Microsoft

Episode 114. Microsoft raises the Surfaces, Twitter tips toward creator compensation, and China’s crypto ban

We take a detailed look at Microsoft’s new Surface offerings, including the Surface Laptop Studio that replaces the Surface Book, and the Surface Duo 2, the beefed-up cameras of which are poised to make the dual-screened phone competitive with flagships. Plus, social media networks TikTok and Facebook are hoping to improve search results by doing a deal with Google. Finally, Shawn weighs in on what China’s crypto ban means for the country and other economies.

Join Shawn DuBravac of Avrio Institute and Ross Rubin of Reticle Research as they dig deep into tech news in every episode of Techspansive!

Episode 113. Apple maxes its mini, checking out Walmart+ vs. Prime, and how Discord could save Facebook

With a look at Apple’s recent media event where the iPhone 13 failed to reach for the skies as Apple beefed up the Apple Watch and iPad mini. Next, we check out the progress in Walmart’s shopping subscription service and look at how much of a threat it is to Amazon Prime. Finally, we discuss how Discord has bridged gaming and NFT investing, and why Facebook is loving the competition.

Join Shawn DuBravac of Avrio Institute and Ross Rubin of Reticle Research as they dig deep into tech news in every episode of Techspansive!

Facebook

Episode 112. Facebook weaves into Wayfarers, Amazon delivers telehealth, tuition and TVs, and Google hawks hybrid hardware

In this episode, we start out assessing Facebook’s stylish but functionally modest smart glasses developed with Ray-Ban. Next, we look at Amazon’s many recent moves, including expanding Amazon Care, equipping more Whole Foods for cashierless checkout, offering college tuition for its 750,000 hourly workers, releasing new smart TVs, and updating its Luna streaming game service.

Facebook

Episode 109. Facebook’s metaverse escape, Google’s Play payola, and Tesla’s robots probably won’t kill

The government is back in Facebook’s face. We discuss the dynamics of the new category battleground as well as how its Horizon VR Workrooms advance its metaverse ambitions. Next, a look at whether Google’s tactics in keeping its app store on top crossed a line. Finally, we discuss the potential of Tesla’s humanoid robot.

Facebook

Episode 104. Facebook pwns the FTC, Instagram vs. TikTok, and teaming up against Teams

As Facebook’s court win against the FTC dredges up limitaitons of antitrust laws, Instagram chases TikTok, which is chasing YouTube. Meanwhile, in less entertaining applications, Salesforce, now armed with Slack, may be driving an alliance with Amazon and Dropbox to take on rival Microsoft as Windows 11 integrates Teams.

Join Shawn DuBravac of Avrio Institute and Ross Rubin of Reticle Research as they dig deep into tech news in every episode of Techspansive!

Roku

Episode 98: iPhone users opt out of tracking, Google stares down Roku, and Windows 10x gets axed

Join Shawn DuBravac of Avrio Institute and Ross Rubin of Reticle Research as they provide insights on the biggest tech stories, including:
—how Facebook is reacting to iPhone users’ overwhelming tracking opt-out.
—why Roku is cornered as it negotiates with Google over YouTube
—whether Microsoft has learned an important lesson by canceling Windows 10x

Facebook

97. Facebook’s Oversight Board punts, Twitter adds to subscription portfolio, and the push to extend Moore’s Law

Join Shawn DuBravac of Avrio Institute and Ross Rubin of Reticle Research as they provide insights on the biggest tech stories, including:
—what the outcome of Facebook’s Oversight Board means for the future of the the site’s governance
—how the latest Twitter acquisitions and features are fueling its push into in the creator economy
—the innovations from IBM and Lightmatter driving computing beyond today’s processor limitations

96. Apple’s sales boom, Instagram’s Clubhouse features, and Samsung’s strengthening ecosystem

Join Shawn DuBravac of Avrio Institute and Ross Rubin of Reticle Research as they provide insights on the biggest tech stories, including:

—whether Apple’s earnings reveal continued pandemic demand or more generational change drivers as 5G expands
—how Facebook continues to seek business diversification via a Clubhouse-like Instagram mode, a greater commerce focus, and more 
—how Samsung has continued to weave its ecosystem message together with the Galaxy Book Pros

95. The iPad gets the Mac’s brain, AirTags find Tile’s market, and Google fights for FloC

Join Shawn DuBravac of Avrio Institute and Ross Rubin of Reticle Research as they provide insights on the biggest tech stories, including:

—whether Apple’s new iMac and iPad mean can boost demand for desktops and powerful tablets

—how Apple’s new AirTags product stacks up to competition from Tile as regulatory scrutiny increases

—how Facebook and Google are going deeper into their own networks with video privacy standards to maximize ad models

Episode 91. Sony and Facebook get a grip, social networks jump into audio and newsletters, and the “I’m a Mac” guy switches sides

Join Shawn DuBravac of Avrio Institute and Ross Rubin of Reticle Research as they provide insights on the biggest tech stories, including:
-how Sony and Facebook are defining control of extended reality with controllers and wearables
-whether Facebook’s curtailing of groups can help improve its user experience as it and Twitter take on Substack and Clubhouse
—how Apple and Intel are reviving old commercial characters as they again become silicon rivals