Weekly Download #85: Apple (probably) owes you money!

Welcome to another edition of KnowTechie’s Weekly Download. First time here? Don’t forget to subscribe – it’s free. Missed an issue? Check the archive. Disclaimer: We might earn commission from your clicks. Thanks in advance for supporting our sponsors (and us)!

Hello , it’s Sunday, May 11, and Mother’s Day! Hope all the mothers out there have a wonderful day.

REQUIRED LISTENING: 
🎵 Danzing - Mother 🎵

DID YOU KNOW?
Mother's Day consistently ranks as one of the busiest days for phone calls in the U.S., with call volumes spiking by up to 37%. 📞 

Here’s what we’ve got going on this week:

• HOW TO: How to get your share of Apple’s Siri snooping settlement.

• THE BIG ONE: GTA VI trailer drops.

• FAST FIVE: Five news stories you missed.

• GEAR OF THE WEEK: LIVEN Mega Synthesis

• MORONS OF THE WEEK: Skype deserved better.

• DEALS: Save money on gear you NEED.

• TOOLS: Cool apps on our radar.

Let’s. Get. Into. It. But before we do, we need to announce the giveaway winner from last week, right?! Alright, without further ado, the winner for the BLuetti Charger 1 goes to:

🏆 Wojciech K 🏆

Again, thanks to everyone for taking the time out of their day to enter this killer giveaway. If you didn’t win, no sweat. We have a bunch of other giveaways like these lined up fo you to throw your name into the hat. Stay tuned!

— Roger

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HOW TO
How to get your share of Apple’s Siri snooping settlement

Tinfoil-hat wearing folks, we were right! It turns out Siri was snooping on us and uploading snippets to the cloud without permission. While this news was from way back in January, we finally have some information about how you can be claim a piece of the class action.

Kevin went deep on the implications earlier this week, but here’s the top-line in case you’re feeling lazy.

• Stake your claim: Head to the settlement’s official website for details.

• Identify your devices: Click “Submit Claim” and then “New Claim"—you’ll be prompted to add serial numbers and proof(s) of purchase for up to 5 Siri-connected devices.

• Count your cash: Max payout will be $20 per device with up to 5 devices eligible. Could be a pretty easy way to score up to $100!

• Watch the clock: You have until July 2nd to submit a claim.

Did you submit a claim? Let us know in the comments. 

THE BIG ONE
One big news story in 100 words or less

Good news for sickos everywhere (that’s me, I’m sickos), the kind folks at Rockstar games have finally announced a release date and dropped a new trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI. Check it out:

As you can see from the trailer and extensive web presence, the new game aims to expand on the world of 2002’s iconic Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, promising to show us the a lot more of Leonida (the games’ surrogate for Florida.)

Grand Theft Auto VI will be available for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on May 26, 2026.

WATCH THE LATEST GTA VI TRAILER HERE

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FAST FIVE
Five news stories you missed

1.) Radar screens at Newark Liberty International Airport went dark
KnowTechie’s take: That’s now twice in two weeks—fortunately the FAA is working to upgrade Air Traffic Control systems.

2.) Fortnite could be returning to Apple’s App Store
KnowTechie’s take: Not so fast: Apple is already in the process of appealing last month’s game-changing legal decision.

3.) Apple exec says iPhone could be extinct within the next decade
KnowTechie’s take: Whether it’s wearables, AI assistants, or some combination of the two, we’re sure Apple will have a stranglehold on what’s next.

4.) Goldeneye 007, Quake, and the Tamagotchi inducted into World Video Game Hall of Fame
KnowTechie’s take: [Waking up my starving Tamagotchi to tell it the good news before stuffing it back into the drawer for another 10 years.]

5.) Cybertruck’s $16,000 range extender cancelled—deposits refunded.
KnowTechie’s take: Seems like bad news!

GEAR OF THE WEEK
LIVEN Mega Synthesis

Forgive me for indulging my inner gamer nerd for a 2nd time in one newsletter, but I simply cannot stop thinking about this thing.

A faithful emulation of the Genesis/Mega Drive’s YM2612 sound chip, this device uses FM synthesis to bring that retro crunch to your next musical project.

GET YOURS FOR $239 (or $259 with a bundled AC adaptor)

MORONS OF THE WEEK
Skype deserved better

Microsoft officially euthanized Skype this week, bringing an unceremonious end to one of the pioneers of online video calling. Why does Bill Gates’ company deserve to be called the Moron of the Week for this rather hum-drum business decision? Easy: They fumbled the bag.

For years, “Skype” was basically the word you would use for “video call.” But alas, Microsoft decided to devote their energy to “Teams,” an application that sends chills down the spine of any remote worker.

Microsoft bought Skype in 2011 and it was pretty much never the same. Another victim of Microsoft’s cost-cutting shutdowns.

NEWSLETTERS WORTH READING

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THANKS FOR READING!

-Roger & Kevin

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