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 smells and tastes of a great video game
Today on the flagship podcast of refillable scent cartridges: Producer Andru Marino tries out a gadget called the Gamescent, an AI-powered scent machine that syncs with your gaming and movie watching experience. He walks David Pierce through the experience and whether integrating olfaction could be the future of gaming. We also hear from Nimesha Ranasinghe, an assistant professor at the University of Maine working on taste sensations and taste simulation in virtual reality experiences, which can lead to adding another sense into the world of gaming. Further reading: A Brief History of Smell-O-Vision “Scent of Mystery”, the First and Only Use of Smell-O-Vision The sights, smells, and sprays of ‘Iron Man 3’ in 4DX The iSmell story Smell-O-Vision is REAL: Linus Tech Tips VR pioneer Jaron Lanier on dystopia, empathy, and the future of the internet The sense of taste in virtual reality Virtual lemonade sends colour and taste to a glass of water Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
AI assistants are so back
The Verge's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, and David Pierce discuss announcements from Google I/O and OpenAI's GPT4o event. Further reading: Google and OpenAI race to build the feature of search OpenAI releases GPT-4o, a faster model that’s free for all ChatGPT users ChatGPT will be able to talk to you like Scarlett Johansson in Her ChatGPT is getting a Mac app OpenAI’s custom GPT Store is now open to all for free OpenAI’s “ChatGPT and GPT-4” Spring Update stream starts in 20 minutes OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever is officially leavingl Project Astra: the future of AI at Google is fast, multi-modal assistants like Gemini Live Google’s Gemini AI is getting a chatty new voice mode Google will let you create personalized AI chatbots Google’s Gemini can build an entire vacation itinerary ‘in a matter of seconds’ Google’s Circle to Search will help you with your math homework Google’s Gemini video search makes factual error in demo We have to stop ignoring AI’s hallucination problem Google I/O 2024: everything announced Google is redesigning its search engine — and it's AI all the way down Google now offers ‘web’ search — and an AI opt-out button Gemini is about to get better at understanding what's on your phone screen Google is building Gemini Nano AI right into Chrome Google makes its AI way faster with Gemini Flash Google’s new LearnLM AI model focuses on education Android apps will soon let you use your face to control your cursor Android is getting an AI-powered scam call detection feature Google targets filmmakers with Veo, its new generative AI video model Google’s invisible AI watermark will help identify generative text and video Google Photos is getting its own ‘Ask Photos’ assistant this summer Blink and you missed it: Google has a new pair of prototype AR glasses We have to stop ignoring AI’s hallucination problem Google launches new Home APIs and turns Google TVs into smart home hubs Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The case for the iPad Pro
Today on the flagship podcast of tandem OLEDs: The Verge’s David Pierce and Chris Welch discuss the new iPad Pros with an OLED screen, Sonos’ controversial new app, and Sonos’ leaked headphones. Apple iPad Pro (2024) review: the best kind of overkill The new Apple iPad Air is great — but it's not the one to get The new Sonos app is missing a lot of features, and people aren’t happy Sonos Ace headphones will have magnetic ear cushions and 30-hour battery life The Verge’s Will Poor buys a bunch of broken iPhones on eBay, and pits the Apple Store against independent repair techs. Jet City Device Repair iFixit’s iPhone 8 charge port repair guide Hugh Jeffreys’ iPhone 12 investigation Apple’s plan to allow used parts in iPhone repairs David answers a question from the Vergecast Hotline about why some people think the iPad should be a Macbook replacement. Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The rise of the audio-only video game
In episode two of our Five Senses of Gaming miniseries, David Pierce dives into the world of hearing with audio-only video games with Paul Bennun, who has been in this space longer than most. Years ago, Bennun and his team at Somethin’ Else made a series of games called Papa Sangre that were among the most innovative and most popular games of their kind. He explains what makes an audio game work, why the iPhone 4 was such a crucial technological achievement for these games, and more. Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The beginning and end of the iPad
The Verge's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz discuss Apple's iPad event, the evolution of the streaming business, updates on the Wisconsin Foxconn site, and much more tech news. Apple iPad event: all the news from Apple’s ‘Let Loose’ reveal The 7 biggest announcements from Apple’s iPad event Here's how the latest iPad Pro compares to the new iPad Air (and prior models) Apple adds a 13-inch iPad Air to the mix The iPad Air is now heavier than the iPad Pro Apple announces new iPad Pros with OLED displays and thinnest design ever Apple announces its M4 chip Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro M4: bigger trackpad and a function row Hands-on with the new iPad Pro: yeah, it's really thin You can upgrade the iPad Pro’s processor now, too The new Apple Pencil Pro is harder to lose and better to draw with Apple puts more ‘Pro’ in Final Cut and Logic Pro for the iPad Apple quietly kills the old-school iPad and its headphone jack The new iPads are ditching physical SIM cards Goodbye to Apple’s Smart Keyboard Folio, the best iPad Pro accessory People sure are pressed about Apple’s crushing iPad commercial A Disney, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle is on the way The streaming business will look “very different” in the next couple of years. Max nears 100 million subscribers globally. Max price hike incoming. Disney’s streaming business gets closer to becoming profitable ESPN is coming to the Disney Plus app Sony is now in play to buy Paramount. The Office is getting a Peacock spinoff about local newspapers The new Sonos app is missing a lot of features, and people aren’t happy Inside Microsoft’s Xbox turmoil Microsoft says it needs games like Hi-Fi Rush the day after killing its studio Epic v. Apple judge seems displeased over style restrictions on iOS buttons The new Sonos app is missing a lot of features, and people aren’t happy President Joe Biden to announce AI data center at failed Foxconn site in Wisconsin TikTok sues the US government over ban The Google Pixel 8A is a midrange phone that might go the distance Google’s Pixel Tablet relaunch at $399 makes its magnetic dock optional Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Delta's 10-year journey to the top of the App Store
Today on the flagship podcast of enterprise certificate hacks: 03:22 - The Verge’s David Pierce chats with Riley Testut, founder of AltStore and developer of the game emulator app Delta, about how his app finally made it into Apple’s App Store. The free Delta game emulator for iPhones is live on Apple’s App Store Third-party iPhone app store AltStore PAL is now live in Europe Delta is the game emulator your iPhone has been missing 46:17 - David walks us through his experimentation with the many software and hardware solutions for “AI voice notes.” Cleft Notes is an AI voice notes app that really works 1:02:02 - David answers a question from the Vergecast Hotline about the Rabbit R1. Rabbit R1 review: nothing to see here Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A speedrunner’s quest to (re)build the perfect N64 controller
We’re kicking off our “Five Senses of Gaming” miniseries today, starting with “touch.” The Verge’s William Poor explores a controller crisis in the Nintendo 64 speedrunning community, and follows one speedrunner’s quest to recreate a mythical controller he lost. Further reading/viewing: How Sticks Are Sabotaging Speedrunners (Stick Crisis History) abney317 on Twitch The Quest to Beat abney317 Mariokart64.com More on Beck Abney’s controller problems Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Rabbit, Humane, and the iPad
The Verge's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, and David Pierce discuss this week's tech and gadget news. Further reading: Rabbit R1 review: an unfinished, unhelpful AI gadget The Rabbit R1’s first software update addresses its dismal battery life - The Verge Turns out the Rabbit R1 was just an Android app all along TikTok and Universal Music Group end feud with new agreement Microsoft’s OpenAI investment was triggered by Google fears, emails reveal Peloton announces new round of layoffs as CEO quits Elon Musk goes ‘absolutely hard core’ in another round of Tesla layoffs Tesla layoffs hit Supercharger team just as it’s poised to take over EV charging LinkedIn is the latest company to get in on gaming Pixel 8A leak reveals $499 starting price Beats announces Solo 4 headphones and $79.99 Solo Buds Beats Solo 4 review: playing both sides Walmart is about to launch a 4K Chromecast that’s also a smart speaker SwitchBot S10 review: with plumbing hookups, this robovac and mop is actually hands-free iOS 17.5 beta lets you keep Find My on during iPhone repairs Razer made a million dollars selling a mask with RGB, and the FTC is not pleased Instagram’s updated algorithm prioritizes original content instead of rip-offs Meta is “exploring” algorithm changes on Threads. Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Phones are the ultimate AI gadget
Today on the flagship podcast of dedicated AI hardware: The Verge’s David Pierce and Allison Johnson debate whether the emergence of standalone AI gadgets like the Humane Pin and the Rabbit R1 are better off as apps or should exist as its own hardware. Humane AI Pin review: not even close The Humane AI Pin worked better than I expected — until it didn’t A morning with the Rabbit R1: a fun, funky, unfinished AI gadget Can Rabbit’s R1 outsmart the smartphone assistants? Let’s find out! The future of AI gadgets is just phones The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses actually make the future look cool The Verge’s Alex Heath joins the show to discuss Meta’s big move into AI with its multimodal AI smart glasses and a new AI model called Llama 3. Q&A: Mark Zuckerberg on winning the AI race Meta wants to be the Microsoft of headsets Zuckerberg says it will take Meta years to make money from generative AI Nilay Patel answers a question from The Vergecast Hotline about Microsoft and antitrust. Microsoft splits Teams from Office as antitrust pressure ramps up Microsoft and OpenAI deal may face anti-trust investigations in the EU. Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Anyone want to buy TikTok?
The Verge's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz discuss President Biden signing the TikTok ban bill, Apple's May 7th iPad event, Tesla's flop era, and more. Further reading: Senate passes TikTok ban bill, sending it to President Biden’s desk Biden signs TikTok ‘ban’ bill into law, starting the clock for ByteDance to divest it Rabbit R1 hands-on: early tests with the $199 AI gadget Apple announces May 7th event for new iPads What to expect at Apple’s May ‘Let Loose’ event The Mercedes G-Wagen, the ultimate off-road status symbol, goes electric The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses have multimodal AI now Kuo: Apple cuts Vision Pro shipments due to low demand Tesla’s in its flop era Tesla lays off ‘more than 10 percent’ of its workforce, loses top executives Tesla recalls all 3,878 Cybertrucks over faulty accelerator pedal Tesla reveals a new Model 3 Performance with more horsepower and faster acceleration A cheaper Tesla is back on the menu Sonos announces redesigned app that puts everything on your homescreen Qualcomm announces Snapdragon X Plus and Elite processors Apple might be the streaming home of soccer’s next big tournament Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Congress takes on TikTok, privacy, and AI
Today on the flagship podcast of forced app divestiture: 03:07 - The Verge’s David Pierce and Lauren Fiener discuss the latest tech policy bills floating through Congress, including a privacy bill, a generative AI bill, and the TikTok divest-or-ban bill. TikTok ‘ban’ passes in the House again TikTok divest-or-ban legislation could suddenly be fast-tracked in the Senate Lawmakers unveil new bipartisan digital privacy bill after years of impasse A real privacy law? House lawmakers are optimistic this time New bill would create public datasets to train AI and incentivize innovation. 34:17 - David talks with Nikola Todorovic and Tye Sheridan about their company Wonder Dynamics, which is creating AI-powered production tools for filmmakers. 1:09:16 - David answers a question from the Vergecast Hotline about messaging apps. Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Emulators are taking over the App Store
The Verge's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, and David Pierce discuss third-party iPhone app stores, game emulators, Google Android and hardware team restructuring, the latest TikTok news, and more. Further reading: Third-party iPhone app store AltStore PAL is now live in Europe The free Delta game emulator for iPhones is live on Apple’s App Store A new NES emulator was briefly available on the Apple App Store The first Apple-approved emulator for the iPhone has arrived... and been pulled Apple opens the App Store to retro game emulators Google is combining its Android and hardware teams — and it’s all about AI Meta’s battle with ChatGPT begins now AI isn't useless. But is it worth it? Facebook’s AI Told Parents Group It Has a Gifted, Disabled Child Big Papa Joe, world's biggest TouchWiz Fan - The Vergecast (clip) Facebook’s AI Told Parents Group It Has a Gifted, Disabled Child Sony might have perfected Mini LED TVs with its new 2024 lineup Broadcast TV still exists, and now it’s sort of getting a built-in DVR TikTok Notes starts rolling out as a new rival to Instagram TikTok gives users more in-app ways to buy event tickets. TikTok divest-or-ban legislation could suddenly be fast-tracked in the Senate Report: ByteDance still has access to US users’ TikTok data despite Project Texas The president could delay a TikTok ban an extra six months under a reported House proposal. TikTok to restrict users who repeatedly post problematic topics from ‘For You’ feed Twitch’s new TikTok-style Discovery feed is rolling out to everyone soon Spotify is developing a remix feature to rival sped-up TikTok tunes Samsung shifts executives to six-day workweeks to ‘inject a sense of crisis’ Boston Dynamics’ new electric Atlas robot is swiveling nightmare fuel Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The internet really is a series of tubes
Today on the flagship podcast of undersea cable management: 04:10 - The Verge’s David Pierce and Josh Dzieza discuss the industry of laying and maintaining undersea cables that connect us to the internet. 43:43 - Tom Warren and Joanna Nelius join the show to discuss the future of Arm chips on PCs and whether or not we’re about to get a huge jump in performance on most laptops. Chip race: Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Nvidia battle it out for AI chip supremacy Microsoft is confident Windows on Arm could finally beat Apple 1:11:18 - Alex Cranz answers questions from the Vergecast Hotline about e-readers and the latest Kobo devices. Kobo announces its first color e-readers The best ebook reader to buy right now Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The good, the bad, and the Humane AI Pin
The Verge's Nilay Patel, David Piece, and Alex Cranz discuss David's review of the Humane AI Pin, Taylor Swift's music back on TikTok, a new party speaker, and much more. Further reading: Humane AI Pin review: the post-smartphone future isn’t here yet Here’s What Reviewers Are Saying About the Humane Pin We now have a better look at what’s inside the Humane AI pin OpenAI transcribed over a million hours of YouTube videos to train GPT-4 Taylor Swift’s music is back on TikTok Apple will open the iPhone to repair with used parts Kobo announces its first color e-readers Sony’s new headphones and speakers are all about skull-rattling bass Official: here’s the DJI Avata 2, possibly one of the best sequels in years Google Vids is the latest AI-powered app in Workspace Meta says it’s fixing ‘HD’ photo sharing in Facebook Messenger Marissa Mayer’s eternal Sunshine The MPA has big plans to crack down on movie piracy again Vote for The Vergecast in the Webbys! Join The Verge at the 2024 Chicago Humanities Spring Festival Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The TikTok ban and the iPhone monopoly
The Verge’s David Pierce, Nilay Patel, and Alex Cranz answer questions from The Vergecast Hotline all about the TikTok ban debate and the US v Apple case. Further reading: TikTok ban: all the news on attempts to ban the video platform US v. Apple: everything you need to know The Curse of Bigness: Antitrust in the New Gilded Age Vote for The Vergecast in the Webbys! Join The Verge at the 2024 Chicago Humanities Spring Festival Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices