In this episode Kris and Erik discuss Microsoft's latest report on global AI adoption trends, explore highlights from CES 2026 including LEGO's groundbreaking Smart Bricks, Samsung's triple-folding phone, and AMD's new AI-powered laptop processors. Plus, we check out Repebble's new smartwatches and voice-recording ring.

SHOW NOTES

Zorin OS https://zorin.com/os/ (Linux-based operating system designed as a user-friendly alternative to Windows and macOS, featuring familiar desktop layouts and extended hardware support)

Ollama https://ollama.com/search (Local LLM runtime platform enabling privacy-focused AI model deployment on personal hardware)

Microsoft AI Economy Institute Global AI Adoption Report 2025 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/corporate-responsibility/topics/ai-economy-institute/reports/global-ai-adoption-2025/ (Comprehensive analysis showing AI adoption reached 16.3% globally with widening divide between Global North and Global South)

Repebble Index 01 https://repebble.com/index (Voice-recording smart ring with button and microphone for capturing thoughts, requiring no charging for years of use)

Repebble Watch https://repebble.com/watch (New e-paper smartwatches including Pebble Round 2 and Pebble Time 2 with long battery life and open-source PebbleOS)

AMD Ryzen AI 400 Series Announcement https://www.amd.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2026-1-5-amd-expands-ai-leadership-across-client-graphics-.html (Next-generation processors featuring 60 TOPS NPU for AI workloads, 12 Zen 5 cores, and enhanced performance for laptops and mini-PCs)

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold Coverage https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-z-trifold-hands-on-flexing-is-believing-at-ces-2026-224343480.html (Hands-on coverage of Samsung's triple-folding smartphone with 10-inch display that won Best Overall Product at CES 2026)

LEGO Smart Bricks Star Wars Sets https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/news/2026/december/lego-smart-play-announcement (Interactive LEGO platform featuring Smart Bricks with embedded sensors, speakers, and processors smaller than a LEGO stud, launching March 2026 with Star Wars sets)

CONTACT

Website:examining.ca

Twitter: @ExaminingPod

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host

Website: erikchristiansen.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca

Website: krishans.ca

In this episode Kris provides a long-term review of the iPhone Air, our co-hosts discuss Time Magazine's person of the year—The AI Architects—and Erik discusses how to run AI locally using Ollama.

SHOW NOTES

TIME: Person of the Year 2025 — AI Architects
https://time.com/7339685/person-of-the-year-2025-ai-architects/
(Overview of TIME’s 2025 Person of the Year selection, highlighting AI builders shaping technology and society)

Ollama (Official)
https://ollama.com/
(Main site for Ollama, a local LLM runtime focused on privacy and performance)

Shep Bryan on Ollama
https://www.shepbryan.com/blog/ollama
(Practical breakdown of Ollama, how it works, and use cases from a developer perspective)

CONTACT

Website:examining.ca

Twitter: @ExaminingPod

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host

Website: erikchristiansen.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca

Website: krishans.ca

In this episode, Erik discusses Linux has never quite become the everyday desktop operating system, despite powering much of the modern Internet and having a passionate community behind it. He explores what has held Linux back from mainstream adoption, and looks at how the end of Windows 10 support is pushing people to explore alternatives. Erik highlights Zorin OS, a Linux distribution designed to feel instantly familiar to Windows users, and explains why it might be the most compelling option yet for anyone user older hardware that is not compatable with Windows 11.

SHOW NOTES

Statcounter: Desktop OS Market Share Worldwide
https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop/worldwide/
(Global operating system usage data, including Linux’s current ~3 percent share)

Linux Today: Microsoft Continues to Cite Linux as Proof It Is Not a Monopoly
https://www.linuxtoday.com/infrastructure/microsoft-continues-to-cite-linux-as-proof-it-is-not-a-monopoly/
(Historical context on Microsoft using Linux’s existence during antitrust scrutiny)

Ars Technica: New Project Brings Strong Linux Compatibility to More Classic Windows Games
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/11/new-project-brings-strong-linux-compatibility-to-more-classic-windows-games/
(Explains Proton, SteamOS momentum, and why Linux gaming is suddenly viable)

Zorin OS Blog: Introducing Zorin OS 18
https://blog.zorin.com/2025/10/14/zorin-os-18-has-arrived/

SavvyNik (YouTube): Zorin OS 18 Overview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni-JXsp0Vtw
(Visual demo of Zorin’s UI and Windows-like workflow)

Microsoft: Windows 10 End of Support: October 14, 2025
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-home-and-pro
(Official end-of-life documentation for Windows 10)

Microsoft Learn: Windows 11 Requirements
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/windows-11-requirements

Ubuntu Documentation: Linux Hardware and Driver Support Overview
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HardwareSupportComponents
(Context on device compatibility challenges that shaped Linux adoption)

GNOME Blog: Online Accounts and Cloud Integration in GNOME
https://blogs.gnome.org/
(Background on the online accounts integration used by distros like Zorin)

LibreOffice: LibreOffice for Windows, macOS, and Linux
https://www.libreoffice.org/discover/libreoffice/
(Open-source Office alternative recommended for Windows switchers)

Obsidian: A Powerful Notes App for Linux and Beyond
https://obsidian.md/
(Cross-platform note-taking tool mentioned as a OneNote replacement)