The Weird Phone Future
Uncanny Valley | WIRED11 Elo 2022

The Weird Phone Future

Samsung's mobile phone design philosophy could best be described as "if it ain't broke, bend it." The company—one of the top smartphone manufacturers in the world—announced some new foldable devices this week, and they don't exactly break the mold. Even the Galaxy Z Fold, once Samsung's flagship showcase of wacky innovation, looks and bends more or less the same as last year’s model. But while the designs may not be the most exciting, they do mean interesting things for Android, the mobile software that powers them.

This week on Gadget Lab, WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu joins us to talk about everything Samsung announced this week, plus what it all means for the next versions of Android.

Show Notes

Here’s everything Samsung announced at its Unpacked event this week. Here’s Julian’s review of last year’s Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3.

Recommendations

Julian recommends the Ampere Shower Power Pro, a speaker for your shower. Lauren recommends oatmeal and not watching The Northman. Mike recommends the book The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman.

Julian Chokkattu can be found on Twitter @JulianChokkattu. Lauren Goode is @LaurenGoode. Michael Calore is @snackfight. Bling the main hotline at @GadgetLab. The show is produced by Boone Ashworth (@booneashworth). Our theme music is by Solar Keys.

Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Jaksot(429)

BIG INTV: Lareina Yee Discusses Breakthrough Technologies

BIG INTV: Lareina Yee Discusses Breakthrough Technologies

Branded Content by McKinsey | WIRED’s Global Editorial Director, Katie Drummond sat down with McKinsey’s Global Institute Director and Senior Partner Lareina Yee for a conversation on the technologies...

30 Syys 202527min

WIRED Roundup: Groypers Going Mainstream

WIRED Roundup: Groypers Going Mainstream

In today’s episode, Zöe is joined by WIRED’s Jake Lahut to run through five of the best stories we published this week — from Customs & Border Protection efforts to collect American’s DNA to tech bill...

26 Syys 202523min

Is Silicon Valley Still the Tech Capital?

Is Silicon Valley Still the Tech Capital?

Earlier this month, we took the show to San Francisco for a live recording in front of a great audience at KQED's The Commons. WIRED'S Lauren Goode, Katie Drummond and Jason Kehe asked themselves and ...

25 Syys 202549min

BIG INTV: Signal's Meredith Whittaker Says AI Is Just A Branding Term

BIG INTV: Signal's Meredith Whittaker Says AI Is Just A Branding Term

The Signal Foundation president, Meredith Whittaker recalls where she was when she heard Trump cabinet officials had added a journalist to a highly sensitive group chat. And tells, Katie about why it'...

23 Syys 202545min

WIRED Roundup: The Right Embraces Cancel Culture

WIRED Roundup: The Right Embraces Cancel Culture

In today’s episode, Zöe is joined by WIRED’s Manisha Krishnan to run through five of the best stories we published this week — from OpenAI implementing teen safety features to how human design is the ...

19 Syys 202516min

Move Aside, Chatbots: AI Humanoids Are Here

Move Aside, Chatbots: AI Humanoids Are Here

This week, WIRED learned that OpenAI is ramping up its efforts in robotics — specifically, by hiring researchers who work on AI systems for humanoid robots. Humanoids, robots built to resemble us and ...

18 Syys 202528min

BIG INTV: Matthew Prince Wants AI Companies to Pay for Their Sins

BIG INTV: Matthew Prince Wants AI Companies to Pay for Their Sins

The CEO of Cloudflare – the internet’s bodyguard - sits down with Katie to talk about his efforts to make the AI money machine start benefiting creators. Cloudflare’s new blocker tool required AI plat...

16 Syys 202546min

WIRED Roundup: How Charlie Kirk Changed Conservative Media

WIRED Roundup: How Charlie Kirk Changed Conservative Media

In today’s episode, Zöe is joined by WIRED’s Jake Lahut to discuss the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death — from the response of right-wing tech leaders, to how Kirk helped shape conservative media inf...

12 Syys 202516min