On The Vergecast: Funky phones, smart phone straps, and phone metaverses—if those are even a thing.
Year after year, smartphone upgrades are mostly predictable. Whether it’s Galaxy, iPhone, Pixel, or other brands, improvements come in small increments, and occasionally, prices rise. However, that doesn’t mean innovative ideas are entirely absent in the smartphone world—you just need to know where to look.
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On this episode of The Vergecast, The Verge’s Allison Johnson reports back from Mobile World Congress, which is brimming with ideas about smartphones. Major companies like Samsung are presenting Privacy Display tech that might soon feature in other devices. Companies like Motorola and Honor continue to push new products, and Tecno keeps prototyping in hopes of a breakthrough. Allison helps distinguish the serious from the trivial as we look ahead to the smartphone landscape this year.
Next, The Verge’s Jess Weatherbed discusses the latest mobile accessory craze: gadget straps. These handy accessories have been popular globally and have recently gained traction in the US, thanks to Apple’s crossbody strap. Jess explains why these straps are practical and why many people enjoy having their phones conveniently at their hips.
Finally, The Verge’s Jay Peters teams up with David to tackle a question from the Vergecast Hotline about the metaverse. First, what exactly is the metaverse? And second, is the all-encompassing, highly immersive metaverse still on its way? We have an answer for one question and a philosophical dilemma for the other.
For more information on the topics discussed in this episode, here are some links to get you started.