Material
727 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★ - 80 ratingsMaterial 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
459: Wizard Needs Data Badly
April 12, 2024 18:30 - 1 hour - 63.4 MBMercury is in retrograde. Andy didn't make it to the new Google Store, and Google killed more stuff this week. We recap Google Cloud Next 2024 and what's coming. Links and Show Notes: 5 Workspace announcements from Google Cloud Next '24 Google Vids is a 'new AI-powered video creation app' for Workspace Gemini for Google Cloud is here OpenAI transcribed over a million hours of YouTube videos to train GPT-4 5 ways to use the new Find My Device on Android What You Need to Know A...
458: Happy Birthday, Gmail
April 05, 2024 03:00 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBIt's Gmail's 20th birthday, and we're celebrating by ruminating about its presence in our lives. Links and Show Notes: Google’s 2009 April Fool’s joke isn’t so funny now CADIE's HomePAGE.... Google Messages satellite messaging may let you 'message with anyone' Support Material with a Relay FM Membership
457: I'll Smell Mine
March 28, 2024 23:00 - 1 hour - 56.6 MBThe Pixel 9 rumors are confusing, but not as confusing as why YouTube is letting AI jump around the timeline. Also, have you smelled your Galaxy S24 Ultra's S Pen lately? Links and Show Notes: Google Pixel 9 design revealed through 5K renders; will launch alongside Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL Circle to Search coming to Pixel 6 series, Fold, and more, adding in-line translations YouTube announces ‘jump ahead’ experimental feature for Premium users Samsung's new S Pens stink, li...
456: Topsy-Turvy
March 22, 2024 19:00 - 57 minutes - 52.5 MBThis week's biggest Google news was actually about Apple. Has Apple finally accepted that it needs Google's help in the AI department? Will the companies hold each other in solidarity as they face the DoJ? Links and Show Notes: Apple and Google Are Discussing a Deal to Bring Generative A.I. to iPhones Apple in Talks to License Google Gemini for iPhone, iOS 18 Generative AI Tools DOJ sues Apple over iPhone monopoly in landmark antitrust case Google restricts election-related qu...
455: A Good Final Draft
March 15, 2024 20:00 - 1 hour - 72.4 MBAndy is solo this week and attempting to wrangle his Google Photos library. Plus, rumors of square smartwatches and other shakeups. Links and Show Notes: Exclusive: Samsung going back to square design for Galaxy Watch Samsung isn't bringing its Pixel 8a competitor to the US this year Pixel 8 not getting Gemini Nano due to 'hardware limitations' China Just Weaponized The Smartphone To Beat Apple And Google Support Material with a Relay FM Membership
454: Squeaky Hamster Wheel
March 08, 2024 00:00 - 1 hour - 64.2 MBGoogle hopes to reduce spam with its new search algorithms. Meta shatters our dreams for AndroidXR on its hardware. And the Windows Subsystem for Android est mort. Links and Show Notes: Google Search: New updates to address spam and low-quality results What web creators should know about our March 2024 core update and new spam policies Meta Rebuffed Google Proposal For a VR and AR Tie-Up Microsoft to end its Android apps on Windows 11 subsystem in 2025 Support Material with a...
453: Way Too Big
February 29, 2024 22:30 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBWe've got on the big OnePlus Watch 2, wondering why Google didn't check Gemini's answers before they went live. Links and Show Notes: First Look: The OnePlus Watch 2 Is Too Big for My Tiny Wrists Android Developers Blog: Wear OS hybrid interface Google chief says the company got it wrong after Gemini's responses sparked a bitter backlash Google Is Paying Publishers to Test an Unreleased Gen AI Platform Support Material with a Relay FM Membership
452: Literally Literally
February 22, 2024 22:00 - 1 hour - 63 MBIt's time for Cowboy Andy and Sheriff Flo's AI roundup rodeo! COME ON DOWN. Also, the first developer preview of Android 15 is out, and it's not 100% boring. Links and Show Notes: Gemma: Google introduces new state-of-the-art open models Boost your productivity: Use Gemini in Gmail, Docs, and more with the new Google One plan Google apologizes for ‘missing the mark’ after Gemini generated racially diverse N*zis Release notes | Android Developers Google now sells an adorable A...
451: Google's New Gemini
February 16, 2024 01:00 - 1 hour - 67.4 MBWhat's it like living with three different ways to call on Google? Where has Android's photo picker been all this time? And why is Android 15 codenamed Vanilla Ice Cream? Links and Show Notes: Bard becomes Gemini: Try Ultra 1.0 and a new mobile app today Android photo picker with Google Photos support rolling out via February System Update A Googler just spilled the beans on Android 15's release date Poor Waymo Support Material with a Relay FM Membership
450: Cache in the Trash
February 09, 2024 00:00 - 1 hour - 68.1 MBThe good news is that Google debuted easier-to-use generative AI tools. The bad news is that employee morale is low and Google will stop backing up the web. Links and Show Notes: Shopify keyboard Google CEO faces employee questions about layoffs, AI strategy Google Labs: How to try ImageFX and MusicFX generative AI tools Google will no longer back up the Internet: Cached webpages are dead Watch our new Pixel ad ahead of the big game Support Material with a Relay FM Membersh...
449: Generative AI Unicorns
February 02, 2024 00:00 - 1 hour - 64.1 MBGoogle held its earnings call, and it's mostly good news, even when it's not. It's not the best news for those who have recently been laid off. Links and Show Notes: Google earnings: 100 million Google One subscribers, Google Cloud profits Google’s Parent Company, Alphabet, Reports Earnings Below Estimates Google Splits Up a Key AI Ethics Watchdog How we built and tested body temperature on Pixel 8 Pro Support Material with a Relay FM Membership
448: Gouda, Woulda, Shoulda
January 26, 2024 23:00 - 1 hour - 65.3 MBWe discuss the OnePlus 12 and the Galaxy S24 Ultra, plus whether Chrome's new AI-enhanced features are worth forcing the browser for an update—content warning for cheese haters. Links and Show Notes: OnePlus 12 Review: Almost Impressive Enough To Make Me Want to Ditch the Pixel 8 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Early Impressions The Pixel 9 leaks are already here Chrome is getting three new generative AI features YouTube and Spotify Join Netflix in Not Launching Apple Vision Pro App...
447: The Samsung Whoop-Dee-Do
January 20, 2024 01:00 - 1 hour - 72.2 MBSamsung took up the week's news with the launch of the Galaxy S24 series. And then, why is Google Search getting worse? Links and Show Notes: The power of Google AI comes to the new Samsung Galaxy S24 series Samsung says Galaxy AI features will only be free 'until the end of 2025' Circle (or highlight or scribble) to Search The Best Parts of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Have Nothing to Do With Galaxy AI Samsung teases upcoming 'Galaxy Ring' health tracker Google Search Re...
446: Meet The Bot
January 12, 2024 23:00 - 1 hour - 67.4 MBGoogle started the week off strong at CES 2024 with the launch of new features and its new mascot, then nosedived after reports that another wave of layoffs was forthcoming. Links and Show Notes: Android's 3D bugdroid mascot is called 'The Bot' Google at CES 2024: New Android features and updates What's new with Android for cars at CES Google cuts hundreds of jobs across engineering, hardware teams Google mass layoffs: This is how many Bay Area tech workers lost jobs Change...
445: AI Wishlist
January 04, 2024 23:00 - 1 hour - 62.9 MBSamsung will launch a new phone in a few weeks, just as CES 2024 engulfs us all. Plus, what's on your Bard wishlist? Links and Show Notes: Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked 2024 Will Hopefully Reveal the Galaxy S24's New AI Chatbot 2024 Bard Wishlist Google announces April 2024 shutdown date for Google Podcasts Support Material with a Relay FM Membership
444: Change and Rebellion
December 29, 2023 05:00 - 56 minutes - 51.8 MBHappy New Year! For the last show of 2023, a recap of Google's year in search. Links and Show Notes: Google Year in Search 2023 Google's Year in Search 2023 Local Year in Search 2023 A Year on YouTube: The Trending Topics that Defined 2023 Support Material with a Relay FM Membership
443: Weak Sauce
December 22, 2023 00:00 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBHappy holidays! It's hopefully the last time we're talking about Beeper. But it won't be the last time we discuss Google in court. Links and Show Notes: Google Allows More App Payment Options in Antitrust Deal With States - The New York Times The Google Play Store Ruling Is Bad News for Longtime Android Phone Users Google Messages giving RCS chats a background wallpaper Google weighs Gemini AI project to tell people their life story using phone data, photos Support Material w...
442: Epic Wins
December 14, 2023 22:00 - 1 hour - 76.3 MBEpic wins--and that’s not a pun on the name. Beeper Mini, again. Then, is Google finally giving us control over our privacy? Maybe? Links and Show Notes: Google Loses Antitrust Court Battle With Makers of Fortnite Video Game Epic v Google Trial Verdict, a Win for All Developers Google tipped off press about a Fortnite bug — and Epic made Lockheimer look like a liar today Beeper is working with iMessage yet again, though Apple is likely to fight it Beeper says Apple is blockin...
441: There is No Hype Like AI Hype
December 08, 2023 22:00 - 1 hour - 66.7 MBBeeper Mini's turned green bubbles into blue ones this week, and Gemini entranced us all. Links and Show Notes: Beeper Mini for Android sends and receives iMessages, no Mac server required Beeper Mini Rules, But It Doesn't Solve Android's Messaging Problem Introducing Gemini: Google’s most capable AI model yet How it’s Made: Interacting with Gemini through multimodal prompting Support Material with a Relay FM Membership
440: Bring the Receipts
December 01, 2023 01:00 - 58 minutes - 54 MBIt's time for Google to pay Canada's "link tax," even if it sets an unfortunate precedent for the rest of us. Android 14 can detect when you're taking a screenshot, and the bumps on the Pixel 8 Pro are nothing to worry about. Nothing to see here! Links and Show Notes: Google to pay Canada’s “link tax,” drops threat of removing news from search An update on Canada’s Bill C-18 and our Search and News products Google says bumpy Pixel 8 screens are nothing to worry about Some Pixel...
439: We Welcome Apple's Participation
November 22, 2023 19:00 - 51 minutes - 47 MBCarl Pei played Android users for fools, and Apple stepped in like a hero after it confirmed it would adopt RCS. Evidence shows that Google and Apple once wanted to become "deep deep" partners. Links and Show Notes: Give the Gift of Relay FM Nothing's Failed iMessages Workaround Was Too Good To Be True It's important we not forget the Nothing Chats sh*tshow Next iPhone Will Have RCS Compatibility With Android Phones Apple CEO Tim Cook told Google CEO Sundar Pichai he wanted to...
438: Some of that Google Money
November 17, 2023 00:00 - 1 hour - 68.7 MBFlo goes on a covert operation to the Google Visitor Experience. Then, the company gets scorned in court not once but twice this week. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Electric: Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting. Links and Show Notes: Lora - Google Fonts Visitor Experience | Mountain View Best of Black Friday 2023 – Google: Pixel 8/Pro, Pixel Tablet, Nest gear from $20 Apple Gets 36% of Goo...
437: The Android Apple Watch That Could Have Been
November 10, 2023 00:00 - 1 hour - 67.7 MBWe're feeling goofy this week discussing reports of an Android-friendly Apple Watch that was almost made and Google's desperation over making iMessage open source. The Pixel 8 won't let you make a fake I.D., and why is Boston getting a Google store? This episode of Material is sponsored by: Electric: Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting. Links and Show Notes: Apple Health: Blood Pressure, Glucose, Sleep Apn...
436: The Book of Revelations
November 03, 2023 22:00 - 1 hour - 55.1 MBGoogle's back in court, which means there's so much that was revealed. Sundar Pichai testified on Monday for three hours, followed by Prab, Google's senior vice president. Links and Show Notes: Google search antitrust trial updates: Everything you need to know (so far) Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai defends Google's search deals in antitrust trial Google executive testifies innovation key to avoid becoming 'next road kill' Google’s 2019 ‘Code Yellow’ Blurred Line Between Search, ...
435: Bottom Line: It’s Bad
October 27, 2023 22:45 - 1 hour - 65.7 MBWe cover Alphabet's quarterly earnings and why they hurt the stock, why the New York Times says that Google is worried about Apple, and some new features in Google Maps. Links and Show Notes: Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) Q3 2023 Earnings Call Transcript Alphabet's stock has its worst day since start of the Covid pandemic in March 2020 Inside Google’s Plan to Stop Apple From Getting Serious About Search Google Maps update: Immersive View for Routes and new AI features The restaurant n...
434: Andy's Aria
October 20, 2023 01:00 - 1 hour - 64.3 MBAndy shines in a solo episode this week, discussing the Android team's recent Reddit AMA and why Google was able to bring back Home Groups the way they used to be. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Electric: Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting. Links and Show Notes: Dieter Bohn and Dave Burke: Ask Us Anything! Google Home app AMA reveals work on home screen widgets, more Google wins Sonos patent ...
433: A New Standard
October 13, 2023 22:15 - 1 hour - 72.1 MBAndy has battery woes, and Flo reviewed the Pixel 8 Pro. Is Google's promise of seven years of software updates too good to be true? This episode of Material is sponsored by: Electric: Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting. Links and Show Notes: Pixel 8 Pro Review: Sets the New Standard for All Things Android 7 years of software updates for the Pixel 8 series Google Pixel Watch 2 review: better battery, be...
432: Everything Was Canned
October 05, 2023 22:00 - 1 hour - 86.3 MBGoogle had an event for the new Pixel 8, and Flo was there! She joins us for a segment. And then, Andy solo summarizes this week's episode of MTV's The Real World: US DOJ vs. Google. (They finally kicked off Puck.) Links and Show Notes: Flo's coverage of the Pixel 8 Support Material with a Relay FM Membership
431: There Is No Alternative
September 29, 2023 17:00 - 1 hour - 65.9 MBApple spills the beans under oath about why Google is its default search engine the same week that Google dumps another body in the graveyard. Bard AI is caught leaking queries into the ether. And Android 14 will let you use your phone camera as a webcam.
