GeekWire

Amazon is trying to get its Alexa voice assistant into as many homes as possible. Its latest offering: The Fire TV Cube, which essentially turns Alexa into a remote control. We try it out live on this episode. Plus, Oculus announced a new virtual reality TV app -- and some people are unimpressed -- and a report points to a new line of AirPods coming before the end of the year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can science fiction help us predict -- and prepare for -- the future? How about helping us make better business decisions? Scout thinks so. The unique online magazine and futurist community connects innovators, technologists and science fiction writers to strategize for the near future. On this episode, we speak with Scout CEO and Editor in Chief Berit Anderson about the company's work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon, JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway have finally picked a CEO for their ambitious health venture, and his background gives some interesting clues to his potential ideas. Plus, a lawsuit over a moving app could mean big consequences for the gig economy and we dive into tech's involvement in the controversial family separation polciy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Dan Low wanted to know how his patients were doing on a new drug. Getting the data was so painful, he decided to found his own software company to make it easier. On this episode of Health Tech: Dan's journey from career doctor to startup CEO and back, and what his experience says about the state of healthcare data.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Seattle City Council voted to repeal the Head Tax, also called the 'Amazon Tax,' less than a month after it was put in place. The vote was surrounded by chaos and demonstrations from both sides of the issue -- some citizens were actually hauled out of Town Hall during the event. We'll explain exactly what happened, why it matters for tech companies around the country and where things stand with Seattle's huge homelessness problem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

E3, the biggest gaming convention in the U.S., is starting with a bang this week. Geared Up co-host Andru Edwards is down in Los Angeles for the show and on this episode, we run down the big game announcements of the year from Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo — including Xbox's push to have more exclusive titles. Plus, an intriguing new study on something most people want nothing to do with: Airport WiFi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right now you use Redfin and Zillow to find homes, but what if they wanted to buy your home? Plus, Amazon's new Fire Cube wants to make Alexa your remote control and Microsoft makes one of its biggest acquisitions ever, and some fun on the random channel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

iOS, Apple Watch, Siri, Oh my! Apple just wrapped up its annual Worldwide Developers Conference and this show is all about the new features the company is bringing to its most popular devices. We've been trying the new tricks on iOS 12, including some very goofy MeMojis, and will give you the rundown on what's cool and what's not so impressive. Plus, the new Mac OS Mojave and updates to the Watch OS and the Apple TV OS.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Su-In Lee's father passed away from incurable cancer. Now she's using her expertise in artificial intelligence to help cancer patients find the most effective treatment — based on their genetic data. On this episode, we follow Su-In's story and explore how precision medicine is increasingly using health data, AI and other technologies to fight diseases from cancer to Alzheimer's. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this special edition of the GeekWire podcast, the other side of Jeff Bezos. You may know him as the Amazon CEO, but he's also the founder of the Blue Origin space venture. He talked about his space ambitions this weekend at the National Space Society in conversation with Alan Boyle, GeekWire’s aerospace and science editor. It was a fascinating talk about the future of humanity with someone who is thinking -- and spending -- deeply to usher in a new era of space travel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like thousands of others, Manish Engineer moved to Seattle recently to take a new technology job -- but instead of a tech startup or a giant like Amazon, his job is at the Seattle Art Museum. Manish is SAM's first Chief Technology Officer and it's his job to use technology to enhance the experience of fine art. We talk to him about his new role and how technology is impacting fine arts in this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle startups raked in hundreds of millions of dollars this week. What's behind the flurry of big-dollar deals? Plus, a new service that lets you rent your car out, Airbnb-style, and Seattle's iconic Space Needle gets a makeoverSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High-end camera maker Red unveiled a mysterious new smartphone this week, and Geared Up co-host Andru Edwards was there for the hands-on experience. He said the new phone has some cool features, but also some strange ones. Plus, Microsoft once again tries to take on Apple in the tablet arena and we get into the Hype around the Tesla Model 3. Andru ordered his Model 3 more than two years ago and is picking it up in just a few days.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Seattle City Council passed a controversial tax on big businesses, prompting outcry from the city's tech giants and unearthing white-hot passion over the city's growth and homelessness crisis. The money raised will go towards building much-needed affordable housing, but it is may also make Amazon and other companies slow or stop growth in the city, maybe even reversing part of Seattle's tech boom. So what happens now? Can the tax make headway towards solving the city's problems? And would it really be all that bad if Amazon and other companies stopped adding new jobs? We debate on this episode of the Week In Geek.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two portable virtual reality headsets launched onto the stage in the past weeks: The highly affordable and convenient Oculus Go and the more sophisticated but pricey Lenovo Mirage Solo. So how do they compare? We go hands-on with both devices to find out on this episode. Plus, big news from the PC world with the launch of several new HP computers and a class-action lawsuit against Apple over the MacBook keyboard. Enter our Geared Up Giveaway for a chance to win an Oculus Go headset! https://www.geekwire.com/2018/geared-podcast-head-head-reviews-oculus-go-lenovo-mirage-solo/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, we take a deep dive into two technologies that co-hosts Andru Edwards and Todd Bishop have been using lately. Andru gives us his take on two Nokia Health's smart devices and Todd tells us how he was lured back to using Windows by his new favorite PC. Plus, what is Apple doing with virtual reality?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, we come to you live from Microsoft's annual Build developer's conference. We sit down with Scott Guthrie — the head of Microsoft's cloud and enterprise division — to talk intelligent edge, the future of cloud and more. We also speak with Mixed Reality GM and Studio Manager Lorraine Bardeen about Microsoft's path forward in virtual and mixed reality, particularly its emphasis on enterprise applications.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Seattle City Council is considering a tax on Amazon and other high-earning companies in the city — and the conflict over it got nasty this week. We explain it all on this episode. Plus, a Seattle-based startup wants to give you doctors appointments from your smartphone with help from an AI chatbot.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Oculus Go sprang onto shelves in a surprise launch Tuesday. Is the lower-power, portable VR headset the future of virtual reality? We debate on this episode. Plus: What the T-Mobile / Sprint merger means for wireless customers and Apple reports record-breaking iPhone sales in the first months of 2018. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology and politics are butting heads more than ever before. Issues like net neutrality and data privacy have stormed the national stage and Senator Maria Cantwell is in the middle of it all, from Mark Zuckerberg's hearing in Congress to the fight to restore net neutrality protections. We sit down with her to talk about all those issues on this episode of the GeekWire podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you only know Marvel from the movies, you don't really know Marvel. That's the sense you get when you enter the world-premiere exhibition at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, "Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes." On this episode, we take you on a tour through the exhibit with its curator, Ben Saunders, to get the inside story of Marvel's history, its impact on society and some of the incredible pieces on display.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rand Fishkin is the co-founder and former CEO of Seattle technology company Moz, and in his seventeen years in the startup world, he's learned a thing or two about being an entrepreneur. He shares some of those stories — personal and professional — in his new book, Lost and Founder, out April 24. Rand joins us on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast to talk about his unwavering dedication to transparency, the lessons he's learned as a founder and even his recent departure from Moz to found a new company, SparkToro.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon made a surprise move this week: A new partnership with Best Buy. It seems the age of the retail store is far from over. Plus, the company finally announced the number of Prime members it has: More than 100 million. And finally, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer holds the first-ever shareholders meeting for American taxpayers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple's HomePod smart speaker has been out for a while now — and it's clear the device is struggling in a competitive smart speaker market. What led to its demise? Plus, Amazon reveals how they assign the preferred "Amazon's Choice" label to products, Apple is rumored to be entering the news business and how Xbox's backward compatibility might be the console's saving grace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fallout around data privacy scandals has put Facebook in a tough spot. After CEO Mark Zuckerberg spent two days testifying before Congress, many are asking, what's next? And some say that next comes a big change in the tech economy. Plus, Uber is remaking its image after a scandal-filled year, thanks in no small part to its new CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi. On the Random Channel: The big Gmail redesign (it's interesting, we promise!) and some heart-warming hopscotch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A look at GeekWire's new daily news show, TLDR. Subscribe to TLDR in your favorite podcast app for new episodes every weekday, or get the video version by subscribing to GeekWire's YouTube Page. If you're an Alexa fan, both the podcast and video are available on Echo devices.