Very Hicken Bros.

We discuss the following: Studio Ghibli's "Only Yesterday", Netflix on Google's Nest Hub (https://9to5google.com/2020/07/21/netflix-nest-hub/), Samsung's new bean pods (https://www.tomsguide.com/news/samsung-galaxy-buds-live-leaks-reveal-price-specs-and-battery-life), Apple diversifying their production locations (https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/25/21338436/apple-iphone11-india-foxconn-china), FCC's approval of Microsoft's Surface Duo (https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/microsoft-surface-duo-clears-fcc/), OnePlus' Nord annoucement (https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2020/7/21/21331537/oneplus-nord-release-date-specs-features-cameras-quad-sensors-90hz) LEGO's construction of solar farms (https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnparnell/2019/03/29/lego-buys-u-s-solar-power-builder/‬​), MY THEME SONG, Elon Musk's Telsa auto insurance (https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-tesla-launching-insurance-company), Elon's Neuralink (https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/elon-musk-neuralink-brain-computer-chip-music-stream-a9627686.html), Mira AR's success without extensive sensors (https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/23/augmented-reality-startup-mira-announces-10m-more-in-funding-from-sequoia-and-others/), Pokemon Underwear (https://soranews24.com/2020/07/23/pokemon-underwear-line-lets-you-wear-your-love-of-pocket-monsters-on-more-than-just-your-sleeve/),  Sega's Balan Wonderworld (https://www.polygon.com/2020/7/23/21335762/balan-wonderworld-square-enix-yuji-naka-naoto-ohshima), Kiwibots' San Jose services (https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/21/kiwibot-delivery-robots-head-to-san-jose-with-new-partners-shopify-and-ordermark/) Gorilla Glass Victus (https://pocketnow.com/cornings-new-gorilla-glass-victus-will-help-your-phone-survive-drops-from-a-2-meter-height), AT&T's 5G (https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/23/21335456/att-5g-network-nationwide-verizon-hbomax-warner-date), BitPay, a black hole's anatomy (https://www.space.com/misidentified-supermassive-black-holes-discovered.html), a black hole and sun's collision (https://www.livescience.com/black-hole-corona-killer.html), and black holes' disappearance (https://www.foxnews.com/science/28-cocooned-black-holes-found-hiding-in-plain-sight).

In this episode, I review Pikachu's Origin Story (https://youtu.be/8SJSS_CB6jE), UpRight Go 2, and OnWatch app after Trevor discusses Pokemon Season 2 and BabyBay retiring from the Atlanta Reign of the Overwatch League. The topics of this week are the following: OnePlus Nord (https://www.phonearena.com/news/oneplus-nord-5g-could-be-america-bound_id125987), Reliance Jio and Google (https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/reliance-jio-google-announce-new-android-based-operating-system-11594805320431.html), Jio Glass (https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/reliance-jio-unveils-3d-mixed-reality-jio-glass-key-features-you-should-know-861487.html) , and a Black Hole "Blinks" (https://www.sciencealert.com/for-the-first-time-we-ve-seen-a-black-hole-blink). Trevor's bonus topic is Ayreon's new album teaser (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=293894568328594).

Sorry that I am a week late. I had a busy weekend last week, hanging out with the Cluff family. We have two complete episodes coming soon.

