Pixel Buds review, OnePlus 5T, and Surface Book 2

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode covers a light news week with deep dives into Microsoft’s Surface Book 2, Google’s Pixel Buds, and the implications of Apple’s iPhone X, plus a segment on DJI’s Aeroscope drone-tracking system with Lauren Goode. The hosts argue that hardware quality, software ecosystems, and platform strategy matter as much as raw specs, while also joking through broader themes like notifications, dongles, and robot dogs.

Main Topics: Microsoft Surface Book 2 and Microsoft hardware strategy (Priority: 5/5): The hosts discuss the Surface Book 2 as a strong but imperfect laptop, especially as an alternative to the MacBook Pro. They debate whether detachable tablet design is genuinely useful and frame Microsoft’s bigger goal as building a family of compelling, weird hardware that strengthens Windows and teaches Microsoft to innovate in hardware. Google Pixel Buds and proprietary headphone ecosystems (Priority: 5/5): The conversation critiques the Pixel Buds’ ergonomics and reliability while praising their Google Assistant integration and translation features. The hosts argue that Google’s software ambition often outpaces its hardware polish, and that the product illustrates the risks of proprietary accessory ecosystems. iPhone X usability, Face ID, and iOS notification design (Priority: 5/5): Dieter shares frustrations with the notch, notification layering, Face ID inconsistency, and iOS calendar/notification management. The discussion contrasts Apple’s hardware sophistication with software friction, while acknowledging the display and camera strengths. DJI Aeroscope and drone surveillance policy (Priority: 5/5): Lauren Goode explains how DJI’s Aeroscope lets authorities detect and identify drones by reading drone-controller communications. The segment explores real-world drone hunting, privacy concerns, legal limits on disabling drones, and how DJI is trying to address a problem created by its own market dominance. Next Level and material science / water harvesting (Priority: 3/5): Lauren teases the next episode of Next Level, focused on a company developing a new way to harvest water. The hosts frame it as an example of the show’s broader mission to examine emerging technologies with concrete human impact. Boston Dynamics robot dogs and Atlas backflips (Priority: 3/5): The closing banter covers Boston Dynamics’ new Spot Mini and an Atlas video showing backflips and parkour-like motion. The hosts joke about robot assistants, saying thank you to AI, and the possibility of a robot future.

Key Arguments: Microsoft is not just trying to beat Apple on a single laptop; it is trying to build a broader, compelling Windows hardware ecosystem that can iterate over time. The Surface Book 2 is a very good laptop, but its detachable design creates meaningful compromises, including awkward charging behavior and the absence of Thunderbolt. Google’s strongest feature in the Pixel Buds is software—Assistant and translation—but the hardware itself suffers from poor fit logic, awkward case design, and lack of ear-detection behavior. Google’s hardware philosophy often relies on AI to compensate for less-refined commodity hardware, but basic usability problems like auto-pausing audio should not require machine learning. The iPhone X meaningfully improves the hardware experience overall, but Face ID and the notch create new friction points, especially around notifications and repeated authentication. iOS still lags Android in notification grouping and management, making important messages easier to miss in high-volume inboxes. DJI’s Aeroscope addresses a real and growing drone-safety problem, but it also raises questions about surveillance, privacy, encryption, and who should control drone identification. Drone regulation is fragmented and still evolving, so companies like DJI are proactively building tools to show policymakers they can manage the problem without harsh regulation. Boston Dynamics’ robots, especially Atlas, are crossing from novelty into capability demonstrations that make robots seem more autonomous and physically competent than before.

Data Points: Surface Book 2 screen sizes: 13-inch and 15-inch versions - Discussed as detachable Windows laptops with a tablet mode Detachable tablet weight reduction: literally half of what you expect it to be - Dieter describes how the tablet component feels when detached Pixel Buds rating: 5 - Sean McCain reviewed the Pixel Buds and gave them a five Pixel Buds translation issue: works but makes you sound rude and stupid - Office demo of real-time translation with multiple languages Pixel Buds market positioning: proprietary headphones - Hosts discuss the implications of Google/Apple accessory lock-in Aeroscope identification range: about 65% of personal drones - DJI claims current detection coverage through controller-link decoding Aeroscope future coverage: 95% of consumer drones - DJI says firmware updates could extend compatibility Drone spotting distance: nearly 10 miles away - A drone was detected near Camarillo Airport during the field demo DJI market share: 66% - Mentioned for the $1,000 to $2,000 drone market segment Estimated drone shipments in 2017: 3 million - Used to frame the scale of the consumer drone market Apple Calendar settings complexity: 2 separate settings areas - User must manage calendar visibility and event notifications separately OnePlus 5T starting price: $499 - Hosts note the phone’s value proposition Surface Book 2 charger issue: GPU disconnected while gaming - Tom Warren experienced a charging/battery balancing problem Thank-you-to-assistants debate: 10th of a percent chance - Paul jokes that saying thank you to robots is worth it for survival odds Boson Dynamics Atlas video length: 55 seconds - The backflip/parkour video was noted as very short but impressive

Pivotal Quotes: "The tablet thing is surprisingly useful because when you take the tablet off ... it weighs literally half of what you expect it to." — Dieter Bohn: Explaining why the Surface Book 2’s detachable design can be genuinely beneficial "The advanced stuff, the Google Assistant stuff on it is incredible ... Everything else about it is not." — Dieter Bohn: Summing up the Pixel Buds as a software-first but hardware-flawed product "This phone is a Joke" — Dieter Bohn: Dieter’s blunt first reaction to the iPhone X’s notch and UI complications

Implications: The episode suggests the next tech battleground is not specs alone, but ecosystems, usability, and trust: hardware winners will be those that balance software ambition with polish, while drone and robot systems will increasingly force policy and surveillance debates.