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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New releases: Surface Go 2, Macbook Pro 13-inch, and the first Xbox Series X gameplay footage (Goodbye Paul)
Stories discussed this week: The disappointing truth about antibody testing Apple is giving $10 million to COVID-19 testing kit company FDA authorizes CRISPR-based test for COVID-19 Sen. Ed Markey wants the FCC to rethink its broadband deployment plans An Amazon warehouse worker in New York has died of COVID-19 An Amazon VP’s resignation has cast a spotlight on the company’s working conditions Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders demand Amazon explain whistleblower firings Pittsburgh’s airport is the first in the US to use UV-cleaning robots NYC will use powerful ultraviolet lamps to kill the coronavirus on subways and buses ESPN to air live NBA 2K League games We’ve known how to make healthier buildings for decades The spring of iterative hardware updates MacBook Pro 13-inch: come for the keyboard, stay for the performance The saga of Apple’s bad butterfly MacBook keyboards is finally over Microsoft’s new Surface Go 2 has a bigger display and better Intel processor Microsoft Surface Book 3: new Nvidia GPUs, up to ... - The Verge Watch the first Xbox Series X gameplay footage, showing off ray-tracing and graphics of the next-gen console These 11 new games will get free upgrades for the Xbox Series X Here are the first 13 games optimized for the Xbox Series X Xbox Series X Optimized games promise 4K up to 120fps, ray tracing, and fast load times Madden 21 shows that cross-gen gaming on Xbox Series X and PS5 could be messy Sonos announces the Arc, its first Dolby Atmos soundbar Sonos will launch its new app and big S2 software update on June 8th Google unifies all of its messaging and communication apps into a single team Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sonos CEO discusses the Arc and customer backlash over leaving old products behind
This week we saw Sonos announce several new products, most significantly the Arc, which is the company’s first soundbar to support Dolby Atmos. Other new devices include the Sonos Five speaker and a refreshed Sub, and all three will only work with Sonos’ new S2 app that launches next month. Sonos CEO Patrick Spence sat down virtually with Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel for The Vergecast to discuss the new products, the S2 update, the backlash that Sonos took from customers over its “Recycle Mode”, and the perception that the company is leaving customers with older Sonos hardware behind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The 3 new CEOs of Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, Big Tech's quarterly earnings, and Zoom's misleading user numbers
Nilay, Dieter, and Paul discuss quarterly earnings from tech companies, the new CEOs of the three biggest mobile carriers, and how Trolls World Tour may be changing the movie theater business. Stories discussed this week: More than 1 million people in the US have tested positive for COVID-19 No one knows when the COVID-19 pandemic will end It’s impossible to count everyone with COVID-19 Elon Musk is dangerously wrong about the novel coronavirus Elon Musk says shelter-in-place orders during COVID-19 are ‘fascist’ Americans are surprisingly open to letting their phones be used for coronavirus tracking Apple and Google have begun testing their COVID-19 exposure notification API How a team of NASA engineers developed a ventilator for COVID-19 patients in just a month Apple’s latest iOS beta makes it easier to unlock an iPhone while wearing a face mask Zoom admits it doesn’t have 300 million users, corrects misleading claims Google Meet video conferencing is now free for anybody Messenger Rooms are Facebook’s answer to Zoom and Houseparty for the pandemic Microsoft Teams jumps 70 percent to 75 million daily active users Google Duo video calls are about to look a whole lot better Facebook usage is surging, but the company warns it may be temporary New DisplayPort spec enables 16K video over USB-C AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson is stepping down, John Stankey to serve as new CEO John Legere abruptly resigns from T-Mobile board of directors ‘to pursue other options’ Trolls World Tour made nearly $100 million without theaters, but theaters aren’t obsolete AMC Theaters will no longer play Universal movies after Trolls World Tour’s on-demand Next year’s Oscars will allow streaming-only movies to qualify, but with heavy restrictionssuccess Regal Cinemas warns Universal over Trolls World Tour skipping theaters WarnerMedia expands free HBO Max deal to HBO subscribers who pay through Apple’s services Oppo Find X2 Pro review: supercar smartphone Intel NUC 9 Extreme review: small size, big potential Google Pixel Buds review: second time’s the charm DJI’s new Mavic Air 2 has an upgraded camera and much longer flying time Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How Amazon's dominance is more visible during a pandemic
Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel interviews co-director of the Institute for Local Self Reliance Stacy Mitchell about her critique of Amazon's power in America's marketplace. As Amazon becomes more essential infrastructure during the coronavirus pandemic, Nilay and Stacy discuss the increased visibility of Amazon's monopoly power and the way it treats its workers. Is it possible to regulate a company that people use and love so much? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reviews of Apple's Magic Keyboard, iPhone SE, and Logitech Combo Touch
Stories discussed this week: Google is now listing COVID-19 testing centers in search results CEOs sticking with Trump’s ‘open the economy’ group after he tweets call to ‘liberate’ states Bill Gates says countries will probably use interviews and databases to track the coronavirus Bill Gates is now the leading target for coronavirus conspiracies, says report Connecticut suburb deploys ‘pandemic drones’ to try to enforce social distancing Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot is helping hospitals remotely treat coronavirus patients The jury is still out on Zoom trials Marco Polo has been around for years, but it’s blowing up amid the pandemic Lo-fi beats to quarantine to are booming on YouTube Apps aren’t a reliable way to measure blood oxygen levels First at-home COVID-19 testing kit authorized by the FDA iPhone SE review Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro review: the best way to turn an iPad into a laptop Logitech Combo Touch review Microsoft prepares to launch Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2 Apple will reportedly use 12-core 5nm ARM processor in a 2021 Mac LG V60 Dual Screen review: V for versatility Motorola returns to flagship phones with the Edge Plus - The ... Wi-Fi is getting its biggest upgrade in 20 years Snapchat use is, predictably, way up with everyone home and staring at screens Netflix adds 15 million subscribers as people stream more than ever, but warns about tough road ahead Netflix says Tiger King is as popular as Stranger Things HBO Max will launch on May 27th Fandango just purchased Vudu from Walmart to better compete against Amazon, iTunes Sonos launches its own streaming radio service Samsung smart TVs are getting an Apple Music app Google Duo video calls are about to look a whole lot better Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Interface Live: Casey Newton and Sarah Frier talk Instagram’s hidden history
Part of The Verge's Interface Live series, silicon valley editor Casey Newton talks with Bloomberg reporter Sarah Frier about her new book No Filter, which delves into the history of Instagram and how the app became what it is today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apple's new iPhone SE, OnePlus 8 Pro review, and Verizon buys BlueJeans
Stories discussed this week: The Interface Live on Zoom: the hidden history of Instagram, with Bloomberg reporter Sarah Frier In a self-isolated world, developers are learning to make games from home How GM and Ford switched out pickup trucks for breathing machines The search for COVID-19 treatments shows how messy science can be How Medium became the best and worst place for coronavirus news Unemployment checks are being held up by a coding language almost nobody knows How you’ll use Apple and Google’s coronavirus tracking tool Apple’s second-gen iPhone SE is here: all the news and details Even ‘small’ phones are big now The iPhone SE 2’s camera setup is going to lean on Apple’s software The new Moto G Stylus and G Power are surprisingly adept cameraphones Samsung’s Galaxy S10 Lite will launch in the US on April 17th for $650 Google’s midrange Pixel 4A could launch soon, and there may not be an XL version Apple is tweaking how MacBooks charge to extend battery lifespan Apple’s new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro goes up for preorder, ships next week Apple’s over-ear headphones reportedly have swappable ear pads and headbands Here are five things with four wheels that cost less than the Mac Pro’s $700 wheel kit Go read this analysis of what the iPad Pro’s LIDAR sensor is capable of OnePlus 8 Pro review: big league OnePlus 8 review: familiar formula OnePlus announces the Bullets Wireless Z headphones The $579 RedMagic 5G is the first phone with a 144Hz display Verizon is buying BlueJeans, one of Zoom’s videoconferencing rivals Google is reportedly building its own processor for Pixels and Chromebooks Foxconn’s buildings in Wisconsin are still empty, one year later Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apple and Google are building a coronavirus tracking system into iOS and Android
Nilay Patel talks with The Verge's Adi Robertson, Casey Newton, and Nicole Wetsman about Apple and Google announcing a system for tracking the spread of the new coronavirus, allowing users to share data through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transmissions and approved apps from health organizations. Links: Apple and Google are building a coronavirus tracking system into iOS and Android What is contact tracing? Why Bluetooth apps are bad at discovering new cases of COVID-19 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Quibi's launch week, Asus laptop reviews, and Sony's PS5 controller
Stories discussed this week: Webcams have become impossible to find, and prices are skyrocketing Why the 5G coronavirus conspiracy theories don’t make sense UK mobile carriers politely ask people to stop burning 5G towers No one’s getting new emoji in 2021 because of the pandemic Foxconn will produce ventilators at its controversial Wisconsin plant Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 review: AMD has rewritten the rules Nvidia’s RTX Super GPUs for laptops have arrived — here’s where you’ll see them first Asus’ ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 is a gaming laptop with two screens MSI announces new laptops with Comet Lake H and new Nvidia GPUs Gigabyte’s latest gaming laptop supports Intel’s most powerful 10th Gen Core i9 processor yet Razer’s new Blade 15 has powerful specs and an improved keyboard Samsung Galaxy Chromebook review Asus Chromebook Flip C436 review Microsoft reportedly delays Surface Neo beyond 2020 Can Meg Whitman outwit a pandemic with Quibi? Quibi app review: shifting landscape Quibi’s shows are fun, familiar, and a little forgettable It’s impossible to screenshot a Quibi show, and that’s detrimental to its success Disney Plus surpasses 50 million subscribers Sony reveals new DualSense controller for the PlayStation 5 Microsoft’s Xbox Game Bar is getting custom widgets and its own store on Windows The OnePlus 8 Pro will have super fast, 30W wireless charging Google’s midrange Pixel 4A could launch soon, and there may not be an XL version Google’s Hangouts Meet is now just Google Meet Google extends free access to advanced teleconferencing features to September 30th Google trademarks 'Google Meet' and 'Google Chat,' support ... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott on AI for rural America
Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel talks to Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott about his new book Reprogramming the American Dream: From Rural America to Silicon Valley―Making AI Serve Us All. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Zoom's privacy concerns, Apple buys Dark Sky, and Sprint is dead
Nilay, Dieter, and Paul talk to Tom Warren about Zoom's privacy and security concerns. The crew also looks back at the history of Sprint after it finally merged with T-Mobile. Paul's weekly segment "If I were a rich man" updates the keyboard-in-the-front club. The show ends with some chat about Apple buying the weather app Dark Sky and allowing in-app rentals on their mobile devices. Stories discussed in this episode: After walkouts, Amazon pledges temperature checks and masks in all warehouses Jeff Bezos’ space company is pressuring employees to launch a tourist rocket during the pandemic Zoom is leaking some user information because of an issue with how the app groups contacts Zoom faces a privacy and security backlash as it surges in ... Zoom announces 90-day feature freeze to fix privacy and ... Zoom isn't actually end-to-end encrypted Zoom quickly fixes 'malware-like' macOS installer with new ... Microsoft aims to win back consumers with new Microsoft 365 subscriptions T-Mobile completes merger with Sprint, John Legere steps down as CEO Sprint is dead. Long live Sprint What’s next for Sprint customers now that the T-Mobile merger has gone through? Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 review: AMD has rewritten the rules Apple now lets some video streaming apps bypass the App Store cut Amazon Prime Video now allows in-app rentals and purchases on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV Apple acquires popular weather app Dark Sky and will shut down the Android version Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Amy Webb is a quantitative futurist
Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel talks to founder and CEO of The Future Today Institute Amy Webb. Amy is also a professor at NYU's Stern School of Business and recently came out with a book called The Big Nine: How the Tech Titans and Their Thinking Machines Could Warp Humanity. During the coronavirus pandemic, Amy and Nilay discuss whether we could have predicted this outbreak, how it can change trends in the future, and how it may even accelerate trends like AI and cloud-based robotics. They also talk about The Future Today Institute's 2020 Tech Trend Report that was released this month — which is a quantitative look at the big trends that may dominate the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Reviews for the Macbook Air and iPad Pro (2020) and how the coronavirus is affecting tech companies and culture
Stories discussed this week: Amazon warehouse workers are outraged after a coworker tested positive for COVID-19 and they weren’t notified ‘We’re all going to get sick eventually’: Amazon workers are struggling to provide for a nation in quarantine It’s time for a regular Amazon daily coronavirus briefing Twitter locks account encouraging coronavirus ‘chickenpox parties’ Zoom is 2020’s hottest yoga studio Apple says customers must wait to pick up repairs locked inside its retail stores Best Buy moves to curbside pickup only as it sees surge in orders for home office equipment Disney Plus and Facebook are also reducing streaming quality in Europe Amazon and Apple are reducing streaming quality to lessen broadband strain in Europe YouTube joins Netflix in reducing video quality in Europe YouTube creators figure out how to film during a pandemic Fashion influencers are rethinking their curated aesthetics because they can’t leave their houses Fox will broadcast NASCAR’s substitute sim racing ‘season’ on television Pro drivers are competing with gamers after F1 and NASCAR canceled races How to watch movies with friends online Everything you need to know about the coronavirus Subscribe to Home Screen: a newsletter to brighten your inbox Apple MacBook Air (2020) review: the best Mac for most people Apple iPad Pro review 2020: small spec bump, big camera bump Never buy hardware today based on a promise of software tomorrow The new MacBook Air and iPad Pro are already discounted on Amazon Huawei hopes the P40 Pro can lure you away from Google Living a Google-free life with a Huawei phone Dell now lets you control iPhones from its PCs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Impossible Foods CEO Patrick Brown on a new kind of meat
Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel talks to Impossible Foods CEO Patrick Brown about Impossible's mission to replace animal-derived meat worldwide and what that would mean for our climate and culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apple announces new iPad Pro and Macbook Air, Sony reveals PS5 specs, and confusion around the coronavirus testing website
Nilay, Dieter, and Paul discuss the new iPad Pro and Macbook Air that Apple announced this week, the confusion around Google's coronavirus testing website, and the specs revealed for the PS5. Stories discussed this week: Comcast modestly raises slow internet speeds for low-income users because of coronavirus AT&T is suspending broadband data caps for home internet customers due to coronavirus AT&T, Comcast, Verizon and others agree not to overcharge customers during coronavirus Verily’s coronavirus screening website launches with very limited access Trump’s Google testing announcement mixed up several real projects The White House still can’t explain what’s going on with the coronavirus screening website Coronavirus testing shouldn’t be this complicated Apple announces online-only WWDC 2020 due to coronavirus spread Apple announces new iPad Pro with trackpad support and a wild keyboard cover iPadOS 13.4 adds full mouse and trackpad support The iPad Pro is ready to supplant the Mac just as the MacBook Air is great again Logitech’s iPad keyboard case with trackpad costs half as much as Apple’s The new iPad Pro’s LIDAR sensor is an AR hardware solution in search of software The new iPad Pro’s LIDAR scanner can turn a living room into an AR game of Hot Lava You can try the iPad’s new trackpad and mouse support right now with Apple’s public beta Apple announces new MacBook Air with improved keyboard, faster performance, and more storage Moog and Korg are offering synth apps for free while we’re all stuck at home PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: a complicated battle of SSD and GPU speeds Sony says the PlayStation 5’s SSD will completely change next-gen level design The Xbox Series X specs look impressive, but that’s not enough Here’s how Xbox Series X removable storage will work Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices