:00 Apple and their marketing mess
29:05 The C1 modem
31:43 Taking our time to make genuine reviews
34:40 Changing tastes
37:05 Clearing up the story about YouTube midroll ads
40:00 Is YouTube becoming the next TikTok?
44:15 Bot views
48:10 David’s walk on the dark side
53:33 Do other halves know what we do?
54:36 Daniel & the cyclone story

iPhone 16e - an Apple parts bin or is it for real and the future of Tech YouTube Ep. 80

This week, the boys were joined by YouTuber Andrew Clare. Andrew is an Apple-focused YouTube channel from the states, and he joins us to talk about his experience, but also the latest iPhone 16e.
 
The chat starts with the aforementioned iPhone 16e and David does our first live pod unboxing. The product’s value is brought into question as well as the positive coverage of the phone as opposed to a real critique.
 
The chat then moves onto Galaxy S25 and Andrew shares his experience as a lifelong Apple user and how Samsung has changed since his last experience with the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
 
YouTube chat begins with talk about a recent video by a YouTube employee on their personal channel critiquing the current state of tech reviews.
 
Alex rallies the group to, instead of criticising the space, offering advice from the boy’s experiences that can help someone looking for inspiration.
 
Alex has an SD card nightmare, MKBHD's reviews are questioned and much more on this week's Minus Sixteen!
 
Get in touch: david@talkingtechandaudio.com
 
#apple #samsung #samsunggalaxy #iphone16e #iphonese #iphone
 
00:00 Intro
01:43 Unboxing the iPhone 16e
04:19 The C1 modem - the real key part to the 16e
06:25 Who is the 16e for?
09:06 The iPhone 16e price point
13:13 The name - what does it mean?
15:05 The foldables market - does it interest Apple?
19:19 The Beats PowerBeats AirPods
20:32 Andrew and his phone choice
24:42 The WhatsApp conundrum
27:26 Why did FaceTime never catch on?
28:10 A quick Ted Lasso & Apple TV interlude
31:00 What’s new from Samsung?
40:00 Our thoughts and advice for if you’re starting a channel
52:39 Have the larger channels lost their passion?
58:23 The tech creator space
64:00 YouTube’s new approach to ad placement
68:00 YouTube Premium
71:00 The SD card story

If only the Samsung S25 Ultra were an iPhone! Ep. 79

The boys are back together on their own this week. The conversation flowed seamlessly between product, business and upcoming events.
 
Starting with Galaxy S25 chat, Alex gave his view on the S25+ and the value it offers, and the boys discussed base model devices and how they are an excellent value choice for those who just want a dependable smartphone without the bells and whistles.
 
David was keen to discuss Daniel's video about the S25 Ultra and what would be the reaction if it were made by Apple instead. It's an interesting conversation because the narrative around the S25 Ultra hasn't been positive, especially by some of the bigger creators like MKBHD and publications like The Verge.
 
Business chat quickly took over, Alex talked about dealing with a sponsorship manager, and being organised and planned with content, David has updated his workflow to include a project management system to get on top of his sponsorship commitments, and Daniel spoke about how he intends to stay as a solo creator for now.
 
All that and more on this week’s Minus Sixteen!
 
Get in touch: david@talkingtechandaudio.com
 
#apple #samsung #samsunggalaxy #samsungmobile #iphone17 #samsungspen
 
David's latest video: https://youtu.be/mi_oJwSqsIw
Alex's latest video: https://youtu.be/dnyWLMi0c2w?si=Vmohcyh33MY5Rwgu
Daniel's latest video: https://youtu.be/Ee63sUtzSOI?si=dN7o-FI2--mDSE8H
Kyle's latest video: https://youtu.be/Ee63sUtzSOI?si=dN7o-FI2--mDSE8H
 
00:00 Intro
02:45 Thoughts on  Samsung S25 Plus
08:16 Modem talk
09:05 Alex and his iPhone issues
13:10 If this were Apple… 
18:22 The Verge and their Apple vs. Samsung views
22:36 If the S25 were and iPhone…
26:02 iOS Apps coming to Android…why?
29:30 MKBHD - has he lost his way?
32:38 Singing to Apple’s song
36:53 Productivity & quality standards
51:05 Bringing onboard an editor & staff
56:55 Auto Dubbing in YouTube Studio 

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra & S-Pen Drama! - Ep. 78

Well wasn't this a challenge? Our second show of the year proved a difficult upload but we got there 😅 the things we do!
 
This week the boys are joined by Kyle Erickson. A YouTuber from Canada known for his unique style and distinct thumbnails.
 
To kick things off they recapped the drama of the S Pen and saga from early in the week after Kyle and Alex both shared their thoughts of their time with the S25 Ultra.
 
Post that, the chat shifted to their first YouTube discussions of the year as they explored Kyle's audio treatment, how he started his YouTube journey and what made him go full-time at 7 thousand subs! 
 
All that and more on another episode of Minus Sixteen!
 
Get in touch: david@talkingtechandaudio.com
 
#apple #samsung #samsunggalaxy #samsungmobile #iphone17 #samsungspen
 
David's latest video: https://youtu.be/mi_oJwSqsIw
Alex's latest video: https://youtu.be/dnyWLMi0c2w?si=Vmohcyh33MY5Rwgu
Daniel's latest video: https://youtu.be/Ee63sUtzSOI?si=dN7o-FI2--mDSE8H
Kyle's latest video: https://youtu.be/Ee63sUtzSOI?si=dN7o-FI2--mDSE8H
 
00:00 Intro
01:25 S25 Ultra vs S24 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro
03:10 Issues with shooting LOG on the S25 Ultra
07:23 The S Pen scandal
11:45 Is it bits or bytes…?
12:48 Alex and his iPhone woes
14:50 Kyle’s thoughts on the iPhone 16 Pro
17:44 Giving truthful reviews & getting the details right
19:00 Post Unpacked - the effects for Daniel
21:12 Kyle’s upload strategy
23:00 Alex’ schedule
24:22 Kyle’s brand
27:48 Kyle’s gear & audio tips
31:35 Daniel & Premiere Pro 2025
35:50 Kyle, analytics & scripting
43:40 Daniel’s approach to recording A-roll
47:00 Kyle and the risks of going full-time
51:48 Kyle’s workspace
55:38 Daniel’s workspace
57:37 The life/work balance
61:00 How we are going to spend our days
65:00 Sponsors and working with them

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra - WHO ARE THEY KIDDING! Ep 77

Join us for our first episode of 2025 as we dive into the latest from Samsung Unpacked. We’re breaking down everything you need to know about the Samsung S25 Ultra, including its stunning new features and the surprising changes to the S Pen. The S25 Ultra now shoots in LOG - will that make it the perfect phone for creators who are looking to elevate their quality? 
 
We’ll also explore the power of the Snapdragon Elite for Samsung chip and what it means for the phone’s battery life & performance. Plus, we’ll discuss the growing influence of AI on Samsung phones and what impact it may have on the iPhone. 
 
Yup - we are back! Get involved, leave us your comments and what you made of this week’s Samsung Unpacked.
 
 
Get in touch: david@talkingtechandaudio.com
 
Daniel’s latest video: https://youtu.be/Jl_jnOE1LSk?si=H8Cm9GX1UzMeB8ex
Alex’s latest video: https://youtu.be/Wh2QolsTiLE?si=7YSXe7w41CXG-u_j
David’s latest video: https://youtu.be/KrJhG_6vu_o?si=SRXfBxnYRIs2mpXS
 
00:00 Intro
02:30 What was new at Samsung Unpacked
05:25 The new ‘feel’ to the Samsung S25 Ultra
09:35 Hands-On - the first impressions & battery life
14:37 The new Snapdragon Elite for Samsung chip
18:58 The benefits of physical events
21:25 Would Daniel ever end up working back at Samsung?
23:00 The do’s and do nots of being at the event
24:45 The downgrades to the S Pen - and why
28:35 AI - what’s new?
35:25 Thin phones are back?
44:00 The latest on Daniel and the Mac mini
48:00 Using Acasis enclosures & SSD
49:15 The Honey Trap fiasco
57:00 The refresh rate on the S25 Ultra

iPhone 17 LEAKS and YouTube's WAR on Clickbait! | Ep. 76

Dive into the latest tech buzz with our video on iPhone 17 Rumours, and is YouTube finally cracking down on clickbait?
 
In this episode, we explore the most exciting whispers about the upcoming iPhone 17 and look back at our tech highlights of 2025. Plus, we delve into the ongoing debate: which is best, external storage or NAS - very relevant if you’re just about to buy an M4 Mac mini
 
But that's not all! There’s plenty of YouTube news, too. We look at achieving sustainable growth as your channel becomes larger & we discuss YouTube's new A/B title testing feature and also how they are going to attempt to crack down on clickbait videos. And - invalid traffic is back…and it’s worse than ever! Is working for free sometimes a good idea, and what value does a manager bring to creators?
 
Make sure to subscribe for more tech updates and join the conversation in the comments below!
 
 
Get in touch: david@talkingtechandaudio.com
 
Daniel’s latest video: https://youtu.be/JMunvyl2bUQ?si=FAwNMXAN6b3Cq861
Alex’s latest video: https://youtu.be/mzJT46G70b0?si=s5a-W9zq4VW0H6bw
David’s latest video: https://youtu.be/O4ooXaYb28E
 
 
00:00 Intro
02:00 Alex is STILL using an iPhone (begrudgingly!)
04:16 iPhone 17 rumours
07:40 Apple leaning into the Smart Home market in 2025
08:45 More Mac mini thoughts
09:30 Alex’s tech highlights of the year
12:56 And what was David’s highlight?
14:18 The best external storage options - SSDs or NAS?
21:17 CES - and the benefits of attending events in person
32:20 Sustainable Growth on YouTube
38:55 The effect AI is having on the creators’ space
41:55 YouTube starting Title A/B testing
44:25 YouTube cracking down on obvious clickbait videos
46:00 Alex and his new manager and the benefits they should bring
49:00 Working for free - is it worth it?
54:55 Invalid traffic is back!
56:55 The demise of AdSense
60:00 Pitching to brands
60:04 Auto-dubbing

Keeping Apple Fanboys Happy! The M4 Mac mini going Android Free & One UI 7 Beta | Ep. 75

The boys are joined by Patrick Rambles this week and kick off their chat to see if Daniel is any closer to switching to a Mac. Patrick, Alex & David all over Mac Mini insights to try and help the decision as they also compare the base model Mac Mini's to fully specced machines.
 
Alex updated us on how the No Android November challenge went and talked through the pain of switching ecosystems constantly, and diverted the chat to how he wants to use this as a showcase for future sponsor integrations.
 
Patrick also revealed his strategy of moving away from dedicated videos and trying and focus on core content for his channel as the focus of the pod switched to its usual look at YouTube and the business side of creating.
 
The chat couldn't be rounded up without a mention of the One UI 7 Beta at the end by Daniel, as he didn't want the pod to end without at least a chat about Samsung's latest software.
 
All that and more on this week's Minus Sixteen!
 
 
Get in touch: david@talkingtechandaudio.com
 
Daniel’s latest video: https://youtu.be/wLSmENZ-1mE?si=XOq0R8aFTw6Pg1GJ
Alex’s latest video: https://youtu.be/mzJT46G70b0?si=QtDRGkPZQCQymdOR
David’s latest video: https://youtu.be/09rxYRTvG8U
Patrick's latest video: https://youtu.be/HUizYbqPUio?si=nPA0DQvmwL3pMl_U
 
 
00:00 Intro
02:00 Daniel’s M4 dilemma
06:10 Breaking out of an ecosystem
10:15 Patrick’s Mac of choice
12:00 The Mac mini - the perfect portable device - is Apple up to something?
17:55 Our OCD is happy!
18:10 Alex and his Android free life
23:15 Choosing brands for the business
26:55 Working with a manager
33:15 The balance of making dedicated videos
36:25 Apple fanboy videos
39:15 How much can you charge?
44:25 Should brands be more transparent?
47:25 Dealing with bad debts in the creator economy
52:55 The benefits of networking
56:00 One UI 7 Beta
59:10 Selling packages
60:00 Losing Twitter followers

Will Daniel FINALLY switch to Apple silicon? Fold SE hands-on, Mac Mini & MKBHD dramas! | Ep. 74

The boys lost Alex this week as his Jaguar got scared after the rebrand and needed repairs.
David & Daniel started by discussing the positive side of tech YouTube and how they both intend to continue to be excited by tech rather than tired of it. This led to an early look into a fascinating new product from Samsung, the Galaxy Z Fold SE. Along with the new design, it sparked a conversation about product launches and Samsung's haphazard release schedule.
David then spoke about his massive Mac Mini video and what it taught him about creation and also the products he was testing, which then turned into a long, deep-dive discussion into the future of Daniel's editing set-up.
He is currently in a mind melt about switching from his beloved, but flawed, Galaxy Book 4 Ultra to a Mac Mini or M1 Max Macbook Pro.  He takes us on a long, twisted journey about what he is grappling with and David tries to help him navigate through. But he needs your help, so when you've listened, comment below!
The boys then discuss the hot YouTube news of the last 2 weeks, MKBHD. Rather than just straight up cancelling him, David & Daniel offer a balanced, fair analysis of the whole situation and try and offer perspective in the whole scenario.
All that & more on this week’s Minus Sixteen!
 
Get in touch: david@talkingtechandaudio.com
 
Daniel’s latest video: https://youtu.be/KOvVLeaZ1lM?si=63FRiKm-4eRLhdQA
Alex’s latest video: https://youtu.be/wRFFiuOFEYQ?si=5fQsXLG4hIwXc5b-
David’s latest video: https://youtu.be/nbwftAzMprI?si=mFAyVP4bUe7_D0u3
Visit @AverageDadOfficial
 
 
00:00 Intro
01:15 Daniel’s enthusiasm is spreading
04:10 Does Samsung have a release schedule?
08:00 The Samsung Z Fold SE
16:52 David’s 50-hour edit
22:00 Daniel’s Mac mini buying dilemma
38:20 The MKBHD drama - our thoughts