The Vergecast: Ad-Free Edition

The Verge's Dieter Bohn and Alex Cranz discuss Verizon switching to Android Messages as default for RCS, as well as the many gadgets from this week.Verge policy editor Russell Brandom joins to talk about President Biden's criticism of Facebook's handling of misinformation on their platform and the nomination of Google critic Jonathan Kanter to lead the Department of Justice's antitrust division.The Verge's Liz Lopatto and Joey Roulette talk with Dieter about Jeff Bezos' space flight this week.Further reading: Biden says platforms like Facebook are ‘killing people’ with COVID-19 misinformation Facebook pushes back against Biden remarks on COVID-19 misinformation Joe Biden says Facebook isn’t ‘killing people,’ but misinformation causes harm The Biden administration should take the First Amendment as seriously as Facebook misinformation FTC pledges to fight unlawful right to repair restrictions Biden to nominate Google critic Jonathan Kanter to lead DOJ antitrust division The space tourism industry is stuck in its billionaire phase  Blue Origin successfully sends Jeff Bezos and three others to space and back An on-the-ground look at Blue Origin’s motley crew Jeff Bezos appreciates your efforts to get Jeff Bezos to space Verizon is also switching to Android Messages as default for RCS Pegasus spyware used to target phones of journalists and activists, investigation finds Dish cuts a 10-year, $5 billion deal to make AT&T the primary service provider for its MVNO The Dish ‘fix’ for the T-Mobile-Sprint merger seems more shortsighted than ever Playdate hands-on: a Game Boy from a different dimension Apple AirPods update to arrive later this year with iPhone SE refresh coming 2022: report Apple releases iOS 14.7 just as MagSafe Battery Pack appears on shelves The first real photos of Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack are here Apple MagSafe Battery Pack review: convenience over capacity OnePlus Buds Pro announced, coming September 1st for $150 OnePlus Nord 2 review: focused on the essentials OnePlus is merging OxygenOS with Oppo's ColorOS Leaked memo confirms OnePlus will become an Oppo sub-brand Amazon will let devs compete for your Echo Show’s screen and everything else Alexa just added Alexa finally gets a masculine-sounding voice option Amazon promises most Echo speakers will get upgraded to Matter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Casey Newton talks with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg about his vision for an embodied internet (or "the metaverse), the challenges of governing it, and gender imbalance in virtual reality today. They also discuss President Biden’s fierce criticism of Facebook’s failures in removing anti-vaccine content in the headlines.Transcript: https://www.theverge.com/e/22352063 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, and Alex Cranz discuss this week in tech news — the new Valve Steam Deck, Netflix potentially getting into gaming, a lot of Apple news, and some billionaires going into space.Further reading: The COVID-19 vaccines weren’t hacked — this task force is one reason why Foxconn and TSMC strike deal to buy 10 million COVID vaccines for Taiwan Valve’s gaming handheld is called the Steam Deck and it’s shipping in December Netflix snags former EA, Oculus exec to lead its video game efforts Apple’s latest iOS and macOS betas undo some of Safari’s controversial new design iPhone 13 rumors grow more certain ahead of September launch Redesigned iPad mini reportedly on track to launch this fall Apple just launched an official $99 MagSafe battery pack for the iPhone 12 lineup iPhone 12 reverse wireless charging can power up Apple’s new MagSafe battery pack Apple is working on Apple Pay Later to help you buy things without paying for them yet Apple reportedly wants in on NFL Sunday Ticket Apple’s weather app won’t say it’s 69 degrees Facebook says FTC chair shouldn’t help decide the future of its antitrust case Biden’s executive order puts net neutrality back in the spotlight President Joe Biden’s latest executive order is a huge win for right to repair Space tourism rivalry gets extremely petty ahead of Branson’s spaceflight Virgin Galactic has opened a sweepstakes offering a trip to space Virgin Galactic successfully sends Richard Branson to the edge of space Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked device lineup may have been entirely spoiled in huge new leak The Galaxy Z Fold 3 will support the S Pen Pro, according to FCC filings Ikea and Sonos picture frame speaker review: wall of sound TVA TemPad review: who needs TikTok when you can control time and space? We want to see your internet bill 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, Dieter Bohn, and Adi Robertson discuss the new antitrust lawsuit Google faces from 36 states, the new hardware Nintendo announced this week, and what happened at Stellantis' ‘EV Day’.Further reading: Who needs COVID-19 boosters? Moderna starts human trials of an mRNA-based flu shot Full approval could make the difference for the US COVID-19 vaccine campaign Exposure notification apps could be more effective if they’re better at assessing risk Google faces new antitrust lawsuit over Google Play Store fees Google feared Samsung Galaxy Store and tried to quash it, lawsuit alleges Apple and Google crowd out the competition with default apps  Donald Trump files sweeping, nonsensical lawsuits against Facebook, Twitter, and Google Twitter has lost legal immunity for users’ posts in India, government argue Nintendo’s OLED Switch: all of the news about the console upgrade Don’t count out the Nintendo Switch Pro A bigger, better Switch screen is exactly what I wanted Stellantis, parent company of Dodge and Jeep, had an ‘EV Day’ and it was extremely weird Verizon has its own version of spatial audio and it’s already pushing it on phones AT&T joins T-Mobile in switching all Android phones to Google’s Messages app for RCS Elon Musk just now realizing that self-driving cars are a ‘hard problem’ iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 preview: a first look at Apple’s latest software Maine passes the strongest state facial recognition ban yet Welcome to Simulation City, the virtual world where Waymo tests its autonomous vehicles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, and Tom Warren discuss the official reveal of Windows 11 at Microsoft's event on Thursday.Further reading: The slow transitions of a lingering pandemic The pandemic made Navajo Nation’s radio stations even more vital India’s healthcare workers are busting misinformation on WhatsApp Microsoft’s own Windows 11 livestream runs into technical difficulties Microsoft announces Windows 11, with a new design, Start menu, and more Microsoft reveals the new Microsoft Store for Windows 11, and it has Android apps too Microsoft is bringing Android apps to Windows 11 with Amazon’s app store Here are the visual changes Microsoft showed off in Windows 11 Microsoft teases new File Explorer for Windows 11 Here’s everything Microsoft is removing from Windows 11 Microsoft is changing the Windows 11 minimum requirements Microsoft Teams will be directly integrated as part of Windows 11 Windows 11 is a free upgrade Windows 11’s news feed has built-in tipping to support local content creators Microsoft will let devs keep every penny their Windows app makes — unless it’s a game Satya Nadella’s closing Windows 11 remarks were a direct shot across Apple’s bow Apple argues against sideloading iPhone apps as regulatory pressure mounts Google will now consider letting your video, music or book app evade its 30 percent cut Google delays blocking third-party cookies in Chrome until 2023 Samsung’s Watch Active 4 leaks in new renders Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 revealed in new leak Apple may be looking to make a less expensive big phone in 2022 Tim Cook called Nancy Pelosi to warn her against disrupting the iPhone with impending antitrust bills Why the tech antitrust reform bills are struggling to move forward Big Tech edges closer to break up after deeply unhinged markup We regret to inform you that T-Mobile is selling a 5G-branded gin Ransomware funds more ransomware Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nilay Patel and Dieter Bohn talk to Verge senior editor Tom Warren about leaks of Microsoft's Windows 11 UI and announcements from E3 2021.Verge politics reporter Makena Kelly explains how Republicans and Democrats are gearing up to fight tech monopolies.Verge managing editor Alex Cranz joins the show to talk about Google's updates to Messages and a bunch of gadget news from this week.Further reading: Amazon’s COVID-19 test is now available to consumers Novavax says its COVID-19 vaccine is 90 percent effective Pharma is winning the big business popularity contest Windows 11 leak reveals new UI, Start menu, and more Microsoft Teams’ new front row layout arrives later this year Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella now doubles as the company’s chairman Microsoft announces Xbox TV app and its own xCloud ... Microsoft is bringing next-gen Xbox games to the Xbox One with xCloud Even the Xbox app has stories now The Xbox Series X mini fridge will be available this holiday season Microsoft Flight Simulator is landing on Xbox Series X / S consoles on July 27th The best trailers of E3 2021 Tech antitrust pioneer Lina Khan will officially lead the FTC How Republicans and Democrats are gearing up to fight tech monopolies House lawmakers introduce five bipartisan bills to unwind tech monopolies Senate bill would make it easier to cancel a subscription online after a free trial  Google’s first retail store opens this week Google adds E2E RCS encryption to Messages, emoji mashup suggests, and more for Android Google Workspace and Google Chat are officially available to everybody Honor confirms Google’s apps will return to its phones with new 50 series Beats Studio Buds review: big ambition, imperfect execution Ikea and Sonos announce picture frame speaker, coming July 15th for $199 Watch the debut of Tesla Model S Plaid, the ‘quickest production car ever made’ The Realme GT lays claim to OnePlus’ ‘flagship killer’ mantle Oppo’s rollable concept phone is pure potential lacking polish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, Alex Cranz, and Chris Welch discuss all the announcements from Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference that took