Material
732 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 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
Material 190: Happy Palentine's Day
February 14, 2019 22:00 - 1 hour - 59.9 MBFlo'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 a...
190: Happy Palentine's Day
February 14, 2019 22:00 - 1 hour - 59.9 MBFlo'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 a...
189: Ban-anated
February 08, 2019 01:00 - 1 hour - 75 MBHow 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.
Material 189: Ban-anated
February 08, 2019 01:00 - 1 hour - 75 MBHow 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.
Material 188: It's Google's Internet, We're All Just Living In It
January 31, 2019 18:00 - 1 hour - 79.2 MBThe 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.
188: It's Google's Internet, We're All Just Living In It
January 31, 2019 18:00 - 1 hour - 79.2 MBThe 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.
187: Sensor Fatigue
January 24, 2019 21:45 - 1 hour - 71.1 MBBefore 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 ...
Material 187: Sensor Fatigue
January 24, 2019 21:45 - 1 hour - 71.1 MBBefore 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 ...
Material 186: Nothing Gold Can Stay
January 17, 2019 21:00 - 1 hour - 62.9 MBAndy 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.
186: Nothing Gold Can Stay
January 17, 2019 21:00 - 1 hour - 62.9 MBAndy 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.
Material 185: Who is CES for?
January 10, 2019 22:00 - 1 hour - 70.7 MBCES 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.
185: Who is CES for?
January 10, 2019 22:00 - 1 hour - 70.7 MBCES 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.
Material 184: Robots Without Emotion
January 04, 2019 17:45 - 1 hour - 67.5 MBFlo 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.
184: Robots Without Emotion
January 04, 2019 17:45 - 1 hour - 67.5 MBFlo 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.
183: A Year Without Android
December 28, 2018 09:00 - 1 hour - 56.7 MBTime to play a game! Below are the instructions. Follow along to learn how to play, then [tweet us](http://www.twitter.com/materialpodcast) or [email us](mailto:[email protected]) your choices and we'll feature them in our first episode of 2019. > You have to GIVE UP one of these Google things and not use it in 2019. Which do you choose to give up? You’ll get it back after a year. * Android * Google Assistant (includes smart devices but you can keep your Android phone, Chromebook, ...
Material 183: A Year Without Android
December 28, 2018 09:00 - 1 hour - 56.7 MBTime to play a game! Below are the instructions. Follow along to learn how to play, then [tweet us](http://www.twitter.com/materialpodcast) or [email us](mailto:[email protected]) your choices and we'll feature them in our first episode of 2019. > You have to GIVE UP one of these Google things and not use it in 2019. Which do you choose to give up? You’ll get it back after a year. * Android * Google Assistant (includes smart devices but you can keep your Android phone, Chromebook, ...
Material 182: Internal Struggles
December 21, 2018 14:00 - 1 hour - 62.4 MBEnjoy this deliciously late taping of the Material podcast! This week, Andy and Flo are talking holiday things and the inevitability of Windows apps on Chrome OS. After the break, Andy and Flo discuss the internal blowback on Google's Project Dragonfly, and why Google contractors don't get discounted t-shirts.
182: Internal Struggles
December 21, 2018 14:00 - 1 hour - 62.4 MBEnjoy this deliciously late taping of the Material podcast! This week, Andy and Flo are talking holiday things and the inevitability of Windows apps on Chrome OS. After the break, Andy and Flo discuss the internal blowback on Google's Project Dragonfly, and why Google contractors don't get discounted t-shirts.
Material 181: Mr. Pichai Goes to Washington
December 13, 2018 23:00 - 1 hour - 67.7 MBAndy starts us off this week with tales about an affordable Android TV set-top box, as well as links to visit when we're feeling a little nostalgic for sunsetted Google products. Then, Andy and Flo discuss Google's visit to Capitol Hill.
181: Mr. Pichai Goes to Washington
December 13, 2018 23:00 - 1 hour - 67.7 MBAndy starts us off this week with tales about an affordable Android TV set-top box, as well as links to visit when we're feeling a little nostalgic for sunsetted Google products. Then, Andy and Flo discuss Google's visit to Capitol Hill.
Material 180: Fuschia
December 07, 2018 01:00 - 1 hour - 69.6 MBFor the seventh consecutive week, Flo and Andy babble on about the virtues of using Chrome OS. But will Andy ever leave his MacBook behind and become _all_ about that Chromebook life? After the break, the two discuss Google's holiday treats, and some of its unfortunate patent tricks. And then, a look at why Google's contract workers are rallying for fair treatment.
180: Fuschia
December 07, 2018 01:00 - 1 hour - 69.6 MBFor the seventh consecutive week, Flo and Andy babble on about the virtues of using Chrome OS. But will Andy ever leave his MacBook behind and become _all_ about that Chromebook life? After the break, the two discuss Google's holiday treats, and some of its unfortunate patent tricks. And then, a look at why Google's contract workers are rallying for fair treatment.
179: For Real
November 30, 2018 19:45 - 1 hour - 66.5 MBAndy and Flo spill the beans on what they spent all their hard-earned cash on over the Black Friday "holiday." After the break, Andy walks us through Project Fi's new offerings, as well as some of its caveats. Andy and Flo also discuss the latest crop of Pixel Slate reviews that have hit the web, and why Google employees are petitioning for their employer to drop Project Dragonfly.
Material 179: For Real
November 30, 2018 19:45 - 1 hour - 66.5 MBAndy and Flo spill the beans on what they spent all their hard-earned cash on over the Black Friday "holiday." After the break, Andy walks us through Project Fi's new offerings, as well as some of its caveats. Andy and Flo also discuss the latest crop of Pixel Slate reviews that have hit the web, and why Google employees are petitioning for their employer to drop Project Dragonfly.
Material 178: Don't Buy What You Don't Need
November 21, 2018 19:00 - 57 minutes - 53 MBHappy Eating Turkey week! Flo and Andy recorded a little earlier than usual to help you get your Black Friday shopping done. Flo and Andy also remind you that you don't _have_ to buy anything you don't need or don't want. But if you do end up buying something, this would certainly be the weekend to do it, as prices are slashed on a variety of Google products.
178: Don't Buy What You Don't Need
November 21, 2018 19:00 - 57 minutes - 53 MBHappy Eating Turkey week! Flo and Andy recorded a little earlier than usual to help you get your Black Friday shopping done. Flo and Andy also remind you that you don't _have_ to buy anything you don't need or don't want. But if you do end up buying something, this would certainly be the weekend to do it, as prices are slashed on a variety of Google products.
177: Your Data is Your Personal Data
November 16, 2018 21:00 - 1 hour - 58.9 MBFlo can't believe how out of touch she's becoming with things these days, and Andy reminds us that the Internet is nothing more than a series of tubes that can break at any time. After the ad break, Flo and Andy talk about Google's ventures into the world of health tech, and then the two lament about the fact that neither of them has tried out the Pixel's Night Sight feature just yet.
Material 177: Your Data is Your Personal Data
November 16, 2018 21:00 - 1 hour - 58.9 MBFlo can't believe how out of touch she's becoming with things these days, and Andy reminds us that the Internet is nothing more than a series of tubes that can break at any time. After the ad break, Flo and Andy talk about Google's ventures into the world of health tech, and then the two lament about the fact that neither of them has tried out the Pixel's Night Sight feature just yet.
Material 176: Donut in the Fridge
November 08, 2018 23:00 - 1 hour - 67.4 MBFlo is happy that Andy is learning the Chromebook, and that they can both explore the platform in tandem. Andy catches us up on America's election, including some cheekiness from Google's camp. Then, an update on the #GoogleWalkout, followed by what's new from Google and Samsung's respective developer summits after the break.
176: Donut in the Fridge
November 08, 2018 23:00 - 1 hour - 67.4 MBFlo is happy that Andy is learning the Chromebook, and that they can both explore the platform in tandem. Andy catches us up on America's election, including some cheekiness from Google's camp. Then, an update on the #GoogleWalkout, followed by what's new from Google and Samsung's respective developer summits after the break.