430: All Too Well
September 22, 2023 01:00 - 1 hour - 69.3 MBAre you ready for Bard to read your emails? Is it Google's fault a man drove off a bridge? Should Google prioritize human-written words over AI-written ones? And why are Taylor Swift fans crashing Google's search engine? Everything has an answer in this week's episode.
429: People Use Google Because It's Helpful
September 14, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 70.6 MBGoogle is officially on trial the same week Apple reminds us why some people can't get enough of its walled garden. _Wired_ interviews Sundar Pichai and even gets him to crack a bit.
428: Corporations Aren’t People
September 07, 2023 23:00 - 1 hour - 58.2 MBGoogle looks back on 25 years of search, just as it announces it's requiring disclaimers on AI-generation political ads. Also, did Android need a capital A?
427: I’m So Itchy
September 02, 2023 01:00 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBAndy and Flo are tired, but the show must go on. Google announces the next phase of AI infusion in Workspace. The company also leaked the new Pixel 8 before announcing a launch event in October. The modular Fairphone 5 is excellent but missing what makes everyone buy Apple and Samsung.
426: Rhubarbs That Turn Into Donnybrooks
August 25, 2023 00:00 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MBWe answer burning questions, like what Google wants with Johnny Cash's likeness and why it ceased development on an AR/VR device with Samsung. Sorry, parents, YouTube _has_ been targeting ads to kids.
425: Hump Day
August 17, 2023 22:00 - 1 hour - 64.9 MBRobo taxis are a menace to society, or at least it seems that way in San Francisco. Flo shares her final thoughts on Samsung and Google's foldables. And Google introduces a batch of new AI tools to help summarize web pages on the fly.
424: Attention K-Mart Shoppers
August 11, 2023 01:00 - 1 hour - 65.1 MBPrepare to get more of Johnny Cash singing Europop hits, as Google is working with Universal on deep fake AI-based music. You can listen to it while making Android apps in your browser and sleeping in Google's hotel. The future!
423: Fold vs. Fold
August 03, 2023 23:00 - 1 hour - 64.6 MBIt's Taco Tuesday, even though we're recording on Wednesday and posting on Thursday: Flo has the Pixel Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 in hand, while Andy leads us in a game of "Is This Thing Google's Doing Evil, Or Not?"
422: New Winds Ahead
July 28, 2023 01:15 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBFlo is back! Andy is elated! The two hosts catch up on life over the last nine weeks and discuss the results of Alphabet's latest quarterly earnings. Samsung also puts on a mediocre show for some foldables.
421: The Me Show
July 20, 2023 20:15 - 1 hour - 72.1 MBFlo is back next week! So Andy is exploiting this final solo episode to make it all about Him. His frustrations about saving web archives from Chrome. His extended thoughts on Indiana Jones. To his credit, he did throw in some news about Google’s new AR Space Invaders game, just so that this Google podcast doesn’t lose its liquor license. But he still heroically pivots to his own opinions about technology’s responsibilities to move the needle.
420: The Snowball of Trust
July 14, 2023 14:30 - 1 hour - 74.2 MBAndy’s joined by a special guest this week: Jason Howell, host of All About Android on the This Week In Tech network. We replay the last episode of the first season of “Frasier” before digging into a new rash of civil lawsuits that content creators have filed against Google and other makers of AI language models. And then we talk phones: the Fair, the Nothing, and reviving Andy’s Pixel 1 by installing one of the mobile OSes birthed by the Android Open Source Project.
419: Oh...Canada.
July 06, 2023 19:15 - 1 hour - 65.2 MBCanada is the latest country to decide that somebody should be on the hook for the news industry’s financial issues, and it might as well be Google. And, just like the offside rule in professional hockey, this is a Canadian thing that Andy doesn’t really understand. Meanwhile, Google urges its AI models to both learn more and forget more. Isn’t this the sort of contradiction that made HAL-9000 go psychotic?
418: Google Is A Soft Cheese Company
June 29, 2023 18:00 - 1 hour - 68.5 MBAndy 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.
417: It Prefers To Stay Inside The House
June 22, 2023 20:45 - 1 hour - 63.4 MBReviews 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.
416: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner In Bed
June 15, 2023 16:15 - 1 hour - 62.9 MBWhy 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.
415: Super-Soakers Filled With Dysentery
June 08, 2023 16:30 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBAll 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!
414: Belief in a Higher Weirdo
June 01, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBAndy 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.
413: Nickel-And-Diming My Attention Span
May 26, 2023 21:30 - 41 minutes - 38.5 MBAndy 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.
412: The Other Shoe
May 18, 2023 19:30 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBAndy 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.
411: The AI Message
May 13, 2023 00:00 - 1 hour - 106 MBIt'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.
410: Speaking Out
May 05, 2023 00:00 - 1 hour - 58.9 MBAndy'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?