GeekWire

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.

One of the most prominent immunotherapy companies, Juno Therapeutics, announced a deal to be acquired by Celgene. Plus, we dive into the tech renaissance in Pittsburgh and complain about Seattle's bike lanes. Read all our coverage at GeekWire.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon Go, which opened Monday, is the convenience store version of Amazon.com: A store with no checkout lines that automatically tracks everything you grab off the shelves. We go inside the tech that powers the store on this episode. Plus, top-line triple-A games are coming to the Xbox Game Pass and Apple finally sets a release date for the Home Pod. Read all our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live, behind-the-scenes videos at youtube.com/gearlive You can also enter our latest Geared Up Giveaway to win an in-car Alexa Muse device by following this link: geekwire.com/gearedupgiveawaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon announced 20 cities that have made the short list for its second headquarters. We analyze the list and each city's chances of winning the $5 billion project on this special episode of the Week In Geek. Read all our coverage of Amazon's HQ2 search at GeekWire.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CES created all kinds of news, from the groundbreaking to the just plain whacky. We go over everything you need to know on this episode of Geared up, including: The Google Assistant devices squaring off against the Echo Show; A toilet with Alexa built in; and an autonomous delivery vehicle. See more of our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-the-scenes videos at YouTube.com/GearLiveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer hasn't exactly had a quiet retirement. His projects include being the owner of the LA Clippers, running his own philanthropy and founding USA Facts, a project that uses government data to inform how to improve the lives of American children. We talk to him about all those projects in this special interview. See more from the event and follow all our tech coverage at GeekWire.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We check in with GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser live from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. His highlight so far? Beating a ping-pong robot. In other news, one of Seattle's biggest private tech companies, Avvo, was acquired this week and tech startup funding reaches levels higher than the dot com boom. Plus, we don't talk about Oprah. Follow all our coverage and read this week's stories at GeekWire.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andru is live at CES in Las Vegas and he tunes in for a special report on what's going on at the world's biggest tech show: Voice assistant mania, giant 8K TVs and an apocalyptic rainstorm. We're still giving away an Echo Spot to a Geared Up subscriber! Enter here: geni.us/WinEchoSpotSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The health world faces a lot of challenges, and oftentimes it also knows the answer to those challenges -- it just needs some help putting the pieces together. That's where artificial intelligence comes in. On this episode of Health Tech, we dive into how health is using AI to solve some of its biggest problems. Follow all our health and technology coverage at GeekWire.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are two fatal flaws in computer processors that hold up much of the tech world: Meltdown and Spectre. On this episode, we explain what these flaws mean for tech systems and devices and how worried people should really be. Follow all our enterprise and cloud tech coverage and read more about this story at GeekWire.com/cloudSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington State is suing Motel 6 after the hotel chain shared customers' personal data with federal immigration authorities. Plus, Microsoft makes a big investment in an AI-fueled health test that could screen dozens of diseases at once. That and more on this episode of the Week In Geek. Follow all our coverage and read more about this week's stories at GeekWire.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple is under fire after iPhone users discovered the company meddled with the device's performance as their batteries slowed down. Plus, a preview of all the tech and gadgets to watch for at CES and a chance to win a brand new Echo Spot. Follow this URL for details on how to enter the giveaway: http://geni.us/WinEchoSpot Follow more tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-the-scenes videos on GearLive, youtube.com/gearliveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a big year for the tech world. The industry endured repeated clashes with the Trump Administration and saw the rise of Amazon as the company made two of its biggest moves yet. We analyze the Year In Geek on this episode and also make some predictions about what's to come in 2018. Follow all our coverage and read more about this week's stories at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington's Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've seen it all this year on Geared Up, from super-powerful consoles to super-goofy camera glasses. On this episode, we celebrate our first full year as a podcast with a roundup of the best tech from 2017 — and a few of the worst flops. Follow all our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-the-scenes videos on GearLive, youtube.com/gearliveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Secretive, super-rich startup Magic Leap finally revealed its first product: An augmented reality headset that throws it into competition with Microsoft’s HoloLens. Plus, we explain the science behind a new “universal” flu vaccine and play a round with the new Echo Buttons. Follow all our coverage and read more about this week's stories at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

T-Mobile has big plans, and right now they plan to completely disrupt the cable TV market. We dive into the details of their plan on this episode, along with our review of the Muse, a new in-car Alexa device, and an overview of the Echo Spot release. Follow all our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-the-scenes videos on GearLive, youtube.com/gearlive Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial intelligence is threatening jobs and reshaping lives everywhere. What can we do about it? What will our AI future look like? We ask Oren Etzioni, CEO of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, whohas some creative ideas for handling challenges AI brings. Follow all our coverage and read more about AI and robotics at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The FCC voted to overturn net neutrality protections — and Washington State is taking the decision to court. What does it all mean for the average person? Plus, T-Mobile is getting into the TV streaming business and we geek out over Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Follow all our coverage and read more about this week's stories at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Natural disasters. Deep social divisions. Most people would say 2017 wasn't a good year. But Sue Desmond-Hellmann, CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, says 2017 was "an awesome year" for global health and U.S. education. We hear why on this episode of the GeekWire podcast. Follow all our coverage and read more about this week's stories at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple acquired Shazam for about $400 million, and they might have some ambitious plans for the company's tech. Plus, Microsoft debuts the phone-like Always Connected PC and Alexa knows a new trick, plus some tunes. Follow all our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-the-scenes videos on GearLive, youtube.com/gearlive Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Whittaker is the British Consul General representing the United Kingdom in Northern California, Oregon, Washington and other portions of the Western United States. He has a particular interest in the technology industry, serving previously as Deputy Director of CERT, the UK’s national cybersecurity team. On a recent visit to Seattle, he sat down with GeekWire to answer questions about many of the pressing issues of the day: the impact of Brexit on U.S. companies doing business in the UK; the different regulatory approaches in the US and UK on issues including drones and net neutrality; the changes coming next year through the General Data Protection Regulation in Europe; the UK's approach to drone regulation, and much more. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Elon Musk really going to shoot his Tesla Roadster into space? How is Space X's plan for global satellite internet going? And what does this week's Sunday Night Football game have to do with Galilean Transformations? That and much more on this episode of the Week In Geek. Follow all our coverage and read more about this week's stories at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon might start selling prescription drugs online — and it's causing a "mass freak-out" among the healthcare industry. One result: drugstore chain CVS brough Aetna, a health insurance company. We analyze the trends behind the deal and ask: Are they going to be good for patients? Thank you to our sponsor, Providence St. Joseph Health’s Digital and Innovation Group. Follow them at twitter.com/provinnovationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Orchestras are built on technology that goes back hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years. How do you bring that tradition into the modern age? We go behind the scenes with Seattle Symphony's tech-powered multisensory performances, featuring stars like the Harry Potter movies. Follow all our tech coverage and read more about geek culture at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GeekWire editors Todd Bishop and John Cook had lunch with Anthony Bourdain. Here's what happened. Plus: Microsoft's big HQ1 remodel, Big Fish games is sold for almost $1 billion and a scheme to dupe the Washington Post backfires big time. Follow all our coverage and read more about this week's stories at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington's Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tech is all about disruption. Healthcare is about slow and steady change. How do you merge those worlds? For Mike McSherry and Mary Haggard, the answer was to innovate form the inside out. Mary runs Providence St. Joseph Health's startup incubator and Mike is the founder and CEO of Xealth, its first spinout. We hear about their work to change the healthcare system from the inside on this live Health Tech episode. Thank you to our sponsor, Providence St. Joseph Health’s Digital and Innovation Group. Follow them at twitter.com/provinnovationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re excited about a lot of gadgets this gift-giving season, but this week we learned some of them won’t make it home in time for the holidays. We give you some alternatives to delayed gadgets and also assess Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Plus, Todd’s review after two weeks of using the Amazon Cloud Cam. Follow all our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-the-scenes videos on GearLive, youtube.com/gearlive Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mainframes and supercomputers from the 60s were once sold as scrap metal. Now, some of them are operational again, thanks to the work by Seattle’s Living Computers Museum + Labs. We tour the museum and labs with its director, Lath Carlson, to learn how the organization restores computers of the past and introduces visitors to technology of the future. Follow all our tech coverage and read more about geek culture at GeekWire.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The holidays are just around the corner, and there are tons of gadgets that would make the perfect gift. From kid’s gaming to practical gadgets for the home, we give you our tech recommendations for this year’s gift-giving season — plus a few tips to help your wallet. Check out more tech coverage and find links to all the gadgets we reccomended on this episode at GeekWire.com/GearedUpSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hackers found a way to turn off Amazon's smart Cloud Cam this week, raising concerns about the security of smart home devices. Plus, a service that gives "ugly" fruits and vegetables a chance to show how tasty they are and a company looking to bring Wifi to a bust stop near you. Follow all our coverage and read more about this week's stories at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon's Cloud Cam is the company's first smart home camera, but can it shape up to a tough field of competition? Plus, we debate the pros and cons of VR entertainment in light of HTC's new wireless headset, the focus. We also get Andru's take on the Xbox One X and iPhone X as he returns from a whirlwind few weeks away from the show. Follow all our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-the-scenes videos on GearLive, youtube.com/gearlive Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington's Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bushmen of southern Africa thrived for over one hundred thousand years with only a minimal level of technology. James Suzman, an anthropologist and author who studies their society, tells us what we can learn from this tech-free world and how their way of life could hold solutions to problems caused by social media and artificial intelligence. Follow all our coverage and read more about this episode at GeekWire.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bots and others spread false information about a pivotal election via social media. We interviewed Steven Soderbergh about his new app/movie/TV show hybrid. Plus, Twitter goes to 280, and not everyone is happy about it. Follow all our coverage and read more about this week's stories at GeekWire.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft launched the most powerful gaming console ever on Tuesday. But is it really worth $500? We’ve been testing the Xbox One X for over a week and we report our findings on this episode. We'll also share some takeaways from our first few days with the much anticipated iPhone X. Follow all our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-the-scenes videos on GearLive, youtube.com/gearlive Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can job interviews be inherently biased? How do you network in the tech world? Should you always have a career plan or play things by ear? Those are just a few of the questions that Marc Casale, founder and co-host of podcast The Grind, is trying to answer. To do so, he's telling the stories of four students studying in STEM through the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship. We hear more on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast. Follow all our coverage of tech, business and more at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle (Winshuttle.com) Hughes Marino (hughesmarino.com) Kinects (kinectstower.com) And the University of Washington’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (foster.uw.edu/msentre)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should tech companies take responsibility for how people use their products? That's the question Congress is facing as it questions Twitter, Facebook and Google over Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. Plus, Amazon's new augmented reality shopping feature ignites strong opinions, both pro and con. Follow all our coverage and read more about this week's stories at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle, the SAP data management experts — learn more atWinshuttle.com; Hughes Marino, the commercial real estate company — learn more at hughesmarino.com; and Kinects, Seattle’s iconic new high-rise apartment tower — learn more at kinectstower.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Todd Stabelfeldt is a pretty chill dude — he's funny, loves his dogs and is a wizard programmer. He also happens to be quadriplegic. He uses technology like Apple's Siri voice assistant and smart home devices to give him a new level of independence and control over his life. On this episode, we step — or roll — into Todd’s world and see technology through his eyes. Thank you to our sponsor, Providence St. Joseph Health’s Digital and Innovation Group. Follow them at twitter.com/provinnovationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We got our hands on the Xbox One X before the console’s release. We can’t say much yet, but there are definitely some noteworthy features. Plus, it’s just a few days from the iPhone X launch day. We tell you what to expect and where to go if you haven’t pre-ordered one yet. And finally, we take the brand new Kindle Oasis for a swim. Follow all our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-the-scenes videos on GearLive, youtube.com/gearlive Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle, the SAP data management experts — learn more at Winshuttle.com; and Hughes Marino, the commercial real estate company now in Seattle — learn more at hughesmarino.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon’s new Key service and Cloud Cam camera lets the company deliver packages straight into your front hall, but does it push privacy boundaries too far? Plus, we say a sad goodbye to the Microsoft Kinect and wander into the world of tech conspiracy theories. Follow all our coverage and read the stories we talked about this week at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle, the SAP data management experts — learn more at Winshuttle.com; Hughes Marino, the commercial real estate company now expanding to Seattle — learn more at hughesmarino.com; and Kinects, Seattle’s iconic new high-rise apartment tower — learn more at kinectstower.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most tech is designed to attract your attention, sit you down in front of a screen and keep you there. Not this gadget. The Play Impossible Gameball is packed with tech like Bluetooth, accelerometers and more, and the whole point is to make users more active. We have some fun testing the balls out on this week's episode, with special guest Taylor Soper, GeekWire's Sports Tech reporter. Follow all our tech coverage at GeekWire.com and subscribe to our live behind-the-scenes videos on GearLive, youtube.com/gearlive Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle, the SAP data management experts — learn more at Winshuttle.com; Hughes Marino, the commercial real estate company now expanding to Seattle — learn more at hughesmarino.com; and Kinects, Seattle’s iconic new high-rise apartment tower — learn more at kinectstower.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Podcasts are having a heyday, and perhaps no series showcases the creative scope and impact of podcasts as well as S-Town. The series is designed like a novel, tells a deeply personal and complex story like public radio and was released all at once in the style of Netflix. We sit down with the host, producer and creator of S-Town, Brian Reed, to hear about how the series came about and what makes it unique. For more coverage, visit us at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle, the SAP data management experts — learn more at Winshuttle.com; Hughes Marino, the commercial real estate company now expanding to Seattle — learn more at hughesmarino.com; and Kinects, Seattle’s iconic new high-rise apartment tower — learn more at kinectstower.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tech industry has a complicated relationship with the law, and Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson has a front-row seat to that relationship. Immigration, corporate regulation and privacy all impact tech companies, and not always in the same way. On this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, our Civic Innovation Editor Monica Nickelsburg talks to AG Ferguson about all those issues as well as how his office is taking on President Trump. See more coverage of tech and civics at GeekWire.com Thank you to this week's sponsors: Winshuttle, the SAP data management experts — learn more at Winshuttle.com; Hughes Marino, the commercial real estate company now expanding to Seattle — learn more at hughesmarino.com; and Kinects, Seattle’s iconic new high-rise apartment tower — learn more at kinectstower.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.