Dodge Charger EV Sounds Fake 👎

In this episode of the Waveform Podcast, hosts Marques, Andrew, and David discuss various tech topics, including the electric Dodge Charger, Apple's updates to its AI assistant, and a potential major visual overhaul for iOS inspired by Vision OS. They also delve into the evolution of the OnePlus alert slider and Chrome's new policy on extensions. The episode features engaging discussions on the challenges of designing realistic electric car sounds and the potential for a more intuitive user interface across Apple's ecosystem. Additionally, they humorously critique corporate engagement tactics on social media.

• The podcast hosts discuss their recent live episode at South by Southwest, expressing gratitude to the audience who attended.
• The live show included interactive trivia and discussions on various tech topics.

"We got to have like a sort of a live trivia version of asking ourselves questions about the audience and we had answers from the audience so that was fun."

• The hosts enjoyed the live interaction and the unique experience of recording in front of an audience.

• Apple has retracted a commercial featuring deep Siri integration due to misinformation concerns.
• Disclaimers have been added to Apple's website, indicating features are still in development.

"Apple has pulled one of their commercials that features the Apple intelligence like deep Siri integration thing because people were basically saying that it was misinformation at this point."

• The retraction highlights the challenges Apple faces in managing public expectations and communication around new features.

• OnePlus is evolving its alert slider into a customizable button, similar to the iPhone's action button.
• This change reflects a strategic decision to offer more functionality to users.

"There's some talk that they are killing the alert slider and turning it into a button, possibly just a customizable button that can do what the alert slider did but could also be customized to do other things."

• The decision is controversial among fans who appreciate the traditional alert slider, indicating a potential shift in user experience.

• Chrome is updating its extension policy to prevent unauthorized affiliate link insertion, targeting practices like those used by Honey.
• The update aims to ensure extensions provide transparent user benefits.

"Affiliate links codes or cookies must only be included when the extension provides a direct and transparent user benefit related to the extension's core functionality."

• This policy change addresses privacy and transparency concerns in browser extensions.

• The hosts discuss the electric Dodge Charger, critiquing its lack of compelling reasons to purchase.
• The car is positioned as a fun, performance-oriented vehicle but falls short in several key areas.

"There aren't any good convincing reasons to buy it in my opinion."

• The Charger EV is criticized for its limited range, charging speed, and lack of traditional muscle car appeal.

• The car features a loud speaker system to mimic engine noise, which some may find annoying.
• While the car is fast, it doesn't excel in any particular category compared to other EVs.

"It won't be a track car because it weighs 6,000 lb and it's not good at that."

• The sound system and performance are intended to appeal to muscle car enthusiasts but may not satisfy traditionalists.

• The Charger EV's target market is unclear, as it seems to miss the mark for both traditional muscle car fans and EV enthusiasts.
• The car is positioned as a comfortable daily commuter rather than a performance vehicle.

"The Target demographic is someone who wants a charger but wants an electric car right away that vend diagram has almost no overlap."

• The car's price point and features may not justify its positioning as a comfortable commuter vehicle.

• The Mustang Mach-E was initially criticized for being branded as a Mustang despite being a crossover EV, which seemed at odds with traditional muscle car expectations.
• There's a disconnect between the muscle car demographic and the EV demographic, with classic car enthusiasts showing more interest in EVs than traditional muscle car fans.
• The sound and performance aspects of EVs, such as the inability to replicate the traditional muscle car experience, are points of contention.

"We all ragged on the Mustang Mach-E when it first came out because we're like, why would you call this a Mustang?"

• The initial negative reaction was due to the branding disconnect between the traditional Mustang image and the Mach-E's crossover EV nature.

"The muscle car demographic probably does not have overlap with the EV demographic, but the old school classic car demographic definitely does."

• Classic car enthusiasts are more open to EVs than traditional muscle car fans, highlighting a demographic shift.

• Replicating the sound of gas engines in EVs is seen as unnecessary and even counterproductive; instead, EVs should develop unique sounds that match their technological identity.
• Some EVs attempt to emulate traditional car sounds, but this often results in sounds that are perceived as inauthentic or corny.
• The potential for creating unique and immersive sound experiences in EVs is largely untapped.

