#hardware-engineering
64 episodes
#2594: The Hierarchy of Immutable Code
From mask ROM to e-fuses: how hardware enforces a hierarchy of mutability in every computing device.
#2592: Inside the Hidden World of Specialist Keyboards
From IBM terminals to Stream Decks — how macro keyboards evolved under the radar for decades.
#2585: The Hidden Superpower of F13-F24 Keys
How unused keyboard keys, custom firmware, and layered macros can transform your workflow.
#2568: When Does Your House Need Three-Phase Power?
Why industrial machines need different electricity — and when your home AI rig might too.
#2566: Why Your RGBW Bulbs Get Dim in Color Mode
Cheap bulbs aren't the whole story — physics limits how bright color LEDs can get. Here's what to buy instead.
#2556: How SSDs Actually Store Your Data
No moving parts, no sound waves — just electrons trapped in silicon. How solid-state drives actually work.
#2553: How the Zipper Actually Works
A deep dive into the Y-shaped tunnel, the bump-and-hollow geometry, and the silent history of the zip.
#2542: The Best Permanent Markers That Actually Last
From ink chemistry to top brands: which markers hold up on plastic, metal, and in the sun.
#2497: Tracing One Python Print Through 6 Abstraction Layers
What actually happens when you print "Hello" in Python? Six layers, 562 system calls, and a hardware-enforced kernel boundary.
#2446: What Actually Powers Airport Flight Displays?
The surprising tech stack behind airport departure boards, Times Square screens, and the Windows XP systems still running them.
#2432: From RTL to GDSII: How Custom Silicon Is Designed
The economics and engineering of ASICs vs. CPUs and GPUs, from transistor placement to hyperscaler strategy.
#2364: Building a Dual-Timezone Clock with ESP32
Learn how to build a precise dual-timezone clock using an ESP32 microcontroller, LCD displays, and USB-C power.
#2363: Embedded Systems: From Breadboards to Pacemakers
How do tiny computers power everything from hobbyist projects to life-saving medical implants? The engineering constraints are worlds apart.
#2358: ESP32 vs Raspberry Pi: The Microcontroller Mindshift
Why your smart thermostat doesn’t run Linux—and why that’s a feature. The surprising differences between microcontrollers and single-board computers.
#2295: How Asus Redefined Manufacturing with Robotics
Asus has achieved 85% automation in motherboard production—how did they outpace Western competitors?
#2270: How Your Laptop Charger Conquered the World
The heavy travel transformer is extinct, thanks to a clever engineering revolution inside every power brick. We explain the tech and which devices ...
#2268: The Universal Power Cord's Quiet Masterpiece
A deep dive into the humble IEC power cable—the C13 and C14 connectors. We explore the history, physics, and surprising engineering that makes this...
#2256: One Charger to Rule Them All? Almost.
Drowning in chargers? We break down the specs for a single, powerful desktop charging station that can handle laptops, phones, and more—and where t...
#2193: Running Claude in Your Apartment (The Physics Says No)
Building a local AI inference server to rival Claude Code sounds great until you do the math on heat, noise, and neighbor relations.
#2106: The Silicon Shock: Inside the 2026 Hardware Supply Chain
AI is hoarding all the chips, and your smart toaster is stuck in line. Here’s why the hardware supply chain is breaking down.
#2091: Solving Problems That Don't Exist
From a $400 juicer that can't run without Wi-Fi to a toaster with more computing power than Apollo 11, we explore absurd gadgets.
#2041: The "MPEG Moment" for AI: Llamafile & Native Models
Why are we squeezing massive cloud models onto desktops? Meet the "native" AI revolution.
#1988: Will Glass Storage Save Us From the Data Deluge?
Quartz glass promises 10,000-year data storage, but can it scale before 180 zettabytes make it obsolete?
#1904: JPEG XL vs AVIF: The Future of Your Photos
Why are blocky sky artifacts still haunting your photos in 2026? We break down the math behind JPEG, WebP, AVIF, and the new JPEG XL.
#1868: The $100 Pen vs. The Disposable Pen
Why a $100 pen is cheaper than a $0.50 pen. We break down the physics of pressurized ink and machined metal.
#1847: The Home Lab Blackout: Fixing Servers From a Beach
Your server is down and you're miles away. Learn the three simple checks that keep your home lab alive and how to get back in when the front door i...
#1821: The Quantum Computer Inside the Giant White Thermos
Crack open a quantum computer and you won't find a CPU—just a gold-plated chandelier inside a giant white thermos.
#1806: Why Mac Minis Are Eating AI's Hardware Race
Apple Silicon's unified memory is crushing traditional GPUs for local LLMs. Here's why the M4 Mac Mini is the new king of affordable AI hardware.
#1797: Why the Cloud Runs on Cassette Tapes
The cloud isn't just hard drives—it's millions of robotic cassette tapes holding petabytes of data for Google and NASA.
#1695: Why Your Raspberry Pi Can’t Stream Netflix in 4K
Netflix streams 4K on your Fire Stick but only 480p on a Raspberry Pi. Here’s the hidden hardware tax blocking your media center.
#1539: The Voice Keyboard: Killing the "Digital Sandwich"
Stop shouting at your phone. Discover how dedicated hardware and local AI are making instant, private voice-to-text a reality.
#1363: How Shenzhen Clones Your Tech Before the Keynote Ends
Discover the "AliExpress Paradox" where $12 earbuds rival $200 flagships, and the high-speed ecosystem turning global IP law on its head.
#1317: The First Second: Why Your PC Still Needs a BIOS
Explore the high-stakes drama of the BIOS, the "Root of Trust" that teaches your computer how to be a computer every time you hit the power button.
