Material

#305: A Very Profitable Business

April 30th, 2021 · 64 minutes

Flo switched to the Pixel 5, and Andy's Pixelbook revived in time to beg him not to buy the new iPad Pro. Google had a great quarter, and we're gonna tell you all about it. Plus, it turns out that COVID-19 contact tracing on Android wasn't so private after all. And why YouTube TV on Roku might be nearing its end of days.

#304: Engage Smug Mode

April 23rd, 2021 · 67 minutes

How can we not? We talk about Apple's announcements this week from an Android user's perspective. Plus, why Google FLoC isn't flying high, and the sad dystopia of Google Maps' emergency alerts.

Note that there's a serious content warning for this episode as we discuss gun violence toward the end.

#303: Workflow Vulnerability

April 16th, 2021 · 60 minutes

Flo got the ginormous OnePlus Watch, and Andy's Pixelbook keyboard has gone kaput. We chat about Android's continued troubles with unified messages, how ad-blockers kept us from getting the show out this week, and why the Google Earth Timelapse feature is an important one to share with others.

#302: Thanks For All The Phones

April 9th, 2021 · 73 minutes

Despite the flurry of news this week, Andy and Flo find some time for a subjective point of view. We walk you through Google's win at the Supreme Court and what a Pixel-perfect system-on-a-chip looks like. We attempt a bit of hype for the all-virtual Google I/O 2021, the dates of which were announced this week. Then, say goodbye to LG as we walk t…

#301: The Eco-friendly Route

April 2nd, 2021 · 82 minutes

We're still pumping the good vibes this week. Andy reminds us there are some real treasure troves available to stream on YouTube, and Flo wants to know if you have any questions about the OnePlus 9 or OnePlus 9 Pro that you'd like answered? Then we tell the tale of how Google simultaneously discovered and shut down a nine-month hacking operation. …

#300: Not Just Another Material Podcast

March 25th, 2021 · 79 minutes

It's been 300 episodes of the Material podcast! We have cake! We have commemorative Oreos! And we have a rundown of our favorite tombstones in the Google Graveyard. We'll give you a bit of the week's news, too, plus what you get when you do a Google search for the number "300."

#299: Incognito Mode

March 18th, 2021 · 76 minutes

Flo is freaking out over signing her kid up for a Google account, while Andy is completely locked out of his. We gush over the shiny new gadget announcements this week, including the second-generation Nest Hub and the affordable Samsung Galaxy A52. We also discuss why Google is in trouble for its Incognito Mode and how YouTube creators are getting…

#298: 10 Years of Burner Laptops

March 11th, 2021 · 66 minutes

Andy and Flo take a walk down memory lane to celebrate 10 years of Chromebooks. We recap the dawn of the cloud-based machines, and we'll clue you in on the new features Google announced to mark the anniversary. We also cover a not-so-celebratory news report out of NBC News. Plus, Google is the most trusted company, though not when it comes to se…

#297: Look At All These Rumors

March 4th, 2021 · 76 minutes

This week's episode is a reminder that it's our data in exchange for all those perks we get for free on the internet. We talk about Google's attempted "privacy-first" initiative and what to expect from the latest Pixel feature drop. Then we lighten things up a bit with some future-facing device rumors. And, we're still answering your emails from y…

#296: Let Them Speak Their Own Words

February 26th, 2021 · 63 minutes

This week, we point you to all the people doing the talking: from newly fired ethical AI researcher Margaret Mitchell to the remaining Googlers on the team waving back in solidarity with their departed colleagues. We tell you why California ended its COVID-19 testing partnership with Verily and why "Hey Google" isn't working on your WearOS smartwa…