Episode 132. Reviewing Google I/O: search, AI, and comparing Google and Meta’s approaches to device ecosystems and smart glasses

We take a comprehensive look at the announcements in search, AI, and hardware and how it’s all coming together at Google I/O. We also take another look at the ecosystem approaches of Google versus Meta, including both companies’ pitches on design and value.

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

Amazon

Episode 127. Amazon’s pulls in MGM Studios, the FIDO Alliance pushes away passwords, and Instagram serves up NFTs

With Amazon finalizing its acquisition of MGM Studios, we dive into what the studio assets can do for the retail and cloud giant, why the acquisition evaded regulatory challenges, and how the content fits into adjacent Amazon moves in content, advertising, and devices. Plus, a look at moves by the FIDO Alliance to use our ordinary devices as trusted identification sources as one of several initiatives moving us toward the passwordless future. Finally, we look at Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement that Instagram will enable creators to mint NFTs on the platform and how that could fit into the metaverse plans of Meta and others.

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 124. A 3G retrospective, Spotify releases its Car Thing, and Meta’s speech-generated worlds

With AT&T becoming the first of the major U.S. carriers to start shutting down its 3G network, we look back at the advances that the network gave rise to and how its capabilities compared to the shifts of 4G and 5G. Plus, Spotify releases its first device: Car Thing, a thin touchscreen designed to ease access to its phone-based service in the car. We offer our take on its goals and potential. Finally, Meta continues its string of tantalizing demos with its mashup of VR and AI. We look at the potential for speech as the ultimate natural interface for artificial reality.

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 121. The Facebook face-plant, Amazon’s ascendant advertising, and Wordle for the win

As Meta points us toward the future, investors slapped the company for its ad revenue shortfall and discouraging forecast, particularly in light of strong quarters from Alphabet and Snap, as the company again turns to Instagram to battle a challenger in TikTok. We discuss why the metaverse is so important to Meta as Amazon builds on its own commerce site to become the #3 digital advertising platform. Finally, we offer a few reasons why The New York Times purchase of Wordle might not result in screams of four-letter words.

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

Microsoft

Episode 118. Meta and Microsoft meet in the metaverse, Netflix content gets phone-friendlier, and Twitter sings the Blues

Coming on the heels of Meta and Microsoft announcing competing visions for the metaverse, the two Big Tech companies have announced plans to collaborate. We discuss why the collaboration makes sense, at least for now. Plus, we weigh in on how Netflix’s new mobile games and TikTok-like kids programming is better leveraging its evolving IP for mobile, a platform Amazon is also targeting with a new video-sharing feature. Finally, Twitter Blue hits the U.S. at last. We discuss its value and what we see as a major marketing miss by the company in building its subscription business.

Episode 117. Why Macs are cars, Microsoft out-metaverses Meta, and American digital services exit Chin

We discuss Apple’s take on why the perpetually exposed iPhone must remain closed to sideloaded apps while the Mac is open to them. At Microsoft Ignite, the software giant shoots back at just-minted Meta with its own plans to deliver the metaverse to businesses and consumers. We discuss the implications of Microsoft’s metaverse play as well as its new app, Microsoft Loop, which takes on Google Workspace with a dynamic collaboration layer in Teams. Finally, we look at the latest American companies and digital properties to leave the Chinese market, citing compliance challenges, and the ripple effect on the splintering internet.

Facebook

Episode 116. Facebook’s Meta-morphosis, Big Tech reports earnings, and Jio’s $87 smartphone

Meta represents more than a new name for Facebook. We discuss the vision behind Facebook’s future direction as well as how effectively the company can capitalize on it. Plus, while big cloud services continued to drive revenue, we look at how supply chain challenges and some demand softening has led to some high-profile estimate misses. Finally, we look at the $87 Jio. Next, a highly optimized Android smartphone from Google designed to entice Indian consumers to upgrade from 2G phones.