The Pixel 9 is great – and a problem

Update: 2024-08-23

Digest

The podcast begins with a discussion of the Global Citizen Festival, an event aimed at ending extreme poverty. The festival will feature performances by Post Malone, Doja Cat, Lisa, Jelly Roll, and Rao Alejandro, alongside world leaders and activists. The episode then shifts to a story about Anna, a woman who spied on the US government for 17 years. The episode explores how she was caught and the methods she used to communicate with her handlers. The podcast continues with a review of the Pixel 9 phone, praising its hardware and camera quality. However, the conversation shifts to the ethical concerns surrounding Google's AI features, particularly the "Reimagine" tool that allows users to manipulate photos with text prompts. The podcast then delves into Paramount's ongoing sale process, with Sharon Redstone seeking a buyer. The discussion also covers the chaotic state of the streaming industry, with Disney, Warner Brothers, and Paramount facing challenges in the wake of declining broadcast revenue. The podcast explores Chick-fil-A's unexpected foray into the streaming market. The company is reportedly developing original shows for a new platform, leveraging its existing ties to Trillet Studios. The hosts speculate on the potential content and branding of the service. The podcast discusses Alex Cooper's departure from Spotify and her move to Sirius XM, highlighting the significant financial deal she secured. The hosts compare this move to Howard Stern's transition to Sirius and speculate on the implications for the podcast industry. The hosts discuss Amazon's decision to cancel the photo plan feature on the Echo Show 8 photo edition, a move that effectively removes the device's primary selling point. They speculate on the reasons behind this decision, suggesting that Amazon prioritizes pushing its Alexa ecosystem and advertising over providing a simple photo frame function. The hosts discuss JBL's new headphones with a larger screen on the case, allowing for track control and other functions. They debate whether this is a useful innovation or a pointless use of technology, ultimately concluding that it could be a convenient alternative to a smartwatch. The hosts propose that TikTok could become a successful dating app by allowing users to share their "For You" feed with potential matches, providing a unique and engaging way to get to know someone. They believe this would be a more effective approach than traditional dating app questionnaires. The hosts discuss the ongoing issues with the Sonos app, particularly the S2 update that has caused widespread problems and instability. They criticize Sonos's handling of the situation, highlighting the company's admission that they cannot revert to the previous app due to software changes that have made it unreliable.

Outlines

00:00:00

Global Citizen Festival and Anna: A Spy's Story

The Global Citizen Festival will be held on September 28th, bringing together thousands of people who have taken action to end extreme poverty. The event will feature performances by Post Malone, Doja Cat, Lisa, Jelly Roll, and Rao Alejandro, alongside world leaders and activists. The festival aims to defeat poverty, defend the planet, and demand equity. This episode of Criminal tells the story of Anna, a woman who spied on the US government for 17 years. The episode explores how she was caught and the methods she used to communicate with her handlers.

00:01:02

Pixel 9 Review, AI Concerns, and Paramount's Sale

The Vergecast discusses the Pixel 9 phone, praising its hardware and camera quality. However, the conversation shifts to the ethical concerns surrounding Google's AI features, particularly the "Reimagine" tool that allows users to manipulate photos with text prompts. The podcast delves into Paramount's ongoing sale process, with Sharon Redstone seeking a buyer. The discussion also covers the chaotic state of the streaming industry, with Disney, Warner Brothers, and Paramount facing challenges in the wake of declining broadcast revenue.

00:50:44

Chick-fil-A Enters Streaming, Alex Cooper's Move, and Amazon's Echo Show 8

The podcast explores Chick-fil-A's unexpected foray into the streaming market. The company is reportedly developing original shows for a new platform, leveraging its existing ties to Trillet Studios. The hosts speculate on the potential content and branding of the service. The podcast discusses Alex Cooper's departure from Spotify and her move to Sirius XM, highlighting the significant financial deal she secured. The hosts compare this move to Howard Stern's transition to Sirius and speculate on the implications for the podcast industry. The hosts discuss Amazon's decision to cancel the photo plan feature on the Echo Show 8 photo edition, a move that effectively removes the device's primary selling point. They speculate on the reasons behind this decision, suggesting that Amazon prioritizes pushing its Alexa ecosystem and advertising over providing a simple photo frame function.

01:08:53

JBL Headphones with Screened Case, TikTok as a Dating App, and Sonos App Issues

The hosts discuss JBL's new headphones with a larger screen on the case, allowing for track control and other functions. They debate whether this is a useful innovation or a pointless use of technology, ultimately concluding that it could be a convenient alternative to a smartwatch. The hosts propose that TikTok could become a successful dating app by allowing users to share their "For You" feed with potential matches, providing a unique and engaging way to get to know someone. They believe this would be a more effective approach than traditional dating app questionnaires. The hosts discuss the ongoing issues with the Sonos app, particularly the S2 update that has caused widespread problems and instability. They criticize Sonos's handling of the situation, highlighting the company's admission that they cannot revert to the previous app due to software changes that have made it unreliable.

Keywords

Generative AI

Generative AI refers to artificial intelligence systems capable of creating new content, such as text, images, audio, and video. These systems are trained on massive datasets and can generate outputs that resemble human-created content.

Reimagine AI

Reimagine AI is a feature on Google's Pixel 9 phones that allows users to manipulate photos using text prompts. It leverages generative AI to add, remove, or modify elements within an image.

Streaming Wars

The "streaming wars" refers to the intense competition among various streaming services, such as Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video, for subscribers and market share. This competition has led to increased spending on content and a focus on attracting and retaining viewers.

Broadcast Networks

Broadcast networks are traditional television networks that transmit their programming over the airwaves. These networks have faced declining viewership in recent years due to the rise of streaming services and the changing viewing habits of audiences.

Alexa Ecosystem

Amazon's suite of smart home devices and services that are powered by the Alexa voice assistant, including Echo speakers, Fire TV, and other connected devices.

Sonos App

The mobile application used to control Sonos speakers and manage music playback, which has been plagued by issues and instability since the S2 update.

S2 Update

A major software update for Sonos speakers that introduced new features but also caused significant problems with the app's functionality and stability.

Q&A

What are the ethical concerns surrounding Google's "Reimagine" AI feature?
The "Reimagine" AI feature raises concerns about the potential for manipulation and misinformation. It allows users to create realistic-looking images that may not reflect reality, which could be used to spread false information or create harmful content.
Why is Paramount seeking a buyer?
Paramount is seeking a buyer due to declining broadcast revenue and the challenges of competing in the streaming market. The company has already written down the value of its broadcast channels, indicating a desire to exit the traditional television business.
What is Chick-fil-A's strategy for entering the streaming market?
Chick-fil-A is reportedly developing original shows for a new streaming platform, leveraging its existing ties to Trillet Studios. The company is aiming for family-friendly content, potentially targeting a Christian audience.
What are the implications of Alex Cooper's move to Sirius XM for the podcast industry?
Alex Cooper's move to Sirius XM suggests a shift in the podcast industry, with traditional radio players like Sirius and iHeartRadio investing heavily in podcasting. This could lead to consolidation and a change in the way podcasts are produced and distributed.
Why did Amazon cancel the photo plan feature on the Echo Show 8 photo edition?
The hosts speculate that Amazon prioritized pushing its Alexa ecosystem and advertising over providing a simple photo frame function. They believe that Amazon may have lost money on the photo edition and saw it as a less profitable product compared to other Alexa-enabled devices.
What are the potential benefits of JBL's new headphones with a screen on the case?
The hosts suggest that the screen could provide a convenient alternative to a smartwatch, allowing users to control music playback, set alarms, and check text messages without having to pull out their phone.
How could TikTok be used as a dating app?
The hosts propose that TikTok could allow users to share their "For You" feed with potential matches, providing a unique and engaging way to get to know someone based on their interests and preferences. They believe this would be a more effective approach than traditional dating app questionnaires.
What are the main issues with the Sonos app and the S2 update?
The hosts discuss the widespread problems with the S2 update, including app instability, disconnections, and the inability to revert to the previous app. They criticize Sonos's handling of the situation, highlighting the company's admission that they cannot fix the issues and that the old app would make things worse.

Show Notes

The Verge's David Pierce, Alex Cranz, Allison Johnson, and Richard Lawler discuss the Google Pixel 9 review and its controversial reimagine AI feature, a Chick-fil-A streaming service, Sonos app updates, and more.

Further reading: