We take a comprehensive look at the announcements in search, AI, and hardware and how it's all coming together at Google I/O. We also take another look at the ecosystem approaches of Google versus Meta, including both companies' pitches on desi

131. TikTok shares its Pulse, Fortnite goes free in the cloud, and T-Mobile brings 5G home

May 12th, 2022 25m 52s

131. As we await the role of advertising in post-Musk Twitter, we talk about the implications of TikTok matchmaking advertisers and stars and sharing ad revenue with TikTok Pulse. Meanwhile, pandemic breakout Cameo is cutting back. Next, Micros

130. Twitter enters the Muskaverse, Snap takes flight with the Pixy drone, and Instacart delivers its tech infrastructure

May 5th, 2022 25m 57s

As Elon Musk moves closer to acquiring Twitter, we discuss the role that it could play in his portfolio and how it may compete for his heavily divided attention. Next, we zoom out to the big picture of Snap's new Pixy drone and whether it can t

129. Elon adds Twitter, Warner Bros. Discovery subtracts CNN+, and Amazon multiplies Prime shipping vendors

Apr 27th, 2022 28m 22s

As Elon Musk was gearing up to purchase Twitter, we discussed some of the changes we might see as the pioneering social network joins his impressive portfolio of companies. Plus, we look at what the streaming video shakeout means in light of Ne

128. As Apple and Google respond to payments pressure, collaboration apps raise the bar for hybrid work

Apr 1st, 2022 27m 3s

In this episode, we dive deep into the contrast between how Apple and Google have responded to regulatory pressure as Google experiments with letting Spotify use alternative payment schemes for its apps. Plus, we discuss why Apple and Google ha

127. Amazon's pulls in MGM Studios, the FIDO Alliance pushes away passwords, and Instagram serves up NFTs

Mar 22nd, 2022 28m 34s

With Amazon finalizing its acquisition of MGM Studios, we dive into what the studio assets can do for the retail and cloud giant, why the acquisition evaded regulatory challenges, and how the content fits into adjacent Amazon moves in content,

126. Apple achieves peak performance, the U.S. contemplates crypto, and Android enters the iPhone chat

Mar 12th, 2022 25m 33s

Apple's Peek Performance event featured a new iPhone, iPad, and a surprising new Mac, but it was Apple's silicon prowess that was at center stage. We talk about how Apple continues to set the industry agenda with the M1 as the Mac Pro and M2 wa

125. Tech giants respond to the Ukraine invasion, Amazon reshuffles retail and launches Luna, and Disney+ adds ads

Mar 7th, 2022 32m 26s

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has set off reactions from tech companies that range from misinformation blocking campaigns to pulling out as suppliers. We look at the impact of the response in terms of its impact both on the industry and their

124. A 3G retrospective, Spotify releases its Car Thing, and Meta's speech-generated worlds

Mar 2nd, 2022 34m 9s

With AT&T becoming the first of the major U.S. carriers to start shutting down its 3G network, we look back at the advances that the network gave rise to and how its capabilities compared to the shifts of 4G and 5G. Plus, Spotify releases its f

123. nVidia and Intel chase cars, Google chases PCs, and we chase our Uber rider ratings

Feb 26th, 2022 25m 33s

We check in on nVidia's earnings and progress in gaming and data center applications and other sources of growth and discuss announcements from Intel's Investor Day, where the CPU giant announced its intent for a stronger push into automotive.

122. The iPhone takes payments, CEO shakeups at Peloton and Arm, and Microsoft's blizzard of app store promises

Feb 15th, 2022 33m 10s

Closing the loop on Apple Pay, Apple announces that it will enable the iPhone to take contactless credit card payments. We look at who could benefit as progress against the pandemic continues. Plus, the company adds to its measures to prevent A

121. The Facebook face-plant, Amazon's ascendant advertising, and Wordle for the win 121

Feb 6th, 2022 31m 12s

As Meta points us toward the future, investors slapped the company for its ad revenue shortfall and discouraging forecast, particularly in light of strong quarters from Alphabet and Snap, as the company again turns to Instagram to battle a chal

120. Alexa on the wall and your wrist, Redditor reactions, and Google takes influencers shopping

Dec 21st, 2021 31m 18s

As the gift-giving season is upon us, Amazon's device group is going big... and small. We share thoughts on the significance of the Echo Show 15 as well as the Halo wearable. Plus, we took at why the Reddit community has concerns about the comp

119. Qualcomm jump-starts a portable gaming platform as Samsung merges mobile and consumer groups

Dec 11th, 2021 25m 20s

At Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit, the chip giant announced a collaboration with Razer to launch a new category by merging high-end smartphone gaming with physical game controls. The resulting reference design is designed to inspire a new categor

118. Meta and Microsoft meet in the metaverse, Netflix content gets phone-friendlier, and Twitter sings the Blues

Nov 16th, 2021 32m 26s

Coming on the heels of Meta and Microsoft announcing competing visions for the metaverse, the two Big Tech companies have announced plans to collaborate. We discuss why the collaboration makes sense, at least for now. Plus, we weigh in on how N

117. Why Macs are cars, Microsoft out-metaverses Meta, and American digital services exit China

Nov 8th, 2021 33m 2s

We discuss Apple's take on why the perpetually exposed iPhone must remain closed to sideloaded apps while the Mac is open to them. Pus, at Microsoft Ignite, the software giant shoots back at just-minted Meta with its own plans to deliver the me

116. Facebook's Meta-morphosis, Big Tech reports earnings, and Jio's $87 smartphone

Oct 30th, 2021 36m 7s

Meta represents more than a new name for Facebook. We discuss the vision behind Facebook's future direction as well as how effectively the company can capitalize on it. Plus, while big cloud services continued to drive revenue, we look at how s

115. Apple's MacBook Pro screams, Google's Tensor chip dreams, and Nvidia's new GeForce Now streams

Oct 23rd, 2021 34m 10s

Apple's new MacBook Pros take full advantage of the company's new M1 Pro chips. We dig into how the company presented the performance as well as how the company is coming is reaching key price points with various models. Plus, Google also playe

114. Microsoft raises the Surfaces, Twitter tips toward creator compensation, and China's crypto ban

Oct 1st, 2021 35m 2s

We take a detailed look at Microsoft's new Surface offerings, including the Surface Laptop Studio that replaces the Surface Book, and the Surface Duo 2, the beefed-up cameras of which are poised to make the dual-screened phone competitive with

113. Apple maxes its mini, checking out Walmart+ vs. Prime, and how Discord could save Facebook

Sep 20th, 2021 32m 13s

We look at Apple's recent media event where the iPhone 13 failed to reach for the skies as Apple beefed up the Apple Watch and iPad mini. Next, we check out the progress in Walmart's shopping subscription service and look at how much of a threa

112. Facebook weaves into Wayfarers, Amazon delivers telehealth, tuition and TVs, and Google hawks hybrid hardware

Sep 11th, 2021 29m 2s

It's September, which means the start to a flurry of holiday-ready products against a backdrop of other tech company moves. In this episode, we start out assessing Facebook's stylish but functionally modest smart glasses developed with Ray-Ban.

111. Apple softens on reader apps, may tie AR efforts to iPhone. Plus, Amazon's smart TV

Sep 4th, 2021 25m 53s

In this episode, we assess the significance at Apple's latest app store concession, allowing developers of "reader" apps to link to websites for account setup and management. Plus, why Apple may be going for a hybrid approach that relies on the

110. When Apple throws developers a bone: The customer contact concession

Aug 30th, 2021 29m 1s

In this episode, we dig deep on Apple's token trade-off as it settles its class-action lawsuit brought by U.S. app developers, what it means for other legal and regulatory threats to the company, and what the implications could be for future Ap

109. Facebook's metaverse escape, Google's Play payola, and Tesla's robots probably won't kill you

Aug 21st, 2021 35m 49s

The government is back in Facebook's face. We discuss the dynamics of the new category battleground as well as how its Horizon VR Workrooms advance its metaverse ambitions. Next, a look at whether Google's tactics in keeping its app store on to

108. Google hypes AI prowess with Tensor chips, Tinder hooks up with group video, and Sony soars as Nintendo dives

Aug 8th, 2021 33m 52s

In this episode, we look at Google's decision to leave the Qualcomm fold as the maker of struggling Pixel phones hopes to boost its fortunes by boosting AI capabilities with custom silicon even as Qualcomm-loyal Xiaomi reaches new heights of su