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The Vergecast

The Vergewww.theverge.com
The Vergecast is the flagship daily podcast from The Verge about small gadgets, Big Tech, and everything in between. Every Friday, Nilay Patel and David Pierce hang out and make sense of the week’s most important technology news. And Monday through Thursday, David leads a selection of The Verge’s expert staffers in an exploration of how gadgets and software affect our lives – and which ones you should bring into yours.
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Episodes

Why Signal won’t compromise on encryption, with president Meredith Whittaker

Today we're sharing an episode of Decoder with Nilay Patel featuring an interview with Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal. Signal is the popular messaging app that offers encrypted communication. You might recognize Meredith’s name from 2018 when she was an AI researcher at Google and one of the organizers of the Google walkout. Now she’s at Signal, which is a little different than the usual tech company: it’s operated by a nonprofit foundation and prides itself on collecting as little data...

Nov 02, 20221 hr 13 min

Twitter is now an Elon Musk company

The Verge 's Nilay Patel, Liz Lopatto, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz discuss Elon Musk officially becoming the owner of Twitter, and what that means for the future of the company. Further reading: Twitter is now an Elon Musk company How weak leadership cratered Twitter’s morale The Twitter deal is all downside risk for Elon Musk Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you. We are conducting a short audience survey to help plan for our future and hear f...

Oct 28, 202247 min

Apple's new App Store tax, Microsoft Surface reviews, and Meta's earnings

The Verge 's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, Alex Cranz, and Tom Warren discuss Microsoft Surface reviews, Apple's new App Store tax, and Meta earnings. Further reading: Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (SQ3) review: Windows on Arm is not ready Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (13.5-inch) review Surface defined 10 years of Windows PCs — can Microsoft nail the next 10, too? Microsoft says more than 20 million people have used Xbox Cloud Gaming Zuckerberg is all in on the metaverse whether you like it or not Xbox’s P...

Oct 28, 20221 hr 26 min

The two cryptos and the future of the iPad

Today on the flagship podcast of all-screen designs: 02:38 - Verge senior audio director Andru Marino dives into the world of a different type of crypto community. 17:51 - David Pierce examines iPadOS 16, Stage Manager, and Apple's attempt at task managers. iPadOS 16's Stage Manager is not the future of multitasking you were hoping for 34:05 - Dan Seifert and Monica Chin join David to discuss and explain Apple's confusing iPad lineup. Apple iPad (10th gen) review: stuck in the middle The new iPa...

Oct 26, 20221 hr 6 min

Cybersecurity Hotline Special

We asked listeners to send in all their questions related to cybersecurity for this special Vergecast Hotline episode. David Pierce talks to Nilay Patel and Russell Brandom to get you the best advice for staying safe online. Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you. We are conducting a short audience survey to help plan for our future and hear from you. To participate, head to vox.com/podsurvey , and thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

Oct 24, 202251 min

Confusing new Apple products, Netflix password sharing, and NFT cults

The Verge 's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, and Richard Lawler discuss the announcements from Apple this week, HDR video standards, and all the news out of Netflix and Tesla. Apple launches redesigned iPad with a bigger screen and USB-C Logitech updates Crayon stylus with the USB-C port missing from the Apple The new Apple TV 4K has a remote with USB-C and a lower starting price Apple’s new iPad only supports the old Apple Pencil–and need an adapter to do so Apple’s Magic Keyboard Folio for the new iP...

Oct 21, 20221 hr 26 min

Kanye wants Parler, smartwatch showdown, and the Vergecast Hotline returns

Today on the flagship podcast of slightly inaccurate fitness trackers: 02:15 - David Pierce and Makena Kelly chat about Ye buying Parler, as well as the other new set of apps and app owners entering the space. Kanye West is buying ‘free speech platform’ Parler The ugly business logic behind Kanye West’s Parler acquisition 24:44 - Victoria Song and Dan Seifert return to the show for a smartwatch showdown between the Pixel Watch, the Apple Watch Series 8, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch. Google Pixel...

Oct 19, 20221 hr 21 min

Microsoft's Surface event, Pixel 7 and Pixel Watch reviews, and Meta Connect 2022

The Verge 's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, and David Pierce discuss the announcements at Meta Connect, the new products from Microsoft's Surface event, and reviews for Google's Pixel 7 and Pixel Watch. Meta Connect 2022: all the news on the Quest Pro The Meta Quest Pro is a cutting-edge headset looking for an audience Meta figured out legs for its Horizon avatars What does Mark Zuckerberg think ‘open’ means? Mark Zuckerberg takes a shot at Apple’s closed ecosystem FTC files to block Meta from buying ...

Oct 14, 20221 hr 21 min

Zuckerberg on the Quest Pro, our impressions, and the state of VR games

Today on the flagship podcast of low-latency head tracking: 02:35 - Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg chats with deputy editor Alex Heath about Meta's new headset, the Quest Pro . 22:00 - Alex Heath and senior reporter Adi Robertson chat with David Pierce about their first impressions using the Quest Pro. 47:45 - Group Publisher for The Verge Chris Grant chats with David about what's happening in VR for video games. You can listen to the rest of the chat with Mark Zuckerberg on Decoder with Nilay Patel ,...

Oct 11, 20221 hr 12 min

Google's Pixel 7 and Pixel Watch event / Elon Musk vs. Twitter trial update

The Verge 's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz discuss all the announcements from Google's Pixel 7 event. Senior correspondant Liz Lopatto joins the show to explain the latest in the Elon Musk/Twitter trial saga. The Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer is here (and so is Chris Pratt) Hands-on with the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro: something familiar The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro double down on Tensor-fueled features Google’s Pixel 7 and 7 Pro will fix your old blurry photos Google once again calls out Apple fo...

Oct 07, 20221 hr 19 min

Amazon’s Kindle Scribe, printer problems, and earbuds on a bike

Today on the flagship podcast of hardcopy peripherals: 02:27 - David Pierce and Alex Cranz chat with Dave Limp, SVP of devices and services at Amazon. Amazon’s Kindle Scribe is an E Ink tablet for reading and writing 24:04 - David also tries to answer a listener question about why it feels like printers haven't improved in years. Best Printer Buying Guide (Consumer Reports) 39:55 - Lastly, Becca Farsace tests out which earbuds sound the best when calling from a bike ride. Bose QuietComfort Earbu...

Oct 05, 202256 min

What does music feel like in the metaverse?

The Verge 's David Pierce dives into the world of virtual concerts in digital spaces like Roblox and Fortnite. Is this the future of live music? Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd love to hear from you. We are conducting a short audience survey to help plan for our future and hear from you. To participate, head to vox.com/podsurvey , and thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Oct 03, 202222 min

Google is shutting down Stadia / Amazon's hardware launch event

The Verge 's David Pierce, Alex Cranz, and Jay Peters discuss Google deciding to shut down its game streaming service Stadia. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joins the show to chat about all the products Amazon announced at its hardware launch event this week, including the new E Ink tablet for reading and writing. Google is shutting down Stadia Google is trying to reinvent search — by being more than a search engine Google’s trying to become a one-stop shopping destination Google will help you find bet...

Sep 30, 20221 hr 29 min

Handheld gaming, scooter subscriptions, and a Techtober preview

Today on the flagship podcast of low-latency controller input: 02:12 - David Pierce talks with Tom Warren about the trend of handheld gaming devices like Valve's Steam Deck and the Logitech's G Cloud Gaming Handheld . 21:20 - David tries subscribing to a scooter rental service and starts to rethink the concept of ownership. 33:40 - David chats with Nilay Patel and Alex Cranz about the ten big tech events happening this October. Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we'd l...

Sep 28, 202257 min

The complicated relationship between musicians and platforms

Today’s Future of Music episode comes from Ariel Shapiro, The Verge ’s lead reporter of HotPod , our weekly newsletter about the audio industry. Last week on the show we talked about old music… specifically how the back catalog is a big part of what makes “new” music. This week Ariel picks up right where we left off, with the revival of stars from the past on platforms like TikTok. But what about new… undiscovered talent? Is that even a thing anymore? Can a budding artist find their place in the...

Sep 26, 202218 min

Apple Watch Ultra review: an aspirational debut

The Verge 's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, David Pierce, and Victoria Song discuss using the new Apple Watch Ultra, the next-gen GPUs, and a bunch of gadget news. Future reading: Apple Watch Ultra review Apple AirPods Pro (second-gen) review: same look, better everything else This RTX 4090 is so ridiculous it needs a ‘Dark Obelisk’ RGB support stick Nvidia announces next-gen RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 GPUs Nvidia says it built too many GPUs — expect sales while it works on something `new` DJI's new smartp...

Sep 23, 20221 hr 17 min

GTA leaks, TikTok search, and Apple reviews hotline

Welcome to the flagship podcast of measuring changes in gravitational force. 02:13 - David Pierce chats with video game reporter Ash Parrish about how footage of Grand Theft Auto VI has leaked online. GTA 6 gameplay leaks online in 90 videos Rockstar confirms hack, says work on GTA VI will ‘continue as planned’ 19:40 - David tries to use TikTok's search feature as a replacement for Google. 31:40 - Nilay Patel, Allison Johnson, and Victoria Song answer listener questions about the new iPhones and...

Sep 21, 202257 min

Will the future of music sound a lot like the past?

In part 1 of our Vergecast: Future of Music series, Alex Cranz talks with Switched on Pop 's Charlie Harding about the trends in music today that make new songs out of old material, and whether it's foreshadowing the future of pop. Further reading: Selena Quintanilla Will Sound Older on Her New Posthumous Album Michael Jackson songs removed from streaming services to 'move beyond' fake vocals controversy Shred with Green Day, with some help from AudioShake Invasion of the Vibe Snatchers Music pl...

Sep 19, 202235 min

Reviews of the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple Watch Series 8, and more

Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz discuss The Verge's reviews of the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14, and Apple Watch Series 8. Further reading: Apple iPhone 14 Pro review: early adopter island Apple iPhone 14 review: meet the iPhone 13S It’s time to bring contrast back to our smartphone photos Apple Watch Series 8 review: if it ain’t broke iOS 16.1 beta adds Apple’s ugly new battery percentage indicator to the iPhone Mini iOS 16 review: unlocking the lock screen We finally got our hands and ey...

Sep 16, 20221 hr 23 min

Websites are back: inside The Verge's redesign

David Pierce and Nilay Patel discuss the ideas behind The Verge 's brand new redesigned website, which officially launched on September 13th. David also chats with senior product manager Tara Kalmanson and senior engineer Matt Crider, who worked on the redesign, about what went into implementing those ideas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 14, 20221 hr 6 min

Apple’s iPhone 14 event: the biggest announcements and our first impressions

Apple held their annual hardware event on their campus, debuting new iPhones, new Watches, and new AirPods. Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz discuss everything that happened at the "Far Out" event, first impressions of the products, and their expectations for Apple in the next year. Further reading: Apple’s iPhone 14 event: the 9 biggest announcements Apple Watch Series 8, SE, and Ultra hands-on: triple the fun Apple Watch Series 8 gets souped-up period and ovulation tracking New Apple ...

Sep 09, 20221 hr 16 min

The future of Apple: our biggest questions and hottest takes

The Verge' s David Pierce, Nilay Patel, and Alex Cranz each discuss the big open questions they have about the future of Apple, and the hottest takes about the company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 06, 20221 hr 7 min

Snap laying off 20 percent of employees, Twitter starts testing edit button, and Logitech’s cloud gaming handheld leaks

The Verge 's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz discuss this week's gadget news. Casey Newton joins the show to discuss Twitter finally adding the edit button for tweets. Further reading: An iPhone 14 satellite link could depend on Apple cutting a deal with wireless carriers Everything Apple Watch Pro needs to beat Garmin and Samsung Apple’s Lightning cable turns 10, but its time is over Satellite connectivity on the Apple Watch Pro could be a game-changer Logitech’s cloud gaming handheld...

Sep 02, 20221 hr 27 min

Land of the Giants: It's a WhatsApp world

We're sharing an episode of Land of the Giants: The Facebook / Meta disruption, a collaboration between Recode and The Verge. Meta’s most expensive acquisition ever and one of the most used communication apps in the world: WhatsApp. With over 2 billion users, WhatsApp is embedded in the social, economic, and political infrastructure of countries across the globe. For better and worse. The story of WhatsApp’s incredible power, as told through its largest market: India. NOTE: There are description...

Aug 31, 202236 min

Twitter is a mess, Apple 'Far out' rumors, and this week in streaming

The Verge's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, and David Pierce discuss this week in tech news. Further reading: Apple’s ‘Far out’ iPhone 14 event is happening September 7th What to expect from Apple's iPhone 14 event Next-day streaming of NBC shows like Law & Order and SNL jumps from Hulu to Peacock next month YouTube TV update will reportedly let you watch four channels at once HBO calls House of the Dragon its biggest premiere ever, with nearly 10 million US viewers Twitter’s former security chief ...

Aug 26, 20221 hr

The Elgato Stream Deck's endless buttons

Today’s whole episode is about buttons. We’re talking about the Stream Deck from Elgato, a desk accessory that is basically just a bunch of buttons. We hear how people use their Stream Deck, how to hack it to do even more, and how to turn your old devices into something like it. Email us at vergecast@theverge.com , we'd love to hear from you. Call our Vergecast Hotline! 866-VERGE11 (866-837-4311) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Aug 24, 202242 min

Android 13 arrives, Galaxy Watch 5 review, and Instagram gets competitive

The Verge's Nilay Patel, Alex Cranz, and David Pierce discuss the Android 13 update, the battle between the vertical video apps, and a bunch of gadget news. Further reading: Android 13 arrives for Pixel phones starting today How to get the Android 13 update on your Pixel right away Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review: incremental innovation Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 review: if it only had a better battery All the YouTube Shorts you repost to TikTok will now tell on you Instagram gets mean about sending ...

Aug 19, 20221 hr 24 min

Ford F-150 Lightning review, stress-testing earbuds, and a Galaxy foldable Q&A

02:33 - The Verge 's David Pierce brings in deputy editor Dan Seifert, reviewer Allison Johnson, and managing editor Alex Cranz to answer Vergecast Hotline questions about Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 . 24:18 - Chris Welch returns to the show for more earbuds voice call testing, this time on the NYC ferry with the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and the Google Pixel Buds Pro . 41:18 - Nilay Patel shares his experience reviewing the Ford F-150 Lightning , and the troubles with its tou...

Aug 17, 20221 hr 8 min

Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked August 2022 biggest announcements

The Verge's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, Alex Cranz, and Richard Lawler to discuss all the announcement from Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event this past week. Further reading: HBO Max will be replaced next year by a new service combined with Discovery Plus Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked August 2022: the five biggest announcements The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 gets a little extra polish, but it’s still $999 The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a little better and still too expensive Here’s how the Samsung Gal...

Aug 12, 20221 hr 23 min

Amazon buys Roomba, non-watch wearables, and the best cheap(er) phones

David Pierce taps into The Verge's reviews team to explore where we're headed with smart home gadgets, wearables, and midrange phones. 01:56 - Verge smart home reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy comes back to the show to break down the news of Amazon acquiring iRobot, maker of the ever popular Roomba robot vacuum. 24:46 - Verge wearable tech reviewer Victoria Song joins David to explore the fascinating world of non-watch wearables: rings, earbuds, sports bras, and sleep trackers. Afterward, we hea...

Aug 10, 20221 hr 20 min
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