place this week.All the links: COVID-19 hospitalization rates in adolescents went up during March and April Where did the COVID microchip conspiracy theory come from anyway? The pandemic might cut down e-waste but widen the digital divide Apple WWDC 2021: the 15 biggest announcements Apple previews iOS 15 at WWDC 2021 The best features of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS that Apple didn’t announce onstage Apple’s Siri will finally work without an internet connection with on-device speech recognition Watch Apple’s Siri blaze through requests with on-device processing You’ll soon be able to use your iPhone as ID at the airport Apple adds welcome privacy features to Mail, Safari Apple’s iCloud Plus bundles a VPN, private email, and HomeKit camera storage With iCloud Plus, Apple’s privacy promise is paired with an upsell Apple’s privacy-focused Private Relay feature isn’t coming to China Apple Music’s spatial audio is sometimes amazing but mostly inconsistent  macOS and tvOS are getting spatial audio support with the AirPods Pro and Max Apple Music begins rolling out lossless streaming and Dolby Atmos spatial audio Apple introduces Siri for third-party devices macOS Monterey lets you run Shortcuts and share files between Macs and iPads Apple may have done the coolest drag and drop demo ever How Universal Control on macOS Monterey works FaceTime is coming to Android and Windows via the web Apple is building video and music sharing into FaceTime Apple announces watchOS 8 with new health features Apple’s new health features bring new focus to elder care technology  Apple lets users see family members’ Health data Apple announces iPadOS 15 with homescreen and multitasking improvements Microsoft announces Xbox TV app and its own xCloud streaming stick Facebook plans first smartwatch for next summer with two cameras, heart rate monitor Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds announced / review Google’s first folding Pixel is apparently still on track for a 2021 reveal Clubhouse and its clones have an accessibility problem Biden revokes Trump bans on TikTok and WeChat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Co-hosts Nilay Patel and Dieter Bohn talk with Verge senior editor Tom Warren and managing editor Alex Cranz about operating systems — what's coming up at Apple's developer conference next week, where Microsoft will take Windows next, and the debut of some new systems like HarmonyOS and Fuchsia OS.Further reading: The pandemic showed that big tech isn’t a public health savior The future of COVID-19 immunity looks good We have bigger problems than COVID-19’s origins Apple TV 4K (2021) review: much better remote, slightly faster box Of course repairing the new Apple TV remote is harder than simply unscrewing it Apple TV app comes to Nvidia Shield For Apple TV Plus to succeed, it has to be everywhere — even Android TV Microsoft looks ready to launch Windows 11 Microsoft to reveal its next generation of Windows on June 24th Huawei announces HarmonyOS update for its smartphones Huawei teases its upcoming P50 flagship phone Huawei’s HarmonyOS arrives on tablets with the new MatePad Pro Huawei’s Watch 3 is its first HarmonyOS smartwatch  Google’s new Fuchsia OS arrives first on old Nest Hub AMD announces the Radeon RX 6000M series with RDNA 2 architecture Nvidia announces new RTX 3080 Ti, priced at $1,199 and launching June 3rd Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti review: more 4K for more of your wallet Nvidia’s RTX 3080 Ti is available online right now Amazon buys MGM for $8.45 billion Why on Earth did Amazon spend $8 billion on a zombie studio?  Discovery announces new name of WarnerMedia merger: Warner Bros. Discovery The Great Wings Rush Why Spotify’s Horacio Gutierrez thinks Apple behaves like a monopolist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In part 2 of this week's episode, Nilay talks with Adi Robertson about the judge's harsh questioning of Tim Cook on the last day of testimony in Epic vs Apple.Further reading: Apple said Roblox developers don’t make games, and now Roblox agrees Apple’s Phil Schiller gives Epic iPhone testimony At the Epic trial, Phil Schiller got away clean The level of Mac malware is not acceptable, says Apple’s Craig Federighi at Epic trial Apple wants users to trust iOS, but it doesn’t trust iOS users Tim Cook faces harsh questions about the App Store from judge in Fortnite trial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In part 1 of this week’s episode, Nilay and Dieter talk with deputy editor Dan Seifert about Google I/O and reviews for the M1 iMac and iPad Pro. Further reading: Google I/O 2021: the 14 biggest announcements Android 12 preview: first look at Google’s radical new design Android 12 public beta is now available: here’s how to install it Google showed off its next-generation AI by talking to Pluto and a paper airplane Apple iMac M1 review: the all-in-one for almost everyone iPad Pro (2021) review: Mini LED, major improvement Apple’s redesigned MacBook Pros with next-gen in-house chips could arrive early this summer Apple’s $549 AirPods Max can’t play lossless Apple Music — even when plugged in Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices