The real cost of the PS5 Pro
Digest
This episode of VergeCaths dives into a range of tech topics, starting with the PS5 Pro and its potential impact on the gaming landscape. The hosts discuss the merits of the console and whether it's a worthwhile upgrade for gamers. They then move on to Google's announcement of desktop windowing on Android tablets, exploring its implications for the future of Android tablets and foldable devices. The conversation also touches upon the absurdity of conspiracy theories in the tech news cycle, using Kamala Harris's earrings as an example. The episode delves into the evolution of foldable phones, acknowledging the progress made in hinge technology and screen durability. However, the hosts emphasize the need for compelling software and use cases to make these devices truly appealing to consumers. They also discuss Huawei's new Mate XT Ultimate Design, a trifold smartphone, and the challenges Huawei faces in the US market due to sanctions. The conversation shifts to Google's conflicting identities, highlighting the company's confidence in its hardware and software, particularly with the Pixel line and Gemini AI, while simultaneously facing antitrust lawsuits for its dominant search engine and ad tech practices. The hosts express concerns about the lack of competition and the quality of ads in the online advertising space. They also discuss the influence of MBAs in the tech industry, suggesting that their focus on profit maximization has led to a shift away from the idealistic goals of early tech companies. The episode concludes with a lightning round covering various topics, including the proposed new rules for truck size in the US, the interoperability of messaging apps, and the emergence of AI-powered podcast generation tools. The hosts discuss the potential impact of the EU's interoperability regulations on Apple's iPhone and the implications of Google's Notebook LM, an AI-powered notes app that can generate podcasts from documents. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the future of AI, highlighting both its potential and its limitations, including the challenges of AI hallucination, manipulation, and accountability.
Outlines
Tech News: PS5 Pro, Android Tablets, and Foldable Phones
This chapter discusses the latest tech news, including the PS5 Pro, Google's desktop windowing on Android tablets, and the future of foldable phones. The hosts debate the merits of the PS5 Pro and whether it's a worthwhile upgrade for gamers, as well as the implications of Google's move for the future of Android tablets and foldable devices.
Google's Desktop Windowing on Android Tablets
The hosts discuss Google's announcement of the developer preview of desktop windowing on Android tablets, which could have significant implications for the future of Android tablets and foldable devices. They compare this to Samsung's Dex and discuss the potential impact on the broader Android ecosystem.
Tech News and Conspiracy Theories
This chapter discusses the recent debate about Kamala Harris's earrings, which some people on the internet claimed were actually headphones. They discuss the absurdity of this theory and the broader trend of conspiracy theories in the tech news cycle.
Huawei's Mate XT Ultimate Design and Market Challenges
The hosts discuss Huawei's new Mate XT Ultimate Design, a trifold smartphone that is priced at $2,800. They discuss the phone's features and design, as well as the challenges Huawei faces in the US market due to sanctions.
The Future of Foldable Phones
The discussion revolves around the evolution of foldable phones, acknowledging the progress made in hinge technology and screen durability. The focus shifts to the software and use cases that need to be developed to make these devices truly compelling for consumers.
Google's Conflicting Identities: Hardware, Software, and Antitrust
The conversation explores the contrasting sides of Google: a company with confidence in its hardware and software, particularly with the Pixel line and Gemini AI, while simultaneously facing antitrust lawsuits for its dominant search engine and ad tech practices.
The State of Online Advertising
The discussion delves into the current state of online advertising, highlighting the lack of competition and the dominance of Google's ad tech stack. The panelists express concerns about the quality of ads and the lack of innovation in the space.
The MBA Influence on Tech
The conversation touches upon the influence of MBAs in the tech industry, suggesting that their focus on profit maximization has led to a shift away from the idealistic goals of early tech companies. The panelists discuss how this shift has impacted Google's culture and decision-making.
Lightning Round: Truck Size, Messaging Apps, and AI Podcast Generation
The lightning round features a variety of topics, including the proposed new rules for truck size in the US, the interoperability of messaging apps, and the emergence of AI-powered podcast generation tools.
The Future of iPhone Content and Interoperability
The panelists discuss the potential impact of the EU's interoperability regulations on Apple's iPhone, suggesting that separate content strategies may be needed for European and American audiences.
Google's AI Podcast Generator: Notebook LM
The conversation focuses on Google's Notebook LM, an AI-powered notes app that can generate podcasts from documents. The panelists discuss the potential implications of this technology, particularly for local news and community engagement.
The Future of AI: Potential and Challenges
The discussion explores the current state of AI, highlighting both its potential and its limitations. The panelists discuss the challenges of AI hallucination, manipulation, and accountability, while also acknowledging the potential for AI to improve local news and community engagement.
Keywords
Advanced Ray Tracing
A rendering technique that simulates the way light interacts with objects in the real world, creating more realistic and immersive visuals in video games and other applications.
Desktop Windowing
A user interface paradigm that allows users to open and manage multiple windows on their devices, similar to traditional desktop operating systems.
Foldable Devices
Smartphones and tablets that can be folded or unfolded, offering a larger screen when open and a more compact form factor when closed.
Dex
Samsung's desktop mode for its phones, which allows users to connect their phones to an external monitor and use them as a desktop computer.
PS5 Pro
A new version of Sony's PlayStation 5 console that features a more powerful GPU, improved ray tracing capabilities, and a higher price tag.
Trifold Smartphone
A smartphone that folds into three sections, offering a larger screen when fully unfolded and a more compact form factor when folded.
Huawei
A Chinese technology company that has been subject to US sanctions, limiting its access to certain technologies and markets.
Foldable Phones
Mobile devices with flexible screens that can fold or bend, offering a larger display area when unfolded and a more compact form factor when folded.
Gemini AI
Google's large language model, designed to compete with OpenAI's ChatGPT, offering advanced capabilities in natural language processing, text generation, and code writing.
Q&A
What are the key features of the PS5 Pro?
The PS5 Pro features a more powerful GPU, improved ray tracing capabilities, and a higher price tag. It also lacks a disc drive, which has been a point of contention for some gamers.
What are the potential implications of Google's desktop windowing feature for Android tablets?
This feature could make Android tablets more appealing to users who need to multitask and use their devices for productivity, potentially challenging the dominance of traditional desktop operating systems.
What are the challenges facing Huawei in the US market?
Huawei has been subject to US sanctions, limiting its access to certain technologies and markets. This has made it difficult for the company to compete in the US smartphone market.
What is the current state of the foldable phone market?
Foldable phones have reached a point of maturity, with iterative improvements being made to address early issues. However, they remain a niche product, with Apple yet to enter the market.
What are the key challenges facing foldable phones in becoming mainstream?
The main challenges include improving screen durability, developing compelling software and use cases, and reducing the price point to make them more accessible to consumers.
How is Google's approach to AI reflected in its hardware and software products?
Google's focus on AI is evident in its Pixel devices, which feature advanced AI features like Gemini, and its efforts to integrate AI into its software ecosystem.
What are the concerns surrounding Google's dominance in online advertising?
Concerns include the lack of competition, the quality of ads, and the potential for Google to manipulate the market to its advantage.
How could AI-powered podcast generation tools impact local news and community engagement?
These tools could potentially make local news more accessible and engaging, particularly for topics that are not widely covered by traditional media outlets.
What are the ethical considerations surrounding the development and use of AI?
Ethical considerations include the potential for AI hallucination, manipulation, and bias, as well as the need for accountability and transparency in AI systems.
Show Notes
Nilay, David, and Alex talk about the new PlayStation 5 Pro — why it's so expensive, why it doesn't have a disc drive, and why it made so many people feel feelings. They also talk about the fallout from this week's iPhone launch, the first days of the Google ad trial, Kamala Harris's earrings, Huawei's triple-folding phone, and much more.
Further reading:
- PS5 Pro: all the news about Sony’s next console
- Sony’s PS5 Pro has a larger GPU, advanced ray tracing, and AI upscaling
- The $700 PS5 Pro doesn’t come with a disc drive
- Sony’s new PS5 heralds the end of disc drives
- Here are all the games enhanced by PS5 Pro
- PlayStation 5 Pro comparison: What’s different from the regular PS5?
- Sony will sell you a refurbished PS5 if you don’t want to drop $700 on a Pro
- The people want disc drives.
- Microsoft lays off 650 more Xbox employees
- No, Kamala Harris wasn’t wearing these audio earrings
- These are real earrings — and also real earbuds
- Google Pixel Watch 3 review: third time’s the charm
- Huawei’s new tri-fold phone costs more than a 16-inch MacBook Pro
- Here’s a closer look at the Huawei Mate XT triple-screen foldable
- The Meta Quest 3S leaks in Meta’s own PC app
- Google and the DOJ’s ad tech fight is all about control
- Google dominates online ads, says antitrust trial witness, but publishers are feeling ‘stuck’
- WhatsApp will send messages to other apps soon — here’s how it will look
- The US finally takes aim at truck bloat
- Google is using AI to make fake podcasts from your notes
- Facebook and Instagram are making AI labels less prominent on edited content
Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you.
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