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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. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code MATERIAL to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once. Parallel: A tech podcast with accessibility sprinkles. Listen now. Links and Show Notes: Ars Technica: Google’s ad-tracking tech getting no love Gizmodo: Google Needs to Make a Real iPad Pro Alternative Reddit: Google Maps helped me avoid this area reported with active shooting Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

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. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code MATERIAL to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once. Make Do: The joys and anxieties of art and making. Listen now. Links and Show Notes: Gizmodo: The Plan to Give Android Users Their Own Version of iMessage Is Officially Dead The Verge: Apple says iMessage on Android ‘will hurt us more than help us’ 9to5Google: Adblockers are causing issues with Google Docs layouts CNN: Google Earth's new Timelapse feature shows the chilling effect of climate change Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

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 through our favorite phones. And hear how Andy is doing with the Nest Hub's built-in sleep tracking capabilities. Don't forget to sign up for the Material Studies Bookclub by becoming a member! 👇 This episode of Material is sponsored by: Privacy: Smarter payments. Get $5 to spend on your first purchase. Technology Untangled: Join Michael Bird as he untangles innovation through a series of interviews, stories, and analyses with some of the industry’s brightest brains. Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code MATERIAL to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once. Focused: Life is more than cranking widgets. Listen now. Links and Show Notes: CNBC: Supreme Court rules in Google's favor in copyright dispute with Oracle over Android software 9to5Google: Pixel 6 powered by Google-made 'GS101' Whitechapel chip CNBC: Google is accelerating partial reopening of offices and putting limits on future of remote work 9to5Google: Google I/O 2021 will be virtual and free to attend Engadget: Remembering LG's finest (and strangest) phones Ars Technica: LG Optimus G Pro Review: the phone-tablets are here to stay MobileSyrup: Photos of LG's rollable and V70 surface, phones will never officially launch Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

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. We also dissect a new privacy feature coming to Android, YouTube's experimentation with hiding how many people "disliked" a video, and why Google Maps' eco-friendly route offerings won't prevent climate change. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Privacy: Smarter payments. Get $5 to spend on your first purchase. Technology Untangled: Join Michael Bird as he untangles innovation through a series of interviews, stories, and analyses with some of the industry’s brightest brains. ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Rocket: Accelerated geek conversation. Listen now. Links and Show Notes: MIT Technology Review: Google's unusual move to shut down an active counterterrorism operation being conducted by a Western democracy 9to5Google: Google to limit Android apps from seeing what's installed Twitter: @YouTube Reuters: Google Maps to start directing drivers to 'eco-friendly' routes YouTube: The Astrologer Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

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." This episode of Material is sponsored by: Mint Mobile: To get your new wireless plan for just $15 a month, and get the plan shipped to your door for free, click this link. Privacy: Smarter payments. Get $5 to spend on your first purchase. Fortnite, from Epic Games: Embrace your wild side in Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 6: Primal. Roboism: Robots, -isms, and tech (but mostly robots). Listen now. Links and Show Notes: Flo's chocolate-covered Oreo tin Squash that Android bug Pixel phones betrayed the family and no longer offered protection The Google Graveyard A YouTube video of babies fighting over a pacifier Thank you to everyone who has helped us make this show possible for at least 300 episodes! Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

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 more control over copyright infringement. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code MATERIAL to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once. Privacy: Smarter payments. Get $5 to spend on your first purchase. Automators: Automation for the people. Listen now. Fortnite, from Epic Games: Embrace your wild side in Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 6: Primal. Links and Show Notes: Google Blog: Google Nest Need a better night's sleep? Meet the new Nest Hub Ars Technica: Samsung Galaxy A52 is the follow-up to Samsung’s best-selling phone Ars Technica: Judge rules $5 billion Google Chrome Incognito mode lawsuit can go forward 9to5Google: YouTube rolls our copyright 'checks' before you get in trouble 9to5Google: Google 3D animals list: Lions, tigers, dinos and more! Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

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 self-driving cars. Remember, you can send us an email at materialpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and concerns. Or, tell us what you'd love to see from our 300th episode in a few weeks! This episode of Material is sponsored by: Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code MATERIAL to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once. DeleteMe: Remove your personal info from data brokers. Get 20% off with code MATERIAL. Links and Show Notes: Google Blog: Chromebook turns 10 YouTube: Google Chrome OS Open Source Project Announcement Chromebooks announces new features for 10th birthday NBC News: Google advised mental health care when workers complained about racism and sexism ZDNet: Facebook, TikTok least trusted by Americans, Google most trusted, says survey SEO Clarity: https://www.seoclarity.net/blog/americans-and-trusting-tech Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

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 years ago. This episode of Material is sponsored by: ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Links and Show Notes: The Verge: Google promises it won’t just keep tracking you after replacing cookies Google Blog: Charting a course towards a more privacy-first web Google Blog: From the seas, to more ZZZs: Your new Pixel features Android Authority: Now there's evidence for Samsung developing a Wear OS watch 9to5Google: New Moto Wear OS watch with Snapdragon 4100 appears IGN: Google Pixel Fold Still in the Works, May Arrive Later This Year Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

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 smartwatch. And we're still catching up on long ago listener feedback. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code MATERIAL to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once. Mint Mobile: Get your new wireless plan for just $15 a month. Links and Show Notes: Axios: Margaret Mitchell fired from Google Google Blog: AI Marian Croak's vision for responsible AI at Google Mercury News: California's high-profile relationship with testing partner Verily ends 9to5Google: Wear OS 'Hey Google' support has been broken for months XDA Developers: Wear OS 2.45 prepares to add screen recording feature Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

A little bit of astrology to start us off for this episode, along with why Andy gave up on Wear OS and bought a FitBit. We talk about Google's new deal with News Corp in Australia and the US and what the enthusiast community has unearthed about the upcoming Android 12. Plus, a quick update on Fuschia OS. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code MATERIAL to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once. Links and Show Notes: Google Podcasts: Land of the Giants 9to5Google: Fitbit smartwatches and trackers are now sold at the Google Store Press release: News Corp and Google Agree To Global Partnership On News XDA Developers: Android 12 may introduce many UI changes part of Material "NEXT" Android 12 may introduce a Reachability-like “One-Handed Mode” 9to5Google: Google Fuchsia OS could run Android & Linux apps 'natively' Support Material with a Relay FM Membership