JRE #1186 - Marques Brownlee

23-Oct-18

Joe Rogan Experience #1186 – Marques Brownlee: Topics & Summary

This podcast features Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee, better known as MKBHD, discussing a range of topics related to technology, specifically smartphones, cameras, laptops, and VR. They also touch on the concept of engineered obsolescence in tech and the impact of technology on society. Brownlee’s insightful and humorous commentary makes for a captivating exploration of the ever-evolving world of tech.

The Red Hydrogen One Phone:
1. The Red Hydrogen One is a modular phone with a focus on future expansion, possibly including VR modules. It is a unique product from Red, a company known for its high-end cinema cameras.
2. The phone’s initial release is met with mixed reception, with some considering the camera and the phone’s overall functionality not worth the hefty price tag of $1300.
3. The phone’s modularity and potential for future expansion raise questions about its long-term viability and the feasibility of Red venturing into the smartphone market.
4. The conversation touches on Red’s expertise in camera technology and its potential to revolutionize smartphone cameras, a point of contention due to the phone’s current camera performance.
The Google Pixel 3’s Camera Prowess:
1. Marques Brownlee champions the Google Pixel 3’s camera, highlighting its software-driven excellence and superior image processing.
2. The Pixel 3’s single-camera setup, contrasted with the multi-camera approach of many other smartphones, showcases Google’s commitment to software innovation.
3. Brownlee’s enthusiasm for the Pixel 3’s camera reflects the growing importance of computational photography in achieving impressive image quality.
4. The conversation explores the technology behind the Pixel 3’s camera, emphasizing the role of HDR and image processing algorithms in delivering exceptional low-light performance.
The Importance of Software Updates:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the frustration of delayed software updates for many Android phones, highlighting the complexities of carrier involvement and user reluctance to update.
2. They emphasize the importance of quick and frequent updates for power users who value the latest software features and security patches.
3. The conversation highlights the challenge for phone manufacturers to balance the cost and effort of frequent updates with user adoption rates and carrier requirements.
4. The conversation underscores the need for a more streamlined approach to software updates across the Android ecosystem, potentially leading to a more unified and user-friendly experience.
Apple’s Battery Slowdown Controversy:
1. Joe Rogan expresses his frustration and disappointment with Apple’s handling of the battery slowdown issue, criticizing the lack of transparency and the perceived attempt to force users to buy new phones.
2. The conversation sheds light on the ethical implications of engineered obsolescence, a practice that intentionally limits the lifespan of products to encourage new purchases.
3. The discussion highlights the importance of user choice and informed decision-making, particularly in a market where product lifecycles are increasingly shortened.
4. Rogan’s personal experience with the issue underscores the potential for technological advancements to be used for manipulative purposes, prompting discussions about consumer rights and transparency.
Laptops and Keyboard Preferences:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee share their personal preferences for laptops and keyboards, emphasizing the importance of comfortable typing experience and tactile feedback.
2. They discuss the merits of various laptop brands, including Lenovo ThinkPad, Microsoft Surface Laptop, and Razer Blade Pro, highlighting the different features and design considerations.
3. The conversation highlights the subjective nature of keyboard preferences, emphasizing the importance of individual ergonomics and personal needs.
4. The discussion explores the evolution of laptop keyboards, from the classic MacBook Pro keyboards to the introduction of mechanical keyboards and unconventional key designs.
Apple’s Design Compromises:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee delve into Apple’s history of design compromises, often prioritizing aesthetics over functionality.
2. They cite examples like the Mac Pro “trash can” design and the throttling of high-performance processors in thin laptops, illustrating the potential for design choices to negatively impact performance.
3. The conversation highlights the tension between design and functionality in the tech industry, prompting discussions about prioritizing user experience over superficial appeal.
4. They explore the challenges of balancing aesthetic appeal with user needs and the potential for design choices to become a barrier to optimal performance and functionality.
The Rise of Huawei:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the growing prominence of Huawei in the tech market, highlighting the company’s innovative products and competitive pricing.
2. They specifically mention the MateBook Pro laptop as a strong contender to Apple’s MacBook Pro, showcasing Huawei’s ability to challenge established players in the tech landscape.
3. The conversation delves into the potential concerns surrounding Huawei’s security practices and the implications for data privacy.
4. They touch on the recent controversies surrounding Huawei’s alleged use of spy chips in its products, raising questions about the company’s trustworthiness and the potential impact on its future.
The Apple Ecosystem:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the allure of Apple’s ecosystem, specifically highlighting features like iMessage, FaceTime, and Airdrop.
2. They acknowledge the convenience and seamless integration of these features, contributing to the strong brand loyalty among Apple users.
3. The conversation explores the drawbacks of Apple’s walled garden approach, limiting compatibility and potentially stifling innovation.
4. The discussion touches on the potential for Google to bridge the gap between Android and iOS by developing more compelling alternatives to iMessage and FaceTime.
The Demise of Google Plus:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the failure of Google Plus, despite its potential as a social networking platform.
2. They attribute its demise to a combination of factors, including poor execution, lack of user adoption, and a security breach.
3. The conversation highlights the challenges of competing with established social media platforms and the importance of user engagement and a clear value proposition.
4. They discuss the potential for Google to learn from its past mistakes and develop more successful social media platforms in the future.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9’s S Pen:
1. Marques Brownlee explores the functionality of the S Pen, a stylus included with the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.
2. He discusses the S Pen’s features, including remote control functionality, lock screen note-taking, and its potential to enhance productivity.
3. Brownlee questions the practicality of the S Pen for most users, placing it in the category of “cool demo feature” that might not translate to everyday use.
4. The conversation highlights the challenge for phone manufacturers to balance gimmicky features with practical and user-friendly functionality.
Samsung’s Recovery from the Galaxy Note 7 Battery Issues:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss Samsung’s recovery from the Galaxy Note 7 battery explosion issues, acknowledging the company’s ability to regain user trust.
2. They highlight the potential impact of such incidents on brand reputation and the importance of taking swift and decisive action to address consumer concerns.
3. The conversation explores the complexities of battery manufacturing and the challenges of ensuring product safety in a rapidly evolving market.
4. They emphasize the need for rigorous quality control and transparency in addressing potential risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.
The iPhone XS Max’s Battery Life:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the iPhone XS Max’s battery life, noting the perception that the larger screen might negatively impact battery performance.
2. They compare the XS Max to the standard iPhone XS and the iPhone XR, highlighting the role of screen size and software optimization in battery performance.
3. The conversation highlights the importance of battery life as a key factor in user satisfaction and the increasing demand for longer-lasting devices.
4. They touch on the evolution of battery technology and the ongoing efforts to achieve better battery performance in smartphones.
The Palm Phone:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the Palm Phone, a small phone accessory that functions as a secondary device to a primary smartphone.
2. They express skepticism about the phone’s purpose and target audience, questioning the need for such a device in an era of large smartphones.
3. The conversation highlights the potential for companies to develop innovative products that lack a clear user need, leading to market failures.
4. They compare the Palm Phone to the Apple Watch, illustrating the successful integration of a smaller device into an existing ecosystem.
The Future of Smartwatches:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the ongoing development of smartwatches, specifically highlighting the Apple Watch series 4 and its fitness tracking capabilities.
2. They express the desire for a smartwatch that seamlessly integrates with Android phones, offering similar functionality and user experience to the Apple Watch.
3. The conversation explores the potential for smartwatches to become more integrated into our lives, serving as hubs for communication, health monitoring, and other functions.
4. They touch on the limitations of current smartwatch technology, including battery life, screen size, and the need for improved integration with mobile operating systems.
The Impact of Technology on Society:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the potential impact of technology on society, specifically highlighting the growing prevalence of smartphones and the potential for addiction.
2. They discuss the rise of “digital well-being” features designed to help users monitor and manage their screen time.
3. The conversation explores the ethical implications of technology addiction and the need for individuals to be mindful of their technology usage.
4. They touch on the potential for technology to become more immersive and integrated into our lives, leading to a complex relationship between humans and technology.
The Future of Smartphones:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the potential future of smartphones, considering the evolution of form factors and technological advancements.
2. They speculate on the possibility of smartphones becoming more immersive, potentially incorporating augmented reality or even implanted devices.
3. The conversation explores the limitations of current smartphone technology, particularly in terms of battery life and the challenges of achieving a truly bezel-less design.
4. They emphasize the importance of considering user needs and the potential for technological advancements to improve the overall smartphone experience.
The Samsung Galaxy Foldable Screens:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss Samsung’s foldable screen technology, exploring its potential to revolutionize smartphone design.
2. They question the practicality of foldable screens, considering the potential challenges in terms of durability and user experience.
3. The conversation highlights the need for a clear use case for foldable screens, ensuring that they offer a tangible benefit beyond novelty.
4. They explore the potential for foldable screens to blur the lines between smartphones and tablets, creating new categories of devices that offer flexibility and versatility.
The High-End Smartphone Market:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the trend of increasingly expensive smartphones, particularly in the high-end market.
2. They explore the motivations behind this price increase, including the need to differentiate products and appeal to a premium market segment.
3. The conversation raises questions about the value proposition of these high-priced devices, considering the diminishing returns on incremental technological improvements.
4. They emphasize the importance of considering affordability and accessibility, particularly in a market where high-end devices become increasingly out of reach for many consumers.
The OnePlus Strategy:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss OnePlus’s strategy of offering high-end specs at competitive prices, contrasting it with the premium pricing strategies of other phone manufacturers.
2. They highlight OnePlus’s commitment to providing value for money and its ability to appeal to budget-conscious consumers.
3. The conversation explores the potential for OnePlus to disrupt the smartphone market by offering a compelling alternative to the established players.
4. They discuss OnePlus’s focus on user feedback and its ability to adapt its products to meet evolving consumer needs.
The Galaxy Note 9 and Samsung Software:
1. Marques Brownlee discusses his experience with the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, highlighting its premium build quality and attractive design.
2. He expresses his preference for Google’s software and its clean and intuitive design compared to Samsung’s software.
3. The conversation touches on the potential for Samsung to improve its software user experience, perhaps by offering a Google Play Edition of its flagship devices.
4. They discuss the complexities of navigating multiple messaging apps on Android phones, highlighting the need for a more streamlined and user-friendly messaging experience.
The Walled Garden of Apple:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the challenges of leaving Apple’s ecosystem, specifically highlighting the limitations of iMessage and FaceTime on Android phones.
2. They acknowledge the strong hold that Apple has on its users, primarily due to its walled garden approach, which restricts compatibility and creates a sense of dependency.
3. The conversation explores the potential for future technological advancements to break down these walled gardens, allowing for greater interoperability between different platforms.
4. They touch on the ethical implications of walled gardens and the potential for companies to use them to control user behavior and limit competition.
Sponsored Videos and Influencer Marketing:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the prevalence of sponsored videos in the tech review space, highlighting the potential for misleading content and bias.
2. They touch on the challenges of identifying sponsored content and the importance of maintaining transparency in reviewing products.
3. The conversation explores the impact of influencer marketing on consumer decision-making and the potential for ethical concerns.
4. They emphasize the importance of independent reviews and the need for viewers to be discerning consumers of tech content.
The Huawei Mate 20 Pro and Porsche Design:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and the limited appeal of its Porsche Design edition, acknowledging the high price tag and the lack of significant improvements over the standard model.
2. They explore the marketing strategy of premium partnerships, such as Porsche Design and Lamborghini editions, highlighting their appeal to consumers seeking status and exclusivity.
3. The conversation raises questions about the value proposition of these limited-edition devices, considering the premium pricing and the minimal functional differences.
4. They touch on the potential for companies to offer more practical and innovative features rather than relying on branding and exclusivity to justify high prices.
The Evolution of Smartphone Pricing:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the shift in smartphone pricing, noting the growing acceptance of $1000+ price tags for flagship devices.
2. They attribute this trend to market forces, including the increased demand for premium features and the perception that higher prices equate to higher quality.
3. The conversation highlights the challenge of balancing affordability with innovation and the potential for price increases to limit access to technology for many consumers.
4. They touch on the ongoing debate about the sustainability of this pricing model and the potential for alternative strategies to emerge in the smartphone market.
The Importance of the Headphone Jack:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the ongoing debate about the headphone jack, noting the preference for many users to retain this feature, even as some phone manufacturers move away from it.
2. They highlight the practical benefits of the headphone jack, particularly for audiophiles and users who value wired audio.
3. The conversation touches on the potential for wireless audio technology to improve and eventually replace the headphone jack altogether.
4. They explore the challenges of balancing the desire for innovation with the need to meet user expectations and provide a seamless audio experience.
The Future of Virtual Reality:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the potential for virtual reality to become more mainstream, highlighting the growing popularity of VR headsets and immersive gaming experiences.
2. They explore the potential for VR to become a valuable tool for education, entertainment, and even therapy.
3. The conversation touches on the challenges of developing realistic and engaging VR content and the need for more accessible and user-friendly VR hardware.
4. They discuss the potential for VR to become more integrated into our lives, potentially blurring the lines between the real and virtual worlds.
The Red Hydrogen One’s 3D Display:
1. Marques Brownlee discusses Red Hydrogen One’s 3D display technology, emphasizing its potential to enhance visual experiences.
2. He questions the practicality and long-term viability of 3D displays in smartphones, considering the potential challenges in terms of content availability and user experience.
3. The conversation highlights the need for compelling 3D content to justify the use of this technology.
4. They explore the potential for 3D displays to become more commonplace, but acknowledge the need for widespread adoption and improvements in the technology to truly revolutionize viewing experiences.
Augmented Reality and the Future of Technology:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the potential for augmented reality to become more mainstream, highlighting the development of AR glasses and the integration of AR features into smartphones.
2. They explore the potential for AR to enhance our daily lives, providing access to information, navigation, and other functions in a seamless and intuitive way.
3. The conversation touches on the challenges of developing compelling AR experiences, including the need for powerful hardware, accurate spatial mapping, and relevant content.
4. They discuss the potential for AR to transform our interactions with technology, blurring the lines between the real and virtual worlds.
Smart Home Technology and Privacy Concerns:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the growing popularity of smart home devices, such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa.
2. They explore the convenience and benefits of smart home technology, but also acknowledge the privacy concerns associated with these devices and the potential for data collection.
3. The conversation highlights the importance of informed consent and transparency in the use of smart home devices.
4. They touch on the ongoing debate about the balance between convenience and privacy, urging users to be mindful of the potential risks and benefits of adopting these technologies.
The Future of Technology and the Human Condition:
1. Joe Rogan and Marques Brownlee discuss the potential for technological advancements to profoundly impact the human condition, considering the development of artificial limbs, bionic implants, and even the potential for replacing human eyes.
2. They explore the ethical implications of these advancements, raising questions about the definition of humanity and the potential for technology to alter our fundamental nature.
3. The conversation highlights the importance of considering the societal impact of technological advancements and the need for responsible innovation.
4. They touch on the complex relationship between humans and technology, acknowledging the potential for both progress and peril as we navigate the evolving landscape of technological innovation.

5 Memorable Quotes from the Podcast:

“It’s just kinda weird. But there’s just a d screen. Yeah. That’s my photo actually. So — Uh-huh. — that’s next to the the iPhone 8 plus, which is already a huge phone. And What is this metal thing on the back? The brass looking?” – Joe Rogan on the Red Hydrogen One’s design.
“But I think the modules will make this what it is. I think the phone by itself is, like, not really 1300 dollar phone, but it’s support for upcoming things that they’re planning. I think we’ll make it good.” – Marques Brownlee on the Red Hydrogen One’s potential.
“I don’t mind I don’t mind the skin if it’s good. There’s a lot of skins like 1 plus has oxygen OS and it’s a skin technically. It’s close to pure Google, but it’s missing a lot of the pixel features. But it’s fine. It’s smooth. It’s great.” – Marques Brownlee on custom Android interfaces.
“The best part is they give you the choice now, but If you never look for it, you’ll never find it. And they definitely still default to saving your battery by under clocking a chip. So your phone will still slow down if you don’t know where to find that option. As soon as the new phones come out, basically. You motherfucker. It’s just dirty.” – Joe Rogan on Apple’s battery slowdown strategy.
“It’s so dumb. So I think the reason why they did that is to keep people from killing themselves. That’s what I think. Yeah. Just just get somewhere in the 80 to 90 range. Fatbird is always in the 2 and 3. Fatbird never gets in yellow. That slab. He just waddle it around. Waddle it around with blue and green. Mostly gray.” – Joe Rogan on the MyZone fitness app’s point system.