GeekWire Radio: Sen. Elizabeth Warren challenges tech giants, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s book deal, and more

This week on the GeekWire radio show and podcast: U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a possible running mate to Hillary Clinton, criticized acquisitions and conglomerates in the tech industry. She singled out Apple, Amazon, and Google, claiming that organizations like these kill competition and make the marketplace more difficult for smaller companies.

But some would argue that Amazon and Apple, who tend to favor internal innovation over acquisition, in fact encourage more growth of smaller companies. On this week’s show, we discuss the role tech giants like these have in the marketplace.

Amazon made headlines several times this week, first with their announcement that they have added 50 new brands to their Dash Button program. The additions include several Hasbro toy brands, like Play-Doh and Nerf. GeekWire’s Todd Bishop has already signed up for one, and eagerly awaits its arrival.

We’ll also take a closer look at Amazon’s Biospheres, the orb-shaped greenhouses that the company is building in the Denny Triangle.

In other news, Satya Nadella has announced a new book deal.

Plus, learn about our App of the Week and hear the answer to last week’s GeekWire Trivia Challenge. Congrats to our winner, Jesse Potter, who scored two tickets to “Lord of the Rings” at the Seattle Symphony.

Listen via the audio player above, or download the MP3 here.