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new technology called "parallel reality" lets many different people see completely different content on the same screen, simultaneously, without goggles. So how does it work, and how could it change the world? On this episode of the Week in Geek, we talk with two of the founders of Misapplied Sciences, the company that has developed the technology, Chairman and CTO Paul Dietz, CEO Albert Ng. Plus, Amazon Go continues to be popular, and a new VR study warns about the impact of virtual reality on young kids.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How should gadget fans think about privacy? Andru, for one, says growing concerns about data privacy with Amazon, Google and Facebook will be a boon for Apple and other companies that don't base their businesses on advertising revenue. But doesn't that mean you're locked in to Apple's ecosystem? "Yes – locked into greatness," he says. Listen to our privacy discussion on this week's episode, plus a first look at the new iPad and an update on Valve Steam Machine consoles. Geared Up is brought to you by National Car Rental. Find Andru's Technically Speaking on the NationalCar.com control center or youtube.com/nationalcarrent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Silicon Valley is the birthplace of some of the most innovative companies in the world, but these days it’s also become infamous for something else. Bloomberg Technology host Emily Chang calls that something “Brotopia,” a culture that has built giants like Google and Facebook but has made the tech industry toxic and even dangerous for women and other minorities. Chang joins us to talk about her new book by the same name on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump is "obsessed" with Amazon, but not in the same way as the rest of us Prime members. A report that Trump is looking for ways to regulate the tech giant torched Amazon's stock this week, but is it all bluster or a serious threat? Plus, two Seattle-area tech companies file for their IPOs in the same week, and on the Random Channel, we say farewell one of this show's longest-running characters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple announced a new $299 iPad aimed at schools this week, along with tons of other education products -- but will they give the company the edge to catch up with Google and Microsoft in ed tech? We pose that question to GeekWire contributor and ed tech expert Frank Catalano on this episode of Geared Up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Facebook is reeling from the revelation that a British firm, Cambridge Analytica, improperly used millions of its users' data. #DeleteFacebook is trending and those in the tech world are closely watching how users react to the news. Can the tech giant turn a new leaf? What are we willing to give up for the convenience of tech platforms? And would paying for services like Facebook solve the problem?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple announced a mysterious education event, hosted at a high school in Chicago. Is the company aiming to make a comeback in the education technology market? Plus, Apple is rumored to be making its own displays, Microsoft marches on with its always on PCs strategy and a new plan to make Alexa talk less.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cancer research and treatment is at a tipping point. Breakthrough science is helping patients live longer, healthier lives and even curing patients in desperate situations. That's why Seattle journalist Luke Timmerman is preparing to summit Mount Everest this spring, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in cancer research funds in the process.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we take a trip back to the heyday of Walkmen and the Apple IIe. GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser got to visit the new, interactive 80s exhibit at the Living Computers Museum + Labs. Plus, a controversial lawsuit over the next generation of apples (not the computers, this time) and a new study sheds light on why so few female students go into tech roles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get a hands-on review of the brand new Samsung Galaxy S9, set to launch Friday. Plus, Apple buys digital magazine service Texture and Andru gives us his take on Amazon's acquisition of smart home security company Ring -- and why it might be bad for consumers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Memes, reaction GIFs and urban legends like Slenderman are all examples of a new culture developing in the U.S. and across the world -- one that's unique to the web. On this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, we speak with two archivists from the Library of Congress that built the library's web culture archive to preserve elements of this culture and the unique communities that are growing online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Amazon good for Seattle? That's the question a community forum asked this week, and the results point to the complex relationship Amazon has with the communities around it. Plus, Uber and Lyft are the latest tech companies to dive into healthcare and Amazon's Alexa voice assistant gives us a reason to laugh... or not.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's International Women's Day, and in the tech world, the discussion about diversity, harassment and inclusion is coming more and more into the spotlight. What can companies and individuals do to make tech more welcoming for minorities and women? What is unconscious bias, and how can companies fight against it? We get into those questions with two diversity and humans relations experts: UniquelyHR Founder and CEO Mikaela Kiner and Apptio EVP of People and Culture Britt Provost.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a big week for AI. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen put $125 million towards a new initiative to create "common sense" for AI that will help the technology get even smarter. Microsoft announced several AI-fueled healthcare technologies. On another note, Amazon came to an agreement to acquire smart home security company Ring.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tech's entanglements with the law were on full display this week. Washington and other states are fighting net neutrality rollbacks. Advocates across the political spectrum are criticizing Amazon's ask for government incentives in its HQ2 search, some calling it 'corporate wellfare.' Plus, wireless, over-the-air charging is close to being a reality and an app that could help in the battle on the opioid crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sony and Samsung both hinted at -- or had leaks about -- upcoming smartphone releases. What are they up to? Plus, Andru gives us his take after using the Apple HomePod and Dyson is taking its vacuum cleaner business in a surprising new direction. Follow our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to live, behind-the-scenes recordings of Geared Up at youtube.com/gearliveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can studying human intelligence help us build smarter machines? Rafael Reif thinks so. He's the president of MIT and he spoke with us on this podcast about the university's efforts to expand our understanding of AI and build new technologies for the future of the field. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a rare move, Amazon laid off 500 people this week. They also became the third most valuable company in the world. Plus, electric bike sharing and dealing with Saeattle's explosive growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the future look like when it comes to widespread, cheap technology? Thirteen-year Microsoft engineer, clean tech expert and science fiction author Ramez Naam thinks it's looking pretty good. We speak with Naam about his writing, the future of truly democratic technology and clean energy on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the Week In Geek comes to you from GeekWire HQ2 in Pittsburgh. Amazon is pushing further Prime integration with Whole Foods and we dive into the tech renaissance happening in Pittsburgh and how the city is preparing for challenges that come along with a tech boom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SpaceX launched the most powerful rocket in operation this week, the Falcon Heavy. GeekWire's Alan Boyle was in Cape Canavral, Florida, for the launch and tells us about his experience and what it all means for the future of space travel. Follow all Alan's space and aerospace coverage at GeekWire.com/spaceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technologies have drastically changed health and healthcare in the past 20 years and Lee Hood is one of the innovators behind those changes. We speak to the genetics and biology pioneer about how he brought engineering into biology and explore his vision for the future of health, tricorders and all. This is the final episode of our first season of Health Tech -- subscribe to the Health Tech podcast in your favorite podcast player to get notifications about our second season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon finally opened its Spheres building this week, a greenhouse-office hybrid that gives its employees a new, plant-filled workspace. The company also announced it is teaming up with JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway to create a new healthcare company. Plus, a plan to transform cities as technology radically changes transportation. Follow all our coverage and read more about the stories we talk about on this episode at GeekWire.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rumors abounded this week that Apple is canceling the iPhone X, which isn't exactly true. Plus, a smart bicycle hub, new details on the Apple HomePod and the $500 flamethrower that one of our hosts just pre-ordered. Follow all our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to see our live behind-the-scenes videos at YouTube.com/gearlive Follow this link to enter our latest Geared Up Giveaway, the in-car Alexa Muse device: https://gleam.io/ic6qR/muse-incar-amazon-alexa-giveawaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.