Podcast Rewind: Tech Ultimatums, Samsung’s Wild Prototype Handheld, and Our Gaming Origin Stories

This week, Federico and I share our self-imposed tech deadlines for the hardware and software they use.

This episode is sponsored by:

Memberful – Easy-to-Use Reliable Membership Software

NPC: Next Portable Console

Brendon, Federico, and I are back for another week of handheld news, including a tiny bit of Switch 2 news, an up and down week for Retroid, DS handhelds inch forward, Samsung wonders if thumbholes are the perfect complement to thumbsticks, and AYANEO decides thumbsticks aren’t worth the trouble. Plus, Brendon shares NextUI and the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Controller.

NPC XL

This week, Federico, Brendon, and I take listeners on a tour of our handheld and console gaming histories.

AppStories, Episode 426, ‘Our Self-Imposed Tech Deadlines’ Show Notes

Links and Show Notes

Introducing NPC XL More NPC, Every Week

Our Tech Deadlines

Federico

Absent significant improvements in iPadOS 19, Federico will add a Mac to his setup.

iPad Pro for Everything How I Rethought My Entire Workflow Around the New 11 iPad Pro - MacStories

Not an iPad Pro Review Why iPadOS Still Doesn’t Get the Basics Right

Unless ChatGPT starts integrating more tightly with apps, Federico will cancel his subscription.

Absent new exclusives, Federico will sell his PS5.

John

Barring substantial iPadOS improvements, John plans to experiment with Android tablets.

Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3

If Apple’s cellular modems extend the battery life of the iPhone 17 Pro phones, John may drop out of Plus Club.

If Apple supports third-party plugins for Final Cut Pro for iPad, John will consider moving more of his video editing to the iPad.

AppStories+ Post-Show

Federico

iPhone 17 Pro Max

27” OLED display

Nintendo Switch 2, Retroid Pocket Flip 2, Legion Go 2

John

iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max

14” MacBook Pro

Smart Lock

Nintendo Switch 2, Retroid Pocket Flip 2, Legion Go 2

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NPC, Episode 23, ‘Holey Controller Batman: Samsung’s Prototype Handheld’ Show Notes

The Latest Portable Gaming News

Switch 2 info from the FCC

The Nintendo Switch 2 will have NFC and Wi-Fi 6, FCC filings show The Verge

Retroid’s mystery background device revealed

Retroid Pocket Classic Unveiled A Return to Form - Retro Handhelds

Six button version

There’s a Six Button Retroid Pocket Classic - Retro Handhelds

Retroid Mini Screen Issue

It’s Official Retroid Pocket Mini Shader Issue Cannot Be Fixed - Retro Handhelds

MagicX Targets DS Emulation with Zero 40 Specs Reveal - Retro Handhelds

RPCS3 for Android Shares First Alpha Build - Retro Handhelds

Samsung unveiled a prototype foldable handheld

AYANEO Deletes Sticks & Reveals New $179 Pocket Micro Classic

Topics

MinUI Next

8BitDo Ultimate 2 First Impressions

From 8BitDo

From Amazon

NPC XL, Meet the Hosts: Our Gaming Origin Stories

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes.