The Vergecast: Ad-Free Edition

The Verge's David Pierce, Alex Cranz, and Adi Robertson discuss sports streaming, Apple Vision Pro updates, Bluesky removing its invite system, and more.Further reading: ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. are putting together a juggernaut sports streaming app Disney Plus will start its password-sharing crackdown this summer Disney invests $1.5 billion in Epic to create ‘persistent universe’ tied to Fortnite Apple TV+ Became HBO Before HBO Could Become Netflix @lucas_shaw • All these articles should be required to note that nobody watches Apple TV+. • Threads A new Vision Pro teardown shows Apple’s incredible pixel density Apple’s first Vision Pro beta lets you bring virtual items closer  Apple’s Vision Pro launch day photo drop captures eager customers. The Vision Pro’s killer app: Cybertruck clout-chasing accessory YouTube says a Vision Pro app is ‘on the roadmap’  Vision Pro’s Personas look a little crisper after latest beta update. It’s been 10 hours. Bluesky social network drops invite-only sign ups The fediverse, explained: Mastodon, Threads, and the open future of social networking X hits number one on the Apple App Store amid second celebrity image scandal The FCC bans robocalls with AI-generated voices Ford quietly created its own ‘skunkworks’ team to develop low-cost electric vehicles Apple is still working on foldable iPhones and iPads Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on the flagship podcast of anti-glare coatings:03:58 - Josh Miller, CEO The Browser Company, joins the show to chat about the Arc Search mobile browser. Arc Search: a new iPhone app combining browser, search, and AI The Arc browser is the Chrome replacement I've been waiting for  48:34 - Allison Johnson shares her review of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S24 phones. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review: all that and AI Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus review: smart choices 1:18:54- David Pierce answers a question from The Vergecast Hotline about the Apple Vision Pro. Apple Vision Pro review: magic, until it’s not Meta’s Quest headsets add spatial video and pinch controls to compete with Vision Pr Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Verge's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz discuss the Apple Vision Pro review rating, changes to the TikTok app, streaming news, and more.Further reading: Apple Vision Pro review: magic, until it’s not The Vision Pro is a computer for the age of walled gardens Apple’s Vision Pro battery pack is hiding the final boss of Lightning cables Even without Netflix and YouTube, Apple’s Vision Pro has over 600 apps at launch TikTok loses Taylor Swift, Drake, and other major Universal Music artists UMG set to remove music from TikTok amid AI and payment concerns TikTok test automatically identifies products in videos and offers purchase links TikTok goes full YouTube Hulu is cracking down on password sharing, just like Disney Plus and Netflix The death of the Amazon deal could mean goodbye iRobot Lawmakers propose anti-nonconsensual AI porn bill after Taylor Swift controversy All the news from Congress’ Big Tech child safety hearing Snap is recalling and refunding every drone it ever sold TikTok’s CEO can’t catch a break from xenophobia in Congress Your home’s internet connection could soon be called .internal Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Verge's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz discuss Nilay's review of the Apple Vision Pro, and then answer questions from our listeners.Further reading: Apple Vision Pro review: magic, until it’s not Apple Vision Pro review (video) Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Verge's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz discuss Apple allowing alternative browser engines in the EU, Netflix getting WWE, Pixel 9 leaks, and more.Further reading: Apple is bringing sideloading and alternate app stores to the iPhone Apple is allowing alternative browser engines in iOS 17.4 — but only in the EU Apple opens App Store to game streaming services Netflix is turning into cable TV  Netflix is going to take away its cheapest ad-free plan WWE Monday Night Raw is ditching cable for Netflix The Mac turns 40 — and keeps on moving Looking back on 40 years of Macintosh  The Pixel 9 leaks are already here Leaked pictures show a very blue Pixel 9.  The Vision Pro’s most important app is Safari, whether Apple likes it or not Vision Pro cover glass repairs will set you back $799 without AppleCare Plus Apple tells artists how much more money they can make with spatial audio Inside India’s race to cool 1.3 billion people in a warming world Nintendo goes after the Palworld Pokémon modder The Pokémon Company says it will ‘investigate’ Palworld This baby is covered in old flip phones and chips — and you cannot afford it Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on the flagship podcast of really old computers:03:54 - Walt Mossberg, former Verge executive editor and longtime Wall Street Journal tech columnist, joins the show to discuss forty years of the Macintosh computer. Mossberg - The Verge The Mac turns 40 — and keeps on moving Steve Jobs Introduces the Macintosh Looking back on 40 years of Macintosh 40:28 - Ali Abdaal chats about his new book "Feel Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters To You" and why overthinking your productivity system might not be such a good idea.  