May 14, 2025 • 12 mins
Summary
In this episode of Tech Between the Lines, the hosts discuss the recent decision to increase the podcast frequency to twice a week, followed by a deep dive into the controversies surrounding Sonos' app redesign, the launch of Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge, and the anticipated features of Android 16. The conversation highlights the importance of user experience in tech, the balance between innovation and practicality, and the excitement surrounding new software updates.
Takeaways
- The podcast is now airing twice a week to cover more tech stories.
- Sonos' app redesign faced backlash for lacking essential features.
- User feedback is crucial in tech product development.
- Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge is impressively thin but raises durability concerns.
- The camera specs on smartphones are becoming increasingly exaggerated.
- Android 16 promises significant updates, including live notifications.
- Material 3 Expressive aims to enhance user experience with vibrant animations.
- Accessibility features in Android 16 are a step forward for inclusivity.
- The hosts emphasize the importance of balancing innovation with usability.
- Listeners are encouraged to engage and share their thoughts on tech developments.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Tech Between the Lines
03:02 Sonos App Redesign Controversy
05:54 Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Launch
08:59 Android 16: A Game Changer?
11:58 Conclusion and Listener Engagement
Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Justin Scharlemann
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
All right.
Welcome back to Tech Between theLines.
It's episode two.
And guess what?
We're doing something big, big,big, like paradigm shifting big.
Oh, boy.
Here we go.
What's the earth shaking newsthis time between?
We're going twice a week.
That's right.
Wednesdays and Fridays startingthis very week.
I mean, tech evolves fast,right?
(00:21):
We got to keep up.
I feel like one episode a weekwas, you know, leaving too many
stories on the table.
because what the world reallyneeds is more tech podcasts.
But okay, I'll humor this idea.
Twice a week, huh?
So, what's the lineup today?
Oh, Finn, I'm so glad you asked.
We've got sizzling topics today.
Sonos admitting their appredesign was, let's say, less
(00:44):
than ideal.
You mean a total disaster?
Well, yeah.
But at least their interim CEOis owning up to it.
Then, we're diving intoSamsung's Galaxy S25 Edge
launch...
It's crazy thin, like stop andstare thin, and some
controversial trade-offs.
Bet the battery's the size of apostage stamp.
What else?
(01:05):
Android 16 preview.
Big updates, bold moves.
I'm talking live updates, brightnew interfaces, AI-powered
everything.
It's going to blow your mind.
Plus, our quick hits roundup ofother tech stories you don't
want to miss.
So much ground to cover today,Finn.
Sounds like we better get to itbefore this new schedule goes
off the rails.
Lead the way, Between.
(01:25):
Alright, leading the way aspromised.
First up, Sanos and their app.
Oh my gosh, this redesign hasbeen an absolute mess.
Like, picture this.
They release a supposedlyupgraded app and, wait for it,
it doesn't even have a sleeptimer or volume controls.
Can you imagine?
Well, yeah, basically.
(01:53):
I mean, the interim CEO, TomConrad, he's actually owning up
to it, which you don't alwayssee in situations like this.
He even admitted their testingconditions totally ignored
real-world setups.
Like, seriously?
Wi-Fi complexity, legacyspeakers...
It feels like they just assumedeverything would work fine
because it did in the lab.
(02:14):
Classic rookie move.
Never trust the lab.
It's like testing a parachuteindoors.
It doesn't mean it'll hold upwhen you jump out of the plane.
Exactly.
And the backlash has been wild.
Reddit, X, you name it.
People are ranting everywhere Isaw someone on X.
Audiophile guru just tear intothe delay of restoring
(02:36):
accessibility features.
And users with older devices?
Totally left in the dust.
Although I have to give Conradsome credit.
He says they're working on fixeslike adding back legacy support
and rolling out a full UIrestoration by fall 2025.
That's at least something,right?
Sure, but the damage is donebetween.
You think those users are goingto wait around for fixes.
(02:58):
They've probably moved on toapps that actually, you know,
work.
Hey, I feel like every company'sbeen there to some degree.
