Hello! This is The Vergecast, the flagship podcast of The Verge... and your life. Every Friday, Nilay Patel and Dieter Bohn make sense of the week's tech news with help from our wide-ranging staff. Join us every week for a fun, deeply nerdy, often off-the-rails conversation about what's happening now (and next) in technology and gadgets.
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The politics and laws changing tech in the US
The Verge's David Pierce tries out Neeva's Bias Buster, an attempt to get people out of their echo chambers and show them new information in its search engine. Senior reporter Adi Robertson talks about her story How America turned against the First Amendment Policy reporter Makena Kelly explains the CHIPS and Science Act, and how it could reshape the tech industry in America. Further reading: Biden signs $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act Micron launches $15 billion Idaho project amid federal push for US tech manufacturing President Joe Biden speaks after groundbreaking for Intel’s $20 billion semiconductor plant Micron’s investing up to $100 billion to bring the country’s ‘largest semiconductor’ facility to New York Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Elon Musk's first week at Twitter / Matter's newest smart home devices
The Verge's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, Alex Cranz, and Alex Heath discuss what has happened with Twitter since Elon Musk has taken over the company. Then, Nilay, David and Alex discuss the first Matter-compatible devices since the launch of the smart home standard. Further reading: Elon Musk wastes no time changing Twitter Why Elon Musk is so desperate for Twitter to make money Elon Musk could enable Twitter's edit button for everyone Elon Musk could cut half of Twitter’s workforce Over 190 smart home devices are now Matter certified and here’s what’s coming next We’re getting our first look at Matter devices today, and here’s what’s coming next Level locks had a secret Thread radio this whole time Amazon announces a phased rollout of Matter to its Alexa smart home platform Eve’s sensors and smart plugs will be among the first Matter-compatible devices Nanoleaf announces the first Matter-over-Thread light bulbs Philips Hue Bridge is getting updated to Matter early next year Aqara’s Matter transition begins in December with free hub update Amazon Music’s library of songs and podcasts is now free for Prime subscribers Apple TV 4K (2022) review: unmatched power, unrealized potential Netflix’s new cheaper plan with ads doesn’t work on Apple TV at launch Netflix’s $6.99 per month ad tier is now live PlayStation VR2 launches on February 22nd for $549.99 Comcast’s big rival to Roku and the smart TV is called… Xumo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why Signal won’t compromise on encryption, with president Meredith Whittaker
Today we're sharing an episode of Decoder with Nilay Patel featuring an interview with Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal. Signal is the popular messaging app that offers encrypted communication. You might recognize Meredith’s name from 2018 when she was an AI researcher at Google and one of the organizers of the Google walkout. Now she’s at Signal, which is a little different than the usual tech company: it’s operated by a nonprofit foundation and prides itself on collecting as little data as possible. Listen to more of Decoder with Nilay Patel anywhere you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Twitter is now an Elon Musk company
The Verge's Nilay Patel, Liz Lopatto, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz discuss Elon Musk officially becoming the owner of Twitter, and what that means for the future of the company. Further reading: Twitter is now an Elon Musk company How weak leadership cratered Twitter’s morale The Twitter deal is all downside risk for Elon Musk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apple's new App Store tax. Microsoft Surface reviews, and Meta's earnings
The Verge's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, Alex Cranz, and Tom Warren discuss Microsoft Surface reviews, Apple's new App Store tax, and Meta earnings. Further reading: Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (SQ3) review: Windows on Arm is not ready Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (13.5-inch) review Surface defined 10 years of Windows PCs — can Microsoft nail the next 10, too? Microsoft says more than 20 million people have used Xbox Cloud Gaming Zuckerberg is all in on the metaverse whether you like it or not Xbox’s Phil Spencer says the metaverse is a ‘poorly built video game’ Microsoft: Xbox game streaming console is ‘years away’ Apple macOS 13 Ventura review: a bunch of good updates you can mostly ignore Apple’s new App Store tax on ads is a direct shot at Meta Spotify pulls audiobook purchases from iOS app after Apple blocks updates Apple confirms the iPhone is getting USB-C Apple could release a 16-inch iPad next year The Twitter deal is all downside risk for Elon Musk This tablet pairs an E Ink display with a... 16-megapixel rear camera? Power struggle: Puerto Rico’s battle to fix the electric grid Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you. We are conducting a short audience survey to help plan for our future and hear from you. To participate, head to vox.com/podsurvey, and thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The two cryptos and the future of the iPad
Today on the flagship podcast of all-screen designs: 02:38 -Verge senior audio director Andru Marino dives into the world of a different type of crypto community. 17:51 - David Pierce examines iPadOS 16, Stage Manager, and Apple's attempt at task managers. iPadOS 16's Stage Manager is not the future of multitasking you were hoping for 34:05 - Dan Seifert and Monica Chin join David to discuss and explain Apple's confusing iPad lineup. Apple iPad (10th gen) review: stuck in the middle The new iPad makes no sense Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you. We are conducting a short audience survey to help plan for our future and hear from you. To participate, head to vox.com/podsurvey, and thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Cybersecurity Hotline Special
We asked listeners to send in all their questions related to cybersecurity for this special Vergecast Hotline episode. David Pierce talks to Nilay Patel and Russell Brandom to get you the best advice for staying safe online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Confusing new Apple products, Netflix password sharing, and NFT cults
The Verge's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, and Richard Lawler discuss the announcements from Apple this week, HDR video standards, and all the news out of Netflix and Tesla. Apple launches redesigned iPad with a bigger screen and USB-C Logitech updates Crayon stylus with the USB-C port missing from the Apple The new Apple TV 4K has a remote with USB-C and a lower starting price Apple’s new iPad only supports the old Apple Pencil–and need an adapter to do so Apple’s Magic Keyboard Folio for the new iPad has a 14-key function row The new iPad makes no sense Apple announces new iPad Pro with M2 chip and Wi-Fi 6E Netflix password-sharing crackdown will roll out globally in ‘early 2023’ – and here’s how it could work Netflix announces Profile Transfers – for when it forces you to finally pay up Netflix is all-in on binge-watching Netflix is ‘seriously exploring’ a cloud gaming service Can Netflix reclaim the ‘Netflix for games’ crown from Xbox Game Pass? Elon Musk is “excited about the Twitter situation” Tesla is “smoothing is vehicle process to avoid bottlenecks” Elon Musk’s frisky earnings call touched on the Cybertruck, Twitter, and teh future of Tesla Elon Musk says Starlink will keep funding Ukraine’s government ‘for free’ despite losing money Help, Foxconn has gone from AI 8K+5G to ‘3+3=∞’ Google adds replies and stars to Messages — and is taking the RCS fight to iPhones Lightroom is (finally) all I need for photo editing I went all in on eSIM and I have regrets The next generation of Thunderbolt seems nice but less necessary than ever Adobe’s latest AI prototype gives even the worst dancers some impressive moves GMC Sierra EV Denali revealed: plug-in-powered pickup goes premium Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you. We are conducting a short audience survey to help plan for our future and hear from you. To participate, head to vox.com/podsurvey, and thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Kanye wants Parler, smartwatch showdown, and the Vergecast Hotline returns
Today on the flagship podcast of slightly inaccurate fitness trackers: 02:15 - David Pierce and Makena Kelly chat about Ye buying Parler, as well as the other new set of apps and app owners entering the space. Kanye West is buying ‘free speech platform’ Parler The ugly business logic behind Kanye West’s Parler acquisition 24:44 - Victoria Song and Dan Seifert return to the show for a smartwatch showdown between the Pixel Watch, the Apple Watch Series 8, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch. Google Pixel Watch review: it’s a smarter Fitbit Apple Watch Series 7 review: time and time again Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 review: if it only had a better battery We could all use a ‘This is Fine’ Focus mode 1:02:07 - Lastly, we return to the Vergecast Hotline to answer your burning tech questions. Fitbit Sense 2 review: it doesn’t make much sense 1:14:55 - We explain why we still don't have chapters on The Vergecast Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you. We are conducting a short audience survey to help plan for our future and hear from you. To participate, head to vox.com/podsurvey, and thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Microsoft's Surface event, Pixel 7 and Pixel Watch reviews, and Meta Connect 2022
The Verge's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, and David Pierce discuss the announcements at Meta Connect, the new products from Microsoft's Surface event, and reviews for Google's Pixel 7 and Pixel Watch. Meta Connect 2022: all the news on the Quest Pro The Meta Quest Pro is a cutting-edge headset looking for an audience Meta figured out legs for its Horizon avatars What does Mark Zuckerberg think ‘open’ means? Mark Zuckerberg takes a shot at Apple’s closed ecosystem FTC files to block Meta from buying VR fitness studio Within Google Pixel Watch review: it’s a smarter Fitbit Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro review: better and better Smartwatches, not phones, are where the action is at this year The biggest announcements from Microsoft’s Surface event Microsoft Office will become Microsoft 365 in major brand overhaul Microsoft’s Surface Studio 2 Plus ships with an RTX 3060 for $4,299 Microsoft’s Surface Pro 9 is the latest major gadget to ditch the headphone jack The Surface Laptop 5 arrives with Thunderbolt 4 but no AMD options Surface Pro 9 lets you pick between Intel or Arm 5G and new color options Microsoft partners with Meta to bring Teams, Office, Windows, and Xbox to VR Apple shows Windows some love with new Music, TV, and iCloud photos integration AI-generated imagery is the new clip art as Microsoft adds DALL-E to its Office suite New York’s weed laws mean marijuana is legal but the stores selling it aren’t yet Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you. We are conducting a short audience survey to help plan for our future and hear from you. To participate, head to vox.com/podsurvey, and thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Zuckerberg on the Quest Pro, our impressions, and the state of VR games
Today on the flagship podcast of low-latency head tracking: 02:35 - Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg chats with deputy editor Alex Heath about Meta's new headset, the Quest Pro. 22:00 - Alex Heath and senior reporter Adi Robertson chat with David Pierce about their first impressions using the Quest Pro. 47:45 - Group Publisher for The Verge Chris Grant chats with David about what's happening in VR for video games. You can listen to the rest of the chat with Mark Zuckerberg on Decoder with Nilay Patel, watch it on The Verge's YouTube channel for the video version, or read it on our site. Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you. We are conducting a short audience survey to help plan for our future and hear from you. To participate, head to vox.com/podsurvey, and thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Google's Pixel 7 and Pixel Watch event / Elon Musk vs. Twitter trial update
The Verge's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz discuss all the announcements from Google's Pixel 7 event. Senior correspondant Liz Lopatto joins the show to explain the latest in the Elon Musk/Twitter trial saga. The Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer is here (and so is Chris Pratt) Hands-on with the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro: something familiar The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro double down on Tensor-fueled features Google’s Pixel 7 and 7 Pro will fix your old blurry photos Google once again calls out Apple for not adopting RCS Google’s including its VPN service with the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro Pixel Watch hands-on: Google's taking a page from Apple Google thinks smartwatches are the future again — are you buying it? Google’s Pixel Watch marks a new chapter for Wear OS Google shows off wireless charging dock that turns the Pixel Tablet into a smart display Google overhauls Home app as it prepares for Matter Everything we think we know about Elon Musk’s plan for Twitter The Elon Musk vs. Twitter trial is on hold until October 28th Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you. We are conducting a short audience survey to help plan for our future and hear from you. To participate, head to vox.com/podsurvey, and thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Amazon’s Kindle Scribe, printer problems, and earbuds on a bike
Today on the flagship podcast of hardcopy peripherals: David Pierce and Alex Cranz chat with Dave Limp, SVP of devices and services at Amazon. Amazon’s Kindle Scribe is an E Ink tablet for reading and writing David also tries to answer a listener question about why it feels like printers haven't improved in years. Best Printer Buying Guide (Consumer Reports) Lastly, Becca Farsace tests out which earbuds sound the best when calling from a bike ride. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II review: noise cancellation domination Apple AirPods Pro (second-gen) review: same look, better everything else Google Pixel Buds Pro review: the sweet sound of redemption Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What does music feel like in the metaverse?
The Verge's David Pierce dives into the world of virtual concerts in digital spaces like Roblox and Fortnite. Is this the future of live music? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Google is shutting down Stadia / Amazon's hardware launch event
The Verge's David Pierce, Alex Cranz, and Jay Peters discuss Google deciding to shut down its game streaming service Stadia. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joins the show to chat about all the products Amazon announced at its hardware launch event this week, including the new E Ink tablet for reading and writing. Google is shutting down Stadia Google is trying to reinvent search — by being more than a search engine Google’s trying to become a one-stop shopping destination Google will help you find better results without tagging ‘Reddit’ onto every search The 11 biggest announcements at Amazon's hardware launch event Amazon’s Kindle Scribe is an E Ink tablet for reading and writing Amazon fifth-generation Echo Dot smart speakers get a host of new features Echo speakers can now be Eero mesh Wi-Fi extenders Amazon’s new Echo Auto is smaller and easier to mount in your car Amazon’s latest 4K TVs improve picture quality and borrow ideas from The Frame The new Amazon Fire TV Cube has an HDMI input for controlling cable boxes Alexa is getting some much-needed smart home upgrades Amazon’s Halo Rise is a bedside light to track your sleep and wake you up Blink's new Mini Pan Tilt adds robotics to its compact home security camera Ring's new Spotlight Cam Pro mashes its most advanced features into a wireless design Sonos Sub Mini review: low end for a lower price Intel and Samsung are getting ready for ‘slidable’ PCs Leaked Galaxy S23 renders suggest Samsung could ditch the camera bump A smart lock with long-range wireless power is finally a reality Asus launches massive 17-inch Zenbook with Ryzen 6000 Intel’s 13th Gen processors arrive October 20th with $589 flagship Core i9-13900K Wacom announces the Cintiq Pro 27, its latest display graphics tablet Logitech announces its first mechanical keyboard specifically for the Mac Stage Manager isn’t just for M1 iPads anymore Hands-on with aptX Lossless, the new tech promising CD-quality audio over Bluetooth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices