It's Apple 50 week, so we've got an Apple-filled podcast. First, longtime Apple journalist Jason Snell joins the show to talk about the state of the company as a hardware maker, a software maker, a force for good in the world, and more. Then, blogger and entrepreneur Anil Dash explains why he's worried about the rise of video podcasts, and the role Apple could play to make it better. Finally, The Verge's Allison Johnson helps answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email ⁠vergecast@theverge.com⁠!) about swapping your phone for a watch. And a tablet. And some other things. 00:00 Intro 01:23 Today’s Apple-Focused Lineup 04:22 Apple Hardware Report Card 08:41 Apple Software Growing Pains 15:48 Design Innovation and Risk 23:22 Walled Garden Ecosystem 29:19 Brand Values 37:29 Next CEO and What’s Next 44:21 Open Podcast Promise 48:04 Why Podcasts Stayed Open 52:05 Why Video Got Platformized 55:10 Apple Video Podcast Shift 58:02 Risks of Approved Providers 01:02:36 Algorithms Versus Discovery 01:05:01 Keeping Video Podcasts Open 01:09:36 Hope for Open Media 01:15:06 Hotline: Watch Only Life 01:19:59 Apple Watch Limits 01:23:18 Foldables as the Fix 01:26:27 Wrap Up Version History now has its own channel! Make sure to subscribe here for new episodes: https://bit.ly/4rRS30p Subscribe: http://goo.gl/G5RXGs Like The Verge on Facebook: https://goo.gl/2P1aGc Follow on Twitter: https://goo.gl/XTWX61 Follow on Instagram: https://goo.gl/7ZeLv Watch The Vergecast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/40RFRkg The Vergecast Podcast: https://bit.ly/3WQDexZ Decoder with Nilay Patel: http://apple.co/3v29nDc More about our podcasts: https://www.theverge.com/podcasts Read More: http://www.theverge.com Community guidelines: http://bit.ly/2D0hlAv Wallpapers from The Verge: https://bit.ly/2xQXYJr Shop our Verge merch store here: https://bit.ly/4kPCmEc Subscribe to The Verge: https://bit.ly/3FT6n5S Subscribe to The Vergecast on YouTube, new episodes on Tuesday and Friday: https://bit.ly/3I6nJtz If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may receive a commission without exerting any influence on editorial content. For more information about our ethics policy, visit: https://bit.ly/3ZWTlLs