Tech

NBCUniversal’s Peacock previewed its mobile app redesign on March 26, and it’s not really a streaming service anymore—it’s TikTok with premium content.

The new Peacock mobile experience combines vertical video, AI-powered “Bravoverse” content, casual games, and traditional streaming. The goal isn’t just to compete with Netflix and Disney+—it’s to compete with the apps consuming most of users’ screen time.

The Vertical Video Strategy

Courtside Live Goes Vertical

Peacock’s NBA coverage pioneered vertical video at the 2026 All-Star Game. The feature drew younger viewers who reflexively hold phones vertically and find horizontal content annoying.

Apple never mentions specific model sales in earnings calls. They talk about “iPhone revenue” and “Services growth” and “active installed base.” But they don’t tell you how many iPhone 17E units moved versus iPhone 17 Pro Max.

You have to read between the lines. And the lines are saying something Apple didn’t want to emphasize.

What Apple Said

In the Q2 2026 earnings call (transcript released March 23), Apple reported:

I’ve spent two weeks with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and I keep asking myself the same question: who is this phone for?

The Good

The 200MP camera with AI-enhanced zoom is genuinely impressive. I photographed a street sign from 100 feet away and could read the parking restrictions clearly. The new vapor chamber cooling system actually works—no more overheating during gaming sessions.

Battery life is excellent. Two days of moderate use without anxiety about finding a charger. The S Pen latency is noticeably improved, though I still can’t shake the feeling that handwriting recognition peaked in 2015.

Netflix thought cracking down on password sharing would boost revenue. They were half right.

The revenue went up. But the company’s reputation may never recover.

What Netflix Did

In early 2024, Netflix announced the end of password sharing. The rules were clear:

• One household per account
• IP tracking to verify location
• $7.99 per extra member

Wall Street celebrated. Analysts predicted 15 million new paying subscribers.

What Actually Happened

I analyzed Netflix’s public filings and third-party data. Here’s what the numbers show:

Sarah Chen hit 10,000 steps every day for 847 consecutive days. She also developed an anxiety disorder, stopped enjoying walks, and eventually threw her Fitbit into a lake.

“I couldn’t just walk anymore,” she told me. “I had to optimize every step.”

Her story isn’t unique. It’s increasingly normal.

The Quantified Self Has Become the Obsessed Self

Wearable fitness trackers promised to make us healthier. Instead, they’re making us miserable.

We Tracked One Family’s Subscriptions for a Year. They’d Be Richer Without Them.

The Johnsons thought they were pretty good with money. They budgeted. They saved. They avoided credit card debt. And like most American families, they had “a few subscriptions.”

When I asked them to guess how many, Sarah Johnson thought for a moment. “Maybe ten?” she said. “Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime… the usual stuff.”

Her husband David nodded. “Yeah, probably around there.”

Your Smart Home Isn’t Listening. It’s Something Way Creepier.

Everyone knows the joke. You’re talking about cat food with your partner, and suddenly your phone is showing you ads for Fancy Feast. You mention wanting a new jacket, and Instagram knows your size. The conventional wisdom is clear: our devices are listening to us.

They’re not. They’re doing something far more effective, far more invasive, and far harder to stop.

Netflix just reported its first subscriber loss in a decade. Wall Street panicked. But here’s what the headlines missed.

Context

Netflix lost 200,000 subscribers in Q1 2026. The stock dropped 35%. Everyone blames competition from Disney+, HBO Max, and Apple TV+.

But that’s not the real story.

The truth is more uncomfortable: Netflix raised prices during a recession. They went from $13.99 to $15.49 at the worst possible moment. And they expected users to just… accept it.

Every year, smart home devices promise to make our lives easier. Every year, they get more complicated. Here’s why.

Context

The smart home market hit $135 billion in 2026. There are now 14 different protocols fighting for dominance:

• Matter (the “universal” standard)
• Zigbee
• Z-Wave
• Thread
• WiFi
• Bluetooth
• And 8 more…

Your “smart” home now requires a PhD in network engineering to set up.

The problem:

• Your smart lock uses Z-Wave
• Your lights use Zigbee
• Your thermostat uses Thread
• Your security camera uses WiFi
• And nothing talks to each other

The result: You need 4 different hubs, 6 different apps, and a prayer.

Headline

The iPhone 18 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra are here, but the smart money is on last year’s models. Here’s why upgrading in 2026 might be the worst decision you make.

Context

Every year, phone manufacturers promise revolutionary upgrades. Every year, the upgrades get smaller. Here’s the 2026 reality:

• iPhone 18 Pro: New chip (15% faster), better camera (12MP → 16MP), same design
• Galaxy S26 Ultra: Slightly better screen, same battery life, $200 more expensive
• Pixel 10: AI features that mostly work offline anyway

The honest truth? If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or later, or a Galaxy S23+, you’re not missing anything.