Automattic is relaunching Beeper, the universal messaging app. Delta Air Lines is hoping to boost profitability by moving from set fares to individualized pricing determined by AI. We discuss why Video Games are such hot movie and streaming TV properties and is it just a fad or is it a signal of something else? Uber plans to make “multi-hundred-million dollar investments” in both Nuro and Lucid, deploying “20,000 or more” robotaxis in the US.

Starring Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Joe.

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Has Steam’s new publishing rule given third-party electronic payment processors control over game listings? Casting has been announced for the Legend of Zelda movie. We pick our fantasy cast. Seagate’s HAMR-based hard drives are now available to consumers, with 30TB models going for $600. And does Razer’s new Core X V2 signals a new start for eGPUs?

Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Scott Johnson, Roger Chang, Joe.

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Reddit has started age verification checks for UK users to comply with the Online Safety Act. Uber will partner with Baidu to let people schedule rides with its robo-taxis outside the US and China. Microsoft is testing energy saver settings based on your workflow instead of just your battery level. And are accented AI voices an important feature for users?

Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Roger Chang, Joe.

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Would you use Google’s NotebookLM as a destination for information and not just a tool? What is “Crypto Week” in the US House of Representatives and who does it benefit? Justin explains. The Commodore 64 Ultimate is the first new hardware from Commodore’s new management. And two brother-in-laws from Michigan got so fed up with Xfinity they made their own fiberoptic ISP.

Starring Sarah Lane, Tom Merritt, Justin Robert Young, Roger Chang, Joe.

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Belkin will end support for its WEMO smart home products. Johns Hopkins University researchers developed an autonomous surgical robot that can do most of a gallbladder removal. How to tweak Windows 11 to look and feel more like Windows 10. And it’s time again for our Friday Fun Quiz, this time about Samsung history.

Starring Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Patrick Norton, Len Peralta, Roger Chang, Joe.

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Is Cloudflare positioning itself as the new Sheriff in town when it comes to AI bots scraping sites? Intel admits it’s further behind its competitors in fab and AI technologies. After catching OpenAI’s bot telling users about a fake music notation feature, sheet music platform Soundslice built it. And YouTube is making changes to stop the spread of AI slop and plans on closing the platform’s Trending section.

Starring Robb Dunewood, Jenn Cutter, Roger Chang, Joe.

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Robb unpacks Samsung’s Unpacked event. New foldable phones anyone? And speaking of foldables. Their adoption is less than anticipated although it’s still growing. Would lower prices help goose that number up? Why is drawing ad dollars so much more difficult for video gaming versus other media formats? And did an AI scanner really charge a rental car customer $440 for a scuff on the tire?

Starring Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Scott Johnson, Roger Chang, Joe.

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With the release of Mastodon 4.4 we discuss the state of our use of X, BlueSky, Threads, Mastodon and Nostr. What Rivian’s new Kick Turn feature on its four motor trucks mean for the wider EV segment. Why do we like leaks of upcoming product announcements and services? And if the Nintendo Switch 2 is such a big hit, why is no one talking about it anymore?

Starring Tom Merritt, Jenn Cutter, Roger Chang, Joe.

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With a possible sale of TikTok in the US, the company is building a new version of the App. The Wall Street Journal how successful the new US Online Passport Renewal system is. The Wimbledon tennis tournament replaced line judges with an automatic system but that system had a glitch this weekend. And what are making profitable microchips plants such a difficult thing to do successfully?

Starring Tom Merritt, Justin Robert Young, Roger Chang, Joe.

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Are we all living inside a simulation? Melvin M. Vopson Associate Professor of Physics, University of Portsmouth has proposed a study to find out. Prominent CEOs are increasingly issuing dire warnings about AI’s impact on jobs. But who’s listening? Can lengthy timeouts curb abusive behavior on social media platforms? And its Friday and we engage in a battle of wits and morality on this week’s Great Debates!

Starring Tom Merritt, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Joe.

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