29 Sept 2025
This weekly program offers a comprehensive review of diverse technological advancements, covering new product roadmaps from Apple, Android's design evolution, Ethereum updates, and Huawei's desktop OS. It also delves into social commentaries, including unique snakebite research, national mobile phone import policies, local crime reports, and critiques of public sector inefficiencies.
Episode 130 of Tak Talk begins with a comedic segment addressing a non-existent or mismanaged public number system, humorously suggesting its application for practical services such as locating restrooms.
The program highlights individuals with unusual snake interactions, including Asgar Keshmanrangi, bitten by snakes for 40 years, and Tim Farid from Wisconsin. Farid intentionally injects diluted snake venom and allows deadly snakes, such as black cobras and mambas, to bite him, leading scientists to analyze his blood for developing antivenoms, a critical effort given the 140,000 annual snakebite deaths in the US.
Skype, formerly used by 80 million people despite its heavy and intermittent performance, has been discontinued by Microsoft. It was replaced by Microsoft Teams, which is criticized for being slow, often banned or filtered, and generally dysfunctional, reflecting challenges in Microsoft's software development.
Apple's projected product roadmap outlines the release of the iPhone 17 series in 2026, followed by iPhone 18 iterations in late 2026 and early 2027, and the iPhone 19 series in late 2027, indicating an accelerated and continuous update cycle for its flagship smartphone.
Google is set to unveil a completely new Material Design language at the IFA 2025 conference. This revamped design, developed after 46 rounds of research with over 18,000 participants, emphasizes large, colorful, and non-minimalist aesthetics.
A recent decision by the Iranian Mobile Phone, Tablet, and Accessories Association prevents new companies without a prior history in the mobile phone industry from receiving land allocation for imports in 1404. This policy is anticipated to cause significant harm to young entrepreneurs and lead to the unemployment of approximately 15,000 skilled employees in the sector.
Google introduced a special edition of its Gemini 2.5 Pro model at the Google IO event, which features advanced coding capabilities designed to enhance its utility for developers and programming tasks.
Shargh newspaper humorously reported a magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurring 54 kilometers from 'Zaman Abad,' a fictional or non-existent location, highlighting the surreal or creatively exaggerated nature of some news reports.
Tehran's preventive police carried out multiple arrests, including a mobile phone thief in Farmanieh who used a cold weapon and spray paint and confessed to 15 similar robberies. Additionally, a gangster with a history of theft, mischief, and drug trafficking was arrested in South Mehrabad, and a couple stealing car contents in Golestan town were apprehended with the aid of CCTV footage, confessing to their crimes.
The Tehran Municipality's decision to close on Thursdays, purportedly due to electricity shortages, is criticized as a symptom of inefficiency. While essential services reportedly continue, the public experiences significant delays in resolving basic urban issues like persistent potholes and bureaucratic hurdles.
The discussion covers the nuclear policies of India and Pakistan, noting that Pakistan maintains a 'first-use' doctrine (reserving the right to initiate nuclear strikes), while India adheres to a 'non-first-use' policy (committing to nuclear retaliation only if attacked).
Ethereum is preparing for its 'Pectra' update, described by core developers as its most ambitious upgrade to date. This update focuses on significantly enhancing scalability and improving network functionality across Layer 2 and Layer 3 environments, aiming to abstract away complexities like transaction fees for users.
The ban on importing foreign home appliances, including brands like LG and Samsung, has been lifted following the expiration of the Sixth Development Plan. Previously, Iranian companies would re-label domestically produced appliances with foreign brand names, often importing them via Iraq to circumvent the ban.
Samsung is slated to unveil its new Galaxy S25 (Edge) model on May 13th, with anticipation surrounding its design and features.
Eddy Cue, Apple's Senior Vice President of Marketing, speculates that the iPhone may not exist in 10 years, suggesting its potential replacement by advanced technologies such as wearable gadgets, mixed reality headsets, or artificial intelligence integrated into ambient environments.
Huawei has introduced HarmonyOS for PC, its desktop operating system, which is Linux-based and features a macOS-like interface. The company emphasizes its security and privacy, including a real-time developer identity verification system (with government help) and strict restrictions on screen recording and screenshots, implying significant government oversight capabilities.
Figma has launched new features that enable users to complete entire projects without needing external software. These tools support website design, coding, marketing, and digital design, offering capabilities like instantly converting designs into websites without coding and generating code from text commands using Google Code Gemini and Copilot, positioning it as a strong alternative to Adobe Illustrator.
Microsoft discourages its employees from using 'DeepSick' (deepfake technology) internally and did not include it in its App Store. This stance, articulated by a Microsoft vice president, reflects concerns about the technology's potential misuse, making Microsoft one of the first major companies to publicly address this issue.
Bill Gates has committed to donating all his wealth by 2045, stating his intention not to die rich and expressing a desire to avoid certain posthumous labels.
Microsoft unveiled new, thinner, and lighter Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models. These devices feature Snapdragon X Plus processors with powerful neural processing units (NPUs), 16GB RAM, storage options up to 512GB, and start at $89 for the 13-inch Surface Laptop with a 60Hz display, while the Surface Pro offers a refresh rate of up to 90Hz.
Recast is highlighted as the app of the week for Mac users, serving as an advanced clipboard manager. It integrates artificial intelligence, emojis, calculation tools, extensive window management, and supports thousands of plugins for various services like Notion and Spotify, with an iOS and Windows version forthcoming.
The program concludes by addressing various viewer comments and questions, covering topics such as phone usage, program production details (like the editor's living situation), general knowledge queries (e.g., chicken eggs), and technical assistance, before wrapping up the weekly episode.
Tim Farid's unconventional approach of intentionally injecting diluted snake venom and allowing deadly snakes like the black cobra to bite him has garnered the attention of researchers, who aim to develop antidotes from his blood.
| aspect | detail | significance |
|---|---|---|
| Snakebite Antidote Research | Tim Farid intentionally exposes himself to snake venom for scientific study. | His blood is being used to develop antivenoms, addressing 140,000 annual snakebite deaths in the US. |
| Mobile Import Policy (Iran) | New companies without industry history are barred from mobile import allocations. | This policy threatens young entrepreneurs and could lead to 15,000 job losses, impacting market stability. |
| Apple's Future Strategy | The iPhone may be replaced by AI, wearables, and mixed reality in 10 years. | Reflects a potential shift from traditional smartphones to integrated, intelligent devices. |
| Huawei HarmonyOS Security | PC version includes developer identity verification and strict screenshot restrictions. | Aims to enhance privacy but also suggests government-controlled data access and surveillance capabilities. |
| Figma's Expanded Tools | New features enable full project completion without external software. | Empowers designers with integrated website design, coding, and marketing capabilities, rivaling competitors. |
| Bill Gates' Philanthropy | He pledges to donate all wealth by 2045, aiming to avoid dying rich. | Sets an example for extreme philanthropy, demonstrating a commitment to societal contribution over personal inheritance. |
