The techlash has gone Hollywood

You can now try a new note-taking app called Prism that promises speed and organizational power.

The Verge's David Pierce highlights new tech-related entertainment and gadgets. The "Social Reckoning," a film about Facebook's downfall, is noted as a successor to "The Social Network." Amazon's Alexa Tablet 12 Pro aims to be a high-end, affordable tablet. Kevin Roose's book "The AGI Chronicles" delves into the AI industry's inner workings. "Star Wars: Galactic Racer" is available for free on Amazon Luna for Prime subscribers. The show "Cupertino" offers a procedural look at tech and AI legal issues. Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra is presented as premium MacBook Pro competition with AI features. "Gears of War: E-Day" is an anticipated origin story for the series. Michael Lewis's book "Blockers" examines Elon Musk and Dogecoin's impact on government. Pierce also shares his personal phone setup and app recommendations, including Flora and Prism for journaling and note-taking, and highlights community recommendations ranging from retro gaming to AI-assisted shed building.

The influx of tech-themed media, from "The Social Reckoning" to "Cupertino," signifies a cultural pivot where technology's impact on society is increasingly being explored through narrative storytelling. This trend reflects a broader societal reckoning with the influence of big tech companies, moving beyond purely functional gadget reviews to examine the ethical and human consequences of innovation. The emergence of devices like the Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro and Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra suggests a continued push for competitive hardware, particularly in the tablet and premium laptop markets, often integrating AI capabilities as a key differentiator.

The recommendations for note-taking and journaling apps like Flora and Prism, alongside Pierce's personal struggle to find the perfect system, highlight an ongoing consumer demand for tools that enhance personal organization and digital well-being amidst an increasingly complex technological landscape. The community's engagement with retro gaming and single-purpose devices like Garmin GPS units points to a counter-trend valuing simplicity, repairability, and focused functionality over all-encompassing, often distracting, smart devices. This diverse set of interests indicates a market segment seeking curated digital experiences and a return to tangible, predictable technology.