The Vergecast

• A buggy Sonos mystery

  The Verge's Will Poor recently came home from vacation and discovered he had an insect problem. More specifically, his Sonos speaker had an insect problem. Will brings us the story of what really happened there, and what he discovered about how the animal kingdom — and the electronics world — works. After that, The Verge's Andru Marino tells us about his research on all things AI podcasts. He tells us why people are so hooked on NotebookLM's Audio Overviews, where these generated shows fall short, and what all us human podcasters could learn from the bots. Finally, The Verge's Jennifer Pattison Tuohy helps us answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email [email protected]!) all about smart lights. Which get complicated faster than you think. Further reading: Oh no, Google is turning everything into a podcast Google’s NotebookLM AI podcasts add ‘interactive’ mode for some Q-and-A Steven Johnson on Google, NotebookLM, and AI research A guide to getting started with smart lighting: When to use smart switches and smart bulbs Inovelli smart switches Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  1:27:06
• Why Apple is trying to save Google

  Where will Meta, Apple, and Google be three years from now? It's starting to look like they might all be very different. Nilay, David, and The Verge's Richard Lawler start the show with Eddy Cue's testimony in the Google search trial, in which Cue argued that AI is taking over — and that Google should be allowed to keep paying Apple gobs of money. The hosts also chat about the latest in the Meta trials, and how the recent Apple ruling is already changing the App Store. Then, there are some gadgets to talk about: the panopticon-slash-killer-app coming for Meta's smart glasses, the new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, and a lot of new iPhones. In the lightning round, we do another round of Brendan Carr is a Dummy, then talk about some new Netflix designs and the latest in our worldwide hunt for party speakers. Further reading: Eddy Cue is fighting to save Apple’s $20 billion paycheck from Google Apple’s Eddy Cue: ‘You may not need an iPhone 10 years from now’ Google searches are falling in Safari for the first time ever — probably because of AI Google's statement about Search traffic Apple is looking at adding Perplexity and other AI search engines to Safari Amazon now has a ‘Get book’ button in its iOS Kindle app Epic will use an EU account to bring Fortnite back to the US App Store Patreon’s iOS update allows creators to bypass in-app purchases Apple is trying to halt the App Store ruling. Apple files appeal to wrest back control of its App Store A new bill would force Apple to allow third-party app storesDOJ’s proposed Google changes would ‘deeply undermine user trust,’ search chief says Firefox could be doomed without Google search deal, says executive DOJ asks court to split up Google’s ad tech empire Threads was originally going to live inside the Instagram app | The Verge Instagram doesn’t want to be a ‘lean-back experience.’ | The Verge ‘TikTok is probably the fiercest competition that we have faced.’ | The Verge Instagram has spent up to $700 million in a year to lure creators. Mosseri calls the first version of Reels his ‘biggest mistake.’ | The Verge Meta’s new AI glasses could have a ‘super-sensing’ mode with facial recognition Apple is planning smart glasses with and without AR Apple ‘iPhone Air’ rumor suggests a bigger screen coming in 2027 Apple may stagger next year’s iPhones to make way for a foldable Microsoft’s smaller Surface Pro has a 12-inch display and starts at $799 Microsoft shrinks its Surface Laptop down to 13 inches, priced at $899 Microsoft’s new Surface devices ditch magnetic charging port for USB-C How Microsoft shrunk its Surface devices Policing News, Policing DEI: The FCC’s Shifting Priorities Erode Its Credibility OpenAI abandons plan to become a for-profit company Netflix is getting a big TV revamp Netflix will try a TikTok-like feed on its mobile app I put four robot lawnmowers through a brutal backyard battle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  1:45:27
• The AI wearables are always listening

  The Verge’s Victoria Song joins the show to talk about a new genre of gadget, which both she and David have been testing a lot: the AI-powered, always-on voice recorder. Vee shares what she’s learned from devices like Bee, and why it’s going to be so hard for AI to figure out what really matters in our lives. After that, The Verge’s Nathan Edwards and keyboard maker Ryan Norbauer tell the story of the Seneca, a $3,600 keyboard that Norbauer built to his own incredibly exacting specifications. They tell David about what it really takes to make a great keyboard, and why making one is worth the effort. Finally, in the lightning round (call 866-VERGE11 or email [email protected]!), we answer a couple of questions about the future of Chrome. Further reading: Bee review: I outsourced my memory to AI and all I got was fanfiction The Plaude NotePin is a great AI voice recorder, and it’s totally doomed Friend: a new digital companion for the AI age The Norbauer Seneca The $3,600 keyboard that’s optimized for joy. Why are companies lining up to buy Chrome? Sundar Pichai says the DOJ’s antitrust plan could kill Google Search Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  1:19:38
• How Apple lost control of the App Store

  Everywhere you look, antitrust fights have the potential to reshape the tech industry. Nilay, David, and The Verge's Jake Kastrenakes start by digging into the latest ruling in the Apple / Epic trial, in which a furious judge rips open the App Store in a way Apple likely never saw coming. The way we pay for apps is about to change, and fast. After that, it's time for an update on the Google and Meta trials, as Google tries to preserve its search empire and Meta tries to make the case that basically every company on the web is its vicious competitor. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for another installment of Brendan Carr is a Dummy, plus some notes on this week's Worldcoin launch and the strange new Meta AI app. Also: party speakers. Always party speakers. Further reading: A judge just blew up Apple’s control of the App Store ‘Cook chose poorly’: how Apple blew up its control over the App Store The future of the App Store depends on the difference between a ‘button’ and an ‘external link’ Apple must allow other forms of in-app purchase, rules judge in Epic v. Apple Apple exec ‘outright lied’ during Epic trial Apple confirms it will appeal the App Store order. Epic says Fortnite is coming back to iOS in the US Sundar Pichai says the DOJ’s antitrust plan could kill Google Search Google confirms it’s close to getting Gemini support on iPhones The TikTok ban is back in court — in Meta’s antitrust trial TikTok’s head of operations takes the stand. Reels isn’t Instagram’s ‘core’ experience. TikTok doesn’t compete with Meta for ‘personal social networking.’ TikTok’s legal entanglements collide. The TikTok ban makes another cameo. TikTok’s friends tab is not exactly a hit. TikTok and Reels are ‘indistinguishable.’ Are YouTube and Instagram the top competitors for TikTok?  TikTok predicted Instagram would redesign its app to focus on Reels. Meta prepared for a ‘flood in traffic’ ahead of the TikTok ban. Facebook execs worried Google would buy WhatsApp and make it ‘a cross-platform iMessage.’ Facebook worried most about Google or Apple buying WhatsApp. Google had a ‘long shot’ chance of becoming competitive in social with WhatsApp. Facebook exec worried about losing the business to mobile messaging apps. ‘I was really worried that this could become the end.’ ‘This shit is getting scary.’  WhatsApp showed ‘absolutely no signs of morphing’ into a social app. Facebook floated starting from scratch on messaging. Facebook didn’t know how it would make money from WhatsApp. Facebook didn’t fear WhatsApp becoming a social competitor. Meta releases AI app to compete with ChatGPT Brendan Carr congratulates himself Brendan Carr’s FCC is an anti-consumer, rights-trampling harassment machine Brendan Carr’s Bizarro World FCC Sam Altman-backed Worldcoin cryptocurrency launches in the US Email us at [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  1:51:24
• The Slate Truck is a whole new kind of car

  Sometimes you want more tech in your life — and sometimes you want a lot less. This episode is all about less. First, Tim Stevens joins the show to talk about his story about the Slate Truck, an ultra-minimal electric vehicle that has almost no features to speak of and yet still promises to reinvent the way we think about cars. After that, Casey Johnston tells us about her journey in managing her screen time. She has tips for how to get the most problematic apps of your phone, is a big proponent of a factory reset, and has seen first-hand what happens when you look at your devices just a little less. Finally, we answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email [email protected]!) about whether there's a MacBook Air equivalent in the Windows world. The answer surprised us, and it might surprise you too. Further reading: The $20,000 American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, and no touchscreen Is this the antidote to America’s truck bloat problem? From TechCrunch: Inside the EV startup secretly backed by Jeff Bezos Around the Next Bend on Substack Slate is the American truck scene's Ctrl+Alt+Del moment From She's a Beast: The DIY Dumbphone Method Casey's book: A Physical Education Framework Laptop 13 (2025) review: getting better with age Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  1:28:17

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