GeekWire

Microsoft confirmed rumors this week that it will lay off thousands of employees in a reorganization of its sales group. The goal: Support the company's Azure cloud computing group better. Plus, Redfin announces it will file for an IPO, possibly becoming the first Pacific Northwest company to go public in 2017. Plus, Seattle okays a new bike sharing program, so hold onto your helmets. Follow all our coverage and read the stories we talked about this week at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week’s sponsors: The University of Washington’s Human Centered Design and Engineering department. Learn more about them at: www.hcde.washington.edu/ Hughes Marino, the commercial real estate company now expanding to Seattle. Learn more about them at: hughesmarino.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2017 is halfway done, and this week on Geared Up we’re counting down our favorite gadgets and services from the first half of the year. Find out how to keep your kids safe on the internet, create a virtual phone and make grocery shopping a breeze. Plus, we take a look at the new tech we’re looking forward to for the remainder of the year, including the iPhone 8 and the Xbox One X. Follow all our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-the-scenes videos on GearLive, youtube.com/gearlive Thank you to this week’s sponsors: The University of Washington’s Human Centered Design and Engineering department. Learn more about them at: www.hcde.washington.edu/ Hughes Marino, the commercial real estate company now expanding to Seattle. Learn more about them at: hughesmarino.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Seattle Mariners aren’t known for being a top baseball team, but the team’s new General Manager Jerry Dipoto is aiming to turn that around. Dipoto spoke with Root Sports reporter Jen Mueller about how the team is using the latest in sports tech and science to give them an edge at the recent GeekWire Sports Tech Summit, and we’re sharing their full conversation on this episode of the GeekWire podcast. See more from the Sports Tech Summit and more of our sports tech coverage at geekwire.com/sports Thank you to this week’s sponsors: The University of Washington’s Human Centered Design and Engineering department. Learn more about them at: www.hcde.washington.edu/ Hughes Marino, the commercial real estate company now expanding to Seattle. Learn more about them at: hughesmarino.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You don’t see — or hear — many supersonic jets these days. That’s because they’ve been banned in most cases for over 40 years, but this week, NASA Oked a plan for a super-quiet supersonic jet. Plus, it was a dramatic week for Zillow as it took on popular architecture blog McMansion Hell over its use of copyrighted images. All that and more on this episode of the Week In Geek. Follow all our coverage and read the stories we talked about this week at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week’s sponsors: The University of Washington’s Human Centered Design and Engineering department. Learn more about them at: www.hcde.washington.edu/ Hughes Marino, the commercial real estate company now expanding to Seattle. Learn more about them at: hughesmarino.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon is making yet another foray into the smart home with the Echo Show, its first touch-screen Alexa device. We get our hands on one of the first Shows to ship and try it out on this episode of Geared Up. Plus, Todd’s impressions after using the new Microsoft Surface Laptop for a week and a few hacks to make the most of your MacBook Pro. Follow all our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-the-scenes videos on GearLive, youtube.com/gearlive Thank you to this week’s sponsors: The University of Washington’s Human Centered Design and Engineering department. Learn more about them at: www.hcde.washington.edu/ Hughes Marino, the commercial real estate company now expanding to Seattle. Learn more about them at: hughesmarino.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apps can be addictive — but can they also help us kick harmful addictions? On this episode of GeekWire’s Health Tech podcast, we talk to two psychologists who are developing apps to help people quit smoking. Their journey from medical school to the tech world shows how technologies can push the boundaries of health. Follow all our coverage of health and healthcare technology at GeekWire.com Thank you to our sponsor, Providence St. Joseph Health’s Digital and Innovation Group. Follow them at twitter.com/provinnovation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this year-long series, GeekWire is chronicling GeekWire Chief Business Officer Daniel Rossi's quest to transform his health using the latest in science and technology. It's now month eight, and Daniel has just passed some major milestones with his most recent blood test. In this installment, we talk about what's been working for him and how a genetic analysis he received back in month two has helped him manage his health and his type 2 diabetes. Follow all our coverage of Daniel's journey, including GIFs comparing his pictures when he started and today, at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week’s sponsors: The University of Washington’s Human Centered Design and Engineering department. Learn more about them at: www.hcde.washington.edu/ Hughes Marino, the commercial real estate company now expanding to Seattle. Learn more about them at: hughesmarino.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sue Bird is a living basketball legend. She's played in the WNBA for over fifteen years and has earned two WNBA championships, four Olympic gold medals and countless other awards. So what's her take on how tech, analytics and data are changing the game? Find out on this special edition of the GeekWire Podcast. Read more of our sports tech coverage at GeekWire.com/sports.  Thank you to this week’s sponsors: The University of Washington’s Human Centered Design and Engineering department. Learn more about them at: www.hcde.washington.edu/ Hughes Marino, the commercial real estate company now expanding to Seattle. Learn more about them at: hughesmarino.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Uber finally did what drivers have been asking it to do for years: allow customers to tip. The next day, it’s CEO and founder Travis Kalanick resigned. On this episode of the Week In Geek, we discuss how Uber’s many controversies have changed how we and others see the company. Plus, Amazon rolls out a new fashion service and a few updates on big Amazon news from last week. On the Random Channel: how we vacation. Follow all our coverage and read the stories we talked about this week at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week’s sponsor: GoDaddy — who is offering GeekWire listeners 35 percent off their purchase of a GoDaddy domain. Just use offer code gearedup35 at checkout, goddaddy.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft is getting into the hardware business in a big way, and its new Surface Laptop is poised to compete with the likes of the MacBook Pro and other leading devices. We get our hands on one for our very first unboxing on this week’s episode of Geared Up. Plus, we take a look at Andru’s new iPad Pro 10.5 inch, complete with an preview of iOS 11. We’ll discuss how the devices stack up against Todd’s new MacBook Pro and also dive into Andru’s favorite game from this year’s E3 —  Super Mario Odyssey. Follow all our coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-the-scenes videos on GearLive, youtube.com/gearlive Thank you to this week’s sponsor: GoDaddy — who is offering GeekWire listeners 35 percent off their purchase of a GoDaddy domain. Just use offer code gearedup35 at checkout, goddaddy.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.