The Vergecast

The Verge's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, and Tom Warren discuss Q4 earnings for the big tech companies like Microsoft, Samsung, Intel, and Tesla.

Casey Newton joins the show to discuss Spotify's controversy regarding Joe Rogan's podcast, leading to musician Neil Young removing his music from the platform.

Further reading:

• Windows 11 is getting Android apps, taskbar improvements, and more next month
• Microsoft got a whole lot of people to play Halo and Forza
• Call of Duty’s next three games will hit PlayStation despite Microsoft’s Activision deal
• It’s 2022, and the Surface Duo is finally getting Android 11 
• Microsoft is making its Xbox subscriptions more flexible after UK regulator steps in
• Samsung sets revenue records with stronger product sales
• What to expect from Samsung’s February Unpacked
• Samsung’s next Unpacked event is set for February 9th
• What we know about Intel’s $20 billion bet on Ohio
• The chip shortage didn’t stop Intel from having its ‘best year ever’
• Tesla hails its second profitable year as a ‘breakthrough’
• Elon Musk says ‘don’t forget about my robots’ as Roadster, Semi, Cybertruck deadlines slip
• Tesla Cybertruck delayed until at least next year, Elon Musk confirms
• Tesla Cybertruck walkaround video shows the absurdly huge windshield wiper in detail
• The self-driving car industry is abandoning the term ‘self-driving’ and leaving it to Tesla
• Spotify picks Joe Rogan over Neil Young 
• Why Spotify can’t afford to lose Joe Rogan

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Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel talks with games reporter Ash Parrish and senior reporter Alex Heath about Microsoft acquiring Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion and Google building a new AR headset.

Policy editor Russell Brandom joins the show to discuss the battle between the FAA, AT&T, Verizon, and airlines over 5G and the antitrust bills in Congress this week.

Further reading:

• The US’s free COVID test website has more visitors than all other .gov sites combined
• Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion
• Read Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick’s email to employees about the Microsoft acquisition
• Read Microsoft Gaming CEO’s email to staff about the Activision Blizzard acquisition
• Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass service grows to 25 million subscribers
• Microsoft’s Activision acquisition would instantly make it a force in mobile gaming
• A guide to Microsoft’s Xbox game studios empire
• Is Microsoft building a gaming monopoly?
• Sony expects Microsoft to ‘continue to ensure’ Activision games stay multiplatform
• Google is building an AR headset
• AT&T and Verizon are limiting C-band 5G expansion around airports even more
• AT&T begins 5G C-band rollout in limited number of metro areas
• Verizon’s faster C-band 5G is live and off to a promising start
• Apple and Google split with startups over antitrust bill
• Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai are personally lobbying senators against antitrust legislation: report
• Lawmakers approve Big Tech antitrust overhaul, but with strings attached
• US competition enforcers launch overhaul of merger approval process
• Democrats unveil bill to ban online ‘surveillance advertising’

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, and Russell Brandom discuss the FTC proceeding with an antitrust lawsuit against Meta, the success of Wordle and its app clones, and more RCS drama.

Verge deputy editor Dan Seifert stops by to chat about this week's gadget news and the state of the PC market.

Stories discussed:

• White House to launch COVID test-ordering site ‘by this weekend,’ reports say
• White House hosts tech summit to discuss open-source security after Log4j
• Google calls for new government action to protect open-source software projects
• Judge says the FTC’s Meta monopoly lawsuit can go forward
• Meta’s real antitrust problems are only beginning
• Want the ‘TLDR’ on a site’s terms of service? There’s a bill for that
• Apple says App Store developers have earned more than $260 billion
• The App Store clones are here to profit off Wordle’s success
• The Wordle clones have disappeared from the App Store
• Wordle copycat creator apologizes for ripping off the popular free word game
• The real beauty of Wordle is how its emoji results tell a story
• Alleged Apple App Store scammer AmpMe lowers prices and says it’ll investigate its ‘consultants’
• Google exec says Apple is ‘holding back’ customers who text
• Google says Apple ‘should not benefit from bullying’ created by iMessage lock-in
• It fills me with glee that Canon printers now think Canon’s own toner is fake
• Apple’s $19 polishing cloth is back in stock online
• Ford doesn’t want the F-150 Lightning’s launch to be plagued by scalpers
• Tesla removes 2022 production date from Cybertruck website
• The PC market just had another big year thanks to pandemic demand
• TSMC earmarks record $44 billion for chip manufacturing expansion in 2022 
• The pandemic has blurred the lines between laptop categories
• Sony Xperia 5 III now shipping in the US, almost nine months after initial announcement
• The Nvidia Shield is getting Android 11 and other upgrades
• Sony says it’s still making new PS4s, but most stores aren’t selling them
• Google’s Android 12 update has been the rockiest one in years
• Ford doesn’t want the F-150 Lightning’s launch to be plagued by scalpers
• Wear OS will work better for lefties... eventually
• Tesla removes 2022 production date from Cybertruck website
• GM is creating an online used car marketplace
• Buy Nothing exploded on Facebook — now it wants a platform on its own

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, and Alex Cranz run through the huge amount of products announced at the Consumer Electronics Show 2022 this week — from QD-OLED TVs, to EVs, to a hair-coloring gadget.

All the stories discussed:

• CES 2022 will close a day early because of COVID concerns
• CES 2022 will introduce HDMI 2.1a, another confusing new spec
• Sony announces the world’s first QD-OLED 4K TV, coming later this year
• Sony is joining the Mini LED TV bandwagon in 2022
• Samsung promises ‘groundbreaking’ new TV feature: NFT support
• Samsung’s latest Frame TVs have a matte screen that looks and feels more like real art
• Samsung’s new 2022 TVs bring Nvidia GeForce Now and Google Stadia gaming
• Samsung’s new TV remote uses radio waves from your router to stay charged
• LG announces its largest and smallest OLED TVs ever as part of 2022 lineup
• LG TVs now have a built-in health platform
• The Samsung Odyssey Ark is its largest curved monitor yet
• Chevy Silverado EV revealed: GM’s best-selling truck goes electric
• General Motors announces electric versions of the Chevy Equinox and Blazer SUVs
• BMW’s IX M60 is a dual-motor performance EV with 280 miles of range 
• BMW debuts its new color-changing paint technology at CES: E Ink
• Sony pivots into cars with Sony Mobility and a Vision-S SUV prototype at CES 2022
• Dell XPS 13 Plus hands-on: is that... a touch bar?
• Asus will release a 17-inch foldable OLED laptop this year
• Lenovo’s new ThinkBook Plus Gen 3 has an eight-inch secondary screen
• Intel’s 12th Gen Alder Lake chips arrive at CES 2022 for its most powerful laptops ever
• Intel’s upcoming Arc GPUs inch closer to their debut with latest OEM update
• Intel announces 5.5GHz capable 12th Gen CPU
• Nvidia still has no idea how to pronounce the name of its best gaming GPU
• Google will spend 2022 trying to match Apple’s ecosystem integrations
• The OnePlus 10 Pro’s official specs are not the least bit surprising
• The Galaxy S21 FE officially joins Samsung's crowded mirage lineup
• Why AT&T and Verizon are feuding with the US Government over a last-minute delay to 5G
• L’Oreal’s newest gadget takes the mess out of coloring your hair
• Sony confirms PlayStation VR2 name and Horizon game
• Samsung’s tiny Freestyle projector is fun so get over it
• Anker’s new Nano II 100W USB-C charger is the smallest 100W GaN charger yet
• The Motorola MA1 is a dongle for wireless Android Auto
• Razer’s new Zephyr Pro mask has the voice amp feature we wanted all along
• Black + Decker’s $300 Bev vacuums up a Keurig-shaped hole in the robot bartender space
• Are we ready for the smart front door? Masonite thinks so
• This breathing PC case looks like it’s alive
• Podcasters are letting software pick their ads — it’s already going awry
• Pete Buttigieg is racing to keep up with self-driving cars

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Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Alex Cranz, and Loren Grush discuss NASA's plan for launching the James Webb Space Telescope, the successor to NASA’s Hubble telescope.

Second half of the show, the crew go through all the gadgets and software updates announced this past week.

Stories discussed this week:

• NASA’s massive next-generation space telescope arrives in South America ahead of launch
• NASA sets new date for James Webb Space Telescope launch
• Five former SpaceX employees speak out about harassment at the company
• Sony Glass Sound Speaker review: it’s not what it looks like
• Analogue Pocket review: Game Boy games have never looked so good
• Opal’s C1 offers DSLR-rivaling video quality in a small form factor 
• Dell’s Concept Stanza converts your chicken scratch to digital text
• Amazon Echo Show 15 review: Alexa’s on your wall
• Oppo’s Find N is an impressive first folding phone
• Huawei’s P50 Pocket is a stylish clamshell foldable launching this month
• Samsung’s working on a rollable smartwatch with a camera
• Apple releases iOS 15.2 with App Privacy Report, Digital Legacy, and more
• Apple scrubs controversial CSAM detection feature from webpage but says plans haven’t changed
• Universal Control won’t be coming to macOS Monterey until sometime this spring
• Adobe launches Creative Cloud Express, a new app that simplifies its powerful editing tools 
• Snap launches Story Studio, a standalone video editing app for mobile
• Log4j is patched, but the exploits are just getting started
• ‘No easy solution’ for Tesla Cybertruck’s comically large windshield wiper, Elon Musk says
• Chrome OS tablets are getting fancier but not better
• Former FCC officials are worried about air safety fears delaying 5G rollout
• Toyota is going to make you pay to start your car with your key fob
• Delivery failed
• How to sneak into a Bored Ape Yacht Club party
• Matter’s plan to save the smart home

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In our final Vergecast Spec-tacular of the year, Dieter Bohn dives into Matter, the new tech standard that smart home gadgets will use to communicate with each other, making compatibility between gadgets significantly easier.

Guests include:

• Verge smart home reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
• Michelle Mindala-Freeman, Head of Marketing for the Connectivity Standards Alliance.
• Tim Both, brand manager and product manager for Eve
• Samantha Fein, VP of Marketing and Business Development at Samsung SmartThings

Further reading:

• Matter's plan to save the smart home
• What matters about Matter, the new smart home standard
• Matter could bring universal casting that actual works
• Smart home company Eve plans to use Matter to move beyond Apple’s HomeKit
• Amazon confirms its support for Matter
• Google shares its commitment to Matter, promises future interoperability between smart home platforms 
• Samsung promises Matter support for SmartThings hubs, Galaxy devices, TVs, and fridges

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Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, and Alex Heath discuss Epic Games' Matrix experience in Unreal Engine 5, Snap’s first AR Spectacles, streaming news, and more.

Stories discussed:

• Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss on making The Matrix Awakens with Epic Games
• Snap’s first AR Spectacles are an ambitious, impractical start
• How Snap is sidestepping the metaverse
• The Matrix Awakens is an interactive tech demo for PS5 and Xbox Series X / S
• Google is bringing Android games to Windows in 2022
• Meta opens up access to its VR social platform Horizon Worlds
• Apple’s AR headset reportedly uses 3D sensors for hand tracking
• Your LG TV can now play Google Stadia if it’s running webOS 5.0 or later
• Matter could bring universal casting that actually works
• Roku settles YouTube dispute and locks down apps in ‘multi-year’ deal
• Spotify removes popular comedians’ content over royalties dispute
• Apple Music’s voice plan likely to launch with iOS 15.2
• Sonos now supports Amazon Music’s Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos tracks
• Google Pixel’s lock screen Snapchat shortcut is here
• Google releases first Android 12L beta for large-screen devices
• Google Pixel mail-in repairs have allegedly twice resulted in leaked pics and a privacy nightmare
• 5G now means some flights won’t be able to land when pilots can’t see the runway
• Jessica Rosenworcel confirmed by Senate to lead the FCC
• Verizon might be collecting your browsing history and here’s how to stop it
• Sonos announces plans to make its products more efficient and repairable
• Instagram head says it’s bringing back the chronological feed
• The vice president should not be using Bluetooth headphones
• Kickstarter says it’s switching to crowdfunding via the blockchain
• Epic v. Apple ruling put on hold after appeals court grants a stay

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Live at On The Verge in New York City, Nilay and Dieter discuss The Verge's documentary Springboard: the secret history of the first real smartphone and conduct at Q&A with the audience.

Springboard is now streaming worldwide. You can watch it on The Verge’s new app on Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, or Apple TV. It is now also available to watch on our YouTube channel.

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Nilay Patel and Dieter Bohn chat with Alex Heath and Casey Newton about Jack Dorsey stepping down as CEO of Twitter and what's going in the world of crypto.

Managing editor Alex Cranz stops by to share news that the FTC is suing to block Nvidia's $40 billion purchase of Arm.

Stories referenced:

• Jack Dorsey steps down as Twitter CEO
• Twitter CTO Parag Agrawal replaces Jack Dorsey as CEO
• Jack steps back 
• An introduction to Parag Agrawal, Twitter’s new CEO
• Big tech’s first generation of founders starts to step aside
• As tech founders resign, Congress loses its favorite targets
• Jack Dorsey’s Square is changing its name to Block
• The leader of Facebook’s stalled cryptocurrency project is leaving the company
• Macy’s is auctioning off Thanksgiving Day Parade NFTs, including this creepy elf
• Almost buying a copy of the Constitution is easy, but giving the money back is hard
• ConstitutionDAO will shut down after losing bid for Constitution
• Is the music industry’s future on the blockchain?
• US banking regulators are looking to clarify crypto rules in 2022 
• The FTC is suing to block Nvidia’s $40 billion purchase of Arm
• Qualcomm is updating its Snapdragon branding to try and simplify its chip names
• Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip is here to power the Android flagships of 2022
• Qualcomm’s new always-on smartphone camera is a privacy nightmare
• Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 is its latest attempt to hit a Windows on Arm home run
• Microsoft’s Qualcomm exclusivity deal for Windows on Arm reportedly ending soon
• Qualcomm’s new G3x platform could usher in a new wave of Nintendo Switch-alikes
• Razer’s Qualcomm-powered handheld console leaks
• Meta ordered to sell Giphy by UK regulator
• Barnes & Noble announces new Nook GlowLight 4, says it cares for real this time
• Alex's tablet
• Tile is selling its Bluetooth tracking business to Life360 for $205 million
• Elizabeth Holmes admits that she was CEO of Theranos, the company she founded

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Nilay Patel and Dieter Bohn interview CEO of Eero Nick Weaver live at On The Verge in New York City.

The discussion includes how the Ring Alarm Pro came together, Eero supporting Thread and Matter, integration of 5G, and what's next for the smart home.

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Nilay Patel and Dieter Bohn chat with policy reporter Makena Kelly about Pres. Biden's $1 trillion infrastructure package and what it will do to improve broadband access in the US.

Senior science reporter Loren Grush joins the show to talk about Russia destroying one of its own satellites with a ground-based missile.

Managing editor Alex Cranz stops by to chat about Apple opening up iPhones and Macs to DIY repairs.

Stories referenced:

• Biden signs $1 trillion infrastructure package into law
• Biden’s FCC is still deadlocked, and net neutrality hangs in the balance
• Biden’s pick for FDA chief works at Google
• Russia blows up a satellite, creating a dangerous debris cloud in space
• NASA delays ambitious human lunar landing to 2025
• NASA’s Moon landing will likely be delayed ‘several years’ beyond 2024, auditors say
• Blue Origin loses lawsuit against federal government over NASA’s human lunar lander contracts
• SpaceX’s Starlink reveals new smaller, rectangular user dish to connect to satellites
• Apple will sell you iPhone parts to fix your own phone at home
• The shareholder fight that forced Apple’s hand on repair rights
• Apple reportedly wants to launch a self-driving EV in 2025 with a custom chip
• The Balmuda Phone is a compact Android phone from a high-end toaster company
• Meta’s sci-fi haptic glove prototype lets you feel VR objects using air pockets
• Sonos finally adds DTS audio support to its home theater lineup
• Hyundai’s restomod Grandeur is the perfect EV for a supervillain
• Google explains the tradeoffs that led to Pixel 6’s slow charging complaints
• A look under the hood of the most successful streaming service on the planet
• Meta goes into lockdown

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The Verge's Dieter Bohn dives into the messy past and uncertain future of Rich Communication Services, or RCS, a new texting standard that Google had been pushing for Android users.

Guests include:

• Sanaz Ahari, Senior Director of Communications Products at Google
• Ron Amadeo, reviews editor at Ars Technica

Relevant links:

• RCS: What it is and why you might want it
• AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile have finally agreed to replace SMS with a new RCS standard
• A decade and a half of instability: The history of Google messaging apps
• Google is rolling out end-to-end encryption for RCS in Android Messages beta
• SVP of Android offers open invitation to help Apple put RCS texting on the iPhone

Produced by Andru Marino, Liam James, and Dieter Bohn

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Alex Cranz, and Sean O'Kane discuss electric vehicle startup Rivian becoming a publicly traded company after executing one of the biggest initial public offerings in history.

The crew also cover multiple stories about Apple from this week, Microsoft's Windows 11 SE release, and a new Surface Laptop for schools.

Further reading:

• Rivian goes public in one of the biggest IPOs ever
• Rivian’s mega IPO is a good test of the meme stock craze
• Judge orders Apple to allow external payment options for App Store by December 9th, denying stay
• Apple must allow other forms of in-app purchase, rules judge in Epic v. Apple
• Apple backs off of breaking Face ID after DIY iPhone 13 screen replacements
• Tim Cook says he owns cryptocurrency
• Apple hires Tesla’s former Autopilot software director
• Johnson & Johnson’s CEO joins Apple’s board
• iPhone 13 Pro vs. Pixel 6 Pro: what 2,000 photos tell us
• Microsoft announces Windows 11 SE, a new Chrome OS competitor
• Microsoft’s new $249 Surface Laptop SE is its first true Chromebook competitor
• Microsoft partners with Meta to integrate Teams into its Facebook-like Workplace
• Microsoft fixes Windows 11 features failing due to an expired certificate 
• Updating The Verge’s background policy

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The Verge's Dieter Bohn dedicates this week's Tuesday episode to the fractious history and fraught future of USB-C.

Guests include:

• CTO of ASTC Rod Whitby, who has worked with USB-C standards since its infancy
• Verge senior reporter Chaim Gartenberg, who explains the many variations of USB-C cables
• Ken Pillonel, a hacker in Switzerland who figured out how to replace his iPhone's lightning port with USB-C

Relevant links:

• USB-C cables are getting new, confusing logos for faster 240W charging standard
• You can now, technically, build your own USB-C iPhone
• EU proposes mandatory USB-C on all devices, including iPhones

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Alex Cranz, and Tom Warren discuss Microsoft's take on the metaverse at their Ignite event this past week.

Verge editor Chris Welch joins to chat about his review of the Beats Fit Pro and Apple's third-gen AirPods.

Stories from this week:

• Microsoft Teams enters the metaverse race with 3D avatars and immersive meetings
• Microsoft is planning 3D metaverse apps for Xbox and gaming
• Microsoft Loop is a new Office app for the hybrid work era
• Microsoft’s GitHub CEO steps down
• Beats Fit Pro review: sporty AirPod Pros with better sound
• Beats announces Fit Pro earbuds with wing tip design and $200 price
• Apple AirPods (third-gen) review: new design, same appeal
• The best wireless earbuds to buy right now
• ‘Sideloading is a cyber criminal’s best friend,’ according to Apple’s software chief
• Verizon and AT&T delay crucial 5G expansion over aircraft interference concerns
• Facebook is shutting down its Face Recognition tagging program
• Instagram and Twitter finally make link previews work again
• Zillow reportedly needs to sell 7,000 houses after it bought too many
• Ford’s selling electric crate motors based on the one in the Mach-E
• The 2022 Volkswagen ID 5 is a sporty electric SUV with over 300 miles of range
• Gobble, gobble: GE Appliances wants you to trust its smart oven to cook the perfect turkey 

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Nilay Patel and Dieter Bohn are joined by Verge alums Joanna Stern and David Pierce live on stage at The Verge's 10th anniversary party.

Stories discussed from "Episode 69"

• Tim Cook must testify in ebook price fixing case
• FCC approves T-Mo/MetroPCS merger
• Google Reader shuts down
• Intel in discussions to make Apple chips
• Wii U sales slump
• Release date announced for first BB10 phones

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Alex Cranz, and Alex Heath discuss Facebook's new name. Dan Seifert joins to discuss the reviews for Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro as well as MacBook Pro.

• Mark Zuckerberg on why Facebook is rebranding to Meta
• Facebook’s new name is Meta
• What is the metaverse, and do I have to care?
• Facebook’s Oculus Quest will soon be called the Meta Quest
• Oculus users are getting a new metaverse home
• Facebook is adding a mixed reality platform to Oculus Quest
• Facebook teases ‘Project Cambria’ high-end VR / AR headset
• Amid the fluff, Meta showed an impressive demo of its Codec Avatars
• Eight things we learned from the Facebook Papers 
• Facebook’s lost generation
• Facebook says it’s refocusing company on ‘serving young adults’
• Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro review: finally, more than just good cameras
• The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will arrive with a day-one update
• Intel's 12th Gen Alder Lake chips usher in a new generation of …
• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021) review: a bigger and better ...
• Apple AirPods (third-gen) review: new design, same appeal 
• Adobe brings a simplified Photoshop to the web
• Sony Xperia Pro-I: A camera first, phone second 
• Samsung announces cloud gaming for Tizen TVs, offers no further details

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Dieter Bohn hosts a discussion with Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel and Verge reviewer Monica Chin about The Verge's approach to reviewing gadgets, focusing specifically on Apple's 2021 MacBook Pro.

The crew are still in the process of reviewing the laptop, so the conversation also leads to topics like how battery testing has evolved the past decade, how The Verge scores reviews, and how to find the right angle for writing a review.

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Alex Cranz, and Alex Heath discuss Facebook's plan to rebrand the company with a new name, the products announced at Apple's Unleashed event, and what happened at Google's Pixel 6 event.

• On The Verge is happening October 22nd and 23rd, and you’re invited 
• Facebook is planning to rebrand the company with a new name
• The 8 biggest announcements from Apple’s Unleashed event
• Apple announces 16-inch MacBook Pro with new M1 Pro and M1 Max processors
• Apple announces new 14-inch MacBook Pro with a notch
• Apple’s new MacBook Pro has a notch
• Apple is ready to admit it was wrong about the future of laptops
• Apple’s new M1 Pro and M1 Max processors take its in-house Arm-based chips to new heights
• The new MacBook Pros have one big question mark: battery life
• PSA: the MacBook Pro 14-inch’s $20 power brick upsell is probably worth it
• Apple brings MagSafe 3 to the new MacBook Pro
• Apple’s new 140W charger can fast charge a lot more than just your MacBook Pro
• macOS Monterey is officially launching on October 25th
• Apple’s HomePod Mini gets three new color options
• Apple announces third-generation AirPods for $179
• Apple quietly added a MagSafe charging case to its AirPods Pro, too
• A piece of cloth to clean your Apple devices will cost you $19
• Apple Music’s new voice-only plan costs $4.99 per month
• The biggest announcements from Google’s Pixel 6 event
• Sundar Pichai and Rick Osterloh think the Pixel 6 is Google’s breakout phone
• Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro have big screens, big ambitions, and small prices
• Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro finally bring new camera hardware in addition to software
• The Pixel 6’s Tensor processor promises to put Google’s machine learning smarts in your pocket
• Snapchat says the Pixel 6 is ‘the fastest phone to make a Snap’
• The Google Store is open again, and Pixel 6 delivery dates are all over the place
• Samsung is adding new watchfaces to the Galaxy Watch 4
• Samsung will now let you design your own Galaxy Z Flip 3

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Dieter Bohn sits down with Google CEO Sundar Pichai and SVP of Devices and Services at Google Rick Osterloh to discuss the launch of the Pixel 6 — including its tensor processing chip, the Android ecosystem, and what makes this Pixel launch different from the rest.

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Alex Cranz, and Adi Robertson discuss HTC's new VR headset the Vive Flow.

Also: Apple, Google, and Samsung all have events next week. The crew discuss what to expect.

Further reading:

• The $499 HTC Vive Flow is VR for people who don’t like VR
• I have a hard time believing your wearable is good if you had to Photoshop it onto a model
• Magic Leap somehow raised $500 million to make another AR headset
• Facebook execs tease VR prototype hardware with new photos
• Apple Watch Series 7 review: time and time again 
• Apple announces October 18th event after months of Mac rumors
• Apple exploring AirPods that take your temperature and monitor posture: report
• Google announced its Pixel 6 event on October 19th
• Watch the Pixel 6 Pro get put together and taken apart in leaked videos
• Google Pixel 6 leak teases Magic Eraser feature, plus five years of Android security updates
• Google says it’s dropping Material Design components on iOS in favor of Apple’s UIKit
• ‘Pixel Pass’ is Google’s rumored response to Apple One
• Samsung announces Unpacked 2 event for Wednesday Oct 20th, right after Apple and Google
• Samsung tries to prove its foldable phones are tough in a new test video
• VanMoof’s new V e-bike is its fastest ever 

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Dieter Bohn hosts a discussion on reviews for the newest Microsoft products launched this fall — Windows 11, Surface Pro 8, Surface Laptop Studio, and Surface Go 3 — with The Verge's Monica Chin, Dan Seifert, and Tom Warren.

Further reading:

• Windows 11 review: a familiar home that’s still being renovated 
• Surface Pro 8 review: the best of both worlds
• Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio review: back to the drawing board
• Microsoft Surface Go 3 review: left behind

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In Land of the Giants: The Apple Revolution, Recode’s Peter Kafka explores the company that changed what a computer is — and then changed what a phone is. From its beginnings as a niche personal computer company, Apple became the preeminent maker of consumer tech products, a cultural trendsetter, and the most valuable company in the world. And along the way, it changed the way we live.

Listen to Land of the Giants on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Alex Cranz, and Russell Brandom discuss Facebook's bad week: from a 60 Minutes interview, to a 6-hour outage, to a Facebook whistleblower hearing.

The crew also get into Android 12, Pixel 6 rumors, iOS 15.1, and more.

Further reading:

• Verge Tech Survey 2021
• Facebook encourages hate speech for profit, says whistleblower
• Locked out and totally down: Facebook’s scramble to fix a massive outage
• Facebook is coming back after a six-hour outage
• Facebook is back online after a massive outage that also took down Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Oculus
• Facebook explains the backbone shutdown behind its global outage on Monday
• What is BGP, and what role did it play in Facebook’s massive outage
• Everything you need to know from the Facebook whistleblower hearing
• The whistleblower hearing hits Facebook where the company is weakest
• The Facebook whistleblower hearing unearthed the danger of engagement algorithms
• Facebook’s whistleblower report confirms what researchers have known for years
• Facebook runs the coward’s playbook to smear the whistleblower
• ​What’s good, bad, and missing in the Facebook whistleblower’s testimony
• Mark Zuckerberg breaks silence to say the Facebook whistleblower’s claims ‘don’t make any sense
• Facebook reportedly slows feature development for ‘reputational reviews’
• Google just announced its Pixel 6 event on October 19th
• Android 12 review: it’s mostly about the looks
• Android 12 will be coming to Pixel phones in the ‘next few weeks’
• Pixel 6’s rumored 23W wireless charging stand and more details leak early
• iPhone 13 Mini and 13 Pro Max battery life: better, and a beast
• The latest iOS 15.1 beta includes iPhone 13 Pro camera features
• Halide’s latest update brings the iPhone 13 Pro’s Macro Mode to older iPhones
• After Epic v. Apple, a small developer is challenging Apple’s in-app payment system
• Apple is making it easier to delete accounts attached to third-party apps
• Apple’s healthcare division leaned on misleading data, report alleges
• Nintendo Switch OLED review: screentime
• Google’s latest Next doorbell and camera are not obvious upgrades
• Amazon is reportedly working on a smart fridge
• Twitch confirms major data breach after its source code and secrets leak out
• Taylor Swift fans are getting caught up in the Virginia gubernatorial race
• The Verge is now on your smart TV
• Announcing Springboard: The Verge’s documentary on the forgotten history of the Treo

Vergecast - A Tech Podcast by Derek Rhoads bit.ly/cutthroughthenight

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For the next four Tuesdays, Verge senior reporter Ashley Carman will explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning are shaping the future of a variety of industries.

In this episode, Ashley explores how AI can be used for product design, but more specifically, for creating fragrances and flavors.

Guests include founder of ScentTronix Fredrick Duerinck, computer scientist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Saket Navalkha, and Michael Spranger from Sony AI

This podcast was made by producer Liam James, senior audio director Andru Marino, senior reporter James Vincent, and senior reporter Ashley Carman.

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, and Alex Cranz discuss all the product announced at Amazon's fall devices event, as well as Google's Search On fall event.

Verge senior reporter Alex Heath joins the show to discuss news that came out of the interviews at Code Conference.

Further reading:

• Amazon’s fall hardware event 2021: rumors, news, and announcements
• Amazon’s race to create the disappearing computer 
• Here’s the deluge of announcements from Amazon’s fall devices event
• Say hello to Astro, Alexa on wheels 
• Amazon’s Astro cannot fetch your beer
• Amazon Astro is ‘terrible’ and will ‘throw itself down’ stairs, developers reportedly claim
• Amazon’s automotive efforts appear to be taking a pit stop
• Don’t be fooled — Amazon’s Astro isn’t a home robot, it’s a camera on wheels
• Remember when beta testing was free? 
• Amazon’s new Echo Show 15 is meant to hang on your wall
• Amazon’s AZ2 CPU knows your face
• Amazon Glow is a video chat gadget with built-in games to keep kids engaged
• Amazon announces new wearable and services to try to make you fitter
• Amazon’s new Ring Alarm Pro combines a security system with an Eero router 
• Blink’s first doorbell is finally released, four years later
• Ring Video Doorbells are finally getting package alerts
• Amazon takes on Nest with a $59.99 smart thermostat
• Google’s Search On fall 2021 event: news and announcements
• Google Search’s next phase: context is king 
• Google expands shopping searches with Lens and in-store inventory checks
• Google Maps is making it easier to see wildfires and tree coverage
• Google Lens will soon search for words and images combined
• Google is using AI to help users explore the topics they’re searching for — here’s how
• Elon Musk to Jeff Bezos: ‘you cannot sue your way to the Moon
• Elon Musk: ‘we probably don’t need’ NDAs for Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ beta
• USB-C cables are getting new, confusing logos for faster 240W charging standard
• Nintendo categorically denies that a 4K Switch Pro is in development
• ‘Rife with sexism’: employees of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin describe ‘toxic’ workplace culture

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For the next four Tuesdays, Verge senior reporter Ashley Carman will explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning are shaping the future of a variety of industries.

In this episode, Ashley explores the wild world of AI writing and storytelling to find out if her job is in jeopardy. Is AI ready to replace seasoned writers or experienced reporters?

Guests include Nick Walton (co-founder and CEO of Latitude), Samanyou Garg (founder of Writesonic), and artist K Allado-McDowell.

This podcast was made by producer Liam James, senior audio director Andru Marino, senior reporter James Vincent, and senior reporter Ashley Carman. 

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Alex Cranz, and Tom Warren discuss the reviews of the iPhone 13/iPhone 13 Pro and the many new devices Microsoft announced at their Surface event this week.

Further reading:

• iPhone 13 review: yep, bigger batteries are better
• iPhone 13 Pro review: a better display, the best camera, and incredible battery life 
• iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 review: foundational fixes 
• iOS 15 is here, but we’re still waiting on a few new features
• Apple updates macOS Safari with a new look, but you can turn off the big changes
• EU proposes mandatory USB-C on all devices, including iPhones
• Apple won’t let Fortnite back on iOS until the Epic v. Apple verdict is final
• Tim Cook says employees who leak memos do not belong at Apple, according to leaked memo
• Microsoft’s fall Surface event: the 7 biggest announcements 
• Microsoft announces Surface Pro 8 with bigger 13-inch 120Hz display and Thunderbolt
• Surface Laptop Studio is Microsoft’s new powerful flagship laptop
• Microsoft’s new Surface Duo 2 has all the features that were missing the first time around
• Microsoft’s new Slim Pen 2 uses haptics to mimic the feeling of using a real pen
• The Surface Pro X gets a Wi-Fi-only version
• The Surface Go 3 gets new Intel processors
• Microsoft’s new mouse has a shell that’s 20 percent recycled ocean plastic
• Surface Adaptive Kit makes Microsoft’s laptops more accessible
• Microsoft Surface Pro 8 hands-on: the one we’ve waited for
• Microsoft Surface Duo 2 hands-on: once more, with cameras
• Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio hands-on: one weird, powerful computer 
• The Surface Laptop Studio isn’t as original as Microsoft would have you believe
• Kids who grew up with search engines could change STEM education forever

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For the next four Tuesdays, Verge senior reporter Ashley Carman will explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning are shaping the future of a variety of industries.

In this episode, Ashley explores how AI is being used to streamline video creation. 

Guests include VP of Adobe Sensei Scott Prevost, co-founder and co-CEO of Flawless Scott Mann, and Verge senior reporter James Vincent. 

This podcast was made by producer Liam James, senior audio director Andru Marino, senior reporter James Vincent, and senior reporter Ashley Carman. 

Read more here

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, and Alex Cranz discuss all the products announced at Apple's hardware event this week: iPhones, iPads, the Apple Watch, and more. Keep listening for some gadget news, including Nintendo finally adding Bluetooth audio to the Switch.

Further reading:

• ​​Apple’s iPhone 13 event: the 8 biggest announcements
• The iPhone 13 may finally get features Android has had for years
• The iPhone 13 event was a case study in Tim Cook-era product refinement
• iPhone 13 and 13 Mini announced with redesigned camera array and smaller notch
• iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max announced with high refresh rate 120Hz displays
• The iPhone 13 is a pitch-perfect iPhone 12S
• Goodbye and good riddance to Apple’s 64GB iPhones
• Apple announces new entry-level iPad with A13 Bionic chip
• The iPhone 13’s new camera tricks include cinematic video and macro photography
• Apple says it every year, but the iPhone 13 cameras do seem much improved
• Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro is the first iPhone with 1TB of storage
• Apple drops the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone XR from its lineup
• Apple’s updated leather MagSafe wallet supports Find My location tracking
• How the iPhone 13, Mini, Pro and Max compare to Android rivals — and vs. iPhone 12
• All-new iPad Mini announced with 5G, USB-C, and larger 8.3-inch display
• Apple is releasing iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 on September 20th
• Apple announces new entry-level iPad with A13 Bionic chip
• The Apple Watch Series 7 has a brand-new look
• Apple is releasing watchOS 8 on September 20th
• Should you wait for the Apple Watch Series 7?
• Apple Fitness Plus is getting Group Workouts and Pilates
• The Apple rumors were wrong
• Where are Apple’s new Macs? Here’s what we’re still expecting Apple to announce this year
• Nintendo finally adds Bluetooth audio to the Switch in new software update
• Google’s rumored Pixel 6 Tensor processor sounds extremely weird
• Razer made gamer thimbles

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For the next four Tuesdays, Verge senior reporter Ashley Carman will explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning are shaping the future of a variety of industries.

In this episode, Ashley talks to AI companies that are working with voice synthesis to see why they are targeting the field of voice talent and podcasting and what cloning your voice can be used for in the future.

Read more

This podcast was made by producer Liam James, senior audio director Andru Marino, senior reporter James Vincent, and senior reporter Ashley Carman.

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In an emergency Vergecast, The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Adi Robertson, and Russell Brandom discuss the ruling today in the Epic v. Apple trial.

Further reading:

• Apple must allow other forms of in-app purchases, rules judge in Epic v. Apple
• Epic v. Apple judge rules Fortnite’s Peely can appear naked in court
• Epic will appeal the Epic v. Apple decision
• Will Fortnite return to iOS? Probably not any time soon
• The future of the App Store depends on the difference between a ‘button’ and an ‘external link’
• The Apple App Store: A brief history of major policy changes 

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Alex Cranz, and Alex Heath discuss Facebook's newest endeavor into sunglasses with cameras on them, predictions for next week's Apple event, and of course some new gadgets announced this week.

Further reading:

• Activists push to delay most high-profile climate summit since Paris agreement
• Microsoft gives up predicting when its US offices will fully reopen
• Facebook on your face
• Snapchat’s new AR features can identify the world around you
• Apple’s rumored AR/VR headset might rely on a nearby iPhone or Mac for processing 
• Whoop’s new fitness tracker is better thanks to a battery breakthrough
• Apple’s iPhone 13 event will take place on September 14th
• New Apple MagSafe charger spotted in FCC alongside four new phones
• Apple’s car chief is heading to Ford
• Apple Watch exec takes over secretive car project
• Apple delays controversial child protection features after privacy outcry
• Amazon announces its first-ever lineup of smart TVs
• Amazon announces Fire TV Stick 4K Max — and yes that’s really the name
• Amazon Luna is expanding to Fire tablets and Chromebooks, and retro games are on the way
• Twitter takes on Facebook Groups with invite-only Communities
• How Twitter’s communities could bring context back
• The Gmail app takes calls now, too, because Google wants it to do everything
• The Series One Desk 27 is a $2,000 Google Meet machine that doubles as a laptop monitor
• Microsoft Start is a personalized news feed designed for Windows 11, mobile, and more
• Theranos’ greatest invention was Elizabeth Holmes 

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The Verge's Dieter Bohn, Alex Cranz, and Chaim Gartenberg discuss a bunch of new Apple App Store policies, the upcoming Microsoft Surface event, and some fun strange new gadgets from this week.

Further reading:

• Reddit bans anti-vaccine subreddit r/NoNewNormal after site-wide protest
• Ivermectin misinformation has poisoned Amazon’s platform, with few fixes planned
• Apple’s $100 million settlement agreement “clarifies” App Store rules for developers, but doesn’t change much
• Apple concedes to let apps like Netflix, Spotify, and Kindle link to the web to sign up
• Apple and Google must allow developers to use other payment systems, new Korean law declares
• Apple will ask before it targets you with its ads in iOS 15
• Apple says Arizona and Georgia will be first to add state IDs to iPhones
• Microsoft announces Surface event for September 22nd
• Microsoft will release Windows 11 on October 5th
• Windows 11 won’t include Android app support at launch
• The Windows 11 upgrade situation just got less and more confusing
• Microsoft won’t stop you installing Windows 11 on older PCs
• Microsoft is threatening to withhold Windows 11 updates if your CPU is old
• Microsoft is kicking unsupported PCs out of Windows 11 testing
• The iPhone 13 could have satellite connectivity
• The iPhone 13’s rumored satellite link sounds like it’s just for emergencies
• The next Apple Watch may be delayed due to manufacturing issues
• Apple reportedly wants a Watch with more health tracking and could ship one next year
• Apple buys classical music streaming service Primephonic
• Midrange Samsung Galaxy S21 FE appears again in leaked manual
• Samsung adds new foldable features to its older Z Fold and Z Flip phones with One UI 3.1.1
• Fashion follows function: what’s next for the phone industry
• TV streaming service Locast suspends service after court ruling
• This chainless drive system could revolutionize e-bike designs 
• Sony’s new PS5 model weighs less because it has a smaller heatsink
• Bose announces QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones with 24-hour battery life

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Alex, Cranz, and Adi Robertson discuss why OnlyFans planned to prohibit sexually explicit content on their platform and why it reversed its position days later.

Second half of the show, the crew discuss Tim Cook's ten years as Apple CEO, iPhone 13 rumors, and the whole bunch of tech news you may have missed.

Further reading:

• Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine gets full FDA approval
• US COVID-19 data has never been good enough
• VidCon cancels its 2021 event, says next one will be in June 2022
• The Pfizer vaccine will be officially called Comirnaty, for some reason
• OnlyFans to prohibit sexually explicit content beginning
• Sex workers made OnlyFans valuable — then it sold them out
• OnlyFans pushes SFW app on iOS and Android as it tries
• OnlyFans' inexplicable ban on porn might be explained
• OnlyFans CEO on why it banned adult content
• OnlyFans says never mind, it actually won’t ban porn on October 1st
• Joe Biden reportedly hosting cybersecurity meeting with Tim Cook, Satya Nadella, and Andy Jassy attending
• Google and Microsoft promise billions to help bolster US cybersecurity
• Facebook is reportedly forming an election commission that it will announce in the fall
• Tim Cook’s Apple, ten years later
• Apple will take a smaller cut of publishers’ sales if they join Apple News
• S.Korea parliament committee votes to curb Google, Apple …,
• Higher-end Mac Mini reportedly landing ‘in the next several months’
• 'iPhone 13' Name Emerges on Alleged Packaging Stickers
• Apple Watch Series 7: Leaked images show 41mm and 45mm bands
• TSMC is raising chip prices as supply shortages continue
• Apple to Release iOS 15 iCloud Private Relay as a Public Beta
• iCloud+'s New Custom Email Domain Feature Now Available in Beta
• Kanye West’s new Donda Stem Player will apparently let you ‘customize any song’
• Snapchat’s new AR features can identify the world around you
• The manual for Facebook’s Project Aria AR glasses shows what it’s like to wear them
• Fitbit’s new Charge 5 has a rounded design and a color screen
• Microsoft’s Panos Panay now directly advises CEO Satya Nadella 
• Microsoft announces $549 Halo-themed Xbox Series X console
• Xbox consoles are getting xCloud this holiday so you can stream before you download
• Elon Musk says Tesla is working on humanoid robots
• Don’t overthink it: Elon Musk’s Tesla Bot is a joke
• Alaska Airlines evacuated a plane after a phone burst into flame
• Samsung will let you unlock your Z Fold 3’s bootloader, but at the cost of your cameras
• Joe Rogan, confined to Spotify, is losing influence 
• Making it work 2021

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Alex Cranz, Allison Johnson, and Dan Seifert discuss reviews for the Google Pixel 5a, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3, and the T-Mobile data breach that exposed personal info of more than 47 million people.

Second half of the show, the crew discuss Facebook's new metaverse conference software, the emails from the Apple vs Epic trial, and Intel's new PC gaming GPUs.

Further reading:

• COVID-19 booster shots will be offered to Americans in September, Biden administration says
• Immunocompromised people should get a third COVID-19 vaccine dose, CDC committee says
• Go read this deep dive on why US public health data systems couldn’t handle COVID-19
• Google Pixel 5a review: boring, but better than ever 
• Google Pixel 5A comes with a bigger battery and screen, smaller price tag
• The Google Pixel 6 won’t ship with a charger
• Galaxy Watch 4 review: welcome to Samsung’s garden 
• Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the first folding phone for normal people
• There’s still a place for the Note in Samsung’s Galaxy
• Samsung confirms it’s removing ads from its stock apps later this year
• How the latest and greatest Samsung and Apple earbuds lock you into their world
• T-Mobile data breach exposed the personal info of more than 47 million people
• Microsoft is making it harder to switch default browsers in Windows 11
• Apple’s been playing it too MagSafe
• Apple’s attempt at podcast subscriptions is off to a messy start 
• FTC says Facebook has been a monopoly ‘since at least 2011’ in amended antitrust complaint
• Inside Facebook’s metaverse for work
• Google’s ‘Project Hug’ paid out huge sums to keep game devs in the Play Store, Epic filing claims
• Google gave phone makers extra money to ditch third-party app stores
• Google secretly had a giant gaming vision that includes bringing games to Mac
• Sweetheart deals and plastic knives: all the best emails from the Apple vs. Epic trial
• Steve Jobs email confirms Apple was working on an ‘iPhone nano’ 
• Intel enters the PC gaming GPU battle with Arc
• Intel shows off its answer to Nvidia’s DLSS, coming to Arc GPUs in 2022
• Intel previews its Alder Lake chip, promises hybrid CPUs for desktops and laptops
• Water shortages loom over future semiconductor fabs in Arizona 
• Why Intel and TSMC are building water-dependent chip factories in one of the driest U.S. states
• GM and AT&T are teaming up to bring 5G to Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC cars by 2024

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Alex Cranz, and Chris Welch discuss what was announced at Samsung's August Unpacked event, including new foldables.

Senior reporter Adi Robertson explains the important changes coming to Apple's Messages and iCloud.

Further reading:

• COVID-19 misinformation is increasing amid US virus surge
• Kidney transplant patients will test a COVID-19 booster shot in new trial
• Here’s why Apple’s new child safety features are so controversial 
• Join us for On The Verge: our exciting 10-year birthday party in New York City
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 announced with much bigger, more useful cover display
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 announced with S Pen support and water resistance 
• How Samsung beefed up its new folding phones: metal, tape, and a dab of goo
• Forget the Note — Samsung’s foldables are coming for the Galaxy S as well
• Google is bringing Samsung to the Apple Watch fight
• The Galaxy Watch 4 injects Samsung’s capable hardware with Google software
• Samsung details new smartwatch chip ahead of Galaxy Watch 4 launch
• Samsung announces Galaxy Buds 2 with active noise cancellation
• Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 review: nailing the basics with style 
• Apple’s controversial new child protection features, explained
• Apple pushes back against child abuse scanning concerns in new FAQ
• Interview: Apple's head of Privacy details child abuse detection and Messages safety features
• Senators target Apple’s App Store exclusivity in new bill
• Senate approves $1 trillion infrastructure package as crypto worries loom
• Senate cryptocurrency tax reporting deal fails
• TCL announces new 6-series and 5-series TVs that come with Google TV instead of Roku
• Valve Steam Deck hands-on: the Nintendo Switch of PC gaming
• Apple’s 2021 iPhones will reportedly have a video portrait mode
• HP’s new Chromebase AiO has a screen that rotates from portrait to landscape
• DOJ letter tells Dish and T-Mobile to figure out CDMA customer migration, or else
• Dish says it will launch wireless 5G service in beta at the end of September
• The race to build Africa’s 5G networks is entangled in a U.S. push to cut Huawei’s dominance

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, and Alex Cranz discuss Google's preview of the Pixel 6 and its Tensor chip.

Verge policy editor Russell Brandom explains how Apple will reportedly scan photos on iPhones and iCloud for child abuse imagery.

• Vaccine carrots only got us so far — now, it’s time for sticks
• New York Auto Show canceled as delta variant spreads
• NYC’s Key vaccination requirement for indoor dining can be met with an app
• Yelp will let businesses list their vaccination policies 
• Moderna says a third shot of its COVID-19 vaccine may be needed to protect against variants
• This is the Pixel 6, Google’s take on an ‘ultra high end’ phone
• Google’s Tensor chip is only the first step toward truly great Pixel phones
• Apple will reportedly scan photos stored on iPhones and iCloud for child abuse imagery
• Apple reveals new efforts to fight child abuse imagery
• Google’s new Nest cameras and doorbell have lower prices and more smarts
• Oppo announces ‘next-generation’ under-display selfie camera
• Here’s a closer look at Apple’s canceled AirPower wireless charger
• Apple updates Mac Pro GPUs with new AMD Radeon options
• You can get a Touch ID-equipped Magic Keyboard without buying a whole iMac now
• Elon Musk and Apple deny wild story that he tried to replace Tim Cook 
• Facebook can project your eyes onto a VR headset, and it’s exactly as uncanny as it sounds
• NYT crossword puzzle no longer works in third-party apps, crosses puzzle solvers
• HBO Max is getting its own exclusive podcasts, starting with Batman
• AT&T has officially spun off DirecTV, which is now its own business
• T-Mobile confirms it will shut down Sprint’s LTE network next year

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Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Alex Cranz, and Chaim Gartenberg discuss this week in tech news: quarterly earnings for the big tech companies, the state of Intel, and the Nothing's Ear 1 earbuds.

Further reading:

• CDC reinstitutes mask recommendations for some vaccinated people
• Apple will require masks again in most of its US stores
• Communication around masks is still terrible
• Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine’s protection against severe disease holds steady over six months
• The pandemic made it even harder to check on the ocean’s vital signs
• Next Gen - the future belongs to young people
• The iPhone 12’s strong momentum helps Apple to another huge quarter
• Google sets all-time records as search and YouTube profits ...
• Microsoft reports weaker Surface and Windows revenue amid ...
• Samsung boosts profits and pledges to 'mainstream' foldables ...
• Amazon’s earnings show why Andy Jassy is now in charge
• The summer Intel fell behind
• Huawei’s P50 announced with Snapdragon 888 and HarmonyOS
• Leaked Surface Duo 2 photos reveal new triple camera system
• The Oppo Watch 2 launches in China with a promise of 16 days of battery life
• Nothing officially reveals its $99 Ear (1) true wireless earbuds 
• Nothing Ear 1 earbuds review: almost something
• LG’s new true wireless earbuds have a privacy-conscious ‘Whispering Mode’
• New Samsung Flip and Fold leaks show water resistance, renders, and an S Pen case
• White House says infrastructure deal includes $65 billion for broadband
• T-Mobile’s new prepaid offer is a direct play for the Boost customers it sold to Dish
• It’s not just you, streaming the Olympics is a mess
• Activision Blizzard employees walk out of work to protest rampant sexism and discrimination

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The Verge's Dieter Bohn and Alex Cranz discuss Verizon switching to Android Messages as default for RCS, as well as the many gadgets from this week.

Verge policy editor Russell Brandom joins to talk about President Biden's criticism of Facebook's handling of misinformation on their platform and the nomination of Google critic Jonathan Kanter to lead the Department of Justice's antitrust division.

The Verge's Liz Lopatto and Joey Roulette talk with Dieter about Jeff Bezos' space flight this week.

Further reading:

• Biden says platforms like Facebook are ‘killing people’ with COVID-19 misinformation
• Facebook pushes back against Biden remarks on COVID-19 misinformation
• Joe Biden says Facebook isn’t ‘killing people,’ but misinformation causes harm
• The Biden administration should take the First Amendment as seriously as Facebook misinformation
• FTC pledges to fight unlawful right to repair restrictions
• Biden to nominate Google critic Jonathan Kanter to lead DOJ antitrust division
• The space tourism industry is stuck in its billionaire phase 
• Blue Origin successfully sends Jeff Bezos and three others to space and back
• An on-the-ground look at Blue Origin’s motley crew
• Jeff Bezos appreciates your efforts to get Jeff Bezos to space
• Verizon is also switching to Android Messages as default for RCS
• Pegasus spyware used to target phones of journalists and activists, investigation finds
• Dish cuts a 10-year, $5 billion deal to make AT&T the primary service provider for its MVNO
• The Dish ‘fix’ for the T-Mobile-Sprint merger seems more shortsighted than ever
• Playdate hands-on: a Game Boy from a different dimension
• Apple AirPods update to arrive later this year with iPhone SE refresh coming 2022: report
• Apple releases iOS 14.7 just as MagSafe Battery Pack appears on shelves
• The first real photos of Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack are here
• Apple MagSafe Battery Pack review: convenience over capacity
• OnePlus Buds Pro announced, coming September 1st for $150
• OnePlus Nord 2 review: focused on the essentials
• OnePlus is merging OxygenOS with Oppo's ColorOS
• Leaked memo confirms OnePlus will become an Oppo sub-brand
• Amazon will let devs compete for your Echo Show’s screen and everything else Alexa just added
• Alexa finally gets a masculine-sounding voice option
• Amazon promises most Echo speakers will get upgraded to Matter

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Casey Newton talks with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg about his vision for an embodied internet (or "the metaverse), the challenges of governing it, and gender imbalance in virtual reality today. They also discuss President Biden’s fierce criticism of Facebook’s failures in removing anti-vaccine content in the headlines.

Transcript: https://www.theverge.com/e/22352063

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Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, and Alex Cranz discuss this week in tech news — the new Valve Steam Deck, Netflix potentially getting into gaming, a lot of Apple news, and some billionaires going into space.

Further reading:

• The COVID-19 vaccines weren’t hacked — this task force is one reason why
• Foxconn and TSMC strike deal to buy 10 million COVID vaccines for Taiwan
• Valve’s gaming handheld is called the Steam Deck and it’s shipping in December
• Netflix snags former EA, Oculus exec to lead its video game efforts
• Apple’s latest iOS and macOS betas undo some of Safari’s controversial new design
• iPhone 13 rumors grow more certain ahead of September launch
• Redesigned iPad mini reportedly on track to launch this fall
• Apple just launched an official $99 MagSafe battery pack for the iPhone 12 lineup
• iPhone 12 reverse wireless charging can power up Apple’s new MagSafe battery pack
• Apple is working on Apple Pay Later to help you buy things without paying for them yet
• Apple reportedly wants in on NFL Sunday Ticket
• Apple’s weather app won’t say it’s 69 degrees
• Facebook says FTC chair shouldn’t help decide the future of its antitrust case
• Biden’s executive order puts net neutrality back in the spotlight
• President Joe Biden’s latest executive order is a huge win for right to repair
• Space tourism rivalry gets extremely petty ahead of Branson’s spaceflight
• Virgin Galactic has opened a sweepstakes offering a trip to space
• Virgin Galactic successfully sends Richard Branson to the edge of space
• Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked device lineup may have been entirely spoiled in huge new leak
• The Galaxy Z Fold 3 will support the S Pen Pro, according to FCC filings
• Ikea and Sonos picture frame speaker review: wall of sound
• TVA TemPad review: who needs TikTok when you can control time and space?
• We want to see your internet bill

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The Verge's Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, and Adi Robertson discuss the new antitrust lawsuit Google faces from 36 states, the new hardware Nintendo announced this week, and what happened at Stellantis' ‘EV Day’.

Further reading:

• Who needs COVID-19 boosters?
• Moderna starts human trials of an mRNA-based flu shot
• Full approval could make the difference for the US COVID-19 vaccine campaign
• Exposure notification apps could be more effective if they’re better at assessing risk
• Google faces new antitrust lawsuit over Google Play Store fees
• Google feared Samsung Galaxy Store and tried to quash it, lawsuit alleges
• Apple and Google crowd out the competition with default apps 
• Donald Trump files sweeping, nonsensical lawsuits against Facebook, Twitter, and Google
• Twitter has lost legal immunity for users’ posts in India, government argue
• Nintendo’s OLED Switch: all of the news about the console upgrade
• Don’t count out the Nintendo Switch Pro
• A bigger, better Switch screen is exactly what I wanted
• Stellantis, parent company of Dodge and Jeep, had an ‘EV Day’ and it was extremely weird
• Verizon has its own version of spatial audio and it’s already pushing it on phones
• AT&T joins T-Mobile in switching all Android phones to Google’s Messages app for RCS
• Elon Musk just now realizing that self-driving cars are a ‘hard problem’
• iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 preview: a first look at Apple’s latest software
• Maine passes the strongest state facial recognition ban yet
• Welcome to Simulation City, the virtual world where Waymo tests its autonomous vehicles

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Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, and Tom Warren discuss the official reveal of Windows 11 at Microsoft's event on Thursday.

Further reading:

• The slow transitions of a lingering pandemic
• The pandemic made Navajo Nation’s radio stations even more vital
• India’s healthcare workers are busting misinformation on WhatsApp
• Microsoft’s own Windows 11 livestream runs into technical difficulties
• Microsoft announces Windows 11, with a new design, Start menu, and more
• Microsoft reveals the new Microsoft Store for Windows 11, and it has Android apps too
• Microsoft is bringing Android apps to Windows 11 with Amazon’s app store
• Here are the visual changes Microsoft showed off in Windows 11
• Microsoft teases new File Explorer for Windows 11
• Here’s everything Microsoft is removing from Windows 11
• Microsoft is changing the Windows 11 minimum requirements
• Microsoft Teams will be directly integrated as part of Windows 11
• Windows 11 is a free upgrade
• Windows 11’s news feed has built-in tipping to support local content creators
• Microsoft will let devs keep every penny their Windows app makes — unless it’s a game
• Satya Nadella’s closing Windows 11 remarks were a direct shot across Apple’s bow
• Apple argues against sideloading iPhone apps as regulatory pressure mounts
• Google will now consider letting your video, music or book app evade its 30 percent cut
• Google delays blocking third-party cookies in Chrome until 2023
• Samsung’s Watch Active 4 leaks in new renders
• Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 revealed in new leak
• Apple may be looking to make a less expensive big phone in 2022
• Tim Cook called Nancy Pelosi to warn her against disrupting the iPhone with impending antitrust bills
• Why the tech antitrust reform bills are struggling to move forward
• Big Tech edges closer to break up after deeply unhinged markup
• We regret to inform you that T-Mobile is selling a 5G-branded gin
• Ransomware funds more ransomware

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Nilay Patel and Dieter Bohn talk to Verge senior editor Tom Warren about leaks of Microsoft's Windows 11 UI and announcements from E3 2021.

Verge politics reporter Makena Kelly explains how Republicans and Democrats are gearing up to fight tech monopolies.

Verge managing editor Alex Cranz joins the show to talk about Google's updates to Messages and a bunch of gadget news from this week.

Further reading:

• Amazon’s COVID-19 test is now available to consumers
• Novavax says its COVID-19 vaccine is 90 percent effective
• Pharma is winning the big business popularity contest
• Windows 11 leak reveals new UI, Start menu, and more
• Microsoft Teams’ new front row layout arrives later this year
• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella now doubles as the company’s chairman
• Microsoft announces Xbox TV app and its own xCloud ...
• Microsoft is bringing next-gen Xbox games to the Xbox One with xCloud
• Even the Xbox app has stories now
• The Xbox Series X mini fridge will be available this holiday season
• Microsoft Flight Simulator is landing on Xbox Series X / S consoles on July 27th
• The best trailers of E3 2021
• Tech antitrust pioneer Lina Khan will officially lead the FTC
• How Republicans and Democrats are gearing up to fight tech monopolies
• House lawmakers introduce five bipartisan bills to unwind tech monopolies
• Senate bill would make it easier to cancel a subscription online after a free trial 
• Google’s first retail store opens this week
• Google adds E2E RCS encryption to Messages, emoji mashup suggests, and more for Android
• Google Workspace and Google Chat are officially available to everybody
• Honor confirms Google’s apps will return to its phones with new 50 series
• Beats Studio Buds review: big ambition, imperfect execution
• Ikea and Sonos announce picture frame speaker, coming July 15th for $199
• Watch the debut of Tesla Model S Plaid, the ‘quickest production car ever made’
• The Realme GT lays claim to OnePlus’ ‘flagship killer’ mantle
• Oppo’s rollable concept phone is pure potential lacking polish

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Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Alex Cranz, and Chris Welch discuss all the announcements from Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference that took place this week.

All the links:

• COVID-19 hospitalization rates in adolescents went up during March and April
• Where did the COVID microchip conspiracy theory come from anyway?
• The pandemic might cut down e-waste but widen the digital divide
• Apple WWDC 2021: the 15 biggest announcements
• Apple previews iOS 15 at WWDC 2021
• The best features of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS that Apple didn’t announce onstage
• Apple’s Siri will finally work without an internet connection with on-device speech recognition
• Watch Apple’s Siri blaze through requests with on-device processing
• You’ll soon be able to use your iPhone as ID at the airport
• Apple adds welcome privacy features to Mail, Safari
• Apple’s iCloud Plus bundles a VPN, private email, and HomeKit camera storage
• With iCloud Plus, Apple’s privacy promise is paired with an upsell
• Apple’s privacy-focused Private Relay feature isn’t coming to China
• Apple Music’s spatial audio is sometimes amazing but mostly inconsistent 
• macOS and tvOS are getting spatial audio support with the AirPods Pro and Max
• Apple Music begins rolling out lossless streaming and Dolby Atmos spatial audio
• Apple introduces Siri for third-party devices
• macOS Monterey lets you run Shortcuts and share files between Macs and iPads
• Apple may have done the coolest drag and drop demo ever
• How Universal Control on macOS Monterey works
• FaceTime is coming to Android and Windows via the web
• Apple is building video and music sharing into FaceTime
• Apple announces watchOS 8 with new health features
• Apple’s new health features bring new focus to elder care technology 
• Apple lets users see family members’ Health data
• Apple announces iPadOS 15 with homescreen and multitasking improvements
• Microsoft announces Xbox TV app and its own xCloud streaming stick
• Facebook plans first smartwatch for next summer with two cameras, heart rate monitor
• Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds announced / review
• Google’s first folding Pixel is apparently still on track for a 2021 reveal
• Clubhouse and its clones have an accessibility problem
• Biden revokes Trump bans on TikTok and WeChat

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Co-hosts Nilay Patel and Dieter Bohn talk with Verge senior editor Tom Warren and managing editor Alex Cranz about operating systems — what's coming up at Apple's developer conference next week, where Microsoft will take Windows next, and the debut of some new systems like HarmonyOS and Fuchsia OS.

Further reading:

• The pandemic showed that big tech isn’t a public health savior
• The future of COVID-19 immunity looks good
• We have bigger problems than COVID-19’s origins
• Apple TV 4K (2021) review: much better remote, slightly faster box
• Of course repairing the new Apple TV remote is harder than simply unscrewing it
• Apple TV app comes to Nvidia Shield
• For Apple TV Plus to succeed, it has to be everywhere — even Android TV
• Microsoft looks ready to launch Windows 11
• Microsoft to reveal its next generation of Windows on June 24th
• Huawei announces HarmonyOS update for its smartphones
• Huawei teases its upcoming P50 flagship phone
• Huawei’s HarmonyOS arrives on tablets with the new MatePad Pro
• Huawei’s Watch 3 is its first HarmonyOS smartwatch 
• Google’s new Fuchsia OS arrives first on old Nest Hub
• AMD announces the Radeon RX 6000M series with RDNA 2 architecture
• Nvidia announces new RTX 3080 Ti, priced at $1,199 and launching June 3rd
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti review: more 4K for more of your wallet
• Nvidia’s RTX 3080 Ti is available online right now
• Amazon buys MGM for $8.45 billion
• Why on Earth did Amazon spend $8 billion on a zombie studio? 
• Discovery announces new name of WarnerMedia merger: Warner Bros. Discovery
• The Great Wings Rush
• Why Spotify’s Horacio Gutierrez thinks Apple behaves like a monopolist

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In part 2 of this week's episode, Nilay talks with Adi Robertson about the judge's harsh questioning of Tim Cook on the last day of testimony in Epic vs Apple.

Further reading:

• Apple said Roblox developers don’t make games, and now Roblox agrees
• Apple’s Phil Schiller gives Epic iPhone testimony
• At the Epic trial, Phil Schiller got away clean
• The level of Mac malware is not acceptable, says Apple’s Craig Federighi at Epic trial
• Apple wants users to trust iOS, but it doesn’t trust iOS users
• Tim Cook faces harsh questions about the App Store from judge in Fortnite trial

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In part 1 of this week’s episode, Nilay and Dieter talk with deputy editor Dan Seifert about Google I/O and reviews for the M1 iMac and iPad Pro. 

Further reading:

• Google I/O 2021: the 14 biggest announcements
• Android 12 preview: first look at Google’s radical new design
• Android 12 public beta is now available: here’s how to install it
• Google showed off its next-generation AI by talking to Pluto and a paper airplane
• Apple iMac M1 review: the all-in-one for almost everyone
• iPad Pro (2021) review: Mini LED, major improvement
• Apple’s redesigned MacBook Pros with next-gen in-house chips could arrive early this summer
• Apple’s $549 AirPods Max can’t play lossless Apple Music — even when plugged in

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The Epic v. Apple trial continues with big drama about naked bananas and weird game definitions. Nilay tries to get Starlink space internet working, and there's new Intel chips. Adi Robertson and Monica Chin join this week.

• Epic and Apple are now fighting over a naked banana
• Roku removes YouTube TV from channel store as dispute with Google escalates
• Apple employees circulate petition demanding investigation into ‘misogynistic’ new hire
• A Big Map of America’s Broadband problem
• Secretary Pete Butitgieg on the future of transportation
• Intel’s flagship Tiger Lake-H mobile chips are here to take on Ryzen 5000
• Razer claims its new Blade 15 is the ‘thinnest’ 15-inch RTX gaming laptop
• Asus’ new Zephyrus M16 has a 16:10 screen and Intel Tiger Lake H processor
• How a university got itself banned from the Linux kernel
• University of Minnesota banned from contributing to Linux kernel
• Watch Elon Musk play Wario, parody SpaceX, and hype dogecoin on Saturday Night Live
• Tesla stops taking Bitcoin for vehicle purchases, citing environmental harm

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