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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Uber’s CEO resigns, Tumblr’s fight for net neutrality, and Bixby first look
Here we go, another classic episode of The Vergecast. There were a lot of little things that happened this week, and we wanted to discuss them all, so Nilay, Dieter, and Paul go through their list of hits on the site. Also, to continue our weekly summer interview series, Nilay sits down with culture reporter Kaitlyn Tiffany to talk about her recent piece on Tumblr’s relationship with the fight over net neutrality. There’s so much in between all of this, so listen to it all, and you’ll get it all. 01:17 - OnePlus 5 4:29 - Scott Forstall breaks silence to talk about the iPhone’s creation 10:34 - First look at Samsung’s Bixby Voice preview for Galaxy S8 13:58 - Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 will reportedly be announced in August 17:10 - Amazon's new Dash Wand is half magic, half boring 21:12 - You can now watch your smart home camera from an Amazon Echo Show 27:48 - Verizon is killing Tumblr’s fight for net neutrality with Kaitlyn Tiffany 45:36 - Travis Kalanick resigns as Uber CEO 1:00:00 - Paul’s weekly segment “My Dinner with Andre” 1:02:59 - iPad Pro 12.9 review: a great iPad, one I won’t buy 1:03:57 - 3.33 years after its release, someone actually beat Threes 1:04:58 - Microsoft now lets Surface Laptop owners revert to Windows 10 S 1:07:11 - You won’t be able to use your Surface Book if you want to take the bar in Tennessee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Panos Panay, E3 2017, and iPad Pro 10.5-inch
Day two of The Vergecast this week! Yesterday, Nilay interviewed Brian Merchant, author of The One Device: The Secret History of the iPhone. Today, we have another full episode with a lot going on. First off, E3 happened this week, and there’s a ton of news in the gaming world. Paul interviews culture reporter Megan Farokhmanesh (who is at the expo) live on tape to talk about what happened on the show floor, the press conferences, and the multitude of games that were shown. Next, Dieter and Nilay have a fun conversation with special guest Panos Panay from Microsoft to talk about Microsoft’s newest product, the Surface Laptop. And, of course, we have new reviews out this week! Along with the Surface Laptop, Nilay, Paul, and Dieter discuss the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and the future of these new kinds of computers. There’s a whole mess of stuff in between that, so listen through it all, and you’ll get it all. 05:37 - Xbox One X 13:47 - E3 2017 with Megan Farokhmanesh 34:44 - Panos Panay interview 1:00:57 - 10.5-inch iPad Pro and Surface Laptop reviews 1:17:44 - Paul’s weekly segment “I C Seed; so much seeing” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bonus: Brian Merchant, author of The One Device
We’re doing two episodes of The Vergecast this week — the usual one on Friday, and this very special edition with Brian Merchant, author of The One Device: The Secret History of the iPhone. We ran a big excerpt of the book this week, and we got deep on talking about the book, where it came from, and Merchant’s feeling that we should know more about the technology products in our lives — and know more about the hundreds of people who make them, from the unsung engineers at tech companies to the extremely unsung miners who dig the raw materials out of the ground. And, of course, we talk about the quotes from Tony Fadell and Bill Bilbrey in the excerpt we just published, in which Fadell tells a story about Phil Schiller arguing the iPhone should have a hardware keyboard. Schiller has said the story isn’t true, and Fadell has tried to walk it back as well. “So I wasn't in the room at Apple 10, 15 years ago when this would have happened,” says Merchant, who has the exchange on tape. “But this is a quote verbatim as Tony Fadell who was in the room told it to me. He told me this quote in such detail and he gave such a vivid account and I had no reason to believe it was untrue.” Merchant says the controversy has “blown him away.” “It certainly wasn't intended to make Phil Schiller look dumb. It was an opposing viewpoint... I think that it's totally fine to be a dissenting voice and want to contextualize this emergent technology and even be opposed to it. Why would you not have someone in the room who is forcing people to think critically about this potentiality?” There’s a lot more on the podcast, including a deep dive into the early research projects at Apple exploring touch interfaces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
HomePod, WWDC 2017, and DJI Spark
This week, it’s Apple’s turn to take over The Vergecast. Dieter and Jake have just come back from WWDC while Nilay and Paul watched from afar so the gang has a lot to talk about with the new products announced. We also have Ben Popper stop by the show to talk about DJI’s newest drone, the Spark. There’s a whole lot more in between that so listen to it all you get it all. 04:56 - Apple announces HomePod speaker to take on Sonos 32:14 - DJI Spark review with Ben Popper 47:22 - Apple announces new 10.5-inch iPad Pro 1:02:51 - Apple is launching an iOS ‘ARKit’ for augmented reality apps 1:06:05 - iMac Pro introduced / macOS High Sierra 1:18:37 - watchOS 4 brings new Siri watchface, fitness coaching, and a new app-browsing UI 1:21:32 - Paul’s weekly segment “Gates-all-around, all around” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Code Conference, Essential Phone, and Chromebook Pro
This week’s Vergecast is recorded out of the studio. Nilay heads to the West Coast to reunite with Dieter, Lauren, and Casey at this year’s Code Conference. The gang discusses the speakers (in more than one way) at the event including Andy Rubin, Hillary Clinton, and Reed Hastings. They also chat a little about the news outside of the conference. Back in New York, Paul reports on gadget week with his weekly segment “Let me hug your robot heart.” There’s a whole lot more in between, so listen to get it all! 01:29 - The case for editing tweets 06:01 - The Essential Phone: a first look at the hardware 30:11 - Paul’s weekly segment “Let me hug your robot heart” 32:49 - Netflix CEO says net neutrality is ‘not our primary battle’ 42:41 - Clinton says the Russians had to be ‘guided by Americans’ in how they weaponized information 55:37 - Don’t buy the Chromebook Pro until Google fixes a critical bug 59:11 - Verizon says the Droid brand isn’t dead, but it sure looks like it 1:01:30 - Microsoft's new Skype redesign is a radical change that looks like Snapchat 1:04:55 - Samsung's Bixby voice assistant is reportedly still weeks away from US launch 1:07:11 - Apple’s ‘Siri speaker’ reportedly enters manufacturing as announcement nears Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Gadget news, FCC's final proposal, and Vlad
Here’s The Vergecast. This week, Nilay, Dieter, and Paul plow through a week of news starting with (no surprise) the FCC’s ongoing mission to destroy net neutrality. This was also a week full of new gadgets — from the new Microsoft Surface Pro, to the Jamboard, to a $9,000 laptop, we walk you through the things we saw and reviewed in the Circuit Breaker world. Also, even though we filled our time, we added a bonus segment in between it all: Vlad Savov, a fan favorite of the show, stops by and quickly breaks down what is on his mind and what gadgets have piqued his interests. There’s a whole bunch of other stuff discussed on the show, (sorry, this show is an hour and a half), so listen through it all for more. 03:27 - Breaking down the FCC’s proposal to destroy net neutrality 32:36 - Inside the mind of Vlad 49:38 - And now, a brief definition of the web 51:03 - Microsoft's new Surface Pro has 13.5 hours of battery life and LTE option 56:22 - Microsoft has created a Surface USB-C dongle for “people who love dongles” 1:00:12 - DJI's $499 Spark is the company's cheapest and tiniest drone yet 1:04:43 - Google made a $5,000 whiteboard — and it’s weirdly fun 1:06:14 - Samsung responds to complaints about HDMI switching, will offer a firmware update 1:10:57 - How Anker is beating Apple and Samsung at their own accessory game 1:11:54 - Acer Predator 21 X review 1:14:14 - Paul’s weekly segment “Vroom Vroom goes the car” 1:17:00 - TV lightning round Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Google I/O, Android O, and Assistant on the iPhone
