Material

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. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Linode: Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit. Links and Show Notes: Google: The Android 11 Beta Launch Show Twitter: And now for an important message from George Takei Forbes: Google's Top Quantum Scientist Explains In Detail Why He Resigned Protocol: Google's next streaming device will shake up the Android TV world Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

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 call before Andy and Flo rant just a little bit more about Wear OS by Google Smartwatch. 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, 2021. Linode: Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit. Links and Show Notes: The Verge: Pixel Buds review 9to5Google: Google might be developing Pixel Buds "attention alerts" for crying, barking Google: Alphabet's Q1 2020 earnings call Google renames "WearOS," formerly "Android Wear," to "Wear OS by Google Smartwatch" Google employees won't be asked to return to their offices before June 1 at the very earliest Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

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. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Linode: Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit. Links and Show Notes: The smartwatch that Andy bought Leaked pics reveal Google smart debit card to rival Apple’s Google data centers shifting non-urgent processing until wind, solar power is abundant Google Meet’s Zoom-like gallery view is rolling out now globally Wear OS smartwatches are now sending reminders to wash your hands Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

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. This episode of Material is sponsored by: ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get 3 months free with a 1-year package. 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, 2021. Links and Show Notes: Google: Apple and Google partner on COVID-19 contact tracing technology Apple: Apple and Google partner on COVID-19 contact tracing technology Scoop: Google readies its own chip for future Pixels, Chromebooks Twitter's Google Play Store app now installs the PWA by default on Chrome OS Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

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 in our second act, Flo and Andy look ahead at the next 250 episodes. They discuss their hopes, their fears, and what their Big Picture goals are for the future. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Linode: Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit. Links and Show Notes: Andy's been watching this show. A lot. What to expect from the Pixel Buds 2 Google Stadia has gone free-ish Try an artsy filter with the Google Arts and Culture app Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

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. 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, 2021. Linode: Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit. Links and Show Notes: Google Blog: Helping public health officials combat COVID-19 9to5Google: Google providing Wi-Fi to 100,000 California students and 4,000 Chromebooks Brookings Institute: What the coronavirus reveals about the digital divide between schools and communities Verge: Apple acquires popular weather app Dark Sky and will shut down the Android version Lifehacker: These Weather Apps Are Great Alternatives to the Apple-owned Dark Sky 9to5Google: Hands-on with more educational 3D models including planets in Google Search Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

It's a special segment of the Material podcast to help lift your spirits. Flo talks to Juan Carlos Bagnell (also known as SomeGadgetGuy around the web) about the LG V60 ThinQ. We'll also discuss how this device fits into the broader smartphone landscape. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Linode: Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit. Guest Starring: Juan Carlos Bagnell Links and Show Notes: LG V60 specifications sheet LG V60 First Look! The Budget Friendly Premium Pro Phone? Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

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. This episode of Material is sponsored by: Linode: Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit. Links and Show Notes: Google: How we're continuing to help Trump Caught Google Off Guard With a Bogus Coronavirus Site Announcement Oracle Providing White House With Software to Study Unproven Coronavirus Drugs Google has completely canceled Google I/O 2020 After huge 1-star onslaught, Zoom's Android app rating is back up to 4.0 Gboard might be blocking autocomplete of "Chinese Virus" Google: Helping educators and students stay connected Google Arts and Culture: Boston's Museum of Fine Arts Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

We're stuck at home. You're stuck at home. There's nothing else to do right now, so tune in and listen up. Flo is flying solo again this week, but she's here with tips on how you can help contribute from the confines of your dwelling. Flo will guide you through using the Google Assistant to inform yourself about COVID-19 and how to use the Gmail block button to rid of viral spammers. We'll also walk through some of your favorite YouTube channels to help pass the time. 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, 2021. Linode: Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit. Links and Show Notes: Charity Navigator Unsubscribe or block addresses in Gmail 5 ways people are turning to YouTube to cope while social distancing YouTube Channels Anna Lytical ContraPoints Alton Brown Defunctland National Gallery of Art Muffalo Potato Wendover Productions Half as Interesting Glen & Friends Cooking Material Design/Centered Support Material with a Relay FM Membership

Flo is back, albeit solo, because the Material podcast and its hosts are practicing social distancing. Flo muses about life as a new parent, then launches into a rant about how it isn't fun hanging out in Hangouts anymore. Then, we talk about Verily's Project Baseline, and why it's a bit unnerving that the US government is relying on private companies to conduct testing for COVID-19. We also mourn the cancellation of Google I/O this year and wonder aloud: if this is the new normal, how will technology conferences exist going forward? 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, 2021. Linode: Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit. Links and Show Notes: Google's Teach from Home initiative Trump announced Google was building a virus screening tool. Then someone had to build it Project Baseline You Shouldn't Have to Give Google Your Data to Access a COVID-19 Test Google has completely canceled Google I/O 2020 Support Material with a Relay FM Membership