Five Favorites

On this week's episode, security is top of mind. Also, we move on from Apple and take a look at the upcoming Pixel release.  [New to the show? Find out the stories we talk about in this week's episode below and connect with Amir and Chris on Twitter! Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).]  1. YouTube creators may lose verified badges as company makes verification program even stricter [Verge by Julia Alexander]

2.iOS 13 vs Android 10: Which Is More Secure? [CNET by Rae Hodge]

3. Netflix Co-founder Marc Randolph On Why He Left, Becoming A Mentor And His Love Of Chaos [Forbes by Haley Cuccinello]

4. Bob Iger Steps Away From Apple Board of Directors [Hollywood Reporter by Alex Weprinn]

5. Hot Topic: Pixel 4 and 4 XL rumors and specs: Launching Oct. 15 with Face ID-type gesture controls and orange color [CNET by Lynn La]

Dishonorable Mention: 

Facebook Contractors Have Been Listening to 'Hey Portal' [Bloomberg Tech by Kurt Warner & Mark Gurman]

Honorable Mention(s):

Jeff Bezos pledges that Amazon will swiftly combat climate change [Verge by Justine Calma]

Social of the Week: @merriamwebster

On this week's episode, Amir goes solo and breaks down the latest Apple Event. Also, don't worry, next week we'll be back to the usual format - but we wanted to give you allllll the details on this year's latest Apple goodness. [New to the show? Find out the stories we talk about in this week's episode below and connect with Amir and Chris on Twitter! Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).] 

On this week's episode, it's clear Jeff Higgins has had an impact on us. Also, we could have called this one "The One Where The Verge Owes Us A Commission".  [New to the show? Find out the stories we talk about in this week's episode below and connect with Amir and Chris on Twitter! Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).]  1. Snap Extends Gain as No. 1 Internet Stock This Year [Bloomberg by Kamaron Leach]

2. CVS hires Fitbit executive to lead consumer health [CNBC by Christina Farr and Angelica Vito]

3. Tile teams up with Google to bring its lost item finding technology to Google Assistant [Techcrunch by Sarah Perez]

4. Philips Hue gets Edison-style light bulbs, a smart plug, and more [Verge by Jacob Kastrenakes]

5. Hot Topic: Android 10 officially released for Google Pixel phones [Verge by Dieter Bohn]

Honorable Mention: 

The Apple Card was made to be defaced [The Verge by Nick Statt]

Dishonorable Mention(s):

Apple made Siri deflect questions on feminism, leaked papers reveal [The Guardian by Alex Hern]

Social of the Week: Antonio Brown's YouTube Video 

On this week's episode, Amir has some Presidential news. Also, it's Season 4!  [New to the show? Find out the stories we talk about in this week's episode below and connect with Amir and Chris on Twitter! Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).]  1. Nike's New Shoes Support Siri Shortcuts and Apple Watch, Letting You Adjust Fit With Your Voice [MacRumors by Mitchel Broussard]

2. WeWork acquires co-working rival Spacious [TechCrunch by Sarah Perez]

3. TikTok Has a New Way to Monetize Its Rabid Teenage Fans [Adweek story by Shoshana Wodinsky]

4. Microsoft unveils new tablet experience for Windows 10 [Verge story by Tom Warren]

5. Hot Topic:  The frighteningly simple technique that hijacked Jack Dorsey's Twitter account [Verge story by Russell Brandom] Honorable Mention: 

PewDiePie becomes the first individual YouTube creator to hit 100 million subscribers [Verge story by Julia Alexander]

Dishonorable Mention(s):

Infowars Returns to YouTube After CEO Said It Will Allow 'Offensive' Content [Updated] [Vice by Matthew Gault]

Tweet of the Week: @PopeyesChicken

On this week's episode, we try to figure out if Apple wants you to even use their credit card. Also, the value of humanity over robots is made clear.  [New to the show? Find out the stories we talk about in this week's episode below and connect with Amir and Chris on Twitter! Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).]  1. Apple Readies Camera-Focused Pro iPhones, New iPads, Larger MacBook Pro [Bloomberg by Mark Gurman  and Debby Wu]

2. Netflix tests human-driven curation with launch of 'Collections' [TechCrunch by Sarah Perez]

3. YouTube Removes Videos of Robots Fighting For Animal Cruelty [Independent story by Anthony Cuthbertson]

4. Disney+ to support 4K quality, 4 simultaneous streams for $7 per month [9to5Mac story by Chance H Miller]

5. Hot Topic: 

YouTube says it will now remove 'violent' and 'mature' videos pretending to be kid-friendly [Verge story by Nick Statt] Honorable Mention: 

LinkedIn Pulled the Plug on 21.6 Million Fake Accounts in the First Half of 2019 [Adweek story by David Cohen]

Dishonorable Mention(s):

Apple says clean Apple Card with a microfiber cloth, avoid contact with leather and denim [Apple Insider by Mikey Campbell]

Tweet of the Week: @ataussig

On this week's episode, there's just so much dishonorable in the news - we named the episode accordingly. Also, Sean Astin is trending.  [New to the show? Find out the stories we talk about in this week's episode below and connect with Amir and Chris on Twitter! Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).]  1. Rumor: iPad Pro with triple-lens camera, iPad with dual-lens shooter to launch in October [Apple Insider by Mikey Campbell]

2. Disney Plus: Release date, price, shows and movies to expect on the streaming service [CNET by Mike Sorrentino & Joan E. Solsman]

