The Rabbit R1 was overhyped because it was a brilliant concept but failed to deliver on expectations. Initial reviews revealed issues such as overheating and limited functionality, making it more of a novelty than a practical device.
The hype cycle for the Apple Vision Pro was unusual because it was hyped extensively before its release, with controlled demos and no hands-on experience for tech reviewers. This created a lot of anticipation but also confusion about its actual capabilities.
The M3 MacBook Air was considered appropriately hyped because it was a solid update to a popular device, with improvements like the 15-inch version. Unlike the Rabbit R1, it met or exceeded user expectations and was a useful product.
The Humane AI Pin was overhyped due to excessive marketing claims that it would transcend everyday life and eliminate the need for phones. However, in practice, it failed to live up to these expectations and became more of a paperweight.
The M4 iPad Pro was appropriately hyped because it offered significant hardware improvements and a perfect form factor. However, the negative hype around the 'crush' ad and the discontinuation of the Smart Folio keyboard detracted from its overall reception.
Apple Intelligence at WWDC was overhyped because it promised significant improvements to Siri and other features but largely failed to deliver. The best feature is the ChatGPT integration, which is ironic because the best part of an Apple product is not Apple's own technology.
The Pixel 9's AI photography features were cautiously hyped because, while they offered the ability to generate content in photos, the impact was not as significant as expected. The limited sample size and the fact that not many people use Pixel phones also contributed to the caution.
The M4 Mac Mini was underhyped because it was a fantastic machine with significant performance improvements, but Apple did not market it heavily. It quietly became one of the best new computers they released that year.
OpenAI won the year in tech because of its significant impact on the industry, particularly with tools like ChatGPT. They were the driving force behind many AI advancements and integrations, outpacing even tech giants like Apple and Google.
iOS 18 received mixed reviews because it introduced several useful features like scheduling messages and built-in summaries, but also had numerous bugs and a poorly redesigned Photos app. Many users found the update frustrating and wanted to revert to previous versions.
We recap all the big tech moments of 2024, from Apple Vision Pro to Rabbit R1, Humane Ai Pin, OpenAI Search and Sora, WWDC with Apple Intelligence, Pixel 9 Pro and AI Photography, Meta Orion glasses, and rate each as overyhyped or underhyped! Plus, we crown a tech brand winner of the year.
Sponsored by:
Big thanks to Basic Apple Guy for creating our first run of Primary Tech Merch! Get our PTS OG shirt or hoodie, battery percentage ON/OFF, and The Other Guy at: primarytech.fm/merch)
Join the Community
Support the show
Reach out:
We would also appreciate a 5-star rating and review in Apple Podcasts) and Spotify)
Podcast artwork with help from Basic Apple Guy).
Those interested in sponsoring the show can reach out to us at: [email protected])
Links from the show
Here's What (Non-Techy) People Think of Apple Vision Pro - YouTube)
Humane Ai Pin vs. Siri vs. Rabbit R1: Knowledge Test! - YouTube)
You can now try Microsoft’s Recall AI feature on Intel and AMD Copilot Plus PCs - The Verge)
WWDC24 Recap: Apple Intelligence Unveiled, BIG Updates to iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and More! - YouTube)
Apple Blog TUAW Returns With Stolen Graphics and AI-Generated Content - MacRumors)
The Google Pixel 9’s AI Camera Features Let You Reshape Reality | WIRED)
Introducing Orion, Our First True Augmented Reality Glasses | Meta)
(00:00) - Intro
(06:21) - January: CES, Rabbit R1, Samsung
(11:37) - February: Apple Vision Pro
(20:12) - March: M3 MacBook Air, TikTok Ban
(24:05) - April: Humane Ai Pin
(28:28) - May: M4 iPad Pro, Copilot+ PCs
(37:17) - Sponsor: 1Password
(39:03) - June: WWDC + Apple Intelligence
(47:43) - July: TUAW And Cloudstrike Fails
(49:33) - August: Pixel 9 + AI Photography
(51:56) - September: iPhone 16 Event, Meta Orion
(56:18) - October: iPad Mini 7, M4 Mac mini, iMac, MacBook Pros
(59:49) - November: Final Cut, DOJ X Google Case
(01:00:02) - December: The Verge Paywall, OpenAI Sora
(01:01:11) - Tech Winner of 2024
** ★ Support this podcast ★) **