Material

It really is a week of pure malarkey, as Google is not only put through the wringer by the Department of Justice but called out for providing its AI tech for border surveillance—yes, that border. To lighten things up, we try humming songs for Google to guess.

Andy's sick of Chrome's "phishing" attempts and Flo resents Google Maps spilling the beans on generations-old secrets. We go deep into the House of Representatives' recent anti-trust report and its consensus on Google, then steer it back up with some helpful new accessible Android features. We implore you to try out Google's new art filters in its Arts and Culture app; it's a great way to make yourself look like Van Gough must have felt.

It's another packed episode this week. Flo and Andy discuss the perilous lure of nostalgia, plus the other big Google news that occurred the week of the big Pixel event and what it means for the company's employees. We gush over our new hardware; Flo has the Nest Audio and Andy has the Chromecast with Google TV. We end with a little about how Google is working to help detect sign language in chat apps.

It's everything and so much more. Andy and Flo recall the days of yore when they could eat molten chocolate lava cakes in dingy restaurants, before running down nearly everything Google announced at this week's Launch Night In. (For those who just want the news, we start at about 20 minutes in.) We go in-depth about the Chromecast with Google TV—including Flo's first 24 hours with it—the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5, and the Nest Audio. Plus, a rundown of the virtual event.

Flo is hoping that Google figures out a way to keep kids from growing up too fast and Andy finally commits to the Pixel 4a. We talk about how Chrome OS is also doing a bunch of growing on its own. Then, why Google is adopting a hybrid work-from-home model and how to use the new COVID transmission layer on Google Maps. For those on Android 11, we help you unlock the secret kitty game. Kitties!

This week, another ode to the Gympie-Gympie Bush as we hear from a listener about new discoveries from science labs down under. We discuss Apple's announcements and the features we'd borrow for Android and why Google is tightening its internal message boards. We explain how Senators are grilling Google in the latest anti-trust hearings, and what to expect from its next hardware event. Plus, how Google is committing to a carbon-free future, and "spilled tea" involving YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki.

Flo is on a journey to recreate the operating system of her youth, and Andy encourages it. We discuss the launch of Android 11, like your friends who are just having a beer and sharing some stats. We bum you out with the sinking realization that everything is still wrong in the world (it's why Google Maps automatically blurred out protest slogans in Hong Kong). And then, we lift your spirits with a reflective interview with Google's former camera czar, Marc Levoy.

Andy still isn't sold on Android's future for streaming music, and Flo wonders why she doesn't have the Issa Rae option available in her Assistant voice settings. Then, we talk about the Made by Google event that hasn't been announced quite yet but that everyone keeps alluding to. We also dive into some regional Google news, as well as UFOs.

Flo and Andy ponder the future of streaming media now that Google Play Music is no longer playing along. We tell you why Google engineers are confused about Android's privacy settings and how the new Earthquake Alert System works around the world. Then, a bit of praise for Google Maps and how we wish we could be using it to explore somewhere new.

Andy has the Pixel 4a, and Flo can't capture the California wildfires with the OnePlus 8's Nightscape mode. We talk about the farce that is timely software updates, and why you should pay attention to why Google wrote an open letter to Australia.