Trevor & I spoke about the following topics: "My Journal is Written to be Read." - Alex Hicken | 15 July 2020 (https://writtentoberead.blogspot.com/2020/07/15-july-2020.html), Pokemon Season 2 (https://www.pokemon.com/us/app/pokemon-tv/), https://beaxy.com/, Reliance Jio launches a Zoom knock-off, JioMeet in India (https://pocketnow.com/reliance-jio-launches-a-zoom-knock-off-jiomeet-in-india), Autonomous Robot Scientist Does in Days What It Would Take a Human Months to Complete (https://www.newsweek.com/ai-autonomous-robot-scientist-created-1516255), Ninja starts streaming on YouTube after Microsoft shuts down Mixer (https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/8/21299002/ninja-youtube-streaming-mixer-shut-down), Dr. Disrespect PERMANENTLY Banned From TWITCH, He is joining Ninja and Shroud to Develop NEW Streaming Platform Supported By Spotify (https://gizmoblaze.com/2020/07/10/dr-disrespect-permanently-banned-from-twitch-he-is-joining-ninja-and-shroud-to-develop-new-streaming-platform-supported-by-spotify/), Google And Ubuntu Join Forces To Make Desktop Linux Even Better (https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2020/07/09/google-and-ubuntu-desktop-linux-flutter/#36177dd2dbd1), Mobian is a Linux-based smartphone OS based on Debian (https://liliputing.com/2020/07/mobian-is-a-linux-based-smartphone-os-based-on-debian.html), Microsoft Executive Peggy Johnson Picked as New Magic Leap CEO (https://gizmodo.com/oh-dip-magic-leaps-got-a-new-ceo-1844290942), Mega Man Franchise Gets VR Experience in Japanese Arcade (https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-07-05/mega-man-franchise-gets-vr-experience-in-japanese-arcade/.161456), NextMind's Brain-Sensing Wearable Is On Sale At $399 (https://observer.com/2020/07/nextmind-ces-brain-sensing-interface-developer-kit-preorder-open/), https://www.smithoptics.com/de/lowdownfocus, https://apolloneuro.com/, Scientists found the center of the Solar System, and it's not where you think (https://www.inverse.com/science/center-of-solar-system/amp), Musk claims Tesla will have 'basic functionality' for Level 5 autonomy this year (https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/tesla-autonomy-autopilot-elon-musk/), The 5 Autonomous Driving Levels Explained (https://www.iotforall.com/5-autonomous-driving-levels-explained/), & 'Odd' Circles of Radio Waves Coming from Unknown Cosmic Source Discovered (https://www.newsweek.com/circle-radio-waves-space-source-unknown-1516549?amp=1).

Trevor and I covered a lot of topics. I list them as follows: UpRight Go 2 (uprightpose.com/), OnePlus - New Beginnings Episode 1 (https://youtu.be/GxqKXbp1Pn8), Ubuntu (ubuntu.com/), mail.com, Pokemon Sword and Shield: Isle of Armor (https://youtu.be/wOSDnjacRm4), The Pokémon Company Engagement Rings (https://hypebeast.com/2020/6/pokemon-company-pikachu-engagement-ring-info), Google confirms acquisition of smart glasses maker North There's probably more to Google's interest than just glasses, though (https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/06/30/google-reportedly-in-talks-to-buy-smart-glasses-maker-north-for-180-million/), Thalmic Labs – Myo Retail Launch (https://youtu.be/A8lGstYAY14), Niantic announces Catan: World Explorers, the fourth augmented reality game from the studio (https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/06/30/catan-world-explorers-augmented-reality-game-android/), Autonomous bike bots to delivery grub and groceries (https://www.zdnet.com/article/autonomous-bike-bots-to-delivery-grub-and-groceries/), Coca-Cola is shutting down Odwalla juice (https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/01/business/odwalla-juice-coca-cola/index.html), Dish has taken over Boost Mobile, as promised in T-Mobile/Sprint merger (https://www.androidcentral.com/dish-has-taken-over-boost-mobile-promised-t-mobilesprint-merger), What Is Open RAN Technology? And What Does It Mean for 5G? - News (https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/news/what-is-open-ran-technolog-and-what-does-it-mean-for-5g/), Explainer: A theoretical cosmologist describes how large black holes really are, and the 'point of no return' (https://phys.org/news/2020-06-theoretical-cosmologist-large-black-holes.html), and Astronomers Believe They Have Spotted the First Known Light Flare From a Pair of Colliding Black Holes (https://scitechdaily.com/astronomers-believe-they-have-spotted-the-first-known-light-flare-from-a-pair-of-colliding-black-holes/)

Trevor and I discuss the following topics: The Hunt Is On for Elusive Ghost Particles in Antarctica (https://www.wired.com/story/the-hunt-is-on-for-elusive-ghost-particles-in-antarctica/), Spotify is holding my favorite podcast hostage with its terrible app (https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/06/13/spotify-is-holding-my-favorite-podcast-hostage-with-its-terrible-app/), LG Velvet Unboxing and quick impressions! (https://youtu.be/Dr6N730wJi4), OnePlus Z aiming to undercut iPhone SE and Pixel 4a with $299 price tag (https://www.androidcentral.com/oneplus-z-could-launch-299-according-new-tweet-carl-pei), Another company is giving up on AR. This time, it’s Bose. (https://www.protocol.com/bose-gives-up-on-augmented-reality), Google countersues Sonos for patent infringement (https://www.engadget.com/google-countersues-sonos-patent-infringement-132548465.html), Linus Torvalds: Linux kernel 5.8 is 'one of our biggest releases of all time' (https://www.zdnet.com/article/linus-torvalds-linux-kernel-5-8-is-one-of-our-biggest-releases-of-all-time/), and Exotic, fifth state of matter created on the space station (https://www.livescience.com/fifth-state-of-matter-created-space-station.html).

Trevor and I discuss the following topics: We've NEVER seen cooling like this! - Poco F2 Pro Teardown! (https://youtu.be/ZZWMxwcFZOc), A New Switch Game Has Unseated ‘Animal Crossing’ For The EShop’s #1 Spot After Three Months (https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2020/06/09/a-new-switch-game-has-unseated-animal-crossing-for-the-eshops-1-spot-after-three-months/#c809b99bb5fc), Google Currents launches July 6, replacing Google+ for good [https://9to5google.com/2020/06/04/google-currents-launch/ & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Currents_(2011-2013)]. I also review the iPhone XR and apps that are marketed to help you find new friends on Snapchat.

Trevor and I did two sessions of recordings because we were not satisfied with the first, discussing the following topics: The Internet of Bodies is here. This is how it could change our lives (https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/internet-of-bodies-covid19-recovery-governance-health-data), How THIS wallpaper kills your phone (https://youtu.be/iXKvwPjCGnY), Waymo’s robot minivans are ready to roll in the Bay Area for the first time since COVID-19 outbreak (https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/30/21275441/waymo-self-driving-car-delivery-bay-area-resume-covid), Sega Game Gear Micro Announced, Tiny-Handed Gamers Rejoice (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-game-gear-micro-announced-tinyhanded-gamers-r/1100-6477977/), How Sega hopes to use Japanese arcades as streaming data centers (https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/06/how-sega-hopes-to-use-japanese-arcades-as-streaming-data-centers/?amp=1), SoftBank Leads $500 Million Funding for Didi Autonomous Unit (https://www-bloomberg-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-05-29/softbank-vision-fund-leads-500-million-funding-for-china-s-didi), Ford Shares Gain After Volkswagen Closes $2.6 Billion Investment in Self-Driving Venture Argo AI (https://www.thestreet.com/investing/ford-gains-on-2-6-billion-vw-investment-in-self-driving-jv), SpaceX lands the same rocket for the fifth time [Updated] (https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/06/spacex-returns-to-the-pad-tonight-just-four-days-after-crew-launch/), SpaceX nearing 500 Starlink satellites now in orbit (https://www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/spacex-nearing-500-starlink-satellites-now-in-orbit/),  and Buterin Says Ethereum’s Layer-Two Scaling Development 'Basically' Succeeded (https://cointelegraph-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/cointelegraph.com/news/buterin-says-ethereums-layer-two-scaling-development-basically-succeeded/amp).

Sorry that this episode is published late. We are going to have to figure out a new schedule, since I got a new job. This episode is the interview that I have been looking forward to since the beginning of the podcast. We talk about the following topics: Amazon in Advanced Talks to Buy Self-Driving-Car Tech Company Zoox (https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-in-advanced-talks-to-buy-self-driving-car-tech-company-zoox-11590538611), Apple acquires machine learning startup Inductiv Inc. to improve Siri data (https://9to5mac.com/2020/05/27/apple-acquires-machine-learning-startup-inductiv-inc-to-improve-siri-data/), and Scientists built a bionic eye that could give blind people sight (https://bgr.com/2020/05/24/bionic-eye-human-prosthetics/); furthermore, Trevor peppers the podcast with the following more fun topics: Boys let black widow bite them in hopes of turning into Spider-Man (https://nypost.com/2020/05/25/boys-let-black-widow-bite-them-in-hopes-of-turning-into-spider-man/), Pokemon Reveals Giant Lapras Pool Float (https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/pokemon-lapras-inflatable-pool-toy/), and Genius Bees Force Plants to Bloom by Biting Them (https://earther.gizmodo.com/genius-bees-force-plants-to-bloom-by-biting-them-1843611907)