#1095: Rooting in 2026: Is the Power User Era Over?
Is rooting your Android still worth the risk? We explore Play Integrity, Shizuku, and the trade-offs of modern power-using in 2026.
#1079: The Analog Hole: Solving Vocal Privacy in Shared Spaces
How do you keep your voice private when walls are thin? Explore the high-tech muzzles and throat mics designed for the remote work era.
#1062: The Silicon Age: Turning Sand into Intelligence
Why did silicon win the chip wars? Explore the "modern magic" that turns ordinary sand into the world's most powerful processors.
#999: The $13 Billion Paradox: Life on the USS Gerald R. Ford
Explore the gap between the world's most advanced warship and the grueling human reality of a nine-month deployment at sea.
#910: Beyond the $100 Trap: Building the Ultimate 4K Media Center
Stop settling for stuttering video. Herman and Corn break down how to build or buy a future-proof 4K media center that actually works.
#896: The Gold Standard: High-End Bedside Power Delivery
Stop settling for slow charging. Learn how GaN 6 and high-wattage hubs are redefining bedside power and reliability for 2026.
#885: Building a Portable Enterprise Network in a Backpack
Learn how to build a high-range, battery-powered Wi-Fi kit capable of punching through concrete walls during an emergency or power outage.
#803: The Labeling Plateau: Professional Tools for Organization
Stop struggling with cheap labelers. Discover the durable TZE ecosystem and the pro-level hardware needed to catalog your entire home or shed.
#792: The Framework Laptop: Modularity and the Right to Repair
Can laptops ever be as modular as desktops? Explore how Framework is fighting planned obsolescence with swappable parts and open designs.
#787: The Liquid Realm: Pro Adhesives for Computer Hardware
Stop ruining your hardware with cheap superglue. Discover the professional liquid adhesives and precision tools needed for tech repairs.
#783: Beyond the Plug: Mastering Monitor Connection Standards
Stop struggling with monitor buttons. Learn how HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C handle software syncing and complex multi-screen setups.
#782: The Hidden Chaos of USB Hubs and Standards
Think USB hubs are simple splitters? Think again. We explore the complex world of endpoints, power limits, and the 127-device myth.
#773: Decoding USB-C: Power Delivery, GaN, and Future-Proofing
Stop carrying a brick for every device. Learn how USB-C and Power Delivery are finally creating the "one cable to rule them all" reality.
#769: The Living Manual: AI and AR for High-Tech Repairs
Discover how AI and spatial computing are turning complex hardware repairs into real-time, interactive experiences.
#730: The Language of Chips: Decoding x86 vs. ARM
Why can’t you just "copy and paste" software between devices? Explore the hidden language of CPU architectures like x86 and ARM.
#709: ESD Myths: Protecting Your PC from the Silent Killer
Is static electricity a real threat to your hardware? Learn why 10 volts can destroy a chip with a charge you can't even feel.
#684: Breaking the Speed Limit: The Science of Overclocking
Why settle for factory speeds? Herman and Corn dive into the world of overclocking, from silicon binning to the physics of pushing your CPU.
#682: The Secret Power of Your Smartphone’s Tiny Microphones
Why does a phone mic outperform a pro headset for AI transcription? Herman and Corn dive into the physics of MEMS and the truth about audio quality.
#661: Cracking the Global Supply Chain: Why Your Tech Costs More
Why does a $400 switch cost $700 elsewhere? Herman and Corn explore the tools that unmask global pricing and supply chain secrets.
#608: The RAMpocalypse: Why AI is Starving Your PC
Why is a 32GB RAM kit now $400? Herman and Corn dive into how OpenAI is gobbling up 40% of the world's memory supply for its "Stargate" project.
#606: The Unsung Hero: Why RAM Still Rules in 2026
Discover why RAM remains the essential high-speed "countertop" for your CPU and how to avoid common hardware traps when building your next server.
#603: Beyond Standing: The Science of the Perfect Desk Height
Is your desk hurting your neck? Herman and Corn break down the physics of height-adjustable desks and why your setup might need a major upgrade.
#591: A Petabyte in Your Pocket? The Future of Micro SD Storage
From floppy disks to 4TB cards, how much data can we squeeze onto a fingernail before physics pushes back? Explore the future of storage density.
#587: The Command Center: Mastering Triple Monitor Ergonomics
Upgrade your workspace from "desk sag" to NASA-level precision with the science of gas-spring monitor arms and ergonomic alignment.
#563: The Billion-Transistor City: How Chips Are Made
Discover the microscopic cities inside your CPU. Herman and Corn explore how light and mirrors print the future of computing on silicon.
#560: The Home Lab Survival Guide: Essential Tools for 2026
Stop building on the floor and ditch the zip ties. Herman and Corn break down the essential gear for a pain-free home server build in 2026.
#559: Is Your Computer Hotter Than a Nuclear Reactor?
Why does a tiny chip need a massive metal tower? Explore the wild physics of cooling, from air fans to nuclear-level heat density.
#527: Who’s Really Flying? The Evolution of Aircraft Controls
From steel cables to digital signals: Herman and Corn explore how flight controls evolved and why some modern jets still use 1960s technology.
#447: The Long Reach: Solving the PC Cable Length Dilemma
Can you move your PC to another room? Herman and Corn explore the limits of USB, HDMI, and power cables for the ultimate silent workspace.
#431: Beyond the Lumen: Choosing High-End Emergency Lighting
Learn why a $150 flashlight is a vital tool, not a toy, and how advanced electronics and optics can save lives during a crisis.
#429: Can 10 Air Conditioners a Second Save or Sink the Planet?
Explore how breakthroughs like liquid desiccants and radiative sky cooling are transforming AC from a climate threat into a sustainable solution.