The Vergecast: Ad-Free Edition

Nilay Patel and Dieter Bohn bring in Russell Brandom and Adi Robertson to discuss congressional report about whether Amazon, Facebook, Apple, and Google are violating antitrust law.Dan Seifert stops by to discuss Apple's upcoming iPhone event on October 13th.Links: Global TV shipments hit record high last quarter, report says America’s internet wasn’t prepared for online school I regularly forget that I have New York’s COVID-19 exposure notification app Congress releases blockbuster tech antitrust report What Google, Apple, Amazon, and Facebook have at stake in the antitrust fight Apple made ProtonMail add in-app purchases, even though it had been free for years Oracle and Google’s Supreme Court showdown was a battle of metaphors Apple quietly stops selling Bose, Sonos and some Logitech gear — only Apple audio remains The Supreme Court is taking on Google and Oracle one last time Apple’s next iPhone will be announced on October 13th Apple Watch SE review: pay a lot less to give up only a little Why Apple needed the FDA to sign off on its EKG but not its blood oxygen monitor The Apple Watch heart monitor sends too many people to the doctor YouTube 4K has come to Apple TV, but we’re waiting on HDR, 60fps, and iPhone/iPad playback Disney movies are now available in 4K on Apple’s iTunes store Apple sues recycling partner for reselling more than 100,000 iPhones, iPads, and Watches it was hired to dismantle  Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review: the right price for the right stuff Samsung Galaxy Note 20 review: stylus tax Google Nest Audio review: the sweet spot Google Fi now directly sells Samsung phones and adds a new 5G map G Suite is now Google Workspace in a bid to merge Gmail, Chat, and Docs Gmail has a new logo that’s a lot more Google More early Prime Day 2020 deals have kicked off on Amazon Meet Ricky Desktop, the most viral beatmaker on TikTok SPACs, explained Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every Tuesday this month, Vergecast co-host Dieter Bohn hosts a series of discussions diving deep into tech review season, each focusing on a specific product.This week, Dieter talks with YouTube's UrAvgConsumer about how the recently announced Google Pixel 5 shares some common ground with Google's 2013 smartphone project the Nexus 5.This episode was brought to you by Novartis. To learn more about Cell and Gene Therapy visit vox.com/ad/novartis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nilay, Dieter, Dan, and Chris discuss all the announcements from Google's fall hardware event from this week, as well as Sonos suing Google for infringing five more wireless audio patents.Links: If you’re sick this fall, you’ll probably get two virus tests The coronavirus pandemic by the numbers Google announces the Pixel 5 for $699 Google announces Pixel 4A 5G with larger 6.2-inch display for $499 Verizon has an exclusive Pixel 4A 5G that’s $100 more expensive Google says the Pixel’s Soli radar and Motion Sense will return Can the Pixel 5 camera still compete using the same old aging sensor? The Pixel 5 and 4A 5G play it safe Google Chromecast (2020) review: reinvented — and now with a remote Google announces new Chromecast with the new Google TV interface The new Chromecast with Google TV won’t officially support Stadia at launch Google Play Movies & TV is now Google TV but it’s not the same Google TV that runs on Android TV on the new Chromecast, it’s an app New Chromecast works as a cheap but unsupported xCloud streamer The Home Depot is selling a new Google Chromecast that hasn’t been announced Sonos sues Google for infringing five more wireless audio patents The new Roku Ultra has Dolby Vision and improved Wi-Fi performance Roku is adding support for Apple’s AirPlay 2 and HomeKit later this year Roku’s Streambar is a compact soundbar with built-in streaming smarts Google’s new Nest Audio smart speaker is official, costs $99.99 A week with the Xbox Series X: load times, game performance, and more Microsoft’s new $549 Surface Laptop Go aims to compete with Chromebooks Microsoft’s updated Surface Pro X has a faster processor and new platinum color option Apple Watch Series 6 review: minute improvements The Apple Watch heart monitor sends too many people to the doctor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every Tuesday this month, Vergecast co-host Dieter Bohn hosts a series of discussions diving deep into tech review season, each focusing on a specific product.This week, Dieter talks with senior personal technology columnist at The Wall Street Journal and Verge alum Joanna Stern about Apple's Watch Series 6.Dieter and Joanna also discuss the process of reviewing gadgets on video and the complications of reviewing a product that has this many variants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nilay, Dieter, and Dan discuss all the important announcements from Amazon's fall hardware event this week, from a security drone for your home to a new cloud gaming service.Stories discussed this week: CDC removes guidance about airborne spread of the coronavirus Averting a COVID-19 vaccination crisis will take careful communication Ring’s latest security camera is a drone that flies around inside your house Ring announces new line of security cameras for cars Amazon will launch a new location-tracking mesh network system later this year Amazon’s fall hardware event: the 13 biggest announcements Amazon redesigns the Echo with a new spherical design and a custom machine learning processor Amazon’s new Echo show 10 moves to look at you  Amazon’s Echo Show smart displays will soon stream Netflix video Amazon’s AZ1 Neural Edge processor will make Alexa voice commands even faster Alexa’s latest upgrades help it listen to multiple people and ask clarifying questions Amazon unveils new Guard Plus subscription for $4.99 per month Amazon announces new cloud gaming service called Luna Amazon’s Luna game streaming service is powered by Windows and Nvidia GPUs Amazon announces $29.99 Fire TV Stick Lite and upgraded Fire TV Stick The latest Eero mesh Wi-Fi routers support Wi-Fi 6 iPad 2020 review iOS 14 and iPadOS review: iPhone revolution, iPad evolution iOS 14 basics: how to add widgets to your iPhone’s home screen Fitbit Sense review: enough bugs to raise your heart rate  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every Tuesday this month, Vergecast co-host Dieter Bohn hosts a series of discussions diving deep into tech review season, each focusing on a specific product.This week, Dieter and Verge deputy editor Dan Seifert talks with Engadget's Cherlynn Low about Microsoft's Surface Duo.The trio discuss how the process of reviewing this device differs from others in the past, where it stands in the phone and tablet market, and other notable points from Dieter and Cherlynn's time with the Duo that didn't make it into the review.We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: voxmedia.com/podsurvey.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nilay, Dieter, Chaim, and Nicole discuss Apple's newly announced products including the Apple Watch Series 6 and the new iPad Air. Also discussed: the PS5 announced pricing, Oculus has a new headset, and TikTok acquisition news continues to brew.More stories from this episode: Apple Watch’s blood oxygen monitor is for ‘wellness,’ not medicine Apple is creating a fitness subscription service called Fitness Plus The new Apple Watch Series 6 has blood oxygen monitoring The Apple Watch Series 6: first impressions of a very good smartwatch The Apple Watch SE is a new lower-cost Watch New Apple Watches won’t have a USB power adapter in the box Family Setup lets you manage multiple Apple Watches from one iPhone There’s a new iPad Air that looks a lot like an iPad Pro The updated eighth-generation iPad has a familiar design but a new processor New Apple One subscription bundles pack multiple services together Nvidia is acquiring Arm for $40 billion  The PS5 will launch on November 12th for $499.99 PS5 Digital Edition launches November 12th for $399.99 Connect 7: All the news from Facebook and Oculus’ big VR / AR event Oculus Quest 2 review: better, cheaper VR Oculus’ new Quest 2 VR headset starts at $299 and ships October 13th Mark Zuckerberg on why he doesn’t want to ‘put an Apple Watch on your face’ Google to launch Pixel 5, new Chromecast, and smart speaker on September 30th Oracle reportedly wins deal for TikTok’s US operations as ‘trusted tech partner’ Trump to decide on TikTok Oracle deal with Walmart as an … We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: voxmedia.com/podsurvey.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s a lot of information coming and going about the coronavirus, and the next steps for vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 — The Verge even has a newsletter dedicated to it.But how do we asses all this information in a logical way, to prevent confusion, chaos, or something worse? The Verge’s Nilay Patel, Mary Beth Griggs and Nicole Wetsman talked to Dr. Natalie Dean, assistant professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida, about what we know so far about the timeline of a COVID-19 vaccine, and the best way to evaluate the flood of information coming in every day.We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: voxmedia.com/podsurvey.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nilay, Dieter, and Tom discuss reviews of Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 2, Microsoft's Surface Duo, and Android 11. Also, previews of the Xbox Series X and Series S.Stories from this week: White House reportedly moves to eliminate COVID-19 security theater at airports Trump’s latest attack on Section 230 is really about censoring speech Microsoft Surface Duo review: double troubles How Microsoft built its folding Android phone  Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 review: an extravagant success  Android 11 review: features by the dozen Welcome to the next generation of gaming Microsoft’s new Xbox Series S is surprisingly small in size and price A first look at Microsoft’s new Xbox Series X console Microsoft confirms $299 Xbox Series S console Microsoft reveals Xbox Series S specs, promises four times the processing power of Xbox One Xbox Series X launches on November 10th for $499 Your move, PS5 Xbox Game Pass is adding EA’s Play subscription service at no extra cost Xbox Game Pass for PC is doubling its price next week A closer look at Nvidia’s new RTX 3080 Apple announces ‘Time Flies’ event for September 15th Apple Music for Android contains mentions of rumored ‘Apple One’ services bundle iPhone 12: everything we think we know about Apple’s 2020 5G iPhones We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: voxmedia.com/podsurvey.  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 talks with former Google engineer Marc Levoy about his move to Adobe, the state of the smartphone camera, and the future of computational photography.We are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here: voxmedia.com/podsurvey.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices