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Material

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Material is a weekly discussion about the Google and Android universe. Your intrepid hosts try to answer the question, “What holds up the digital world?” The answer, so far, is that it’s Google all the way down. Hosted by Andy Ihnatko and Florence Ion.
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Episodes

198: Google is a Hardware Company

This week. Flo and Andy muse about all the ways that Google has transformed itself into a major hardware player. We talk about the midrange Pixel 3 rumblings, what analysts are saying about who is buying Pixel phones, and Google's next batch of Chrome OS devices. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Linode : High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit. ExpressVPN : High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get 3 months free with a 1-year p...

Apr 11, 20191 hr 12 minEp. 198

198: Google is a Hardware Company

This week. Flo and Andy muse about all the ways that Google has transformed itself into a major hardware player. We talk about the midrange Pixel 3 rumblings, what analysts are saying about who is buying Pixel phones, and Google's next batch of Chrome OS devices.

Apr 11, 20191 hr 12 minEp. 198

197: No Wingnuts

Flo details the death of her Pixel 3, while Andy takes us down memory lane with an excerpt from his Google+ archives. After the first break, we'll talk about the latest Bloomberg piece detailing how YouTube discouraged its employees from reporting toxic videos. On the flip side, the company has committed to giving its contractor workers better pay and benefits over the next several years. We'll also discuss the hateful politics of Google's new AI board member and then end on a soft note with Joh...

Apr 05, 20191 hr 17 minEp. 197

197: No Wingnuts

Flo details the death of her Pixel 3, while Andy takes us down memory lane with an excerpt from his Google+ archives. After the first break, we'll talk about the latest Bloomberg piece detailing how YouTube discouraged its employees from reporting toxic videos. On the flip side, the company has committed to giving its contractor workers better pay and benefits over the next several years. We'll also discuss the hateful politics of Google's new AI board member and then end on a soft note with Joh...

Apr 05, 20191 hr 17 minEp. 197

196: Quote Unquote

Flo's out of town this week, but there's still plenty happening at and around Google. We'll discuss the new EU directive, which will change the way we use the internet and probably embolden copyright trolls. We'll also take a look at Google's Lookout app and how it works, and we'll wag our fingers at Google for downgrading Pinterest pages in its search engine. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Linode : High performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 cre...

Mar 28, 20191 hr 25 minEp. 196

196: Quote Unquote

Flo's out of town this week, but there's still plenty happening at and around Google. We'll discuss the new EU directive, which will change the way we use the internet and probably embolden copyright trolls. We'll also take a look at Google's Lookout app and how it works, and we'll wag our fingers at Google for downgrading Pinterest pages in its search engine.

Mar 28, 20191 hr 25 minEp. 196

195: YouTube's Big Problem

In preparation for the forthcoming 200th episode, Andy and Flo offer their favorite cake freezing tips before Flo offers up an update on her Galaxy Watch Active. After the break, a somber discussion about last week's Christchurch attacks and how YouTube's disaster team acted to stop the propagation of hateful messaging. We'll also discuss what's next for Google in gaming, and how it's very much all related to YouTube's streaming trajectory. This is one very YouTube-packed episode. This episode o...

Mar 21, 20191 hr 23 minEp. 195

195: YouTube's Big Problem

In preparation for the forthcoming 200th episode, Andy and Flo offer their favorite cake freezing tips before Flo offers up an update on her Galaxy Watch Active. After the break, a somber discussion about last week's Christchurch attacks and how YouTube's disaster team acted to stop the propagation of hateful messaging. We'll also discuss what's next for Google in gaming, and how it's very much all related to YouTube's streaming trajectory. This is one very YouTube-packed episode.

Mar 21, 20191 hr 23 minEp. 195

194: You've Been Sherlocked

Andy helps Flo work out some feelings, and the two hosts agree that Google Home Minis have propagated like furry little tribbles. After the break, a full breakdown of Senator Elizabeth Warren's proposal to break up Google and the rest of Silicon Valley, followed by a walkthrough of what's new in the Android Q Beta. And then, we'll end with a quick tribute to Pi and Emma Haruka Iwao, a Google employee from Japan who successfully calculated the number to a record 31 trillion digits. This episode o...