Ali Abdaal - YouTube Feel Good Productivity 1:06:53 - David Pierce answers a question from the Vergecast Hotline about laptops.The best laptops you can getEmail us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Verge's Nilay Patel, Victoria Song, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz discuss the Apple Vision Pro demo, the Samsung Galaxy S24 announcement, and more of this week's tech news.Watch the video hereFurther reading: Apple Vision Pro hands-on, again, for the first time Apple Vision Pro demos will include scanning your glasses to identify your prescription The Apple Vision Pro has a ‘guest’ mode for your friends to try it Apple Vision Pro will launch with 3D movies from Disney Plus Netflix’s app won’t work on the Vision Pro Magic Leap’s CEO isn’t worried about competing with the Apple Vision Pro. Apple Watch ban: everything you need to know Apple Watch sales ban restarts Thursday Apple Watches without banned blood oxygen features will go on sale Thursday morning This smartwatch has the tech that sparked the Apple Watch ban Samsung is making a Galaxy Ring  Samsung’s Galaxy S24 and AI event: all the news The Galaxy S24 Ultra is smarter, pricier, and just as big as ever  Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra might fend off scratches just as well as drops Samsung’s S24 and S24 Plus put new AI smarts in a polished package Samsung’s Galaxy S24 is first to be able to upload HDR photos to Instagram Google’s Circle to Search makes visual searches super simple Samsung’s Galaxy AI is coming to 100 million Galaxy phones. Meta’s new goal is to build artificial general intelligence Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on the flagship podcast of endlessly looping sounds:02:33 - David Pierce dives into one piece of music that has taken over "North Sea TikTok"20:45 - Alex Cranz joins the show to preview new TV shows coming to streaming in 2024, and gives predictions about which streaming service will come out on top this year.55:36 - This week's Vergecast Hotline question about E Ink at CES.Email us at vergecast@theverge.com, or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Verge's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz follow up on all the rest of the gadgets and tech seen at CES 2024.Further reading: CES 2024: all the TVs, laptops, smart home gear, and more from the show floor The Rabbit R1 is an AI-powered gadget that can use your apps for you Rabbit sells out 10,000 units of its R1 pocket AI companion in one day Samsung’s Ballie robot is now a projector that follows you around   Wi-Fi 7 quietly took off while everyone was looking at AI Wi-Fi 7 certification is now underway for new routers and devices    Belkin made an iPhone dock that can track you around the room   Satechi’s new Qi2 charging stands are stylish and storable Have yourself some more Thunderbolt 5. Behold: the first Thunderbolt 5 port we’ve seen on an actual PC. I just watched the first interactive broadcast TV channel in the US Thread Group is finally fixing Thread border routers   The Aqara Hub M3 launches at CES 2024  Google and Samsung team up to simplify Android sharing Intel: ‘We are bringing the AI PC to the car’ Hyundai says hydrogen will play a ‘prominent role’ in going carbon neutral   BMW turns inward for CES, announcing new gaming, streaming, AR, and AI features   VW’s software division and Bosch are testing robot parking and EV charging   Volkswagen says it’s putting ChatGPT in its cars for ‘enriching conversations’   Kia’s ‘Platform Beyond Vehicles’ is a family of modular electric minivans for businesses   Mercedes-Benz taps Will.i.am to create an ‘interactive musical experience’ for its cars Mercedes-Benz’s best-in-class voice assistant is getting an AI boost Honda debuts new global EV series, Honda Zero, coming in 2026 Google Chrome is coming to your car Sony’s Afeela needs to be more than a feeling Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Verge's Nilay Patel, David Pierce, and Alex Cranz are discuss all the things with screens announced at CES 2024.Further reading: I’ve looked through LG’s new transparent OLED TV and seen something special Samsung’s got its own transparent display. Samsung’s new OLED TV could make annoying glare a thing of the past  Samsung finally puts the TV at the heart of its smart home The Frame has become such a hit that Samsung is making a speaker version   Intel’s new 14th Gen mobile processors are here for 2024’s gaming laptops   Lenovo’s latest 2-in-1 crams Windows and Android into one device  Razer gaming laptops at CES 2024: Blade spec bumps and display upgrades    Alienware’s M16 R2 trims the behind for less power and more portability    MSI Claw hands-on: the Steam Deck rival with Intel inside   MSI’s Claw is an Intel-powered Windows competitor to Valve’s Steam Deck What if your Samsung flip phone could flip further? Apple Vision Pro launches February 2nd   Apple Vision Pro prescription lenses will cost $149 extra Xreal’s new AR glasses are aimed at the Apple Vision Pro Asus targets Apple’s Vision Pro (with M2) with the AirVision M1 Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices