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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.

Episodes

418: Google Is A Soft Cheese Company

Andy mourns the loss of Google’s Iris smart glasses, because he knows so way much more than Google or Apple about VR and XR. Reviews of the Pixel Fold are in! It’s a jim-dandy phone except for what happens when you unfold it. And reading coverage of last week’s Vidcon helps Andy be less judgmental about The Avengers.

Jun 29, 20231 hr 15 minEp. 418

418: Google Is A Soft Cheese Company

Andy mourns the loss of Google’s Iris smart glasses, because he knows so way much more than Google or Apple about VR and XR. Reviews of the Pixel Fold are in! It’s a jim-dandy phone except for what happens when you unfold it. And reading coverage of last week’s Vidcon helps Andy be less judgmental about The Avengers.

Jun 29, 20231 hr 15 minEp. 418

417: It Prefers To Stay Inside The House

Reviews of the new Pixel Tablet are in, and it looks like maybe the world is about to fall slap-happy in love! (From a certain perspective, and placed in the correct context). Chromebooks are about to receive the X-gene, and Gannett Newspapers celebrates the first day of Summer with a beach clambake-slash-massive antitrust suit against Google.

Jun 22, 20231 hr 9 minEp. 417

417: It Prefers To Stay Inside The House

Reviews of the new Pixel Tablet are in, and it looks like maybe the world is about to fall slap-happy in love! (From a certain perspective, and placed in the correct context). Chromebooks are about to receive the X-gene, and Gannett Newspapers celebrates the first day of Summer with a beach clambake-slash-massive antitrust suit against Google.

Jun 22, 20231 hr 9 minEp. 417

416: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner In Bed

Why on Earth did Google release so many new features and updates on Flag Day? Well, Google bothered to create ‘em so Material is going to talk about ‘em...with the help of The Feature Roundup Dice. Oh, and also the EU is honking down Google’s snorkel about why it thinks it’s evil, and they want Google to knock that kind of stuff off.

Jun 15, 20231 hr 9 minEp. 416

416: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner In Bed

Why on Earth did Google release so many new features and updates on Flag Day? Well, Google bothered to create ‘em so Material is going to talk about ‘em...with the help of The Feature Roundup Dice. Oh, and also the EU is honking down Google’s snorkel about why it thinks it’s evil, and they want Google to knock that kind of stuff off.

Jun 15, 20231 hr 9 minEp. 416

415: Super-Soakers Filled With Dysentery

All of this week’s stories come from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference! But Andy swears it’s all relevant to Google. Apple’s Vision Pro headset offers discussion about VR versus AI. Apple announced that they’re addressing iPhone users’ complaints about green bubbles in group messages and they’re doing it in the most Apple way possible. And Apple’s figured out a new way to hurt Android users: by going after their friends and family!!! Zounds!

Jun 08, 202346 minEp. 415

415: Super-Soakers Filled With Dysentery

All of this week’s stories come from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference! But Andy swears it’s all relevant to Google. Apple’s Vision Pro headset offers discussion about VR versus AI. Apple announced that they’re addressing iPhone users’ complaints about green bubbles in group messages and they’re doing it in the most Apple way possible. And Apple’s figured out a new way to hurt Android users: by going after their friends and family!!! Zounds!

Jun 08, 202346 minEp. 415

414: Belief in a Higher Weirdo

Andy has access to the new AI-enhanced Google Search and is delighted to discover that he can now waste time on Reddit far more effectively. He also has access to a new web browser that’s so innovative and helpful that he’s compelled to give Chrome a lecture about Ambition that he may or may not have heard from his father when he was 14, 17, 22, 31, 37, and 46. And: thoughts on folding big things into smaller things.

Jun 01, 20231 hr 7 minEp. 414

414: Belief in a Higher Weirdo

Andy has access to the new AI-enhanced Google Search and is delighted to discover that he can now waste time on Reddit far more effectively. He also has access to a new web browser that’s so innovative and helpful that he’s compelled to give Chrome a lecture about Ambition that he may or may not have heard from his father when he was 14, 17, 22, 31, 37, and 46. And: thoughts on folding big things into smaller things.

Jun 01, 20231 hr 7 minEp. 414

413: Nickel-And-Diming My Attention Span

Andy comes right out and admits that his brain is like wet sand. All to make a larger point which may or may not land, because, as established, his brain is like wet sand. Then it’s time to talk about how Google is using AI as the spent uranium tip on new ads that will penetrate your cognitive shields. Also, there are cars and a sketchy analogy about whether or not Google and Samsung are happy in their relationship.

May 26, 202342 minEp. 413

413: Nickel-And-Diming My Attention Span

Andy comes right out and admits that his brain is like wet sand. All to make a larger point which may or may not land, because, as established, his brain is like wet sand. Then it’s time to talk about how Google is using AI as the spent uranium tip on new ads that will penetrate your cognitive shields. Also, there are cars and a sketchy analogy about whether or not Google and Samsung are happy in their relationship.

May 26, 202342 minEp. 413

412: The Other Shoe

Andy has a peculiar theory about system administration. Then the episode goes back to Google I/O to pick up some news that Google didn’t have the common courtesy to reveal in time for last week’s show. A beloved children’s cereal mascot is made to suffer. And Google has a wonderful plan to make top-level-domains both goofy and radically dangerous.

May 18, 20231 hr 2 minEp. 412

412: The Other Shoe

Andy has a peculiar theory about system administration. Then the episode goes back to Google I/O to pick up some news that Google didn’t have the common courtesy to reveal in time for last week’s show. A beloved children’s cereal mascot is made to suffer. And Google has a wonderful plan to make top-level-domains both goofy and radically dangerous.

May 18, 20231 hr 2 minEp. 412

411: The AI Message

It's all about Google I/O 2023! Andy and Flo talk about everything, from AI to Android to Pixel hardware. Flo also reviews the Pixel 7a.

May 13, 20232 hr 55 minEp. 411

411: The AI Message

It's all about Google I/O 2023! Andy and Flo talk about everything, from AI to Android to Pixel hardware. Flo also reviews the Pixel 7a.

May 13, 20232 hr 55 minEp. 411

410: Speaking Out

Andy's solo this week, starting with some prep on what to expect next week from Google I/O. Google's AI researcher quits the company just as everything is heating up. And what will an alliance between Google and Apple look like to cut down on stalking with Bluetooth trackers?

May 05, 20231 hr 4 minEp. 410

410: Speaking Out

Andy's solo this week, starting with some prep on what to expect next week from Google I/O. Google's AI researcher quits the company just as everything is heating up. And what will an alliance between Google and Apple look like to cut down on stalking with Bluetooth trackers?

May 05, 20231 hr 4 minEp. 410

409: Wouldn't It Be Nice?

Google's quarterly earnings are out this week. There's good news, and then there's some tepid numbers. Then, checking in with all those Chromebooks purchased at the height of the pandemic.

Apr 28, 20231 hr 10 minEp. 409

409: Wouldn't It Be Nice?

Google's quarterly earnings are out this week. There's good news, and then there's some tepid numbers. Then, checking in with all those Chromebooks purchased at the height of the pandemic.

Apr 28, 20231 hr 10 minEp. 409

408: Moving Fast, Breaking Things

Why is Google rushing to push out its AI product before it's ready? And what do the employees inside Google HQ think about it? Then, a respite with a look at the leaks of Pixel hardware that will be revealed at Google I/O.

Apr 21, 20231 hr 12 minEp. 408

408: Moving Fast, Breaking Things

Why is Google rushing to push out its AI product before it's ready? And what do the employees inside Google HQ think about it? Then, a respite with a look at the leaks of Pixel hardware that will be revealed at Google I/O.

Apr 21, 20231 hr 12 minEp. 408

407: The Chopping Block

It's springtime for Android users. The Android 14 public beta is out this week, just in time for Google to kill two more of its beloved products. Which ones are on the chopping block this time?

Apr 14, 20231 hr 10 minEp. 407

407: The Chopping Block

It's springtime for Android users. The Android 14 public beta is out this week, just in time for Google to kill two more of its beloved products. Which ones are on the chopping block this time?

Apr 14, 20231 hr 10 minEp. 407

406: Get Outta My Dreams

Andy gives his review of the Chromecast HD. Google launches Android Nearby Share for Windows in beta, plus "cross-device services" for parity between ChromeOS and Android. Why is GM planning to phase out platforms like Android Auto in the car? And Google backtracks to let you upload as many files as you like.

Apr 07, 20231 hr 6 minEp. 406

406: Get Outta My Dreams

Andy gives his review of the Chromecast HD. Google launches Android Nearby Share for Windows in beta, plus "cross-device services" for parity between ChromeOS and Android. Why is GM planning to phase out platforms like Android Auto in the car? And Google backtracks to let you upload as many files as you like.

Apr 07, 20231 hr 6 minEp. 406

405: Total Transparency

Google launches its new ads transparency center this week, and there is Bard drama fitting of a soap opera. Google also used this week to kill off the best part of having a Fitbit.

Mar 31, 20231 hr 19 minEp. 405

405: Total Transparency

Google launches its new ads transparency center this week, and there is Bard drama fitting of a soap opera. Google also used this week to kill off the best part of having a Fitbit.

Mar 31, 20231 hr 19 minEp. 405

404: Error

Andy and Flo get access to Bard, and that's all they're talking about. There are two new significant security vulnerabilities affecting Pixel smartphones. What a polarizing week!

Mar 24, 20231 hr 11 minEp. 404

404: Error

Andy and Flo get access to Bard, and that's all they're talking about. There are two new significant security vulnerabilities affecting Pixel smartphones. What a polarizing week!

Mar 24, 20231 hr 11 minEp. 404