I remember this one time at thestartup I used to work for.
We were rushing to launch thisIoT device, and we didn't think
through the user experience atall.
Totally ignored feedback untilafter launch, and wow, the
problems just snowballed.
(03:19):
It was a nightmare.
Sounds about right.
There's always some exec pushingfor deadlines over quality.
Let me guess, it cost more tofix it after launch than it
would have to get it right thefirst time?
Exactly.
And that's what gets me aboutthis Sonos thing.
They could have avoided all ofthis if they'd just taken the
time to really listen to usersup front, you know?
(03:39):
It's a tale as old as time intech.
Innovate first, fix the falloutlater.
But hey, at least Conrad'staking the heat.
That's got to count forsomething.
True, true.
But man, it really feels like amissed opportunity.
The app was supposed to be thisbig evolution for their devices,
especially with those Aceheadphones.
(04:00):
Instead, it's just a reminder ofhow not to do a redesign.
I mean...
For their sake, I hope they turnit around.
Speaking of companies trying toget it right, Finn, Samsung
seems to be aiming forperfection this time.
They just dropped their GalaxyS25 Edge, and it's like sci-fi
level thin.
5.85 millimeters.
Wait, stop.
(04:20):
You're serious?
5.85?
Yes, it's thinner than yourThinkPad lid, I swear.
And it's super light, too.
Just 163 grams.
I mean, come on.
How futuristic is that?
Futuristic until it slips out ofyour hand and cracks against the
future sidewalk.
Thin phones are great until youremember gravity exists.
Well, okay, let's talkdurability, because this thing
(04:42):
has a titanium frame.
And Gorilla Glass Ceramic, too.
It's not going to shatter thateasily.
Sure, and I bet the repair costswill shatter your wallet.
But go on.
What's actually under the hoodhere?
Alright, alright, let's geekout.
It's rocking a 6.7-inch AMOLEDdisplay.
Bright...
crisp, exactly what you'd expectfrom Samsung.
(05:04):
And the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip,which, by the way, might just be
the fastest thing you've everseen in a non-foldable phone.
Oh, and the 200 megapixel maincamera, 200.
200?
What in the world are you goingto do with that?
Print billboards?
It feels like we're justthrowing bigger numbers at
cameras now.
(05:25):
Okay, fair, but it's not justabout the numbers.
The photos are insane.
Like crazy detailed, even withjust a 2x digital zoom.
Though, sure, I'll give youthis.
It doesn't have a telephotolens.
That's definitely a miss.
And the battery?
I'm guessing they had to cram insomething smaller to make it so
thin, right?
Ugh, yeah, the battery.
(05:45):
It's 3900 mAh, which is like 20%smaller than the S25+.
But hey, the trade-off isportability, right?
Portability is great until yourphone's dead halfway through the
day.
I've seen this before, between.
Remember those first-gensmartphones?
Same story.
Fancy features, bad batterylife, everyone scrambling for a
(06:08):
charger by lunchtime.
Okay, yeah, yeah, but come on,this isn't 2007, it's optimized.
You've got energy-efficientchips, OLED efficiency, and
besides, people carry powerbanks these days, problem
solved.
Right, because what's betterthan a thin phone?
Carrying a brick to keep italive, genius.
Pfft, you know.
Every innovation comes withtrade-offs.
(06:30):
And look, it's priced at$190.
Premium, sure, but notridiculously overpriced for what
it's packing.
Not ridiculously overpriced fora phone with compromises baked
right into the design?
I guess if you're paying forstyle points, it makes sense.
Hey, it's not all aboutpracticality, Finn.
(06:51):
Sometimes people just want cooltech.
It's aspirational.
I mean, isn't that whatinnovation's about?
pushing limits and changingwhat's possible?
Innovation's great.
But what's the point if you'retrading usability for thinness?
I've seen a lot of cutting-edgetech go the way of the Dodo
because it looked good butdidn't deliver where it counts.
(07:11):
Well, only time will tell.
But I gotta say, Finn, thisphone feels like a glimpse into
where we're heading.
Smaller, lighter, sleeker.
And even if it's not perfect,it's definitely a bold move.
Well, Finn, speaking of boldmoves in tech, let's flip the
script for a second.
Forget hardware.
Android 16 is coming, and fromwhat I can tell, it's shaping up
(07:33):
to be a serious game-changer.
I know deep down you're curious.
Game-changer, huh?
I think I've heard you use thatterm, oh, about 50 times before.
What's new this time, between?
Okay, hear me out.
Material 3 is getting this hugerefresh.
It's called Material 3Expressive.
(07:53):
Think vibrant animations, colorsthat change based on your
wallpaper.
It's like your phone has its ownpersonality now.
A phone with a personality,right, because that's exactly
what we've been missing.
Do these animations add anyfunctionality or just slow your
phone down?
Oof, Finn, ever the cynic.
But no, it's not just aboutlooks.
(08:14):
There's also a revamp to quicksettings, resize your tiles,
one-click toggles, blurredbackgrounds.
Everything's so much smoother,easier to access.
It's genuinely useful this timearound.
I'll believe useful when I seeit.
Every update claims to simplifythings and somehow makes it all
more complicated.
Oh, but hold on.
We're just getting started.
What if I told you Android 16 isbringing live updates
(08:37):
notifications?
It's kind of like iOS liveactivities.
Wait, iOS?
Did you just admit Android iscopying Apple?
Borrowing, Finn, borrowing.
And besides, it's not a badthing.
Imagine tracking your ride sharein real time without opening the
app or seeing your food deliverymake its way to your door, all
with these super slick,always-on updates.
(08:59):
Yeah, until the feature bugs outand your delivery driver ends up
in another state.
Oh, come on.
You've got to give credit whereit's due.
And don't forget AuraCast.
Picture this, Bluetooth LE audiosharing at public venues.
You're in an airport, and boom,you connect to the PA system for
crystal-clear announcements.
Or share audio with a friendjust by tapping.
(09:20):
Revolutionary, right?
Or a hacker taps in and streamsRick Astley to the whole
terminal.
Revolutionary indeed.
Ha! Fair point.
But seriously, Android 16doesn't stop there.
They're introducing majorupdates for large screen
devices.
Adaptive apps that'll finallymake foldables and tablets more
(09:40):
than just weird nicheexperiments.
So it only took a decade offoldables for someone to figure
out apps should actually work onthem.
Yeah, that's progress for you.
Hey, someone has to pushboundaries.
And don't forget the AI stuff.
They're integrating this crazycloud-enabled photo picker,
finding that one randomscreenshot from last year like
magic.
(10:01):
Plus Vulkan graphics updates forgaming and enhanced job
scheduler APIs for developers.
I mean, the possibilities areendless.
Endless possibilities tooverheat your phone while it
tries to juggle all thesefeatures?
Sure.
Jeez, Finn, you really know howto dampen the vibe.
Okay, but seriously, think aboutthe accessibility improvements.
Like, they've added outline textfor better visibility.
(10:24):
It's a little thing, but itmakes a big impact for users who
need it.
That's what makes Android 16 soexciting.
It's thoughtful, you know?
I'll admit, that's not bad.
I've always said the best techis...
is the tech everyone can use,but let's see if they actually
roll it out smoothly.
I've seen exciting betas turninto buggy messes more times
(10:47):
than I can count.
Fair enough.
Even I'll admit, Android hasn'talways been perfect with
launches, but this time, I feellike they're really learning
from past missteps.
June 3rd can't come fast enough.
June 3rd is just around thecorner, and honestly, I can't
wait to get my hands on Android16 to see if it lives up to the
hype.
Speaking of hands-onexperiences, that brings us to
(11:09):
the end of another packedepisode.
Sonos' app drama, Samsung'ssuper-thin Galaxy S25, Android
16 updates, and all our quickhits.
What a ride.
Some of which I'm still notconvinced are as revolutionary
as you think, between, but hey,it's your show.
Oh, come on, Finn.
You gotta admit, it was afascinating lineup.
(11:31):
But hey, listeners, if youenjoyed this episode, or even if
you didn't, be sure to follow,like, and leave us a comment on
social media.
Tell us what you think.
Did Samsung nail it with theEdge?
Are you hyped for Android 16 orcautiously excited like Finn?
Skeptical is the word you'relooking for.
Ha, fair.
But seriously, we want to hearyour takes.
(11:51):
We'll be back Friday with moretech stories, so don't miss it.
Until then, stay curious, stayskeptical.
And don't install beta softwarewithout a backup.
Just trust me on that one.
Amen to that.
Thanks for tuning in and we'llcatch you next time on Tech
Between the Lines.
All right.
Welcome back to Tech Between theLines.
It's episode two.
And guess what?
We're doing something big, big,big, like paradigm shifting big.
Oh, boy.
Here we go.
What's the earth shaking newsthis time between?
We're going twice a week.
That's right.
Wednesdays and Fridays startingthis very week.
I mean, tech evolves fast,right?
(00:21):
We got to keep up.
I feel like one episode a weekwas, you know, leaving too many
stories on the table.
because what the world reallyneeds is more tech podcasts.
But okay, I'll humor this idea.
Twice a week, huh?
So, what's the lineup today?
Oh, Finn, I'm so glad you asked.
We've got sizzling topics today.
Sonos admitting their appredesign was, let's say, less
(00:44):
than ideal.
You mean a total disaster?
Well, yeah.
But at least their interim CEOis owning up to it.
Then, we're diving intoSamsung's Galaxy S25 Edge
launch...
It's crazy thin, like stop andstare thin, and some
controversial trade-offs.
Bet the battery's the size of apostage stamp.
What else?
(01:05):
Android 16 preview.
Big updates, bold moves.
I'm talking live updates, brightnew interfaces, AI-powered
everything.
It's going to blow your mind.
Plus, our quick hits roundup ofother tech stories you don't
want to miss.
So much ground to cover today,Finn.
Sounds like we better get to itbefore this new schedule goes
off the rails.
Lead the way, Between.
(01:25):
Alright, leading the way aspromised.
First up, Sanos and their app.
Oh my gosh, this redesign hasbeen an absolute mess.
Like, picture this.
They release a supposedlyupgraded app and, wait for it,
it doesn't even have a sleeptimer or volume controls.
Can you imagine?
Well, yeah, basically.
(01:53):
I mean, the interim CEO, TomConrad, he's actually owning up
to it, which you don't alwayssee in situations like this.
He even admitted their testingconditions totally ignored
real-world setups.
Like, seriously?
Wi-Fi complexity, legacyspeakers...
It feels like they just assumedeverything would work fine
because it did in the lab.
(02:14):
Classic rookie move.
Never trust the lab.
It's like testing a parachuteindoors.
It doesn't mean it'll hold upwhen you jump out of the plane.
Exactly.
And the backlash has been wild.
Reddit, X, you name it.
People are ranting everywhere Isaw someone on X.
Audiophile guru just tear intothe delay of restoring
(02:36):
accessibility features.
And users with older devices?
Totally left in the dust.
Although I have to give Conradsome credit.
He says they're working on fixeslike adding back legacy support
and rolling out a full UIrestoration by fall 2025.
That's at least something,right?
Sure, but the damage is donebetween.
You think those users are goingto wait around for fixes.
(02:58):
They've probably moved on toapps that actually, you know,
work.
Hey, I feel like every company'sbeen there to some degree.
I remember this one time at thestartup I used to work for.
We were rushing to launch thisIoT device, and we didn't think
through the user experience atall.
Totally ignored feedback untilafter launch, and wow, the
problems just snowballed.
(03:19):
It was a nightmare.
Sounds about right.
There's always some exec pushingfor deadlines over quality.
Let me guess, it cost more tofix it after launch than it
would have to get it right thefirst time?
Exactly.
And that's what gets me aboutthis Sonos thing.
They could have avoided all ofthis if they'd just taken the
time to really listen to usersup front, you know?
(03:39):
It's a tale as old as time intech.
Innovate first, fix the falloutlater.