3. Marques Brownlee launches a new tech podcast called Waveform [Verge story by Julia Alexander]

4. Amazon is now delivering packages in Southern California with its Scout robots [Verge story by Chaim Gartenberg]

5. Hot Topic: 

The 7 biggest announcements from the Samsung Note 10 event [Verge story by Natt Garun) Honorable Mention: 

Tesla Model 3 owner implants RFID chip to turn her arm into a key [Techcrunch story by Kirsten Korosec]

Dishonorable Mention(s):

Google Warning: Tens Of Millions Of Android Phones Come Preloaded With Dangerous Malware [Forbes by Zak Doffman]

Also: Miami Marlins, Hijacking Cables, SoutwestAir, Movie Pass

Tweet of the Week: @SeanAstin

On this week's episode, Barrows is back with apologies. Also, this episode is not an app "by Facebook". [thankfully].  [New to the show? Find out the stories we talk about in this week's episode below and connect with Amir and Chris on Twitter! Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).]  1. Apple Drops Barclays Card Rewards Ahead of Goldman Launch [Bloomberg by Mark Gurman & Jennifer Surane]

2. Libraries are fighting to preserve your right to borrow e-books [CNN story by Jessamyn West]

3. Instagram and WhatsApp will add 'from Facebook' to their names [Verge story by Chris Welch]

4. Tesla brings back free unlimited supercharging for the Model S and X [Techcrunch story by Kirsten Korosec]

5. Hot Topic: Ninja's First Day on Mixer: Half A Million Free Subs, Mixer App Skyrockets on Mobile [Screenrant story by Bryan Lawver] Honorable Mention: 

Josh Hayley's bill to limit your Twitter time to 30 minutes a day, explained [Recode by Emily Stewart]

Dishonorable Mention: Apple stops letting contractors listen to Siri voice recordings and will offer opt-out later [Verge story by Sam Byford]

Tweet of the Week: @TheRock

On this week's episode, Amir is back and Avengers are on top (take that Avatar. Also, the guys share the top emojis of 2019 courtesy of Adobe.  [New to the show? Find out the stories we talk about in this week's episode below and connect with Amir and Chris on Twitter! Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).]  1. Base 2019 13-Inch MacBook Pro is Up to 83% Faster Than Previous Generation in Benchmarks [MacRumors story by Joe Rossignol]

2. Uber, Lyfter Ridership Pace Declines In NYC After Fares Rise [Bloomberg story by Shelley Hagan and Marie Patino]

3. 😂 😘 and ❤️ Named Most Popular Emoji in New Adobe Study [Mac Rumors story by Juli Clover]

4. FTC votes to approve $5 billion settlement with Facebook in privacy probe [Washington Post story by Tony Romm]

5. Hot Topic: FaceApp is back and so are privacy concerns [Verge story by Ashley Carmen) Honorable Mention: Netflix tanks after whiffing on global paid subscribers [CNBC story by Lauren Feiner]

Dishonorable Mention: Casey Neistat has fans emotional as YouTuber leaves New York City for good [Metro UK story by Louise Griffin]

Tweet of the Week: @Lions

On this week's episode, Chris has an apology and Amir isn't here. Also, Google is taking another shot at social networking.  [New to the show? Find out the stories we talk about in this week's episode below and connect with Amir and Chris on Twitter! Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).]  1. TikTok Stars Are Preparing to Take Over the Internet [The Atlantic story by Taylor Lorenz]

2. Google takes another run at social networking with Shoelace [Verge story by John Porty]

3. Microsoft Says its Teams app is Bigger Than Slack and growing faster [CNBC story by Jordan Novet]

4. Twitter - Offering You More Control Over Your Conversations [Twitter Blog story]

5. Hot Topic: Amazon Plans High-End Echo, Ramps Up Work on Alexa Home Robot [Bloomberg story by Mark Gurman) Honorable Mention:

Nintendo Announces Switch Light [Jack Appleby Twitter Thread]

Dishonorable Mention:  Declining Instagram Rates [Social Media Today story by Andrew Hutchinson]

Tweet of the Week: @gauthamrao

On this week's episode, NBA free agency talk sneaks into our opening. Also, it's the end of an era at Apple. [Apologizes for some "fuzzy" audio this week] [New to the show? Find out the stories we talk about in this week's episode below and connect with Amir and Chris on Twitter! Use the hashtag #FiveFavorites to share YOUR favorite stories each and every week - and YOU may be included on the show (including our new tweet of the week feature).]  1. Apple Music has surpassed 60 million subscribers, says Eddy Cue [Verge story by Natt Garun]

2. Google will now tell you how crowded your bus or train is likely to be [Verge story by Andrew J. Hawkins]

3. First Army battalion with mini drones heading to Afghanistan[Stars & Stripes story by Phillip Walter Wellman]

4. Twitter won't censor Trump's rule-breaking tweets, but it will make them harder to find [Recode story by Theodore Schleifer]

5. Hot Topic: Jony Ive leaving Apple after nearly 30 years to start new design firm [Verge story by Chris Welch] Honorable Mention: Amazon's Prime Day will be two days this year [Engadget story by Mariella Moon]

Dishonorable Mention: 

Amazon snags Taylor Swift to headline its Prime Day 2019 concert [Techcrunch story by Sarah Perez]

Tweet of the Week: @wojespn