"You can make a car that tries to sound like a gas engine... but it'd be so much better to make something that is firmly itself."

• Emphasizes the importance of EVs establishing their own identity rather than imitating traditional car sounds.

"The best example of this... there's a Ford concept car from like five years ago called the e400... that's what we should be striving for."

• Highlights a successful case of creating a unique and appealing sound for an EV, suggesting a direction for future sound design.

• The emotional experience of driving is often linked to sound and sensory feedback, which some feel is lacking in EVs.
• Creating new sensory feedback mechanisms could enhance the driving experience and replace the emotional connection traditionally provided by engine sounds.
• The idea of a silent, high-speed experience is proposed as a unique and potentially thrilling aspect of driving an EV.

"The number one word that they use when driving an electric sports car that they say it's missing is emotion."

• Suggests that the lack of traditional sensory feedback in EVs is perceived as a lack of emotional engagement.

"Think about how breathtaking a driving experience would be... the car goes dead silent."

• Proposes a novel sensory experience unique to EVs that could provide a new form of driving excitement.

• EVs should embrace their inherent advantages, such as torque, quiet operation, and fast acceleration, rather than mimicking gas cars.
• As the market matures, more drivers will have their first car experience with an EV, reducing the need for familiar gas car features.
• There is a call for EVs to provide more direct feedback to drivers, enhancing the sensory experience without relying on traditional car sounds.

"Electric cars in the future eventually should just lean into the thing that makes them better than gas cars."

• Encourages EVs to focus on their strengths rather than trying to emulate the characteristics of gas cars.

"There are things in electric cars that you should be getting feedback about not on an iPad that you can get with your ears."

• Advocates for developing new forms of sensory feedback in EVs to enhance the driving experience.

• Younger generations are drawn to older technologies that engage multiple senses, suggesting a desire for more tactile and sensory-rich experiences.
• Modern technology often lacks sensory engagement, which can result in a less immersive experience.
• The transition from gas to electric cars should consider how to reintroduce sensory engagement in new ways.

"When you're just tapping an iPad, there's no sort of sensory input into anything that you're doing."

• Highlights the reduction in sensory engagement with modern technology and the potential for EVs to address this gap.

"They should just lean into the things that the car is actually doing to bring those senses back."

• Suggests that EVs can create new forms of sensory engagement that are unique to their capabilities.

• Apple is focusing heavily on Vision OS as a future-oriented platform, indicating a shift in design and user interface (UI) paradigms.
• Vision OS incorporates a UI with floating elements, frosted glass aesthetics, and circular icons, aiming for a consistent design language across devices.
• The transition to Vision OS is part of Apple's strategy to simplify user interaction across its ecosystem.

"Vision OS really is our future and really is something we believe in so everything is going to look like that."

• This quote highlights Apple's commitment to Vision OS as a central component of its future technology ecosystem.

"They just went through a bunch of like we're adding dark mode now and so you have to like make a dark mode icon."

• Apple is continuously refining its design elements, such as dark mode, to align with its evolving design philosophy.

• Users typically adapt quickly to new interfaces despite initial resistance, as seen with previous Apple design changes.
• Apple aims to create a seamless transition for users by aligning Vision OS design elements with existing products like the iPhone and Apple Watch.
• The company is balancing innovation with maintaining distinct product identities to avoid cannibalization.

"People adapt to things faster than people generally think they adapt to things, so they adapt to it quickly but they love to complain about adapting to it immediately."

• Users' ability to adapt quickly to new designs is acknowledged, despite initial complaints.

"Vision OS probably is the simplest way to use something because you have less intuitive controls they needed to make it as simple as possible."

• Vision OS aims to streamline user interaction by simplifying controls, thus enhancing usability.

• Apple's design strategy involves incorporating real-world textures and materials, like frosted glass, into digital interfaces.
• The move towards skeuomorphism is intended to create a more intuitive user experience by mimicking physical interactions.
• Apple's design choices reflect a broader trend in tech towards more tactile and visually engaging interfaces.

"We touch glass all the time so I don't think that would be that weird on our phones."

• The integration of glass-like textures in digital interfaces is seen as a natural evolution, given users' familiarity with glass.

"I miss the days of Android releases where every single one looked completely different and we just got like weird wacky wild stuff."

• This reflects nostalgia for more diverse and experimental design approaches in the tech industry.

• Apple's use of transparency in Mac OS and other interfaces is part of a broader design overhaul aimed at creating a more cohesive visual experience.
• The integration of transparent and glassy elements is intended to enhance the aesthetic appeal and functionality of Apple's interfaces.
• Users have mixed reactions to these changes, with some appreciating the new aesthetics and others longing for more traditional designs.

"There is a lot of transparency already in Mac OS like when you open a new tab in Safari."

• Transparency is already a significant element in Apple's current design language, setting the stage for future developments.

"I'm just excited for an overhaul because we just did the world's most boring MacBook Air review ever."

• Anticipation for design changes is high, as current iterations are perceived as lacking innovation.

• Apple is working to differentiate its products while maintaining a consistent design language to prevent product overlap.
• The introduction of new features, such as enhanced cameras and AI capabilities, is part of Apple's strategy to distinguish its products in a competitive market.
• The company's efforts to innovate in hardware and software are aimed at maintaining its leadership position in the tech industry.

"Vision OS is still going to have to be their only spatial operating system like three like things are going to be in front of and behind and you move them around in in forward and backward in space."

• Vision OS's unique spatial capabilities are a key differentiator from other Apple operating systems.

"The most interesting thing it looks like we're getting a third camera on the pixel 10 base model."

• The introduction of new hardware features is a strategic move to enhance product appeal and market competitiveness.

These notes encapsulate the key themes and discussions from the transcript, providing a comprehensive overview of the topics covered.

• Discussion on potential future Pixel models, particularly the Pixel X and Pixel 10 Pro.
• Speculation about similarities in specs, such as the Tensor G5 chip and triple cameras.
• Questions about differentiating features like screen brightness, price, and materials.

"This would be very interesting if they have a Pixel X and a Pixel 10 Pro that both have the Tensor G5 that both have triple cameras that are both the same size."

• Highlights curiosity about how Google might differentiate between upcoming phone models.

• Discussion about the Dodge Charger EV, specifically the Daytona model.
• Historical context of Daytona, Florida, and its significance in NASCAR.
• Mention of the Dodge Daytona from the 1960s with a unique body kit.

"It's a city in Florida where the first major yearly NASCAR race was held on the beach, Daytona 500."

• Provides historical significance and context for the name Daytona in the automotive industry.

• Segment on brands using engagement baiting tactics on social media.
• Examples include brands asking generic questions or making odd statements to engage users.
• Participants guess which brands made specific posts.

"What's the best song to play as the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve?"

• Demonstrates how brands use simple questions to engage users on social media platforms.

• Discussion about the nature of posts on Threads, a social media platform.
• Critique of brands’ interactions and how they often mimic each other.
• Mention of specific brand interactions and humorous takes on corporate social media behavior.

"Threads is like the massive engagement bait."

• Critiques the platform for its generic engagement tactics and brand interactions.

• Trivia question about the name of Xiaomi's AI assistant.
• Options included fictional and humorous names.
• Correct answer revealed as Xiao AI.

"Xiao AI is correct, sometimes referred to as Superia AI."

• Confirms the correct name of Xiaomi's AI assistant and provides an alternative name.

• Trivia question about various unique Mountain Dew flavors.
• Participants list potential flavor names and try to guess the correct brand.
• Correct answer revealed to be Mountain Dew.

"Typhoon, Supernova, Revolution, Distortion, solar flare, and sang blast are all flavors of Mountain Dew."

• Highlights the creative and diverse naming of Mountain Dew's limited edition flavors.

• Hosts wrap up the episode by discussing their experiences and encouraging listeners to check out past content.
• Mention of the South by Southwest episode and subscription prompts.

"Thanks for watching, thanks for listening. If you haven't already watched the South by Southwest episode, go check it out."

• Encourages audience engagement with previous content and subscription to the podcast.