We're back! It's the return of our weekly news roundup, with Todd Bishop, John Cook and Monica Nickelsburg. First, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's surprise appearance at Samsung's latest Galaxy smartphone unveiling signals good things ahead for Windows users. We go inside the shutdown of ReachNow, BMW's car-sharing service that operated in Portland and Seattle, and discuss the unusual ways that some people in our society are using car-sharing services. And finally, on the Random Channel, we offer our latest documentary recommendations, catch up with Amazon's Treasure Truck, and savor some bread made from 4,500-year-old yeast.

We're back! It's the return of our weekly news roundup, with Todd Bishop, John Cook and Monica Nickelsburg. First, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's surprise appearance at Samsung's latest Galaxy smartphone unveiling signals good things ahead for Windows users. We go inside the shutdown of ReachNow, BMW's car-sharing service that operated in Portland and Seattle, and discuss the unusual ways that some people in our society are using car-sharing services. And finally, on the Random Channel, we offer our latest documentary recommendations, catch up with Amazon's Treasure Truck, and savor some bread made from 4,500-year-old yeast.

GeekWire brings you the week's latest technology news, trends and insights, covering the world of technology from our home base in Seattle. Our regular news podcast features commentary and analysis from our editors and reporters, plus interviews with special guests.

GeekWire reporters John Cook, Todd Bishop and guests talk about the latest tech news and trends.

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Microsoft's Samsung surprise

Charles Simonyi is known in the tech industry for his work at Microsoft. He played a leading role in creating Word, Excel and other programs back in the 1980s. He rejoined the company in 2017 with its acquisition of his startup, Intentional Software. 

But he's had a longtime fascination with space, taking two trips to the International Space Station, in 2007 and 2009, and helping to fund a long-awaited new space survey telescope in Chile that bears his family's name. 

On this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, Simonyi speaks with Geekwire contributing editor Alan Boyle, the veteran space and science journalist, about the new Simonyi Survey Telescope, the potential for new discoveries, and his longtime fascination with space. 

Related story: Tech leader Charles Simonyi provides a wide-angle view of the telescope that bears his family name

Edited by Curt Milton.

Charles Simonyi is known in the tech industry for his work at Microsoft. He played a leading role in creating Word, Excel and other programs back in the 1980s. He rejoined the company in 2017 with its acquisition of his startup, Intentional Software. 
But he's had a longtime fascination with space, taking two trips to the International Space Station, in 2007 and 2009, and helping to fund a long-awaited new space survey telescope in Chile that bears his family's name. 
On this episode of the GeekWire Podcast, Simonyi speaks with Geekwire contributing editor Alan Boyle, the veteran space and science journalist, about the new Simonyi Survey Telescope, the potential for new discoveries, and his longtime fascination with space. 
Related story: <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/charles-simonyi-wide-angle-telescope-rubin/">Tech leader Charles Simonyi provides a wide-angle view of the telescope that bears his family name</a>
Edited by Curt Milton.

Software pioneer Charles Simonyi on the quest for galactic discoveries

Amazon's decision to bring its employees back to the office five days a week is a window into the challenges facing the e-commerce and technology giant, and CEO Andy Jassy's larger plan to get the company to operate like "the world's largest startup" again.

Plus, GeekWire's John Cook gets into the back seat of a driverless car for the first time since 2018, and has a very different experience.

Coverage of Amazon's announcement:
Amazon ‘will return to being in the office the way we were’ before the pandemic, CEO tells employees
‘The way we were’: Amazon tries to rekindle its future by rediscovering a spark from the past
Thoughts on Amazon’s full return to the office from a CEO who knows the value — and the trade-offs
A ‘home run’ or a ‘cowardly’ decision? Amazon’s new in-person work policy elicits cheers and jeers
Amazon’s new back-to-office mandate fuels debate over remote work and productivity

Waymo links and related stories:
NPR: Armed with traffic cones, protesters are immobilizing driverless cars
GeekWire in 2018: We rode in Uber’s self-driving car, and now we’re less confident in the future of autonomous vehicles
Video of John's Waymo ride this week.
The Verge: Waymo and Uber expand their robotaxi partnership to Austin and Atlanta

With John Cook and Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton.

Amazon's decision to <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/amazon-will-return-to-being-in-the-office-the-way-we-were-before-the-pandemic-ceo-tells-employees/">bring its employees back to the office five days a week</a> is a window into the challenges facing the e-commerce and technology giant, and CEO Andy Jassy's larger plan to get the company to operate like "the world's largest startup" again.
Plus, GeekWire's John Cook gets into the back seat of a driverless car for the first time <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2018/rode-ubers-self-driving-car-now-less-confident-future-autonomous-vehicles/">since 2018</a>, and has <a href="https://youtu.be/e-_Yd8xuhMw">a very different experience</a>.
Coverage of Amazon's announcement:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/amazon-will-return-to-being-in-the-office-the-way-we-were-before-the-pandemic-ceo-tells-employees/">Amazon ‘will return to being in the office the way we were’ before the pandemic, CEO tells employees</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/the-way-we-were-amazon-tries-to-rekindle-its-future-by-rediscovering-a-spark-from-the-past/">‘The way we were’: Amazon tries to rekindle its future by rediscovering a spark from the past</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/thoughts-on-amazons-full-return-to-the-office-from-a-ceo-who-knows-the-value-and-the-trade-offs/">Thoughts on Amazon’s full return to the office from a CEO who knows the value — and the trade-offs</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/a-home-run-for-downtown-amazons-change-in-its-in-person-work-policy-elicits-cheers-and-jeers/">A ‘home run’ or a ‘cowardly’ decision? Amazon’s new in-person work policy elicits cheers and jeers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/amazons-new-back-to-office-mandate-adds-to-debate-over-remote-work-and-employee-productivity/">Amazon’s new back-to-office mandate fuels debate over remote work and productivity</a></li>
</ul>
Waymo links and related stories:
<ul>
<li>NPR: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/08/26/1195695051/driverless-cars-san-francisco-waymo-cruise">Armed with traffic cones, protesters are immobilizing driverless cars</a></li>
<li>GeekWire in 2018: <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2018/rode-ubers-self-driving-car-now-less-confident-future-autonomous-vehicles/">We rode in Uber’s self-driving car, and now we’re less confident in the future of autonomous vehicles</a></li>
<li>Video of <a href="https://youtu.be/e-_Yd8xuhMw">John's Waymo ride this week.</a></li>
<li>The Verge: <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/13/24243397/waymo-uber-austin-atlanta-robotaxi-partnership">Waymo and Uber expand their robotaxi partnership to Austin and Atlanta</a></li>
</ul>
With John Cook and Todd Bishop; Edited by Curt Milton.

Amazon's quest to become a startup again; Driverless cars, 6 years later

Our guest this week is Anupreeta Das, author of the new book, "Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World." Das is the South Asia correspondent for The New York Times. This week's guest host, Ross Reynolds, is an interviewer and moderator who is well-known in the Seattle region from his 34 years at KUOW, the public radio station from which he retired in 2021.

Edited by Curt Milton.

Our guest this week is <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/anupreetadas">Anupreeta Das,</a> author of the new book, <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Billionaire-Nerd-Savior-King/Anupreeta-Das/9781668006726">"Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World."</a> Das is the South Asia correspondent for The New York Times. This week's guest host, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossrey/">Ross Reynolds</a>, is an interviewer and moderator who is well-known in the Seattle region from his 34 years at KUOW, the public radio station from which he retired in 2021.
Edited by Curt Milton.

Microsoft's Samsung surprise

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