Fresh out of my export folder is a brand new episode of The Vergecast. This week, because of the business that is Google I/O, we recorded our episode Friday morning. This resulted in Nilay’s attempt to bring a morning show vibe to episode 257, despite Dieter, Adi, Natt, and Paul’s (and my) disapproval of sound effects. There was a lot to discuss thanks to Google’s developer conference, so here it is! Enjoy! 06:43 - Google is finally replacing its bad emoji blobs in Android O 13:59 - Google Assistant is on the iPhone now 24:41 - Google wants the Assistant to be everywhere — but first it needs to conquer the iPhone 31:46 - Android O 37:40 - Google is adding Kotlin as an official programming language for Android development 45:37 - Google AR / VR 1:01:25 - Ford update brings Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to its 2016 fleet 1:06:50 - New Surface Pro leak confirms Microsoft's hatred for USB-C 1:07:28 - AMD is bringing its new Ryzen processors to laptops later this year 1:08:15 - FCC votes to begin overturning net neutrality Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Microsoft Build 2017, Echo Show, and a Cortana speaker
Welcome back. This week’s episode of The Vergecast comes after Microsoft Build 2017, so Nilay and Dieter bring in Ashley Carman and first-time guest Chaim Gartenberg, two of our great Circuit Breaker reporters, to fill us in on what happened. The cast also discusses Amazon’s newest addition to the Echo lineup, the Echo Show, and what’s happening with these voice assistant products. There’s a lot more in the show, so listen to it all to get all the scoops. 01:38 - Microsoft Build 2017 20:38 - Windows Store news 22:57 - 10 S — lockdown 29:25 - Microsoft’s Story Remix app is Windows Movie Maker on steroids 24:17 - Harman Kardon teases its Cortana-powered speaker 37:13 - Amazon officially unveils touchscreen Echo Show 55:12 - Ashley’s weekly segment “Echo Gadget” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Microsoft Surface laptop, Samsung DeX, and Google Doc phishing
This week Microsoft unveiled its new laptops in New York City, and Verge senior editor Tom Warren flew in from London to check it out. Nilay, Paul, and Dieter invite Tom to the show to discuss the new products from Microsoft and the various other news that popped up on the site this week, including Samsung’s new docking station, Apple’s earnings, and the Google Doc you should not have clicked. Will Dieter’s AirPods last throughout the show? Listen to find out. 01:26 - Microsoft Surface Laptop event 36:16 - The Google Docs spam attacks played off Google’s most fundamental weakness 47:33 - Samsung DeX review: the closest thing we have to using our phones as PCs 1:00:04 - Paul’s weekly segment “Four Fours” (previously known as 4444) 1:06:46 - Apple’s earnings show modest growth, but iPhone sales are flat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Net neutrality special edition
We’ve got a special edition episode of The Vergecast for you this week. On Thursday, the FCC put out a draft proposal for reversing the net neutrality order of 2015. The Verge has been following FCC chairman Ajit Pai’s actions in restoring “Internet Freedom” and how it will affect the internet for all of us. Nilay Patel invites news editor Jake Kastrenakes on the show, who has been reporting on this for the past few months, as well as senior reporter Adi Robertson, who reported on the FCC’s net neutrality rules back when this was a problem in 2014. The trio talk about the past, present, and future of the open internet and the FCC’s actions disrupting it. If you’re out of the loop or just need more information on this topic, now is the time to listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Facebook F8, Galaxy S8, and Juicero's fate
Here we are! Another episode of The Vergecast. It’s been a busy week, which means lots for Nilay, Ashley, Dan, and Paul to talk about on the show. Facebook’s F8 developer conference took place this week so there’s lots of weird updates with AR, social VR, and mind reading. "It's two sci-fis at once," Paul says. And of course, the Galaxy S8 has been reviewed! Dan gives us his first-hand impressions, what his favorite features are, and whether he prefers it over the iPhone and the Pixel. And wow there’s a whole bunch of other stuff we talked about so listen through it all to keep feeding your brain 01:37 - Juicero offering refunds to all customers after people realize $400 juicer is totally unnecessary 06:34 - Samsung Galaxy S8 review: ahead of the curve 29:25 - Facebook F8 conference 2017 54:23 - Paul’s weekly segment “One day, not so far away, it may be possible for me to think in Mandarin and for you to feel instantly in Spanish” 55:39 - Plastc swiped $9 million from backers and just completely vanished 59:35 - Nintendo is reportedly planning to launch a miniature SNES before Christmas 1:00:17 - Intel's next-generation SSD technology is finally ready and it's really, really fast 1:00:51 - Slack is adding AIM-style custom status messages Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
iPhone chips, Scorpio specs, and RIP NES Classic
This week on Vergecast, Chris Plante is in town! Nilay, Dieter, and Paul bring him in to discuss a few things that confused us all throughout the week — Apple and Qualcomm suing each other, how the FCC may kill net neutrality, and Nintendo discontinuing the NES Classic. There’s a lot more in between all that so take a listen, give us a review, and enjoy your weekend. 01:50 - The FCC’s plan to kill net neutrality will also kill internet privacy 16:59 - Qualcomm sues Apple for hobbling its iPhone chips to make Intel look better 33:12 - Microsoft reveals its final Xbox Project Scorpio specs 52:00 - Nintendo doesn’t want your money — it wants your soul 1:00:03 - Paul’s weekly segment “Guess who’s got a birthday coming up?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mac craziness, YouTube TV, and Project Scorpio
Hey! The Verge has brought you another episode of The Vergecast. This week we’ve got Nilay, Paul, Ashley, and Dieter talkin’ the tech talk to y’all: more specifically the future of Mac computers, Youtube TV, and the newest Android phones on the market. As always, Paul and Ashley share their gadget of the week, and Nilay makes fun of Dieter for wearing AirPods. Listen to the whole show for more. 02:50 - Apple working on “completely rethought” Mac Pro and pro display 28:30 - Paul’s weekly segment “Here’s a new phone!” 29:09 - Ashley’s weekly segment “Huh, this looks a lot like a beehive” 31:15 - YouTube TV 42:30 - HTC U Ultra, LG G6, and other Android phones 52:54 - Project Scorpio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Galaxy S8 hands-on, FCC privacy rulings, and Ghost in the Shell
Welcome back! We have a great show for you today. No really! If you listen to this podcast, you know Samsung announced the Galaxy S8 this week, so Nilay and Dieter bring in senior editor and friend of the show Dan Seifert; who recently took a trip to South Korea to tour Samsung’s headquarters. Second half of the show, news editor Jake Kastrenakes joins to discuss his coverage of the FCC and privacy ruling in Congress. There’s even more! Megan Farokhmanesh is here to enlighten the crew on the culture side of site; Persona 5 and Ghost in the Shell. Theres a bunch of little topics sprinkled in between this focused episode, so listen through to find them all. 00:43 - Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S8 17:46 - Samsung’s Bixby assistant 33:13 - Persona 5 review 42:16 - Ghost in the Shell review 50:23 - FCC reporting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The RED iPhone, Mass Effect: Andromeda, and the new iPad
The Vergecast returns to New York! Nilay, Dieter, Natt, and Megan are here to update you with the news of the week. Apple has a new iPhone... kinda! And a new iPad... kinda! Natt got a look at the Android O developer preview, and Megan played Mass Effect: Andromeda. There’s a lot of stuff in between that so listen! 01:40 - Apple’s new products 05:04 - Apple replaces iPad Air 2 with cheaper 9.7-inch iPad 10:38 - Apple bought the best utility app for the iPhone, Workflow 16:52 - Apple’s new Clips app makes social videos for other social networks 21:43 - Android O brings fun customizations that set the stage for bigger changes 30:15 - Android / Chrome tablets 34:33 - Megan’s Kulture Korner 48:33 - Natt’s weekly segment “Did you know hoverboards were still a thing?” 51:32 - Samsung S8 / DeX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices