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PODCAST

Material

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.

technology tech news

All Episodes

88:21

266: Google-bit

Material ·

2020/07/31

It's a very hearty episode of _Material After Dark_, as we recorded this episode in the dead of night. Flo's unboxing things. Andy's unboxing things. We talk about the theater that is US Congress and how Sundar Pichai carried the torch as the hearing veered off course. We'll also touch upon the rumors that Samsung is ditching Bixby for the Google Assistant, and we'll decode Google's cutesy Pixel 4a leak.

en-US

83:39

265: Pure Momentum

Material ·

2020/07/24

Is there a mass exodus from Chrome happening, or are Andy and Flo trying to will it into the world? After the catchup, we discuss Google's efforts to compete with Amazon in online shopping and how Marc Levoy's departure will affect future generations of the Pixel. We also take a journey back to the days of internet yore, before Google was a search engine.

en-US

72:57

264: Looking Ahead

Material ·

2020/07/17

Flo looks up at the stars with the Pixel 3's Astrophotography mode, and Andy wonders if he'll ever find neutral ground with YouTube Music. We discuss FastCompany's illuminating profile with ATAP's Dan Kaufman and why the EU's anti-trust concerns are delaying the FitBit turnover. Before we bow out, help us figure out if Google search has started implementing a countdown for soon-to-be-released games.

en-US

91:28

263: Things That Make You Go "Hmm"

Material ·

2020/07/10

Andy discovers a hack for clearing his YouTube Watch Later playlist, while Flo embarks on a journey beyond the Chrome browser. We run through the consumer-facing news from Google's virtual smart home summit this week, and imagine a world where Microsoft finally launches the Android-powered Surface Duo. For your After Dinner mint, sign the petition to add a meteor animation to the Chrome Dino game (because, we suppose, the dinosaurs haven't already been through enough).

en-US

94:48

262: Walk the Walk

Material ·

2020/07/03

Flo leans into her Taurus Sun and Moon by talking about all the food she's going to eat over the holiday weekend. Andy is fed up with YouTube channels that don't practice basic coronavirus protocols (wear your mask, people!). This week, we break down the players in YouTube's latest dramageddon and delve into why the platform should take accountability for the drama that makes it off-screen. We'll also touch on Verily's backward step paying for its diversity initiatives, YouTube TV's drastic

en-US

86:27

261: Is It Political?

Material ·

2020/06/26

Andy is experiencing some severe bouts of Mercury in retrograde as he tells the tales of his flailing tech. Flo switched to the OnePlus 8, and she's wondering why the Pixel is lagging. We discuss why Google is (again) in the antitrust hot seat, and why employees are demanding the company stop doing business with police departments. We divulge all about Google Photos' latest redesign, ChromeOS's increased reliance on virtualization, why Google is fact-checking images, and what Pixel owners can expect

en-US

69:26

260: One Giant Mess

Material ·

2020/06/19

Google finally updates its satellite imagery for Black Lives Matter Plaza, and Flo is learning about the significance of Juneteenth (despite the failings of her public school education). After the break, we'll tell you why folks are upset with Google's apparent misrepresentation of Winston Churchill in its search results, and express our disappointment for why the company hasn't de-platformed several prominent far-right publications. We finally get some details on when the Pixel 4a will hit the

en-US

94:06

259: Killjoy McDowner

Material ·

2020/06/13

This week, we're diving into the Android 11 Beta, which Andy and Flo are both using on their Pixel devices. We'll also talk about why YouTube's commitment to amplifying black creators on its network is too little too late, and we'll tell you about Alphabet's pilot program for delivering library books by drone.

en-US

90:02

258: Not Quite Business as Usual

Material ·

2020/06/05

Andy and Flo lament about their "corona hair" before getting into the specifics of how to cop-proof your smartphone. We discuss why Google postponed the Android 11 Beta event and what the leaks tell us about the next version. We dissect Google's show of solidarity with Black Lives Matter, and why the company might be shifting away from relying on contract workers. We end by convincing ourselves there's a perfectly valid reason for a blush pink Android TV dongle, like the one that's making the rumor

en-US

86:26

257: The "Stuff" Chair

Material ·

2020/05/29

Andy and Flo throw it all on a chair this week to see what sticks and what falls to the ground. Flo has started reading _The Making of the Tech Worker Movement_ by Ben Tarnoff, and she hopes you'll join her for this weekend's book club. Andy wonders if Chrome OS will ever feel like a Mac or PC. Then, we break down WIRED's supersized interview with Sundar Pichai and discuss why YouTube is under fire for deleting comments critical of the Chinese government. We also rationalize whether it's worth

en-US

86:48

256: Lacking Certain Conviction

Material ·

2020/05/21

Flo goes down the rabbit hole where YouTubers get radicalized, and Andy has a billion-dollar idea for movie studios. Then, we'll talk about why Sundar Pichai said making hardware is hard. We'll also run through Android's new Accessibility features in honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) and Google and Apple's new API to help fight coronavirus.

en-US

90:09

255: Put Some Paper Over It

Material ·

2020/05/16

Andy and Flo take this week to dissect why the Pixel phone is losing key members of its team. We'll touch upon the reports that Google is stepping away from varying diversity initiatives. And we introduce the cast of animals and mitochondria you can hang out with in augmented reality.

en-US

88:39

254: To Each Their Own in Quarantine

Material ·

2020/05/08

Flo is getting restless in quarantine, though Andy assures her there is light at the end of the tunnel. We'll discuss Google's virtual Android 11 beta reveal happening on June 3, and why Google's quantum computing darling's exit reminds us of the Silicon Valley drama depicted in Alex Garland's _Devs_. We'll also dive into why we're feeling a tad skeptical about Google's purported overhaul of Android TV.

en-US

95:06

253: Wear OS By Google Smartwatch Too

Material ·

2020/04/30

Andy and Flo have a lot to get off their chests. Flo feels embarrassed for wearing out her Pixelbook, while Andy calls it "brassing." You'll find out why Andy returned his Wear OS watch upon opening the box and why he blew his $20 Google Store credit on a battery pack for the Google Home Mini. Then, we'll discuss the latest reviews of the Pixel Buds and why they probably don't have active noise cancellation. We'll touch on Sundar Pichai's _presidential_ performance on this week's Google earnings

en-US

85:58

252: In Defense of the Bathrobe

Material ·

2020/04/23

Flo wonders why her Pixel 3 is feeling sluggish when she's not even leaving the house, and Andy pulls the trigger on a discounted Wear OS device. We cover a variety of Google news this week, including COVID-related app updates and the merits and privacy implications of the company's rumored debit card.

en-US

83:52

251: Dogs and Cats Living Together

Material ·

2020/04/16

Andy dusts off his Pixelbook, and Flo wonders how to sanitize hers. We're both elated that Apple and Google are working together for the greater good and curious about whether we'll get the Android-running smartwatch of our dreams once Google starts developing its chips. We also discuss Chromebooks and their reliance on Progressive Web Apps.

en-US

97:38

250: Power Thoughts

Material ·

2020/04/10

YAY! Flo and Andy are reunited, and it sounds so good. The two gather around this week's virtual campfire in celebration of their 250th episode of Material. We discuss what we've been binging on television and whether we think the next set of Pixel Buds will be worth the cash. We also chat about Google Stadia going free—except it's not because you have to sign up for the trial period or buy a game outright to play anything—and a neat camera trick facilitated by the Google Arts and Culture app. Then

en-US

65:21

249: An Elephant On Your Desktop

Material ·

2020/04/07

This week, it's another Andy solo special. We'll talk about Google attempting its part during the pandemic, without being too creepy about how they go about it. Then, Andy is A Weensy Bit Upset with Apple for acquiring the company behind his favorite weather app and tanking many Play Store weather apps in the process. Andy will also guide you through why 3D objects have started showing up in Google Search results.

en-US

53:25

248: Smartphones in Quarantine

Material ·

2020/03/31

We're doing a special segment of the Material podcast this week to help lift your spirits. Flo talks to Juan Carlos Bagnell (also known as [SomeGadgetGuy](https://somegadgetguy.com/) around the web) about the LG V60 ThinQ. We discuss specifications, performance, and how this ginormous Android device fits into the broader smartphone landscape.

en-US

90:13

247: The Ihnatko Isolation Special

Material ·

2020/03/28

Andy is back for a special weekend episode! And he's getting COVID-19 news off his chest. Andy will discuss Google's new responsibilities to the public and its employees and whether Google's promise to limit the spread of disinformation will extend to the White House. He'll also dive into how Google is defusing racist speech at the keyboard level, and he'll prove that Tom Hanks didn't have a volleyball with him in quarantine.

en-US

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