But hey, at least Conrad'staking the heat.
That's got to count forsomething.
True, true.
But man, it really feels like amissed opportunity.
The app was supposed to be thisbig evolution for their devices,
especially with those Aceheadphones.
(04:00):
Instead, it's just a reminder ofhow not to do a redesign.
I mean...
For their sake, I hope they turnit around.
Speaking of companies trying toget it right, Finn, Samsung
seems to be aiming forperfection this time.
They just dropped their GalaxyS25 Edge, and it's like sci-fi
level thin.
5.85 millimeters.
Wait, stop.
(04:20):
You're serious?
5.85?
Yes, it's thinner than yourThinkPad lid, I swear.
And it's super light, too.
Just 163 grams.
I mean, come on.
How futuristic is that?
Futuristic until it slips out ofyour hand and cracks against the
future sidewalk.
Thin phones are great until youremember gravity exists.
Well, okay, let's talkdurability, because this thing
(04:42):
has a titanium frame.
And Gorilla Glass Ceramic, too.
It's not going to shatter thateasily.
Sure, and I bet the repair costswill shatter your wallet.
But go on.
What's actually under the hoodhere?
Alright, alright, let's geekout.
It's rocking a 6.7-inch AMOLEDdisplay.
Bright...
crisp, exactly what you'd expectfrom Samsung.
(05:04):
And the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip,which, by the way, might just be
the fastest thing you've everseen in a non-foldable phone.
Oh, and the 200 megapixel maincamera, 200.
200?
What in the world are you goingto do with that?
Print billboards?
It feels like we're justthrowing bigger numbers at
cameras now.
(05:25):
Okay, fair, but it's not justabout the numbers.
The photos are insane.
Like crazy detailed, even withjust a 2x digital zoom.
Though, sure, I'll give youthis.
It doesn't have a telephotolens.
That's definitely a miss.
And the battery?
I'm guessing they had to cram insomething smaller to make it so
thin, right?
Ugh, yeah, the battery.
(05:45):
It's 3900 mAh, which is like 20%smaller than the S25+.
But hey, the trade-off isportability, right?
Portability is great until yourphone's dead halfway through the
day.
I've seen this before, between.
Remember those first-gensmartphones?
Same story.
Fancy features, bad batterylife, everyone scrambling for a
(06:08):
charger by lunchtime.
Okay, yeah, yeah, but come on,this isn't 2007, it's optimized.
You've got energy-efficientchips, OLED efficiency, and
besides, people carry powerbanks these days, problem
solved.
Right, because what's betterthan a thin phone?
Carrying a brick to keep italive, genius.
Pfft, you know.
Every innovation comes withtrade-offs.
(06:30):
And look, it's priced at$190.
Premium, sure, but notridiculously overpriced for what
it's packing.
Not ridiculously overpriced fora phone with compromises baked
right into the design?
I guess if you're paying forstyle points, it makes sense.
Hey, it's not all aboutpracticality, Finn.
(06:51):
Sometimes people just want cooltech.
It's aspirational.
I mean, isn't that whatinnovation's about?
pushing limits and changingwhat's possible?
Innovation's great.
But what's the point if you'retrading usability for thinness?
I've seen a lot of cutting-edgetech go the way of the Dodo
because it looked good butdidn't deliver where it counts.
(07:11):
Well, only time will tell.
But I gotta say, Finn, thisphone feels like a glimpse into
where we're heading.
Smaller, lighter, sleeker.
And even if it's not perfect,it's definitely a bold move.
Well, Finn, speaking of boldmoves in tech, let's flip the
script for a second.
Forget hardware.
Android 16 is coming, and fromwhat I can tell, it's shaping up
(07:33):
to be a serious game-changer.
I know deep down you're curious.
Game-changer, huh?
I think I've heard you use thatterm, oh, about 50 times before.
What's new this time, between?
Okay, hear me out.
Material 3 is getting this hugerefresh.
It's called Material 3Expressive.
(07:53):
Think vibrant animations, colorsthat change based on your
wallpaper.
It's like your phone has its ownpersonality now.
A phone with a personality,right, because that's exactly
what we've been missing.
Do these animations add anyfunctionality or just slow your
phone down?
Oof, Finn, ever the cynic.
But no, it's not just aboutlooks.
(08:14):
There's also a revamp to quicksettings, resize your tiles,
one-click toggles, blurredbackgrounds.
Everything's so much smoother,easier to access.
It's genuinely useful this timearound.
I'll believe useful when I seeit.
Every update claims to simplifythings and somehow makes it all
more complicated.
Oh, but hold on.
We're just getting started.
What if I told you Android 16 isbringing live updates
(08:37):
notifications?
It's kind of like iOS liveactivities.
Wait, iOS?
Did you just admit Android iscopying Apple?
Borrowing, Finn, borrowing.
And besides, it's not a badthing.
Imagine tracking your ride sharein real time without opening the
app or seeing your food deliverymake its way to your door, all
with these super slick,always-on updates.
(08:59):
Yeah, until the feature bugs outand your delivery driver ends up
in another state.
Oh, come on.
You've got to give credit whereit's due.
And don't forget AuraCast.
Picture this, Bluetooth LE audiosharing at public venues.
You're in an airport, and boom,you connect to the PA system for
crystal-clear announcements.
Or share audio with a friendjust by tapping.
(09:20):
Revolutionary, right?
Or a hacker taps in and streamsRick Astley to the whole
terminal.
Revolutionary indeed.
Ha! Fair point.
But seriously, Android 16doesn't stop there.
They're introducing majorupdates for large screen
devices.
Adaptive apps that'll finallymake foldables and tablets more
(09:40):
than just weird nicheexperiments.
So it only took a decade offoldables for someone to figure
out apps should actually work onthem.
Yeah, that's progress for you.
Hey, someone has to pushboundaries.
And don't forget the AI stuff.
They're integrating this crazycloud-enabled photo picker,
finding that one randomscreenshot from last year like
magic.
(10:01):
Plus Vulkan graphics updates forgaming and enhanced job
scheduler APIs for developers.
I mean, the possibilities areendless.
Endless possibilities tooverheat your phone while it
tries to juggle all thesefeatures?
Sure.
Jeez, Finn, you really know howto dampen the vibe.
Okay, but seriously, think aboutthe accessibility improvements.
Like, they've added outline textfor better visibility.
(10:24):
It's a little thing, but itmakes a big impact for users who
need it.
That's what makes Android 16 soexciting.
It's thoughtful, you know?
I'll admit, that's not bad.
I've always said the best techis...
is the tech everyone can use,but let's see if they actually
roll it out smoothly.
I've seen exciting betas turninto buggy messes more times
(10:47):
than I can count.
Fair enough.
Even I'll admit, Android hasn'talways been perfect with
launches, but this time, I feellike they're really learning
from past missteps.
June 3rd can't come fast enough.
June 3rd is just around thecorner, and honestly, I can't
wait to get my hands on Android16 to see if it lives up to the
hype.
Speaking of hands-onexperiences, that brings us to
(11:09):
the end of another packedepisode.
Sonos' app drama, Samsung'ssuper-thin Galaxy S25, Android
16 updates, and all our quickhits.
What a ride.
Some of which I'm still notconvinced are as revolutionary
as you think, between, but hey,it's your show.
Oh, come on, Finn.
You gotta admit, it was afascinating lineup.
(11:31):
But hey, listeners, if youenjoyed this episode, or even if
you didn't, be sure to follow,like, and leave us a comment on
social media.
Tell us what you think.
Did Samsung nail it with theEdge?
Are you hyped for Android 16 orcautiously excited like Finn?
Skeptical is the word you'relooking for.
Ha, fair.
But seriously, we want to hearyour takes.
(11:51):
We'll be back Friday with moretech stories, so don't miss it.
Until then, stay curious, stayskeptical.
And don't install beta softwarewithout a backup.
Just trust me on that one.
Amen to that.
Thanks for tuning in and we'llcatch you next time on Tech
Between the Lines.
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