About the show
A thoughtful, unpretentious, mostly weekly conversation about the companies, ideas and products that are transforming our world. We look at what it is, why it matters and where it fits in the broader business of consumer technology. So, grab your favorite Blue Barn sandwich, put the Giants game on mute and join us.
Hosted by Ryan Fretwell and Carlos Gomez.
Episodes
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Episode 366: iPad Nice!
May 23rd, 2024 | 1 hr 58 mins
The first restaurant in California to be fined over the new surcharge and fee ban? Surprisingly, it’s Ryan’s new Detroit Style Pizza Parlor and Play Place.
What even is a “Marin County smart lighting surcharge”?
This week: Barkley v. Zaz, Carlos’ continuing dedication to making big mistakes, and Sonos’ courageous app update. 🔈
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Episode 365: Adam Silver Shrinkflation
May 7th, 2024 | 1 hr 42 mins
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: it’s our most powerful iPad ever, and we just can’t wait to see what you do with it.
This week: Adam Silver pulls an Equator, cookie cocktails, and 94123 it’s all about me. 🍪.
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Episode 364: Cold Elmo
April 23rd, 2024 | 1 hr 49 mins
Do bad reviews kill good products? For the love of God please don’t test that hypothesis out on this show.
This week: the capitalist haunted house that is TurboTax, conical burrs, and proof one of your hosts is out of touch with the common philatelist. 📫.
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Episode 363: Clear as Mud
April 9th, 2024 | 1 hr 11 mins
Fun fact! More people decide to build a cabin off the grid after using Google Nest products than successfully get it working with the rest of their smart home.
This week: Amazon walks out on Just Walk Out, pouring one out for Logitech Harmony, and the doom loop narrative comes for EVs. 🚗
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Episode 362: Certain Kinds of Money
March 26th, 2024 | 1 hr 23 mins
Yeah, I mean it’s not too much of a stretch that automakers are selling your data and snitching on speeding to your insurer, but sending a report to Lin Manuel Miranda about how off key I sing “It’s Quiet Uptown” is a bridge too far.
This week: EV surprises, NAS surprises, with a dash of regulatory scrutiny surprises via one Merrick Garland. 🍎.
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Episode 361: Democracy Play Pack
March 5th, 2024 | 1 hr 45 mins
We know it’s been a while since Econ 201 but Jiminy Christmas are Hue bulbs the new Veblen good? What are these things made out of avocado toast? Come on.
This week: dust covered Vision Pros, NACS snaccs, and a peppering of Spring Apple news. 🥽.
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Episode 360: Ya’ll Have Guest Rooms?
February 20th, 2024 | 1 hr 52 mins
We didn’t get a ballot but that ain’t stopping us. A fruit company year in review.
This week: hi Barbie, football (the non-Messi one), and a bit more on VR. 🥽.
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Episode 359: Major League Football
February 6th, 2024 | 1 hr 44 mins
New ways to watch sports from ESPN, Fox, and Warner Brothers. All without a cable subscription. Sports from ESPN. FOX. Warner Brothers. Are you getting it? These are not three separate services. This is one device, and we’re calling it - Iger-ulu.
This week: plug in hybrids, old movies, and an update on the Chicago food scene. 🌭.
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Episode 358: Waymo Rider Score
January 23rd, 2024 | 1 hr 45 mins
Chris Nolan gets roasted by Peloton instructors and Soulcycle stays mum on Wes Anderson making the same movie over and over again for three decades. Hmm.
This week: cursed airports, (smart) locks of love, and area Cinnabon manager snubbed for the umpteenth time by the Emmys. 📺.
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Episode 357: If IKEA Made a Car
January 9th, 2024 | 1 hr 37 mins
Did each engineer designing the Chevy Blazer EV’s infotainment software spend at least 10,000 hours on it before it went into production?
Okay, this is a very funny joke about Malcolm Gladwell, trust me.
This week: Taylor’s concert film, Ryan’s sports dilemma, and Tim’s headset. 🏀.
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Episode 356: Brand Activations
December 12th, 2023 | 1 hr 24 mins
“It’s only ridiculous if it doesn’t work.” - Tyler Florence, probably.
This week: the enduring legacy of a flat panel icon, Amazon Prime Video with Special Offers, and a look at peak Donkey Sauce Capitalism. 🫏
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Episode 355: Christmas Light Amortization Schedule 🎁
November 30th, 2023 | 2 hrs 9 mins
iPod Socks? Again?
Worry not friends, it is finally time: our first annual holiday gift guide.
This week: Kiri the fire truck, unplugging for the holidays, and more tales from retail lock up. 🧦.
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Episode 354: They're Using the Metric System to Trick You
November 15th, 2023 | 1 hr 28 mins
We all thought Jack Nicholson looked silly wearing sunglasses courtside but with these retina searing courts who’s laughing now…
This week: New York bagels, the metric system, and the perils of computers on wheels. 🥯
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Episode 353: Kitchen Computer
October 30th, 2023 | 1 hr 22 mins
[leans in over flashlight] And they weren’t done yet. After murdering the Touch Bar, the perpetrators cackled manically as they introduced a Pro laptop with just eight gigabytes of RAM. In 2023!
[crowd shrieks]
This week: artificial coffee, ciders, and Apple’s ghoulish fall Mac event. 🎃.
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Episode 352: CarPlay Robin Hood
October 17th, 2023 | 1 hr 57 mins
We understand our programming schedule has been a little inconsistent, so we’re going to make it up to you with the “most affordable” episode ever. Find the hidden USB-C mention and you win a prize.
This week: East Bay CarPlay blues, when CPG products get the Mona Lisa treatment, and Ryan’s accidental haunted house. 👻.
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Episode 351: Sealed Crustless Sandwich
October 3rd, 2023 | 1 hr 43 mins
You remember that scene in Rataouille where Anton Ego takes a bite and his entire life flashes before his eyes? That story, but it involves french fries and elderflower liquer.
This week: “croissaint inspired” and other freezer aisle abominations, the fruit company, and Zaz introduces Shaq Paq for Max. 🏀.