Mar 14, 20191 hr 34 minEp. 194

194: You've Been Sherlocked

Andy helps Flo work out some feelings, and the two hosts agree that Google Home Minis have propagated like furry little tribbles. After the break, a full breakdown of Senator Elizabeth Warren's proposal to break up Google and the rest of Silicon Valley, followed by a walkthrough of what's new in the Android Q Beta. And then, we'll end with a quick tribute to Pi and Emma Haruka Iwao, a Google employee from Japan who successfully calculated the number to a record 31 trillion digits.

Mar 14, 20191 hr 34 minEp. 194

193: Generational Differences

This week's podcast deals with some very mature themes, so take heed. There's a ton of nostalgia in this week's episode, from Andy and Flo discussing how their online lives differed when they were tykes, to how they each hold on to a lifetime of media files with the help of their respective Plex servers. After the first break, gear up for a serious discussion about YouTube's content problem, what the company is doing to combat predatory commenters, and why we should be louder about our disconten...

Mar 08, 20191 hr 11 minEp. 193

193: Generational Differences

*This week's podcast deals with some very mature themes, so take heed.* There's a ton of nostalgia in this week's episode, from Andy and Flo discussing how their online lives differed when they were tykes, to how they each hold on to a lifetime of media files with the help of their respective Plex servers. After the first break, gear up for a serious discussion about YouTube's content problem, what the company is doing to combat predatory commenters, and why we should be louder about our discont...

Mar 08, 20191 hr 11 minEp. 193

192: The Fold Report

Andy starts us out this week drunk (not really, it's a joke), and Flo can't wait to tell you about her new Android TV box. After the first break, plenty of talk about the foldable phones shown off at Mobile World Congress and what they mean for Android smartphones going forward. We also chat about the non-foldable stuff showed off in Barcelona, and we briefly touch on the one second that Apple Music was available in the Google Home app (yep!). This episode of Material is sponsored by: Linode : H...

Feb 28, 20191 hr 34 minEp. 192

192: The Fold Report

Andy starts us out this week drunk (not really, it's a joke), and Flo can't wait to tell you about her new Android TV box. After the first break, plenty of talk about the foldable phones shown off at Mobile World Congress and what they mean for Android smartphones going forward. We also chat about the non-foldable stuff showed off in Barcelona, and we briefly touch on the one second that Apple Music was available in the Google Home app (yep!).

Feb 28, 20191 hr 34 minEp. 192

191: Doing the Deed

Samsung isn't exactly Google, but we're going deep into the Galaxy S10 launch details this week. We're talking about the phones, the accessories, and the impact all these things will have on Android's bottom line. And so the entire podcast isn't about Samsung, we briefly touch upon YouTube's new three-strikes policy, after the second and why we'd love virtual desktops on Chrome OS after the second break. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Pingdom : Start monitoring your websites and serve...

Feb 21, 20191 hr 22 minEp. 191

191: Doing the Deed

Samsung isn't exactly Google, but we're going deep into the Galaxy S10 launch details this week. We're talking about the phones, the accessories, and the impact all these things will have on Android's bottom line. And so the entire podcast isn't about Samsung, we briefly touch upon YouTube's new three-strikes policy, after the second and why we'd love virtual desktops on Chrome OS after the second break.

Feb 21, 20191 hr 22 minEp. 191

190: Happy Palentine's Day

Flo's hosting this week, so there is lots of talk of reality television in the first half hour of this show (IT'S RELATED!). We're also hereby declaring the regressive holiday this podcast posts on as "Palentine's Day." It's a day to celebrate your friends and your podcast co-hosts. After the break, we'll discuss whether companies like Google are responsible for government apps that violate human rights (it's the world we're living in folks), and why the company's augmented reality tricks are pr...

Feb 14, 20191 hr 5 minEp. 190

190: Happy Palentine's Day

Flo's hosting this week, so there is lots of talk of reality television in the first half hour of this show (IT'S RELATED!). We're also hereby declaring the regressive holiday this podcast posts on as "Palentine's Day." It's a day to celebrate your friends and your podcast co-hosts. After the break, we'll discuss whether companies like Google are responsible for government apps that violate human rights (it's the world we're living in folks), and why the company's augmented reality tricks are pr...

Feb 14, 20191 hr 5 minEp. 190

189: Ban-anated

How do you reconcile using a service that's so helpful and simultaneously so invasive? We don't know, but we pondered about it. After the break, we talk about how Google (and Facebook) recently ruffled Apple's tailfeathers and the utility behind Google's new Accessibility apps. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code MATERIAL at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes This Reddit user is grateful that Google Assistan...

