Input/Output

Sony recently announced that the PlayStation 5 will officially go on sale November 12 in the U.S. and other select territories for a starting price of $399. The company also announced a number of console-exclusive games. But Input editor Ryan Houlihan and editor in chief Joshua Topolsky aren’t super-excited for the PS5. They join us to discuss why. And later: Facebook recently unveiled the Oculus Quest 2, a more affordable successor to the original Quest. In his review of the Quest 2, Input senior reviews editor Ray Wong says it puts all other virtual reality headsets to shame. But should you get one, considering everything wrong with Facebook? Ryan and Joshua talk about why you should not.

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Apple recently unveiled its Apple Watch Series 6, which boasts a blood oxygen monitor, a two-and-a-half-times brighter display, and four new colors. It also introduced the more affordable Apple Watch SE, the iPad Air 4, and Apple One, a bundle of the company’s most popular services. Input senior reviews editor Ray Wong joins us to talk up all the new Apple goodness. And later: In between upending the auto industry and trying to get people to Mars, Elon Musk is heading a company called Neuralink that wants to put coin-sized implants in human skulls, directly connected to the brain, using robot surgeons. These implants could have a wide array of uses, including helping people with severe spinal cord injuries walk again. But how realistic is all this? Input news editor Craig Wilson comes by the show to discuss.

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Kanye West recently raised eyebrows by praising Nike products, specifically Jordans and the new ISPA Road Warrior, even though he’s currently under contract with Adidas. Kanye’s “vocal yearning for Nike” – a company the musician was once in partnership with – “is yet another indicator of how far Adidas has fallen behind,” writes Input news writer Ian Servantes. Ian joins us to discuss. And later: Input senior reviews editor Ray Wong recently wrote an essay about how his Apple Watch is unexpectedly keeping him sane during the pandemic. He writes, “Its many once seldom-used features are helping me get through these blurred days, weeks, and months.” Ray joins us to talk about his smart watch.

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On this episode of Input/Output, we discuss news that will delight gamers and infuriate social media users.

Microsoft's next flagship console, the Xbox Series X, will launch November 10 and retail for $499. The smaller, less powerful Series S will retail for $299. In addition, Microsoft will offer both the Series X and the Series S for a monthly fee. Input editor Ryan Houlihan and editor in chief Joshua Topolsky join us to discuss why Sony, which is releasing the PlayStation 5, should be worried.

And later: A group of Republican senators, including Lindsey Graham, is working to remove long-standing legal protections for social media companies. The lawmakers recently introduced the Online Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity Act with the aim of stripping protections provided by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Ryan and Joshua rail against this proposed legislation.

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Input senior reviews editor Ray Wong recently reviewed Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds Live. His verdict: these bean-shaped wireless earbuds are damn cool even though the noise cancellation is pretty weak. Ray stops by the show to talk about them. And later: Allbirds, the sustainability-focused, direct-to-consumer footwear brand, is popular with tech bros. Among sneakerheads, not so much. In an apparent effort to change that, Allbirds recently struck up partnerships with Adidas and Chinatown Market. Input news writer Ian Servantes joins us to discuss.

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Nintendo is celebrating the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. with a bonanza of goodies. Most exciting of them are an updated version of the Game & Watch handheld and new Mario titles for the Switch, including an augmented reality kart game. Input editor Ryan Houlihan and editor in chief Joshua Topolsky join us to discuss. And later: Two new foldable phones, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Microsoft’s Surface Duo, are competing for high-end consumers. Which of the two, if either, should you get? Ryan and Joshua Topolsky debate the phones’ merits.

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The Baltimore electronic musician Dan Deacon recently released his original score for Well Groomed, an HBO documentary about the colorful world of competitive dog grooming. To mark the occasion, Dan spoke to Input about the gear he used to make the soundtrack. Dan joins the podcast to discuss the album and life during lockdown. And later: The queer, Muslim artist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr. blends ideas of faith, radical thought, and futurism — challenging audiences to not just imagine a different future, but to consider a changed present. Writer Iman Sultan recently profiled the multimedia artist, whose drag alter ego is named Faluda Islam, for Input. Iman joins us to talk about her piece.

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The Lego Nintendo Entertainment System is “the coolest toy of 2020,” raves senior reviews editor Ray Wong in a review for Input. This 2,646-piece brick set replicates an NES, a controller, and an old-school CRT TV (complete with moving diorama). Ray joins us to geek out about it. And later: The Ordinary Sausage YouTube channel features an anonymous guy, known only as Mr. Sausage, making sausages out of other foodstuffs – everything from Big Macs to ice cream sandwiches. The channel has become a YouTube sensation and a bright spot during quarantine. Input news writer J. Fergus stops by to discuss.

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Reports have emerged that Nintendo is planning to release an “upgraded” Switch in 2021. Input senior reviews editor Ray Wong recently wrote about why it doesn’t make sense to put out a rumored 4K “Switch Pro.” Input editors Ryan Houlihan and Craig Wilson join us to discuss Ray’s piece. And later: YouTuber Elliot Coll is the Game Boy’s very own Dr. Frankenstein. On his channel, The Retro Future, Coll turns aging game consoles into absurd pieces of art. Ryan and Craig talk about Coll’s handiwork. Read more on inputmag.com/inputoutput.

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Do you hate your favorite band’s latest song? If you’re listening on Spotify, that track might be a fake. It turns out that Spotify’s third-party distribution platform is flawed, allowing scammers to impersonate popular artists for weeks on end, stealing thousands of streams in the process. Writer Landon Groves joins us to discuss. And later: The short-form content platform Quibi is both an industry joke and a commercial failure. On top of that, it exploits its labor, according to Input news writer J. Fergus. They join us to discuss how the platform compensates its A-list stars handsomely while using a union loophole to underpay its behind-the-scenes workers.

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