Relay

Material

Material is a weekly discussion about the Google and Android universe. Your intrepid hosts try to answer the question, “What holds up the digital world?” The answer, so far, is that it’s Google all the way down. Hosted by Andy Ihnatko and Florence Ion.

Author

Relay

Category

Technology

Podcast website

relay.fm

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

175: Unfortunately 02.11.2018

Flo is exceptionally excited about Andy's foray into full-time Chromebook living. Andy wishes it were better with Skype. After the ad, Andy and Flo hunker down for a more serious exploration of the allegations against Andy Rubin, and whether Silicon Valley will ever have its #MeToo moment.

174: A Worthy Transaction 25.10.2018

Flo starts us off this week by bragging about her new wares (the Google Home Hub and the Pixel 3). Andy reminds us all of the legacy of Mister Rogers and asks that you please leave him out of your advertising. The two also discuss the fraudsters who scammed millions of dollars from advertisers through Android apps and then catch up a bit on the headlines, including some good news for Android updat...

173: In Protest of the Notch 19.10.2018

Andy has access to Project Stream, and Flo has a suggestion for a voice-activated trashcan. Andy shares some of his nostalgic findings from the web, and the two discuss the relative _hangover_ of the prior week's Google event. Flo also regales us with stories about running Windows apps on a Chromebook, and Andy reminds us that the internet is still very finicky.

172: So Much Google 13.10.2018

This week, it's really all about Google. Andy and Flo break down all the important tidbits of the Big Google Week, and then some.

171: The Gospel of Chrome 04.10.2018

This week, there's stuff to talk about, but it's mostly Andy and Flo music over how much the Chrome OS platform has matured in the last year. After a quick update, and a bit of existential exploration on life outside the Google bubble, the two talk about what's in store for the October 9 event and whether Project Stream will make first-person shooter aficionados out of us after all.

170: Look Out For Your Data 27.09.2018

We take a walk down memory lane as we recall the very first retail Android device, the T-Mobile G1. We also discuss a search event that Google held earlier in the week, though we're not feelin' the new search engine improvements. Then, we'll explain why Google and its competitors are rallying around for more lenient privacy laws, and what it means to have a separate "Chinese internet". (Not great,...

169: Italian Chef Kiss 21.09.2018

This week, on your favorite podcast alternatively titled _Friends Using Google Products and Then Talking About It_, Andy and Flo talk about why Chrome OS is worth the money now more than ever. The duo also talk about the superiority of the Pixel 2's camera over the iPhone XS (Insert Nelson _ha-ha!_ sound effect here), and why we should all be paying attention to what Google is trying to achieve wi...

168: Bulbousness 13.09.2018

Flo and Andy officially bid adieu to their favorite Aussie, but not before regaling you with all the reasons you'd want a [Relay FM membership](http://relay.fm/membership). The two also discuss this week's Apple announcements and what that means for Google users and fans, as well as the perils of misinformation.

167: Material After Dark 07.09.2018

Warning: This episode has seriously too many mentions of Celine Dion's hit song (a hit for too long, if you asked some of us), "My Heart Will Go On." At least Andy and Flo can both agree that Celine is unrivaled in talent. The two also agree that Google Fit still has some kinks to work out before it's the end-all, be-all health-and-wellness app for Android users. Andy and Flo also discuss the Chro...

166: Your Personal Data Belongs to You 31.08.2018

Flo starts us off this week with her existential woes, as Andy does his best to keep her calm with similar tales of digital archiving. The duo also talks about what they miss from the new Google Fit before diving into the main topic of this week's podcast: Google's new (old) habit of tracking your location history, even after you've told it not to.

165: It’s Not Just a Kerfuffle 23.08.2018

This week, Flo and Andy are breaking down what's causing all the commotion among Google employees. We'll also catch up on some general news, like the revamped Google Fit app, the faux Pixel 3 XL, and Google Shortwave.

164: A Slice of Android Pie 16.08.2018

It is most certainly a slice of pie this week as Andy and Flo recap their time with Android 9. Flo also shouts out the Pixelbook for being a reliable workhouse, and the two continue to loudly ponder whether Google has a fighting chance in the wearables market.

163: Let’s Be Glass Half-full People 10.08.2018

This week, Android P is officially Android Pie, but not until Flo and Andy discuss the weather—as they have in every single episode since summer began. Man, it's a hot one! The duo also discusses the Galaxy Note 9, and whether it's a really impressive feat in the midst of Google's AI-first trajectory.

162: This is Bad, This is Really Bad 02.08.2018

Andy and Flo have plenty to say this week about the Google Assistant and how it works on the Lenovo Smart Display, Google's plan to bring its search engine to China, and the new standards on how many notches can exist on a single Android device. The world is indeed changing, but we're here to help you navigate it all.

161: Dont Forget to Say "Thank You" to your Assistant 27.07.2018

We're posting the podcast a little later this week because Flo was too busy enjoying her new Lenovo Smart Display. Andy and Flo start off this week with a discussion on what's next for the Google Assistant and what's great about having it on a screen. Also, Andy needs some help using his Philips Hue bulbs, Flo is jealous of David Pogue, and the two are still not fully ready for the arrival of Andr...

160: Other Bets 19.07.2018

Andy and Flo start off this week's podcast festivities by sharing ideas about how they can both better serve their respective communities. The duo also discusses WearOS's long-term viability, Google's $5 Billion anti-trust fine from the EU, and a few new things that the Google Assistant can do.

159: Dark Thoughts of Revenge 12.07.2018

We're not feeling vengeful right now, but we are feeling rambly. Flo has some gripes to get out of at the beginning of the episode, while Andy shows off a trick he figured out for exporting his Google Play Music playlists. The two also discuss the exciting concept behind the TicWatch Pro, regulating tech companies that track users, and Vanity Fair's feature article on the _uncensored_ history of G...

158: Jail with a Capital G 06.07.2018

We are posting a day late this week, but it's just in time to catch you headed into the weekend! Let Andy and Flo start you off with a rousing discussion of silly, Internet-connected things. The duo also discusses the Google Home outage that took place before the holiday (and subsequent apology), Google's picks for Android Excellence Apps (including one from a very well-known host-on-hiatus), and...

157: Use Your Radio Voice 28.06.2018

Andy and Flo have finally figured out how to use Android Messages on the web. And they're better off for it. The duo talk tips, how to converse with your Google Home like it's a _real person_, and the latest Google Maps update. There's also some talk on the Nvidia Shield and how it's still a formidable Android TV player, as well as all those Google Duplex stories that have been rolling out this we...

156: Waiting for Google 21.06.2018

Like in _Waiting for Godot_, does it ever feel like you're just waiting for Google to figure out its app trajectory? We can't even get Android Messages for the web to work. Andy and Flo spend the better part of this week wishing and waiting for Google to settle on what's next.

155: Everything is an Assistant 14.06.2018

Andy and Flo wish they were playing outside, enjoying the new late afternoon sun. Instead, they're on this week's show, wondering aloud if there were ever a more precocious time than the one we're in now, where AI can be programmed to do nearly everything for us. The pair also discusses the latest soccer—er, _football_ app controversy, and whether they'd ever feel comfortable riding around town in...

154: Hey Google, Make Me a Movie 07.06.2018

We didn't ask for Google Photos to make us a movie out of screenshots, but it did it anyway! This week, Andy and Flo espouse the benefits of Chrome OS and the weirdness of YouTube Music. There's also ample discussion about where Google Lens is most useful in real life, why the egg is missing from Android's salad emoji, and whether we'll see smart displays go on sale this summer.

153: A Server Farm’s Opinion 31.05.2018

Andy and Flo start off this week wondering what attracts them to certain robot voices, and how that will inform their choices with the Google Home's latest voices update. The duo then delves into AN EARTHQUAKE and a bit of leftover discussion on Google's Pentagon contracts before musing over Essential's future as an Android player. And for those of you who can't stop, won't stop talking to the Goo...

152: Will YouTube Music Fix Everything? 24.05.2018

This week, Andy and Flo are left wondering whether a new music service from Google really means that it's figured out what to do with its music apps. The two discuss YouTube Music and its impact on Google's future as a music provider. And is porn next? Probably not, but it's a way to segue to a warning that there's a little talk of porn on this week's episode for those of you with little ones list...

151: Material 151 17.05.2018

The common thread this week is Google Duplex, and we're not just talking about what it can do. We're musing about its effectiveness and how it will exist alongside the ordinary world (whatever that means in this day and age). Andy and Flo also discuss the newly dubbed Google One service and how it will affect their freelance lives (it won't, and that's the point), before venturing into a more seri...

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