175: Unfortunately
November 02, 2018 16:30 - 1 hour - 63.8 MBFlo is exceptionally excited about Andy's foray into full-time Chromebook living. Andy wishes it were better with Skype. After the ad, Andy and Flo hunker down for a more serious exploration of the allegations against Andy Rubin, and whether Silicon Valley will ever have its #MeToo moment.
Material 175: Unfortunately
November 02, 2018 16:30 - 1 hour - 63.8 MBFlo is exceptionally excited about Andy's foray into full-time Chromebook living. Andy wishes it were better with Skype. After the ad, Andy and Flo hunker down for a more serious exploration of the allegations against Andy Rubin, and whether Silicon Valley will ever have its #MeToo moment.
174: A Worthy Transaction
October 25, 2018 21:00 - 1 hour - 83 MBFlo starts us off this week by bragging about her new wares (the Google Home Hub and the Pixel 3). Andy reminds us all of the legacy of Mister Rogers and asks that you please leave him out of your advertising. The two also discuss the fraudsters who scammed millions of dollars from advertisers through Android apps and then catch up a bit on the headlines, including some good news for Android updates.
Material 174: A Worthy Transaction
October 25, 2018 21:00 - 1 hour - 83 MBFlo starts us off this week by bragging about her new wares (the Google Home Hub and the Pixel 3). Andy reminds us all of the legacy of Mister Rogers and asks that you please leave him out of your advertising. The two also discuss the fraudsters who scammed millions of dollars from advertisers through Android apps and then catch up a bit on the headlines, including some good news for Android updates.
173: In Protest of the Notch
October 19, 2018 02:00 - 1 hour - 67.5 MBAndy has access to Project Stream, and Flo has a suggestion for a voice-activated trashcan. Andy shares some of his nostalgic findings from the web, and the two discuss the relative _hangover_ of the prior week's Google event. Flo also regales us with stories about running Windows apps on a Chromebook, and Andy reminds us that the internet is still very finicky.
Material 173: In Protest of the Notch
October 19, 2018 02:00 - 1 hour - 67.5 MBAndy has access to Project Stream, and Flo has a suggestion for a voice-activated trashcan. Andy shares some of his nostalgic findings from the web, and the two discuss the relative _hangover_ of the prior week's Google event. Flo also regales us with stories about running Windows apps on a Chromebook, and Andy reminds us that the internet is still very finicky.
Material 172: So Much Google
October 13, 2018 00:00 - 1 hour - 64.9 MBThis week, it's really all about Google. Andy and Flo break down all the important tidbits of the Big Google Week, and then some.
172: So Much Google
October 13, 2018 00:00 - 1 hour - 64.9 MBThis week, it's really all about Google. Andy and Flo break down all the important tidbits of the Big Google Week, and then some.
Material 171: The Gospel of Chrome
October 04, 2018 22:00 - 1 hour - 67.1 MBThis week, there's stuff to talk about, but it's mostly Andy and Flo music over how much the Chrome OS platform has matured in the last year. After a quick update, and a bit of existential exploration on life outside the Google bubble, the two talk about what's in store for the October 9 event and whether Project Stream will make first-person shooter aficionados out of us after all.
171: The Gospel of Chrome
October 04, 2018 22:00 - 1 hour - 67.1 MBThis week, there's stuff to talk about, but it's mostly Andy and Flo music over how much the Chrome OS platform has matured in the last year. After a quick update, and a bit of existential exploration on life outside the Google bubble, the two talk about what's in store for the October 9 event and whether Project Stream will make first-person shooter aficionados out of us after all.
170: Look Out For Your Data
September 27, 2018 22:00 - 1 hour - 64.6 MBWe take a walk down memory lane as we recall the very first retail Android device, the T-Mobile G1. We also discuss a search event that Google held earlier in the week, though we're not feelin' the new search engine improvements. Then, we'll explain why Google and its competitors are rallying around for more lenient privacy laws, and what it means to have a separate "Chinese internet". (Not great, Bob!)
Material 170: Look Out For Your Data
September 27, 2018 22:00 - 1 hour - 64.6 MBWe take a walk down memory lane as we recall the very first retail Android device, the T-Mobile G1. We also discuss a search event that Google held earlier in the week, though we're not feelin' the new search engine improvements. Then, we'll explain why Google and its competitors are rallying around for more lenient privacy laws, and what it means to have a separate "Chinese internet". (Not great, Bob!)
Material 169: Italian Chef Kiss
September 21, 2018 01:00 - 1 hour - 71.7 MBThis week, on your favorite podcast alternatively titled _Friends Using Google Products and Then Talking About It_, Andy and Flo talk about why Chrome OS is worth the money now more than ever. The duo also talk about the superiority of the Pixel 2's camera over the iPhone XS (Insert Nelson _ha-ha!_ sound effect here), and why we should all be paying attention to what Google is trying to achieve with Dragonfly, the search engine it's developing for China.
169: Italian Chef Kiss
September 21, 2018 01:00 - 1 hour - 71.7 MBThis week, on your favorite podcast alternatively titled _Friends Using Google Products and Then Talking About It_, Andy and Flo talk about why Chrome OS is worth the money now more than ever. The duo also talk about the superiority of the Pixel 2's camera over the iPhone XS (Insert Nelson _ha-ha!_ sound effect here), and why we should all be paying attention to what Google is trying to achieve with Dragonfly, the search engine it's developing for China.
168: Bulbousness
September 13, 2018 22:00 - 1 hour - 68.5 MBFlo and Andy officially bid adieu to their favorite Aussie, but not before regaling you with all the reasons you'd want a [Relay FM membership](http://relay.fm/membership). The two also discuss this week's Apple announcements and what that means for Google users and fans, as well as the perils of misinformation.
Material 168: Bulbousness
September 13, 2018 22:00 - 1 hour - 68.5 MBFlo and Andy officially bid adieu to their favorite Aussie, but not before regaling you with all the reasons you'd want a [Relay FM membership](http://relay.fm/membership). The two also discuss this week's Apple announcements and what that means for Google users and fans, as well as the perils of misinformation.
Material 167: Material After Dark
September 07, 2018 00:00 - 1 hour - 68.7 MBWarning: This episode has seriously too many mentions of Celine Dion's hit song (a hit for too long, if you asked some of us), "My Heart Will Go On." At least Andy and Flo can both agree that Celine is unrivaled in talent. The two also agree that Google Fit still has some kinks to work out before it's the end-all, be-all health-and-wellness app for Android users. Andy and Flo also discuss the Chrome and Google's respective anniversaries, since that's likely the reason neither Sundar Pichai ...
167: Material After Dark
September 07, 2018 00:00 - 1 hour - 68.7 MBWarning: This episode has seriously too many mentions of Celine Dion's hit song (a hit for too long, if you asked some of us), "My Heart Will Go On." At least Andy and Flo can both agree that Celine is unrivaled in talent. The two also agree that Google Fit still has some kinks to work out before it's the end-all, be-all health-and-wellness app for Android users. Andy and Flo also discuss the Chrome and Google's respective anniversaries, since that's likely the reason neither Sundar Pichai ...
Material 166: Your Personal Data Belongs to You
August 31, 2018 00:00 - 1 hour - 70.9 MBFlo starts us off this week with her existential woes, as Andy does his best to keep her calm with similar tales of digital archiving. The duo also talks about what they miss from the new Google Fit before diving into the main topic of this week's podcast: Google's new (old) habit of tracking your location history, even after you've told it not to.
166: Your Personal Data Belongs to You
August 31, 2018 00:00 - 1 hour - 70.9 MBFlo starts us off this week with her existential woes, as Andy does his best to keep her calm with similar tales of digital archiving. The duo also talks about what they miss from the new Google Fit before diving into the main topic of this week's podcast: Google's new (old) habit of tracking your location history, even after you've told it not to.