Feb 08, 20191 hr 22 minEp. 189

189: Ban-anated

How do you reconcile using a service that's so helpful and simultaneously so invasive? We don't know, but we pondered about it. After the break, we talk about how Google (and Facebook) recently ruffled Apple's tailfeathers and the utility behind Google's new Accessibility apps.

Feb 08, 20191 hr 22 minEp. 189

188: It's Google's Internet, We're All Just Living In It

The theme this week is Google's influence on the internet. From YouTube algorithms to server backends, you won't believe how much Google has embedded into your life—and how much you can't do without it. After the second break, Flo and Andy also discuss what Bloomberg's been reporting about Google's labor practices. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Linode : High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit. ExpressVPN : High-Speed, Secure & Ano...

Jan 31, 20191 hr 26 minEp. 188

188: It's Google's Internet, We're All Just Living In It

The theme this week is Google's influence on the internet. From YouTube algorithms to server backends, you won't believe how much Google has embedded into your life—and how much you can't do without it. After the second break, Flo and Andy also discuss what Bloomberg's been reporting about Google's labor practices.

Jan 31, 20191 hr 26 minEp. 188

187: Sensor Fatigue

Before you dive in this week, we'd like to give you a content warning about sad things happening to kitties at the beginning of this episode. After that, Andy talks about his hacked-together Nest temperature sensor and Flo wonder if there's a Wear OS smartwatch out there fit for her wrist. After the break, the two discuss Google tossing $45 million toward Fossil, how much it's going to annoy you when it restricts ad blocking in the next version of Chrome, and what XDA Developers have found in a ...

Jan 24, 20191 hr 18 minEp. 187

187: Sensor Fatigue

Before you dive in this week, we'd like to give you a content warning about sad things happening to kitties at the beginning of this episode. After that, Andy talks about his hacked-together Nest temperature sensor and Flo wonder if there's a Wear OS smartwatch out there fit for her wrist. After the break, the two discuss Google tossing $45 million toward Fossil, how much it's going to annoy you when it restricts ad blocking in the next version of Chrome, and what XDA Developers have found in a ...

Jan 24, 20191 hr 18 minEp. 187

186: Nothing Gold Can Stay

Andy is excited about the Wear OS watches floating around right now, while Flo wishes they'd be smaller and last a little longer. After the break, the two hosts discuss bad apps in the Play Store, say goodbye to the Chromecast Audio, and geek out over the relative coolness of a 3D-printed brain for your smart speaker. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Linode : High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit. Links and Show Notes When good apps go...

Jan 17, 20191 hr 9 minEp. 186

186: Nothing Gold Can Stay

Andy is excited about the Wear OS watches floating around right now, while Flo wishes they'd be smaller and last a little longer. After the break, the two hosts discuss bad apps in the Play Store, say goodbye to the Chromecast Audio, and geek out over the relative coolness of a 3D-printed brain for your smart speaker.

Jan 17, 20191 hr 9 minEp. 186

185: Who is CES for?

CES 2019 is all anybody can talk about. But before Andy and Flo get into it, this week's show starts with a bit of catchup on Flo's first Google support experience. Then, Andy leaves us all with an essential anecdote about why you should probably turn off your phone. After the first break, the two discuss everything from the new Google Assistant Connect platform to all the new stuff announced this week with the Google Assistant built into it. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Pingdom : S...

Jan 10, 20191 hr 17 minEp. 185

185: Who is CES for?

CES 2019 is all anybody can talk about. But before Andy and Flo get into it, this week's show starts with a bit of catchup on Flo's first Google support experience. Then, Andy leaves us all with an essential anecdote about why you should probably turn off your phone. After the first break, the two discuss everything from the new Google Assistant Connect platform to all the new stuff announced this week with the Google Assistant built into it.

Jan 10, 20191 hr 17 minEp. 185

184: Robots Without Emotion

Flo and Andy are back for the first episode of the new year with a look at how Google's Project Soli will change the way we use devices. The two also discuss what Fuschia holds in store for the future of Android. Then, after the second ad break, why people in Arizona are attacking Google's self-driving cars. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Linode : High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit. ExpressVPN : High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous ...

Jan 04, 20191 hr 14 minEp. 184

184: Robots Without Emotion

Flo and Andy are back for the first episode of the new year with a look at how Google's Project Soli will change the way we use devices. The two also discuss what Fuschia holds in store for the future of Android. Then, after the second ad break, why people in Arizona are attacking Google's self-driving cars.

Jan 04, 20191 hr 14 minEp. 184
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