A weekly news show where your favorite Engadget editors tear themselves away from their crippling technology addiction, to discuss our collective crippling technology addiction.
The podcast The Engadget Podcast is created by Engadget. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
This week, we're diving into Engadget's coverage from the 2025 New York Auto Show. There are tons of EVs, as we expected, as well as some surprising disappointments (what the heck did Subaru do to the Outback?!). Also, we once again try to make sense of the Trump administration's tariff mess. Stay tuned to the end of this episode for a chat with Isaiah Saxon, the director of A24’s The Legend of Ochi, about his puppet-filled kid’s adventure.
What’s hot in EVs from New York Auto Show 2025 – 1:56
Federal Judge rules that Google has a monopoly on U.S. digital ads – 17:42
Facebook antitrust trial begins after several attempts to scuttle the case – 22:18
Tariff Watch: tariffs on semiconductors and electronics to be announced later – 31:16
PS5 prices are rising around the world – 34:22
NPR: Whistleblower shows evidence DOGE took sensitive data from federal labor board – 42:35
Sidewalk alerts in Seattle and Palo Alto hacked to play AI-generated messages – 47:18
New details for Mario Kart World – 48:43
Around Engadget / Working On – 51:42
Picks – 54:31
Interview with Legend of Ochi director Isaiah Saxon – 59:59
This week, Engadget's Sam Rutherford dives into his experience with Google's new $499 mid-range smartphone, the Pixel 9a. Is it really the new mid-range king, as we previously predicted? Or is it worth spending more for the Pixel 9? Also, we chat about how the Trump administration's volatile tariff strategy will affect consumer technology (not to mention everything else you buy).
Sam Rutherford’s Pixel 9a Review: Basic in just the right way – 1:16
Tariff Watch: Switch 2 preorders delayed, Razer pauses laptop sales in the U.S. – 30:27
TikTok ban deadline extended for another 75 days – 42:40
Samsung’s Ballie robot with Google Gemini arrives this Summer (allegedly) – 43:31
Listener Mail – 46:53
Working on – 57:41
Pop Culture picks – 59:23
After Nintendo revealed the full details around the Switch 2 this week, Engadget's Sam Rutherford got some hands-on time with the new console. In this episode, he talks about the major improvements in the new hardware (especially that 1080p, 120 fps screen) and why he doesn't really miss the older Switch OLED. Also, Sam discusses his time with Mario Kart World, the new semi-open world version of Nintendo's classic racer.
In other news, we dive into the latest updates around the TIkTok ban, and we discuss how the Trump administration's tariff push will affect everything in the technology world and beyond. Stay tuned to the end of the show for our chat with Shinichiro Watanabe, the creator of Cowboy Bebop, about his new anime series Lazarus.
Switch 2 details are finally here, Sam Rutherford got hands-on time with it – 1:47
U.S.’s broad new tariffs on China and beyond could make everything from keyboards to cars more expensive – 49:32
TikTok’s divest-or-ban deadline is April 5, here are the possible buyers – 54:57
xAI buys X, but how much does that matter? – 58:24
Working on – 1:00:59
Pop culture picks – 1:02:31
This week, we learned that even government officials are addicted to their group chats -- except with the Trump administration those chats include war plans and potentially classified information. In this episode, we dive into the sheer recklessness and stupidity of Signalgate. And speaking of reckless, we also discuss 23andMe's bankruptcy and the privacy concerns around selling off customer DNA data.
Signalgate: What happened, who was involved, and how to safely add someone to a Signal group chat – 0:48
23andMe files for bankruptcy, customers are urged to delete their sensitive data – 21:25
Canon’s PowerShot V1 and R50 V cameras go all in on vlogging – 27:21
Apple announces WWDC dates, updates Airpods Max, and dodges fines in the EU – 32:52
How did Napster sell for $207 million in 2025? – 45:32
Around Engadget – 48:44
Working On – 55:22
Pop Culture picks – 57:56
After a ton of leaks, Google officially announced the $499 Pixel 9a, which has the potential to be the new king of mid-range phones. It has dual cameras and access to Google's AI features -- in many ways, it's everything the iPhone 16e should have been (especially its price). In this episode, Senior Writer Sam Rutherford joins us to discuss what's great about the Pixel 9a, as well as its potential downsides compared to the Pixel 9.
Google’s announces the Pixel 9a - potentially the new midrange king – 1:15
Fujifilm’s GX100RF: a 102MP medium format camera (nice!) with only one F4 lens (boo!) – 21:31
Karissa Bell’s roundup of the craziest stuff from Facebook whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams’ book – 24:14
Donald Trump attempts to fire FTC’s two Democratic commissioners – 29:34
Amazon will send all Alexa recordings to the cloud, no more local processing – 32:52
Chinese EV maker BYD announces chargers that give 249 miles of range in 5 minutes – 39:10
Pebble founder introduces two new e-paper smartwatches – 46:47
Listener Mail: Trying to choose an OLED TV – 57:35
Around Engadget – 1:03:49
Working on – 1:09:56
Pop culture picks – 1:10:28
It's both a great and bad week for Apple. In this episode, we dive into Devindra's review of the excellent M4-equipped MacBook Air (and briefly chat about the new Mac Studio). We also discuss Apple's surprise announcement that it's delaying its smarter, AI-infused Siri, which may not arrive until next year. Did Apple over-promise last year, or is it wise to hold off on advanced AI features until they're ready? After all, Apple doesn't want a fiasco like Microsoft's Recall announcement.
The MacBook Air M4 refresh maintains Apple’s seat on the ultraportable throne – 1:40
…but the delay on a Siri upgrade could spell trouble long-term – 15:32
Xbox’s first handheld might not be made by Microsoft – 34:29
The White House turns into a Tesla dealership – 41:30
Meta attempts to block unflattering expose book already on sale – 45:52
Around Engadget: Ninja Swirl and Eero Pro 7 router reviews – 46:38
Working on – 49:21
Pop culture picks – 50:26
Apple finally dropped some long-awaited updates this week: An M4 MacBook Air (now starting at $999!), M3 iPad Air, as well as a refreshed Mac Studio with M3 Ultra and M4 Max chips. In this episode, Cherlynn, Devindra and Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham chat about all of Apple's new hardware, as well as some interesting tidbits from Mobile World Congress 2025. Devindra also dives into his reviews of NVIDIA's RTX 5070 and AMD's Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT. It turns out AMD has finally delivered some killer GPUs to counter NVIDIA's dominance.
We mentioned a bunch of stuff from our Mobile World Congress Roundup, you can check it out here
MacBook Air refresh announced with an M4 chip and a slight price drop – 2:04
What’s hot at Mobile World Congress 2025 – 23:10
Lenovo’s Solar PC – 35:20
Xiaomi 15 Ultra (with a fancy Leica camera) – 37:53
New releases from Nothing – 39:16
Samsung releases a trio of A series devices – 40:35
NVIDIA vs. AMD part ∞: AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT edge out the GeForce RTX 5070 – 46:20
Pop culture picks – 54:11
The keyword for the iPhone 16e seems to be "compromise." In this episode, Devindra chats with Cherlynn about her iPhone 16e review and try to figure out who this phone is actually for. Also, they dive into Amazon's Alexa+ event, where we finally learned more about the company's AI-powered voice assistant. Alexa+ seems useful, but can we trust it?
iPhone 16e review: too expensive with too many compromises – 1:28
Amazon Alexa+ is a conversational assistant powered by AI – 18:39
Framework unveils a cheap 2-in-1 laptop and a…modular desktop? – 40:53
Clone Robotics released a video of a robot with fake skin that will haunt your nightmares – 43:26
NYT: American Psychologists are getting ready to fight AI clone therapists – 44:05
Working on – 47:59
Pop culture picks – 49:02
Interview with Daniel Rausch, VP of Amazon’s Alexa division – 55:34
Well we didn't get the iPhone SE fourth-gen this week -- instead Apple debuted the iPhone 16e, a $599 model based on the iPhone 14's design. It has a 6.1-inch OLED screen and the A18 chip for Apple Intelligence, but should we really consider it a cheap iPhone? In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn dive into the iPhone 16e and how it compares to the rest of the iPhone 16 family.
Apple unveils its SE successor, the iPhone 16e for $599 – 1:22
Trump administration planning on 25 percent tariffs on auto and semiconductor imports – 32:02
Acer to raise prices by 10 percent following tariff talk – 34:26
Humane AI sells to HP, pin will go offline February 28 – 36:42
Microsoft’s new quantum computing chip runs on topological qubits – 41:14
Working on – 47:28
Pop culture picks – 50:06
We joked about "President Musk" shortly after Donald Trump took office, but it turns out that wasn't far from the truth. Over the past few weeks, Elon Musk and his DOGE team wasted no time in trying to dismantle the American administrative state. They've illegally accessed the Treasury Department's federal payment system, pushed for USAID to be dismantled, and have also infiltrated the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In this episode, we chat with 404 Media's Jason Koebler about what Musk and his young tech cronies are up to, and how it ties into Silicon Valley's approach to the new Trump administration.
Move Fast and Break Things: What is Elon Musk’s DOGE doing to the United States government? – 1:04
iPhone SE 4 announcement expected soon – 34:54
Elon Musk makes $97.4 billion offer for OpenAI, Altman declines in a tweet – 39:03
France wants to build a gigawatt of new nuclear plants to power AI ambitions – 41:27
Working on – 44:05
Pop culture picks – 44:48
This week, Devindra chats with Volvo Group CTO Lars Stenqvist about the company’s progress developing zero emissions trucks, both of the electric variety and experimental hydrogen options. While it’s a completely different company from Volvo Cars, Volvo Group still impacts consumers as one of the largest producers of heavy trucks. Stenqvist dives into how Volvo is thinking about new technology, and we chat a bit about how it’s approaching completely autonomous vehicles. (Note: This interview was recorded in early January, so we didn’t have a chance to talk about this week’s partnership between Volvo and the self-driving truck startup Waabi.)
In the span of a week, the Chinese startup DeepSeek has completely disrupted the AI landscape with its free and "open source" R1 model. In this episode, Devindra, Engadget Senior Reporter Igor Bonifacic and Producer Ben Ellman dive into what makes R1 so special, and what DeepSeek is doing differently from OpenAI and other competitors. Also, we try to figure out what’s up with “Incention,” a weird AI/blockchain project for creating new Hollywood IP, and wonder if Helion’s fusion reactor is actually legit.
DeepSeek’s R1 model shakes up the AI landscape – 1:55
Quick mention: Sam Rutherford’s Galaxy S25 review “Too much AI, not enough Ultra” – 30:19
Incention is proof that blockchain nonsense is alive and well – 37:16
Fusion startup Helion has Altman and Thiel on its side, but maybe not physics – 42:50
Google agrees to rename Gulf of Mexico on U.S. version of its maps – 49:19
Working on – 50:07
Pop culture picks – 51:32
It feels like CES again with a slew of tech news this week! In this episode, Devindra dives into his final thoughts on NVIDIA's $2,000 GeForce RTX 5090, a super-powered video card with a healthy dose of AI. Senior Reporter Sam Rutherford also joins to explain everything Samsung launched at its Galaxy S25 Unpacked event. And of course, we'll chat about some of the technology industry and policy changes from the new Trump administration. Stay tuned to the end of this episode for our chat with YouTube Director of Product Management Jack Greenberg about some new features headed to YouTube Premium.
TikTok was only banned for 14 hours, what happened? – 1:27
Devindra’s NVIDIA RTX 5090 Review: more power than most people need – 13:53
Samsung Unpacked announces Galaxy S25 series and teases a thinner phone – 30:25
What the new administration’s Executive Orders mean for AI, EVs and the environment – 54:23
Pop culture picks – 1:03:41
What’s coming to Youtube Premium with project manager Jack Greenberg – 1:07:06
So it looks like the TikTok ban may actually be happening, barring a last-minute Supreme Court decision. In this episode, Senior Writer Karissa Bell joins Devindra and Ben to discuss the potential finale of TikTok in America, as well as why some users are finding refuge in RedNote, a Chinese Instagram clone. They also dive into why Meta is giving up on third-party fact checkers, and how this relates to Mark Zuckerberg's descent into the right-wing world. Finally, we explore the tidbits of information from Nintendo's Switch 2 unveiling.
Stay tuned to the end of this episode for Devindra’s chat with Dan Erickson, the creator of Severance, about season two of his hit show.
RIP TikTok, Part ??? – 2:24
Meta abandons fact checking, loosens hate speech rules on its platforms – 22:21
We finally have confirmation of the Switch 2, full unveil scheduled for April 2 – 40:57
Pop culture picks – 49:29.187
We’re officially recovering from CES 2025! In this episode, Devindra and Senior Reporter Sam Rutherford dive into their favorite PCs from the show, and debate the merits of Lenovo’s extra-large Legion Go S handheld. They explain why they like ASUS’s ultra-light Zenbook A14, and Sam gives us his final thoughts on Dell’s clunky brand transition.
Lenovo’s surprising CES showing: ThinkBook Plus Gen 6’s rollable screen – 0:47
Legion Go S by Lenovo is the first third-party handheld to run SteamOS – 4:35
NVIDIA’s RTX 5000 seems great… – 10:16
…But Jensen Huang’s keynote on NVIDIA’s future lacked focus – 15:29
MicroLED TVs shown at CES are gorgeous and pricy – 30:11
We've survived two days of CES! In this bonus episode, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss the latest innovations in robot vacuums, new AI PC hardware from AMD and Intel, and Dell's decision to nuke its PC brands in favor of Apple-esque "Dell Pro" and "Dell Pro Max" branding. (Note: We recorded this episode before NVIDIA announced its new RTX 5000 GPUs, but we'll have more to say on that soon!)
We're ringing in 2025 with everything we're expecting to see at CES! That includes new video cards from AMD and NVIDIA, a holographic windshield from Hyundai and potentially more satellite enabled phones. AI will still be a major topic -- like the next generation of AI PCs -- but it also seems like we'll be hearing a lot more about classic CES stories. In addition, we explore why Meta wants to start adding AI users to Facebook and Instagram.
CES 2025 Preview: LG’s bendable 5K OLED, AI PCs, and a broadening satellite phone market – 2:17
New video cards from AMD and NVIDIA at CES – 12:09
2024’s biggest losers in tech – 18:46
Meta announces AI personas are coming to Instagram and Facebook – 32:22
Pop culture picks – 41:02
This week, we're looking back at our hellish 2024 and trying to figure out where to go from here. We began the year with enormous hype around artificial intelligence, but that's cooled off after seeing how useless many AI features have been. It's also clear that many companies, including Microsoft and Apple, are trying to push half-baked AI concepts onto users. Looking forward, we're expecting a rough few years for the tech industry (not to mention the world as a whole).
2024 in review: AI hype hasn’t led to much and the social media vibes are in flux – 1:12
What we’re looking forward to in 2025 – 21:43
Tiktok appeals its ban all the way to the US Supreme Court – 29:53
TP-Link routers are being investigated by US authorities – 32:39
Quick thoughts from last week’s Game Awards – 35:35
Working on – 38:26
Pop culture picks – 39:17
Interview with Tim Miller and Dave Wilson of Prime’s Secret Level – 49:20
At long last, iPhone users have access to Apple's AI image generation tools, Genmoji (for customized emoji) and Image Playground. But based on our testing, these Apple Intelligence features aren't fully baked. In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn discuss why these AI tools aren't very useful and dive into some of Apple's most egregious image generation fails.
iOS 18.2 AI image generation arrives half baked. Genmoji are fun, but weird – 1:13
OpenAI’s Sora video generation model was finally released – 37:17
GM kills its Cruise robotaxi project – 45:43
Google’s Gemini 2.0 is now available for preview – 49:51
Tiktok is running out of options to avoid a ban in the U.S. – 57:36
Working on – 1:00:04
Pop culture picks – 1:02:20
Our review-in-progress of the Kindle Scribe 2 is live, and this week on the Engadget Podcast our host Cherlynn Low talks about Amazon’s latest writing tablet with noted ereader aficionado Alex Cranz. The pair are joined by Engadget’s own ereader expert Valentina Palladino, and they all get deep on the state of reading on books, tablets and phones. Our hosts also dive into what’s happening at Intel, as well as modern cars and personal listening habits.
Kindle Scribe 2, Kobo, Boox and more: the state of ereaders in 2024 – 2:12
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger retires – 45:13
Intel claims its $250 Battlemage Arc GPU can top the NVIDIA RTX 4060 – 50:57
MSI’s upcoming Claw 8 AI+ and 7 AI+ are faster than ever, but you still need to navigate Windows with joysticks – 52:18
Jaguar’s strange concept EV doesn’t even have a rear window – 57:26
It’s music streaming recap season! How do you feel about yours? – 1:04:33
Working on / Around Engadget – 1:09:13
Pop culture picks – 1:11:20
Senior reporter Jess Conditt joins host Cherlynn Low and producer Ben Ellman on a quiet news week to talk about the latest developments at Sony, Threads, TikTok and more. We also take a look at some gadget announcements and discuss the impact that social media and technology have had on the way we work and how we think of celebrity and success.
A chill Thanksgiving week chat: Social media and how it affects all of us – 1:07
Gaming news with Jess: Sony is reportedly working on a new portable console – 21:18
PlayStation’s head of indie games Shuhei Yoshida is leaving Sony after 30 years – 28:34
Obsidian’s Avowed looks like a great reason to pick up an Xbox controller – 31:53
FTC warns that most connected devices aren’t supported for very long – 37:08
Working on – 41:14
Pop culture picks – 42:17
Well, the rumors were true: this week the DOJ argued that Google should sell off Chrome to make up for its monopolistic search practices. On top of that, the US government also suggested a potential sale of Android if it can't stop prioritizing its own search on Android smartphones. In this episode, Devindra and Producer Ben discuss why neither outcome seems likely under the upcoming Trump 2.0 administration, which will likely focus on defanging any sort of regulation.
U.S. regulators want Google to sell its Chrome division (and why that probably won’t happen) – 1:05
Comcast spins off Rotten Tomatoes, Fandango, and a handful of cable networks into their own company – 22:23
Sony is in talks to buy Kadokawa, Japanese publisher behind FromSoft games and Kill la Kill – 24:38
German authorities suspect Baltic Sea data cables between Lithuania and Sweden were sabotaged – 26:21
Pokémon Go devs Niantic reveal plans to create a Large Geospatial Model to power future AR and robots – 32:26
Working on – 45:49
Pop culture picks – 51:38
For obvious reasons, Twitter users are leaving en masse and heading to Bluesky, its most prominent decentralized competitor. In this episode, we discuss why Bluesky now feels like the best of early Twitter, filled with vibrant conversations and people discovering a new social network filled with useful features (like serious blocking and content filtering). And of course, the lack of an algorithmic feed surely helps. Also, we chat with Justin Hendrix from Tech Policy Press about how Elon Musk has become a crucial ally to the upcoming Trump administration.
Bluesky ascendent: the federated platform could actually be the next Twitter – 2:22
Musk cozies up to President-elect Trump, could a Department of Government Efficiency be next? – 23:37
Interview with Justin Hendrix, founder of Tech Policy Press, on Trump and Musk – 31:50
The Onion buys InfoWars with plans to turn the brand into gun control satire – 48:02
LG Display’s stretchy new screen – 54:34
The Beatles have been nominated for two Grammys with the help of AI – 56:50
Goodbye: AOL voiceover Elwood Edwards has died – 58:29
Working on – 1:00:11
Pop culture picks – 1:02:38
In this episode, Devindra and producer Ben Ellman recover from the election by discussing our final thoughts on the PlayStation 5 Pro, as well as Apple’s M4 Mac mini (so cute, so powerful!) and new MacBook Pros. The M4 chip is a solid upgrade, but the M4 Pro is shockingly fast (so much so that it outscored every other system we reviewed this year in Geekbench).
PlayStation 5 Review: Your <$1000 gateway to 4K/60 gaming with ray tracing – 3:43
Mac mini M4 Pro Review: Phenomenal power with a tiny footprint – 16:51
MacBook Pro M4 and M4 Pro Review: Maintaining and extending Apple’s premium laptop dominance – 31:15
NYT tech guild on strike made their own games you can play without crossing their digital picket line – 38:28
Pop culture picks – 43:25
It's been a Mac-heavy week! In this episode, Devindra and producer Ben Ellman dive into all of Apple's new M4 hardware: the new iMac, Mac mini and refreshed Macbook Pros. The Mac mini, in particular, looks like it'll be a huge hit for anyone who needs a simple desktop system. Also, we dive into why Apple is pushing for every Mac to get 16GB of RAM at a minimum. That will benefit all users, even if they don't care about Apple Intelligence.
Unofficial Mac Week: Apple announces M4 Pro and M4 Max chips in refreshed iMac, Mac Mini, and Macbook Pro models – 0:58
Regulators force Lyft to tell U.S. drivers accurate numbers of how much money they’ll make – 45:30
AP report: OpenAI’s Whisper transcription model invents parts of audio transcripts – 49:06
AOC and Tim Walz streamed Crazy Taxi on Twitch – 53:11
McDonalds can finally repair their own McFlurry machines in significant win for Right to repair – 55:54
Around Engadget – 59:45
Pop culture picks – 1:03:42
We finally got an iPad Mini refresh, and it's not particularly exciting. But that's fine! It's still a useful little tablet, and now thanks to the A17 Pro chip, it's already ready for upcoming Apple Intelligence features. In this episode, Engadget Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham joins to discuss what he liked about the new iPad Mini, and what he hopes Apple will eventually fix in future models. Also, we chat about Netflix abandoning its AAA game studio, and why over 10,500 artists signed a letter against AI training.
The refreshed iPad Mini is playing it safe and that’s totally fine – 0:58
Netflix closes Team Blue, its attempt at a AAA game studio – 24:16
Over 10,000 of the world’s top artists sign a letter protesting AI training using their work – 28:27
X Terms of Service changes on account blocking, AI training spurs a fresh wave of Bluesky signups – 30:07
Ronald D. Moore (Outlander, Battlestar Galactica) chosen to helm Amazon’s God of War series – 38:35
Working on – 42:11
Pop culture picks – 43:17
Amazon finally did it! This week the company announced the Kindle Colorsoft, its first color E Ink e-reader. In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn discuss where this device sits in a world of cheap tablets, and they dive into the updated Kindle Paperwhite and the writable Kindle Scribe. Also, we've got final thoughts on the Meta Quest 3S, the updated iPad Mini and tons of news.
Amazon announces new Kindle Colorsoft, updated Kindle Scribe and Paperwhite – 0:51
Devindra’s Meta Quest 3S review: impressive VR for a fair price – 38:14
Apple quietly drops new iPad Minis – 45:25
Tesla’s Robotaxi event: lots of big promises that will be hard to fulfill – 51:38
Amazon and Google go nuclear (power) – 54:44
Android 15 starts to hit Pixel devices – 55:51
Analogue 3D will give you 4K N64 games, just don’t call it an emulator – 57:14
Working on – 1:00:48
Pop culture picks – 1:04:38
This week, we’re joined by tech critic Paris Marx to discuss Data Vampires, his latest Tech Won’t Save us podcast series. We discuss how data centers suck up vast amounts of power, water and other resources, and why the AI boom is exacerbating those issues. Also, Devindra and Ben dive into a few news stories, including the DOJ inching closer towards a Google antitrust breakup; Nintendo's adorable motion sensing alarm clock, Alarmo; and why Google's Deepmind AI head won the Nobel Prize for chemistry.
Interview with Tech Won’t Save Us host Paris Marx on his new series, Data Vampires – 2:09
U.S. regulators continue to float the possibility of breaking Google up in antitrust ruling – 25:54
Nintendo announces new hardware…Alarmo, a motion sensing alarm clock – 39:33
Apple Intelligence likely arrives October 28 – 42:27
343 Industries rebrands as Halo Studios and shows off Unreal Engine 5 demo – 44:46
Pop culture picks – 50:36
This week, Microsoft started rolling out the Windows 11 2024 update, but it quickly became clear that the company was far more eager to unveil new features for its Copilot AI and Copilot+ AI PCs. In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn chat about Microsoft's current AI priorities, and what it means for people with older PCs. Also, we discuss the death of HoloLens and Microsoft giving up on AR as Meta, Apple and even Snap build for an augmented reality future.
The new Windows 11 update goes all in on Copilot integration – 1:25
Amazon announces Fire HD 8 tablet line along with a few (pretty boring) AI features – 28:28
Tech debt led to Sonos’ disastrous app relaunch, will they be able to win users back? – 37:48
Google is making Gmail summaries more useful and adding a “happening soon” tab to your inbox – 41:11
Harvard students hack together facial recognition for Meta’s smart glasses that instantly doxes strangers – 44:00
Reddit introduces a policy change that will make site wide protests harder – 46:58
Around Engadget: Dan Cooper’s reMarkable Paper Pro review – 51:31
Working on – 55:53
Pop culture picks – 57:08
We've finally had a chance to try the PlayStation 5 Pro and Engadget's Jessica Conditt has come away impressed. In this episode, Devindra and Jess chat about what the PS5 Pro does well, and discuss who a $700 console is actually meant for. Also, coming off of Meta Connect 2024, Karissa Bell joins to chat about her time with the Quest 3S, as well as her thoughts about Meta's Orion AR headset and AI plans.
Jessica Conditt’s PS5 Pro hands on: 60fps makes so much difference – 0:42
Karissa Bell’s dispatch from Meta Connect 2024 – 27:04
Meta Quest 3S: an impressive and affordable step forward in consumer VR – 28:55
Orion AR glasses are a big swing, just don’t expect to buy them any time soon – 32:50
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses – 38:28
Pop culture picks – 58:24
Our reviews of the iPhone 16 Pro and Apple Watch Series 10 are up, thanks to one very tired Cherlynn Low. In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn discuss her final thoughts on Apple's new hardware, including why the iPhone 16 Pro’s photo processing is particularly interesting. In other news, we also chat about Snap's fifth-generation AR Spectacles, as well as HTC Vive's new Focus Vision headset.
iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max reviews: great cameras, but incomplete without Apple Intelligence – 0:59
Israel linked to coordinated pager and walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon – 42:29
Snap’s 5th generation glasses with AR look chunky in a bad way – 48:17
HTC’s Vive Focus Vision: an intriguing VR headset at a price between the Quest 3 and Vision Pro – 51:35
Lionsgate films made a deal with the AI devil – 52:40
Pop culture picks – 55:48
The iPhone 16 event is over, and now we've got plenty of thoughts to share after playing with all of Apple's new hardware. In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn chat about the entire iPhone 16 and Pro lineup, and Senior Reporter Billy Steele joins to chat about his experience with the AirPods 4 and Apple Watch Series 10. It turns out, the Apple Watch stole the show from the iPhone.
Post-Apple event thoughts on AirPods, Apple Watch Series 10, and, iPhone 16 with Cherlynn Low and Billy Steele – 0:47
Huawei releases a $2,800 tri-fold phone that won’t be coming to the US – 58:30
Taylor Swift endorses Harris for President, says AI material promoting Trump pushed her to make a statement – 59:24
No, Kamala Harris wasn’t wearing vaporware audio earrings at Tuesday’s debate – 1:01:00
Sony releases PS5 Pro Price, it’s $700! – 1:02:21
Meta admits to scraping all Australian user data for AI training – 1:04:12
Polaris Dawn astronauts perform first commercial spacewalk – 1:07:10
Around Engadget – 1:07:54
Pop culture picks – 1:09:33
In this bonus episode, Devindra and Engadget Contributing Reporter Kris Holt break down everything new (and not so new) in the iPhone 16 lineup. Is Apple Intelligence alone enough to entice iPhone owners to upgrade? Does anyone actually need the camera button? And why are we so intrigued by the Apple Watch Series 10 (which is undoubtedly the most interesting product Apple launched today).
After plenty of testing, we've got some final thoughts on Google's latest foldable. In this episode, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by Michael Fisher (AKA MrMobile) to discuss the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and why it feels like a far more mature device than the previous Pixel Fold. Also, we dive into some of the biggest news from IFA 2024, like Intel's Core Ultra 200V chips and Acer's crazy laptop concept with a built-in gamepad.
Cherlynn and MrMobile review the Pixel 9 Pro Fold – 1:14
IFA News: Intel’s promising Core Ultra 200V chips, Acer’s controller-embedded laptop, and a trio of interesting devices from Honor – 38:25
Brazil blocks X entirely in an escalation of a legal fight with Elon Musk – 49:59
Former OpenAI exec Ilya Sutskever raises $1B for new AI startup – 52:49
U.S. DOJ charges Russia Today employees over Kremlin-linked influencer campaign – 54:17
reMarkable Paper Pro 3, now in glorious color – 55:19
Sony’s pulls the plug on its big swing team shooter Concord 2 weeks after launch – 56:59
Pop culture picks – 58:42
Apple is gearing up to launch the iPhone 16 on September 9th, so we've brought on Bloomberg's Mark Gurman to chat about his scoops around Apple's upcoming hardware. We should expect some notable additions, like a dedicated camera button, as well as slightly larger screens on the Pro models. We'll also dive into Apple's robotics efforts -- does anyone really want an Apple bot rolling around their home? Finally, we'll discuss Gurman's reporting around Meta's upcoming devices: A cheaper Quest 3 model, as well as a glimpse at prototype AR glasses.
2024 iPhone event preview with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman – 0:50
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrested in Paris – 37:45
Razer reveals the Wolverine V3 Pro stick drift-resistant controller – 44:23
Meet Plaud’s NotePin. Another AI wearable??? – 45:07
Y2K style goes mobile with HMD’s hot pink Barbie flip phone – 48:10
Working on – 50:31
Pop culture picks – 53:56
This week, Devindra and Cherlynn dive into Engadget's reviews on Google's Pixel 9 and 9 Pro phones. Are they really a step up from last year's devices? And how do they compare to Samsung's latest? Also, we chat about a few stories from Gamescom 2024, including Microsoft's Indiana Jones game heading to the PS5, as well as the wild launch of Black Myth: Wukong.
Google approaches smartphone perfection with the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro – 0:58
Gamescom highlights: Indiana Jones, AI NPCs and Black Myth: Wukong – 22:15
xMEMS’ 1mm ultrasonic ‘fan on a chip’ breakthrough could enable super-thin devices – 49:31
San Francisco city attorney takes aim at AI deepfake pornography – 52:29
Chik-Fil-A wants to start a streaming service. Yes, you read that correctly – 52:52.
British Billionaire Mike Lynch, founder of tech firm Autonomy, found dead in the wreckage of his yacht – 55:48
Pop culture picks – 1:00:18
Is the second time the charm for Google's foldable? In this episode, Devindra chats with Senior Writer Sam Rutherford about his hands-on impressions of the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold. It has bigger screens and a sleeker design than its predecessor, but how does it compare to the other foldables out there? And why isn't it called the Pixel Fold 2?!
Thoughts on Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the rest of Google’s event – 1:39
Eric Schmidt blames work from home and work-life balance for Google’s loss of AI advantage – 31:07
U.S. Department of Justice considering breaking up Google after monopoly ruling – 33:32
Hackers may have leaked every American’s Social Security Number – 38:04
Meta officially shuts down CrowdTangle, a critical tool for monitoring misinformation on Facebook – 40:50
Apple is opening up its NFC to third-party developers – 43:12
Working on – 47:13
Pop Culture Picks – 49:07
Google has officially dropped its major 2024 devices a few months earlier than usual. Today at its Made By Google event, the company unveiled the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, as well as its foldable follow-up, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. As for new accessories, we got the Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2. In this bonus episode, Cherlynn and Devindra chat about everything from this event, and why the heck we didn't hear more about Android 15.
(Apologies for any audio issues in this episode, it was partially recorded in a noisy hotel room.)
We've been reporting on AI PCs, or computers featuring CPUs with neural processing units (NPUs), for over a year. but the concept still feels like a buzz word for most consumers. We're still waiting on potentially interesting AI features, like Microsoft's Recall and Apple Intelligence's smarter Siri. So why should anyone make sure there next computer is an AI PC?
In this interview, Devindra chats with Jason Banta, AMD's Corporate VP and GM of Client OEM, and Rakesh Anigundi, AMD's Ryzen AI product lead, about how their company is thinking about AI PCs. How is AMD courting developers? And now that we've seen Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite and X Pro chips in action, will AMD ever consider making a low-power Arm-based chip in the future?
Google is officially a monopoly, according to a US court. But what does that really mean? This week, Devindra and Senior Editor Karissa Bell dive into the landmark Google antitrust case to explore how it could affect the future of search. Google claims it's simply delivering the best product, but clearly the court thinks otherwise. Also, we chat about X/Twitter's desperate lawsuit against advertisers who boycotted the social network.
Stay tuned to the end of this episode for an interview with the creators of HBO Max's Industry, Mickey Down and Konrad Kay. We discuss season three of the series, which recently premiered, and how they plan to deconstruct the excesses of overhyped tech startups.
A U.S. court declared Google a monopoly, now what? – 1:22
X (formerly Twitter) sues advertisers for “illegal boycott” of their platform – 19:15
Meet Chromecast’s successor, the Google TV Streamer – 33:49
Less than a year after SAG strike, Meta is offering actors millions to use their voice in AI – 41:01
Where does all the Facebook AI slop come from? 404Media found out – 44:30
People are returning Humane’s AI Pin faster than they can sell them – 50:23
Working on – 53:43
Pop culture picks – 53:58
Industry interview with Mickey Down and Konrad Kay - 1:02:00
Samsung's Galaxy Ring is here, and honestly it's just a bit basic. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into what does and doesn't work with Samsung's latest wearable. Also, we discuss Friend's new AI gadget, which listens to your conversations and sends text messages to help you feel less lonely. To get a better sense of the device, Devindra also talks to Friend's CEO, Avi Schiffmann, about why he's leaning away from the productivity side of AI helpers and more towards the vibes of friendly AI. (And yes, we also ask why he spent $1.8 million of Friend's $2.5 million funding just to buy the Friend.com domain.)
In other news, we discuss the potential impact of KOSA (the Kids Online Safety Act) with India McKinney, the EFF’s Director of Federal Affairs. While lawmakers are uniformly positioning KOSA as a way to protect kids on the internet, it could also lead to draconian censorship and destroy free speech on the web as we know it.
Cherlynn reviews the Samsung Galaxy Ring: Great sleep tracking, but needs more features – 2:13
Interview with Avi Schiffmann, founder of AI wearable company Friend – 27:27
KOSA passes the senate – we chat with EFF’s India McKinney about why it matters – 48:22
What we’ve learned since the massive 7/19 Crowdstrike outage – 1:12:07
Elon Musk shared an AI altered video of Kamala Harris without labeling, breaking the rules of his own site – 1:18:57
Apple Intelligence arrives in the iOS 18.1 developer beta – 1:21:57
Google makes peace with third-party cookies after years of mixed signals – 1:26:38
Around Engadget: Mat Smith’s Galaxy Flip 6 review – 1:29:36
Working on – 1:31:44
Pop culture picks – 1:32:22
It’s time for the summer Olympics and also the gadget Olympics? Who can outdo Samsung when it comes to launching new products every year? At its second Unpacked event of 2024, Samsung showed off seven different devices: the Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Buds 3, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6. Many of these look familiar, sure, but Samsung copying Apple copying Samsung copying other smaller companies is a tired, old tale. Our hosts Cherlynn Low and Sam Rutherford dig into all the highlights from Samsung’s event in Paris this week, as well as some other news in streaming services.
Samsung’s Unpacked in Paris unveiled a ton of new tech – 1:12
The Galaxy Ring: finally, a proper launch – 6:07
Galaxy Watch Ultra: Eerily similar to Apple’s – 16:16
Galaxy Buds 3, now with an AirPod-like stick – 22:22
Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6: very welcome refresh – 27:47
Xbox to offer cloud gaming on certain Amazon Fire TV sticks – 48:29
Paramount+ will stay intact…for now – 51:18
Apple Blog TUAW comes back as an AI content farm – 56:00
Working on – 1:00:18
Pop culture picks – 1:01:20
Motorola is still trying to reclaim the glory of its original Razr phone with its latest foldables. The new Razr and Razr+ are more stylish than the previous models, and at $700 and $1,000 respectively, they're surprisingly affordable for devices with massive folding OLED screens. In other news, we chat about Wikileaks' founder Julian Assange being freed from prison, Rabbit's massive security hole in the R1 AI gadget, and a horrific Sora AI commercial from Toys "R" Us.
Moto Razr and Razr+ first look: stylish and (somewhat) affordable – 0:51
Samsung announces its second Unpacked of the year will be in Paris – 13:14
Expect a bunch of new hardware at August’s Made by Google event – 19:56
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is free – 24:38
U.S. Supreme Court rules the government can ask social platforms to take down posts – 31:22
Rabbit R1 modder group discovers massive security holes – 36:11
Uber blames NYC law for locking drivers out of its app, more cities could come soon – 39:22
Toys “R” Us released a creepy ad using OpenAI’s Sora video tool – 44:43
Working on – 49:15
Pop culture picks – 51:24
It's been a quiet week of news, but we've been feverishly testing Microsoft's new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop Copilot+ AI PCs. In this episode, Devindra and Sam will answer your questions about Microsoft’s new hardware, and we'll deliver some of our first impressions. It turns out Microsoft may have finally gotten Windows on Arm support right! And some of the Copilot+ AI features are actually useful, surprisingly enough. But we'll have to wait a few months to test out the controversial Recall feature, which was pulled from the Copilot+ launch.
Dev and Sam’s first thoughts and an AMA on the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop Copilot+ AI PCs – 1:05
News from Nintendo direct: New Zelda, Mario, and finally, Metroid Prime 4 – 25:46
Former OpenAI chief scientist launches Safe Superintelligence, inc – 35:02
Wired report: AI search engine Perplexity is ignoring robots.txt guidelines – 37:36
Listener question: What do you do with 8 gig fiber home internet? – 41:08
Working on – 46:51
Pop culture picks – 48:09
This week has felt like a month worth of news, now that we've wrapped up Apple's WWDC 2024 and Summer Game Fest in LA. In this episode, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss their final thoughts on Apple Intelligence and the company's upcoming software, and they chat about some of our coverage highlights from the pseudo-E3 Game Fest. Also, we dive into X making likes private (what is Elon hiding?!) and the news around Sony buying the Alamo Drafthouse theater chain.
Our final thoughts on WWDC 2024 – 1:31
Bloomberg Report: Apple isn't paying OpenAI a fee for ChatGPT, but will share profits – 12:18
Summer Games Fest highlights: Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, LEGO Horizon Adventures, and an Assassin’s Creed finally set in Japan – 25:06
X makes users’ likes private – 40:27
ChromeOS will soon run on Android frameworks, enabling more AI on upcoming Chromebooks – 44:40
Pop culture picks – 49:44
There was no new Apple hardware at WWDC 2024, but Apple still had tons of news around AI and its upcoming operating systems. In this bonus episode, Cherlynn and Devindra brave the California heat to discuss Apple Intelligence and how it's different than other AI solutions. And they dive into other new features they're looking forward to, like the iPhone mirroring in macOS Sequoia and iPadOS 18's surprisingly cool Calculator app.
We're gearing up to cover Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) next week! In this episode, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into everything they expect at WWDC: Tons of AI announcements; more on iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15; and hopefully some improvements for Vision Pro and visionOS.
In addition, we chat about what we expect to see at Summer Game Fest and demonstrate how we used an AI editing tool to clear up some awful podcast audio. Devindra also talks with Justin Samuels, the founder of RenderATL, about why he started a massive tech conference in Atlanta.
WWDC 2024 Preview: Apple gets serious about generative AI – 1:16
NVIDIA overtakes Apple to be the 2nd most valuable company in the US – 31:08
Humane AI warns users its battery case “may pose a fire risk” – 34:36
AI workers demand stronger whistleblower protections – 34:36
Boeing’s Starliner has successfully launched astronauts to the ISS – 46:11
AI audio cleanup has gotten really good and we have podcast clips to prove it – 48:25
Working on – 58:09
Pop culture picks – 58:45
Interview with Render ATL founder Justin Samuels – 1:05:50
This week, Devindra and Engadget's Nathan Ingraham discuss the new Max documentary "MoviePass, MovieCrash" and reminisce about the early days of that wild startup. It was a huge mess in the end, but we wouldn't have subscription plans in theaters without it. We also chat with MoviePass co-founder Stacy Spikes, as well as the documentary's director, Muta'Ali, about the film.
In other news, Nate explains why Google is adding a slew of AI features to Chromebook Plus notebooks, and we dive into the Fitbit Ace with LTE, which has the potential to be a very useful smartwatch tracker for kids.
Moviepass, MovieCrash interview with CEO Stacy Spikes and director Muta'Ali – 1:33
Chromebook Plus laptops are getting AI features soon – 41:43
WWDC is scheduled for June 10 – 56:26
Cherlynn’s Fitbit Ace LTE hands-on : a fitness tracker for kids! – 59:55
Sony pulls “fabricated” interview with Last of Us creator Neil Druckman – 1:03:44
Vox Media and The Atlantic magazine made content deals with OpenAI – 1:08:06
OpenAI’s new safety team includes members of the company’s board and Sam Altman himself – 1:13:30
Listener Mailbag: Windows screen readers on ARM and the iPad as a full-fledged work machine – 1:14:41
Working on – 1:23:24
Pop culture picks – 1:25:10
Microsoft is leaning even more into AI after launching a new Copilot+ AI PC initiative earlier this year. It's a new set of standards for PCs with powerful neural processing units (NPUs), and it could be just as significant for Windows as Apple's move towards its M-series chips. In this episode, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss Copilot+ and the potential rise of Arm-based Windows systems, and we dive into the new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop.
Microsoft announces a new chapter with Copilot+ and NPU-powered Surface Pro and Surface Laptop – 0:51
Scarlett Johansson vs. OpenAI is just getting started – 37:17
Sonos Ace headphones take aim at Apple’s AirPods Max – 42:15
US Department of Justice makes its first arrest for AI-generated CSAM – 45:50
Bloomberg Report: Humane AI seeks a buyer for $700m–$1B, but will they get it? – 47:21
Listener Mail: Could you port the new ARM-based Windows to your Android handheld? – 51:42
Working on – 53:11
Pop culture picks – 54:19
Microsoft made some unusually major moves ahead of its Build developer conference: It announced a new Copilot+ initiative for powerful AI PCs, which will be led by the new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop. These machines are powered by Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X Plus and Elite chips, and they come with a special version of Windows 11 optimized for Arm mobile chips and AI. Basically, Microsoft is doing for PCs what Apple did with its M-series Macs four years ago.
In this bonus episode, Devindra chats with Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft's head of Windows and Devices, about the new Surface devices and the Copilot+ PC initiative. We still don't know how well these new machines will perform, but it sounds like Microsoft has certainly heard our complaints about Arm-based Windows devices.
We've spent some time with the iPad Pro M4 and new iPad Air... and the iPad Pro is still a bit too pricey for us. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Engadget Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham about his reviews and why he still prefers the iPad Air. Also, we wrap up Google I/O 2024 with a Project Astra hands on, and we chat about Apple bringing eye tracking to iPhones and iPads as an accessibility feature.
Nate Ingraham reviews the iPad Pro M4 and iPad Air: Powerful, but pricy – 1:11
Google I/O news wrap up – 20:11
OpenAI’s new GPT-4o can talk, sing, and sounds a little flirty – 28:36
Intel brings back the days of FireWire data transfer with Thunderbolt Share – 31:43
New accessibility features from Apple: eye tracking and expanded wake word options – 35:48
Biden administration quadruples tariffs on Chinese EVs (along with solar and other hardware) – 43:20
Listener Mailbag: The age old question of what to do with your old tech – 55:48
Working on – 1:01:32
Pop culture picks – 1:05:45
We just wrapped up coverage on Google's I/O 2024 keynote, and we're just so tired of hearing about AI. In this bonus episode, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into the biggest I/O news: Google's intriguing Project Astra AI assistant; new models for creating video and images; and some improvements to Gemini AI. While some of the announcements seem potentially useful, it's still tough to tell if the move towards AI will actually help consumers, or if Google is just fighting to stay ahead of OpenAI.
Hulu's "Black Twitter: A People's History" documents the rise and impact of one of social media's most influential subcultures. The series, directed by TV writer Prentice Penny, is a reminder of the power of Twitter before its Musk-ified downfall, and a necessary cultural document. They say Twitter isn't real life, but Black Twitter proved otherwise. In this bonus episode, Devindra chats with Prentice about adapting the Wired article, "A People's History of Black Twitter," his own favorite social media memories, and where the legacy of Black Twitter will go from here.
As rumors foretold, Apple has revamped the iPad Pro with an M4 chip, tandem OLED screen and a thinner case. There's also a new Magic Keyboard that should deliver a more MacBook-like typing experience! In this week's episode, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss how Apple is shining a new light on tablets (which also includes the new iPad Air models) and reworking its vision of mobile computing. Does anyone really need the iPad Pro today? And could it be more compelling if iPadOS improves its multitasking capabilities?
New iPad Pro with OLED and M4 processor, iPad Air and Apple Pencil announced at ‘Let Loose’ event – 1:04
Google announces Pixel 8a with 120Hz OLED screen and AI capability – 20:50
What the heck happed with Helldivers 2? – 28:31
Microsoft shuts down Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin – 34:10
Hades 2 early access is out now – 42:01
Around Engadget: Steve Dent reviews Fujifilm X100 VI – 45:39
Working on – 48:38
Pop culture picks – 52:08
The Rabbit R1 is finally here, and it's yet another useless AI gadget. Sure, at $199 with no monthly fee, it's a lot cheaper than the $699 Humane AI Pin. But the R1 is slow, hard to use, and doesn't actually do much. The much-promised "Large Action Model" mostly powers things you can easily do on your phone. In this episode, Devindra and Engadget's Sam Rutherford chat with CNET's Lisa Eadacicco about the Rabbit R1 and whether AI devices are necessary at all. Just like cameras, the best AI device is the one you always have with you: your smartphone.
Rabbit R1 review: appealing design, underwhelming performance – 0:49
Tesla lays off Supercharger development team leaving future of the network unclear – 25:28
FCC fines U.S. wireless carriers $200m for selling customer location data – 30:05
Razer will refund all Zephyr mask purchases over false N95 filtering claims – 32:52
Drake deletes track featuring an AI clone of Tupac Shakur’s voice – 35:16
Working on – 36:23
Pop culture picks – 40:18
After months of anticipation, President Biden finally signed the TikTok divestment into law this week. It will force ByteDance to either sell TikTok to another company within a year, or see the app banned from US app stores. Is this a wise move to rid control of the social app from the Chinese government, or is it government overreach before TikTok has done anything wrong? Engadget Senior Editor Karissa Bell joins Cherlynn and Devindra to dive into what's next for TikTok.
The US TikTok ban is signed into law, what happens now? – 0:57
Devindra and Cherlynn’s take on whether bad product reviews hurt tech companies – 20:42
Meta opening QuestOS to third party hardware developers – 31:39
Apple ‘Let Loose’ virtual event scheduled for May 5 – 33:48
Leading AI companies pledge to keep kids safe (though harm is already evident) – 41:48
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses add multimodal AI – 43:58
X is allegedly working on a smart TV app – 47:01
Working on – 48:02
Pop culture picks – 56:29
The latest batch of rumors make it pretty clear that a PlayStation 5 Pro is coming this year, but will anyone really care about slightly better 4K graphics? This week, Engadget Senior Editor Jessica Conditt joins Cherlynn and Devindra to chat about the PS5 Pro, as well as her piece on the PlayDate two years after its release. You could say the Playdate is pretty much the opposite of another expensive high-end console. In other news, we discuss the death of Boston Dynamic's hydraulic Atlas robot, and the birth of an all-new digital model. We also chat about the abrupt closure of Possibility Space, an ambitious indie game studio.
Jess Conditt on Playstation 5 Pro rumors – 0:48
Jess’ thoughts on Panic’s innovative handheld, the Playdate, 2 years later – 14:24
Indie game studio Possibility Space announces closure, CEO blames media leaks – 27:29
Other News: Boston Dynamics unveils new, all electric Atlas robot – 35:39
Menteebot is a human-sized, GPT-powered robot you can command with natural language – 39:52
NASA confirms Florida man’s house was hit by space junk – 44:06
Sony (finally) changes its confusing product names – 46:05
Working on – 50:35
Pop culture picks – 56:35
Humane’s hyped up AI Pin is finally here and, unfortunately, it stinks. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by Michael Fisher (AKA MrMobile) and Wired Reviews Editor Julian Chokkattu to chat about the AI Pin and the many ways it fails. It’s often inaccurate, it takes crummy photos, and it gets way too hot. Not so great for something you’re supposed to wear all day! Is there any hope for AI-dependent gadgets? Also, Washington Post columnist Christopher Velazco joins to discuss Apple’s approval of used iPhone components for repairs.
Too much heat, too few features: Humane’s AI pin doesn’t live up to the hype – 1:09
Other News: Apple will allow devices to be repaired with secondhand parts soon – 44:08
Google’s Next 24 event announces AI video generation tool, ARM-based CPU for data centers, and Google Photos tools for all subscribers – 53:10
Working on – 1:00:59
Pop culture picks – 1:05:40
Google has gone from being the go-to search engine to something people are paying to avoid entirely. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with 404 Media co-founder Jason Koebler about his experience moving away from Google and towards Kagi, a $10 a month search engine without ads or data tracking. Funny enough, Kagi is still relying on Google’s index, so it’s a lot like using that site before the onslaught of ads, sponsored posts and AI results. Also, we discuss the company’s lies around Chrome’s incognito mode, as well as the news that it would be deleting user data collected in that mode.
Why Jason Koebler moved from Google to Kagi's paid search engine – 0:45
Google says it will destroy data collected from users using Incognito mode – 15:01
Gurman report: Apple is working on personal home robots – 24:55
Amazon just walked out on its self check-out tech – 30:43
FCC set to vote to restore Net Neutrality – 43:00
Apple adds Spatial Personas to make the Vision Pro experience less lonely – 45:09
Proposed California state law would give tech workers the “right to disconnect” – 47:17
Tekken director responds to fighting game fans’ request for a Waffle House stage – 49:57
Around Engadget – 51:22
Working on – 54:31
Pop culture picks – 59:13
This week, it’s all about cars and Lucy Liu in VR. Devindra chats with Senior Writer Sam Rutherford about his visit to the New York International Auto Show, where he saw the Polestar 4, a unique new EV without a rear window. Also, Cherlynn pops in to chat with Lucy Liu about her new VR game, The Pirate Queen. We also explore the issues around Florida’s bill banning young kids from social media sites, and Sam tells us why he likes Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation.
Sam Rutherford on what’s new in EVs and car tech from the New York Auto Show – 0:57
Cherlynn Low interviews Lucy Liu about her new VR game The Pirate Queen – 34:39
Florida Governor signs bill banning young children from social media – 54:55
Intel confirms Copilot will eventually run locally – 58:33
There’s finally a version of Chrome that runs well on ARM-based Windows machines – 1:02:43
Canadian researchers have created a camera that takes 156.3 trillion frames per second – 1:05:06
Working on – 1:07:08
Pop culture picks – 1:12:44
Microsoft finally announced the Surface Pro 10 and Laptop 6 today, but you won’t find them in any retail stores. You can only buy them on Microsoft’s website and through enterprise resellers. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss why Microsoft is positioning these computers for businesses, and what it could mean for the future of the Surface lineup. The company is hinting that it’ll have consumer devices soon – likely the Pro 10 and Laptop 6 without as much corporate baggage. But there may also be room for an entirely new form of Surface. Perhaps it’s time for a true Surface foldable? (Or maybe not, after seeing how the Duo performed.)
Microsoft announces Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6, but you won’t find them in stores – 0:34
U.S. Justice Department files antitrust suit aimed at Apple’s “walled garden” ecosystem – 14:13
Report: Apple may tap Google for Gemini AI on iPhones – 25:01
NVIDIA claims its new Blackwell chip will power through AI workloads 30x faster using 25x less power – 33:07
Microsoft hires Deepmind cofounder Mustafa Suleyman to lead AI division – 38:00
YouTube reveals new rules for realistic AI video – 43:16
Check your Glassdoor account – real names accidentally tied to some anonymous company reviews – 44:31
Cherlynn finds the tech angle on the Kate Middleton photo debacle. Look at the metadata! – 47:03
Around Engadget – 56:05
Pop culture picks – 59:52
Another week, another concerted effort to ban TikTok in the US – except this time, it could actually happen. In this episode, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Engadget Senior Editor Karissa Bell around the latest TikTok drama. The House passed a bill that could ultimately ban the company if ByteDance doesn’t sell it off within six months. It may face a tougher fight in the Senate, but if it’s approved there President Biden has said he’s willing to sign it into law.
Is this a justified fight against the Chinese-owned social media company, or is it the sum of our political fears against all things China? (Maybe it’s a bit of both?) We discuss why this potential ban could be a huge civil rights violation, as well as the need for true data privacy laws in the US, which would apply to all social networks.
U.S. House passes bill that would give Bytedance 6 months to sell TikTok – 0:47
Microsoft’s Surface and AI event preview – 17:04
Apple will allow EU users to download some apps from websites – 27:38
Five Tesla execs earned $2.5B over the last five years while the company paid no income tax – 34:53
Around Engadget – 44:57
Working on – 48:31
Pop culture picks – 50:17
Apple's refreshed MacBook Air laptops are finally here, and they're toting shiny new M3 chips. This week, Cherlynn chats with Devindra about his review of the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air M3. They're faster, as we expected, but they're also not a huge leap over the M2 MacBook Air, which now starts at $999. (And we're sure you'll find some excellent refurbished and used deals soon.) No matter which one you pick, though, you're getting one of the most stunning ultraportable notebooks around. In other news, we discuss Apple's nearly $2 billion fine from the EU, Microsoft's upcoming Surface AI event and the death of Android apps on Windows 11.
Finally, the MacBook Air gets an M3 update – 0:41
EU fines Apple nearly $2 billion for “blocking” competing music apps – 15:27
iOS 17.4 brings third party app stores to the EU, podcast transcription for everyone – 20:18
Microsoft announces a Surface and AI event for later in March – 22:02
No more (Amazon App Store) Android apps in Windows – 27:49
Developer of Switch emulator Yuzu fined $2.4 million to settle suit with Nintendo – 39:19
Around Engadget: Sam Rutherford’s Nothing Phone 2 review – 46:17
Working on – 50:30
Pop culture picks – 57:47
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss some of the editorial changes happening at Engadget. We’ve lost some amazing colleagues, but we’re still here aiming to deliver the best tech coverage possible. As for this week’s news, we chat about the reported death of Apple’s “Project Titan” EV car project. It never felt quite real, but it still would have been fun to see.
Here’s a hot take: Maybe the Apple Car felt redundant since Tesla basically built it already. Say what you will about Elon Musk today, but Tesla certainly disrupted the car industry in all of the ways we’d expect Apple to. Agree? Disagree? Let us know what you think at [email protected].
Topics:
What happened with Engadget last week: layoffs and our continued commitment to tech journalism – 0:31
RIP Apple Car 2014-2024 – 9:11
Nintendo’s successor to the Switch delayed to 2025 – 21:53
Microsoft opens more Xbox exclusives to PS5 and Switch – 25:24
Google renames AI suite, ends up in hot water over image generation – 33:47
Pop culture picks – 43:21
We still can’t stop thinking about the Apple Vision Pro. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with CNET’s Scott Stein about our post-review impressions of Apple’s headset. We’ve got further thoughts about using it in public (maybe don’t), the isolation of being sealed off from the world, and the way falling asleep with the Vision Pro on can make you lose your sense of reality. We also discuss Mark Zuckerberg’s impression of the headset, and why he thinks the Quest 3 is ultimately a better product. (We agree, with caveats.) In other news, we explore how Arc’s ad-stripped AI mobile search app may be good for its users, but ultimately bad for web creators.
Last thoughts on Apple’s Vision Pro with CNet’s Scott Stein – 1:11
Arc Browser AI summaries prompts the question “Who makes money when AI reads the internet for us?” – 38:06
Waymo self-driving car attacked and set on fire during Lunar New Year celebration – 49:22
Stealth piracy app Kimi briefly passed Netflix on Apple’s App Store charts – 52:48
Lyft stock spikes after typo in earnings report – 55:12
Around Engadget – 56:53
Working on – 59:04
Pop culture picks – 59:38
We’ve spent the last week with the Apple Vision Pro and we have thoughts! This week, Senior Writer Sam Rutherford and Podcast Producer Ben Ellman join Devindra to chat about his Vision Pro review, as well as their first impressions of the headset. It’s far from a slam dunk, but it’s also one of the most fascinating devices we’ve ever seen. We dive into Apple’s impressive 3D Immersive Videos, the elegant simplicity of the Vision Pro’s eye tracking and hand gestures, and the trouble with wearing such a heavy headset.
Devindra Hardawar’s Apple Vision Pro review: Beta testing the future – 0:49
Microsoft’s gaming division is expected to announce former exclusive games going multiplatform – 51:06
Maliciously edited video of President Biden is allowed to stay by Facebook’s oversight board – 54:30
Add Taylor Swift to the list of celebrities who don’t want their jets tracked – 57:35
Working on – 1:00:10
Pop culture picks – 1:00:50
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 phones are all about AI, but how do they compare against Google’s AI tech? This week, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss what works and doesn’t about Samsung’s ambitious new smartphones, and why it may be a good thing for the Korean giant to directly compete with Google. Also, Senior Editor Karissa Bell joins to discuss the social media CEO Senate hearing, which, unsurprisingly, doesn’t really amount to much.
Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Ultra reviews: AI with mixed results – 0:47
Senate gathers social media CEOs over online child safety – 15:15
Graphic images of Taylor Swift on X prompts U.S. bill to let people sue over sexual deepfakes – 28:11
Universal Music Group pulls songs from TikTok during talks on a new music rights deal – 33:05
Delaware court denies Elon Musk’s “unfathomable” Tesla payday – 38:31
Neuralink claims to have implanted its first chip in a human test subject – 40:32
Google reveals new text-to-image generative AI tool, ImageFX – 41:46
Working on – 47:00
Pop culture picks – 51:29
Apple’s Mac just turned 40 years old! This week, Devindra chats with Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham about his Mac retrospective. We focus on how much has changed since Apple’s disastrous 2016 lineup, why the Apple Silicon chips feel so revolutionary, and look back at our earliest Mac experiences. Also, we review the Framework Laptop 16, a wonderfully modular miracle of a laptop, but one that we wish had more graphics power for gaming. (But hey, at least you can replace the GPU eventually!).
Framework Laptop 16 review: Amazingly modular, but not so great at gaming – 1:17
The Mac turns 40 – 19:27
More tech layoffs at Blizzard/Activision, Riot, eBay and others – 49:58
Apple’s Car concept is allegedly still alive – 52:44
Apple overhauls App Store rules in response to European Union regulation – 58:25
Working on – 1:09:30
Pop culture picks – 1:13:40
The tech world isn’t taking any breaks after CES! This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by Senior Writer Sam Rutherford to discuss Samsung’s latest Galaxy Unpacked event, where it debuted the Galaxy S24 smartphone line. They don’t look very different from last year, but they’re packing a load of AI smarts. Also, Cherlynn finally got to try out the Apple Vision Pro and tells us all about her spatial computing journey. While it was a mostly eye-opening experience, the headset also hurt Cherlynn’s head and forced her to confront one of nature’s most terrifying creatures: A butterfly.
Samsung’s Galaxy AI event: S24 line, 7 years of support for new phones, and a Galaxy Ring teaser – 1:05
Cherlynn’s Apple Vision Pro hands-on experience – 34:42
Apple is selling Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 again with blood oxygen feature disabled – 1:03:05
Apple finally allows links to third party websites for purchases – 1:04:57
Google throws support behind right to repair bill – 1:06:19
OpenAI laid out its misinformation strategy for a busy 2024 election year – 1:07:58
Cold temperatures in Chicago led to a lot of dead Teslas – 1:09:44
Pop culture picks – 1:16:50
Just as we expected, AI was the running theme throughout CES 2024. In this episode, Devindra and Producer Ben Ellman chat with co-host Cherlynn Low, who’s on the ground in Las Vegas with the Engadget team. We dive into AI popping into almost every product category, new standalone AI hardware, and a surprising amount of “shush” tech. In geekier news, we dive into Micron’s new RAM format for laptops, which has the potential to reshape the notebook industry, and discuss why we all may want a rolling house robot like Samsung’s Ballie. And on a sad note, we discuss the wave of tech layoffs from Google, Amazon and others.
Transparent OLED TVs, assistive gloves, and a Sony car: What’s hot at CES with Cherlynn Low – 1:09
AMD and Intel announce new chips – 28:22
Micron’s replacement for SODIMM laptop RAM is a bigger deal than you think – 38:01
Humane and Rabbit show off standalone AI devices – 45:49
New gaming laptops from ASUS, Alienware, and Razer – 53:36
Samsung’s Ballie robot could be a great multimedia companion for kids – 1:00:54
Layoffs at Amazon: Twitch to lay off 35% of its workforce – 1:16:50
Google lays off “several hundred” workers in an effort to reorganize hardware divisions – 1:18:14
Pop culture picks – 1:22:09
It’s the week before CES officially kicks off in Las Vegas, but our fingers are already tired from typing up a ton of early news. In this episode, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss the big topics they expect to see at CES 2024 (AI PCs will be huge, we swear!), as well as some of the stories that have already landed, like Dell’s revamped XPS line. Also, we explore some of 2023’s biggest winners and losers (just take a guess where Twitter ends up), and we chat about Apple Fitness+ highlighting Super Bowl halftime performers. And for a bit of fun conjecture, we explore the viability of Apple purchasing Peloton to bolster its health ambitions.
AI PCs, fun robots and weird healthtech: What we’re looking forward to at CES 2024 – 1:07
Samsung announces Odyssey 240hz OLED gaming monitors ahead of CES – 22:18
Dell unveils new line of XPS laptops – 23:23
GE’s indoor smoker brings (smokeless) BBQ inside – 27:08
Engadget’s Best and Worst of 2023 lists – 33:42
Samsung’s first Unpacked of 2024 scheduled for January 17 – 50:29
13-year-old becomes the first (recorded) person to reach the NES Tetris kill screen – 52:37
Pop culture picks – 57:26
Right as we’re heading into Christmas, Apple has been forced to stop sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the US, due to an ongoing patent dispute with Masimo over pulse oximeters. To break down what’s going on, Devindra and Ben chat with Christina Farr, a health tech investor at OMERS Ventures and author of the newsletter Second Opinion. It turns out Apple has made a habit of tempting people away from competing companies, and that includes Masimo’s former chief medical officer. Did Apple really steal trade secrets? Or does it just look very guilty since it had the means and motive to copy Masimo’s technology?
Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 sales ban chat with Chrissy Farr – 1:49
Generative image model LAION-5B has over 1000 CSAM images in its dataset – 20:07
PS5 outsold Xbox 3 to 1 in 2023, lifetime PS5 sales hit 50 million – 24:00
Hackers release footage from Insomniac’s Wolverine after 1.67TB data breach – 34:35
Working on – 37:24
Pop culture picks – 38:07
So long E3, we knew you weren’t long for this world. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by Engadget Senior Editor Jessica Conditt to talk about the death of E3 and what it means for the gaming industry. We also explore some of the highlights (and low points) of last week’s Game Awards, which couldn’t quite balance celebrating video games and functioning as a marketing tool. We’re particularly excited for Light No Fire, the next ambitious game from the folks behind No Man’s Sky, as well as Arkane Lyon’s Blade.
We mourn E3 and break down everything announced at the Game Awards with Jess Conditt – 00:40
Beeper Mini, Sunbird, and the endless quest to spoof iMessage – 37:57
Apple ads theft protection in iOS 17.2 beta – 54:12
EU set to hand Apple a huge loss in its legal fight with Spotify – 58:04
Google loses antitrust trial against Epic games – 59:30
Executives fired after Sports Illustrated tries to publish generative AI articles (with fake writers behind them) – 1:06:32
Netflix engagement report reveals its most popular shows and movies of the first half of 2023 – 1:07:23
Working on – 1:09:25
Pop culture picks – 1:10:24
We made it to 200 episodes, folks! This week, Cherlynn, Devindra, Producer Ben Ellman and Senior Writer Sam Rutherford dive into some of the biggest tech developments since we rebooted the podcast in 2019. Remember, that was a pre-pandemic, pre-generative AI world! We also highlight a few guest interviews worth revisiting, like our chats with Bill Nye and Ann Druyan.
As for recent news, we quickly recap the OpenAI drama around Sam Altman’s ouster, discuss Google’s new Gemini AI platform, and chat about the revelation that governments are spying on our push notifications. Cherlynn also details her experience with Apple’s Personal Voice feature for iPhones and gives us a demo of her AI-generated digital voice.
Topics:
Sony’s next “PSP,” the PlayStation Portal, is one odd little device. It can only stream games from your PlayStation 5 – beyond that, it’s a $200 doorstop. In this episode, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with CNET’s Scott Stein about the Portal and the many ways it baffles us. While it does manage to stream games from the PS5 just fine, it’s also expensive, clunky and lacks basic features like Bluetooth audio support. It’s really only meant for the most diehard PS5 owners (and even they should probably wait for a sale).
What was Sony thinking with the Playstation Portal? (With CNET’s Scott Stein) – 0:54
Microsoft rebrands Bing Chat to Copilot – 27:34
Qi 2 wireless charging standard will bring Magsafe’s satisfying magnetic click to all supported phones – 34:03
Nothing Phone 2 is getting iMessage...sort of – 47:40
Late breaking: Apple confirms RCS is coming to iPhones next year – 52:15
WhatsApp free storage on Google Drive is coming to an end – 53:53
Working on – 1:06:52
Pop culture picks – 1:07:34
Apple's new M3 MacBook Pros and iMac are here! In this episode, we dive into our full thoughts about all of Apple's new hardware alongside Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham. The big takeaway: Don't buy the base model of either computer with just 8GB of RAM. Otherwise, the M3 chips are solid upgrades across the board.
Also, Senior Editor Jessica Conditt joins to tell us all about the new Steam Deck OLED. It has a slightly larger OLED screen than the original model, as well as some extra battery life. While the performance is the same as before, it's certainly a tempting holiday treat for anyone who's been eyeing a Steam Deck.
Our reviews of Apple’s M3 iMac and M3 Pro MacBook Pro – 0:40
Steam Deck OLED review with Jess Conditt – 21:33
Humane to debut AI-powered device that pins to your clothes – 43:24
Meta to require political campaigns to disclose AI-altered images in ads – 55:19
Sam Bankman-Fried found guilty of fraud, faces up to 110 years in prison – 56:21
Rockstar confirms GTA 6 trailer is coming December 2023 – 1:04:18
Working on – 1:07:23
Pop culture picks – 1:09:07
Joe Hunting, the director of "We Met in Virtual Reality," is embarking on a new adventure: He's launching Painted Clouds, a studio devoted to VR filmmaking. In this episode, we chat with Hunting about the state of the VR community, the convergence of real-world and virtual filmmaking tools, and why he's so interested in telling stories set in VR.
Be sure to check out We Met in Virtual Reality, which is streaming now on Max.
Apple’s M3 chip is here, and the company is wasting no time shoving it into new computers. This week, we dive into the new M3-equipped MacBook Pros and iMac, which offer some notable upgrades over the M2 and M1 models. Also, we find time to celebrate the death of the old 13-inch MacBook Pro, and try to determine if the cheaper 14-inch MacBook Pro is actually meant for pros with 8GB of RAM. We also chat about Apple’s healthcare plans, as well as Lenovo’s ridiculous tablet fashion campaign.
Apple announces M3 chips along with new MacBook Pros and iMac – 0:59
Other News: Bloomberg report outlines Apple’s very quiet attempt at getting into HealthTech – 24:33
Ad blockers no longer work on Youtube :( – 39:02
U.S., U.K. announce first attempts at AI regulation – 48:10
Lenovo’s Tab Wear clothing line is like a kangaroo pouch for your tablet – 54:30
Working on – 58:39
Listener Mail: Should I go from a Fitbit to a Pixel Watch? – 1:00:28
Pop culture picks – 1:03:16
It seems like just about every streaming service has raised their price this year – most recently, Apple TV+, Netflix and Disney+. In this episode, we chat with Janko Roettgers, author of the newsletter Lowpass, about the state of streaming media. Why are these companies pushing their prices up now, and what does that mean for you, the viewer? Does this mean the dream of cord cutting is over? (Spoiler: No, not really.)
Also, we chat about Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon chips, adult film star Riley Reid’s new AI chatbot, and why Super Mario Wonder is the best 2D Mario game since Super Mario World.
Reporter Janko Roettgers explains what’s going on with streaming price increases – 1:0
Other News: 41 states use Meta over Instagram’s influence on kids – 23:15
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 brings more AI power to phones – 28:59
Snapdragon X Elite takes aim at Apple’s M series chips – 33:26
Working on – 42:30
Pop culture picks – 46:12
It seems like Marc Andreessen had a lot of free time this week, as the VC wrapped up his entire pro-tech worldview in a massive tome, the Techno-Optimist Manifesto. Andreessen claims “technology is the glory of human ambition and achievement, the spearhead of progress, and the realization of our potential,” and he goes on to vilify anyone who dares to step in the way of “progress.” To break down this document, we’re joined by tech critic Paris Marx, host of the Tech Won’t Save Us podcast, and the author of the Disconnect newsletter, as well as the book Road to Nowhere: What Silicon Valley Gets Wrong About the Future of Transportation.
Also, Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham discusses why he loves Spider-Man 2 on the PlayStation 5, and we try to make sense of Apple’s new $79 Pencil.
Nate Ingraham’s Spider-Man 2 review: The rare game that’s both bigger and better – 0:55
We break down Mark Andreessen’s dangerously optimistic manifesto on AI – 11:39
Microsoft now officially owns Activision/Blizzard – 35:44
X (fka Twitter) tests $1 “Not a bot” program for new users – 38:53
There’s a new, cheaper Apple Pencil with USB-C but what generation is it? – 41:03
YouTube debuts ‘news hub’ to direct users to reliable sources – 46:46
Working on – 51:20
Pop culture picks – 52:20
We still have months to wait before Dune: Part Two hits theaters, so what better time to reminisce about David Lynch's intriguing adaptation of Frank Herbert's masterpiece? Reviled at the time, Lynch's Dune has now firmly established itself as a cult sci-fi epic, a film with boundless creative energy hampered by studio interference.
In this bonus episode, Devindra chats with film journalist Max Evry, author of A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch's Dune. We explore why he devoted two years of his life towards researching an unloved film, as well as how it's a refreshing departure from the superhero films dominating theaters today.
The Meta Quest 3 is here, and it’s the best standalone VR headset we’ve ever seen. But is that enough to make people care about virtual reality? In this episode, Devindra and Senior Writer Sam Rutherford chat with Tested’s Norm Chan about the Quest 3 and Meta’s mixed reality future. While the company’s vision of the metaverse is pretty sterile, it’s still nice to see Meta learning from the mistakes of the Quest Pro.
Sam also dives into his Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro reviews, as well as his thoughts about the Pixel Watch 2. We also dive into Wired’s retraction of an op-ed claiming that Google manipulated your search queries, as well as Twitter/X’s complete inability to deliver accurate news during the Hamas and Israel conflict.
Timestamps:
Meta Quest 3 Review with Tested’s Norm Chan – 1:44
Sam Rutherford’s Pixel 8 review: We’re finally excited about mobile AI again – 36:18
Other News: Wired retracts op-ed about Google changing search queries – 56:04
Israel-Hamas conflict misinformation shows X moderation is completely broken – 58:09
Google reportedly pays Apple $18-20 billion a year to remain iOS default search engine – 1:03:08
Sony finally announces PS5 Slim – 1:09:31
California passes Right to Repair law – 1:11:29
Working on – 1:13:44
Pop culture picks – 1:16:26
Yes, Techtober is in full swing! This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Engadget’s Sam Rutherford about everything from the Made by Google event. That includes the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel Watch 2. We give Google credit for leaning on AI long before it was trendy, but we wonder if the Pixel 8 Pro’s temperature sensor will actually be useful. Also, we dive into Samsung’s latest FE devices, Apple’s fix for overheating iPhone 15s, and Google’s Chromebook Plus initiative.
Google announces the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Watch 2 and Buds Pro, along with a slew of AI features – 1:05
Engadget’s first take on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro – 7:15
Samsung announces new FE devices – 58:51
Apple says iOS 17 update should fix those hot iPhones – 1:02:45
Google could be directing users to advertisers using semantic match algorithm – 1:12:33
Quantum Dot inventors win Nobel Prize – 1:21:11
Working on – 1:23:12
Pop culture picks – 1:25:55
This week, it’s Meta’s turn to highlight AI during its device event. In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn dive into all of the news from Meta’s Connect 2023 event, where it unveiled Meta AI and accompanying celebrity-powered chatbots. Oh yah, and it introduced the Meta Quest 3 and new Ray-Ban smart glasses, too. More so than the metaverse and VR, it’s really AI that Zuckerberg wants to push across all of Meta’s apps and devices.
And in other news, we discuss why the end of the WGA strike is a big deal for AI in Hollywood; ex-Microsoft exec Panos Panay officially heading to Amazon; and why the FTC is targeting Amazon over its potential ecommerce monopoly.
Meta’s Connect event announces Quest 3 VR, Ray-Ban smart glasses and a slew of AI – 0:35
Hollywood Writers’ Guild ends strike with studio agreements on AI authorship, streaming residuals – 28:51
Panos Panay is officially going to head Amazon’s devices team – 32:03
FTC sues Amazon over ‘monopolistic practices’ – 35:30
FCC revives Obama-era net neutrality rules – 37:59
Jony Ive and Sam Altman are working on AI-powered hardware – 40:43
Top U.S. spy agencies are working on AI chatbots of their own – 55:56
Working on – 58:24
Pop culture picks – 59:23
Gadget season is in full swing! This week, Cherlynn chats about her experience reviewing the iPhone 15 Pro and Apple Watch Series 9. Does a 5x camera zoom make much of a difference? Also, Devindra and Cherlynn dive into Microsoft’s big Surface event in NYC, which actually ended up being more of an AI event.
The company announced Copilot, its new AI assistant for Windows and other platforms. Microsoft is basically consolidating all of the Copilot products it’s already announced for Edge, MS 365 and Windows, but maybe this will be less confusing in the long run? Not to miss out on the fun, Amazon also announced several new devices and AI moves around Alexa.
iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max reviews – 1:09
Apple Watch Series 9 review – 17:45
Microsoft’s Surface event was more of an AI event – 24:59
Microsoft data breach reveals plans for new Xbox – 43:05
Amazon’s fall event debuts new Echo devices and a Fire TV soundbar – 47:25
Alexa is evolving into a chatbot for your home – 47:25
Made on YouTube event reveals a big push into generative AI – 59:04
This week, Cherlynn gives us her on-the-ground thoughts from Apple’s iPhone 15 launch event. It turns out the iPhone 15 Pro’s titanium case is actually noticeably lighter! We’re all also intrigued by Apple’s new double-tap gesture in the Watch Series 9. (Don’t be surprised if it ends up training us how to use the Vision Pro’s gesture commands!)
Also, Engadget reporter Malak Saleh joins to discuss her review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, as well as Dyson’s ridiculous Zone air filter mask/headphones.
iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9 hands-on – 1:05
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review – 37:40
The U.S. v Google antitrust trial is underway – 45:50
Intel officially unveils Thunderbolt 5 – 48:57
Unity’s per-install fee upsets indie game devs – 55:21
Dyson Zone personal air filter review – 1:02:22
Working on – 1:14:32
Pop culture picks – 1:15:47
Fresh off of Apple’s “Wonderlust” event, Devindra and Engadget Editor-in-Chief Dana Wollman dive into the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro and the Apple Watch Series 9. We explain why Apple’s move towards USB-C on the iPhones has been a long time coming, and why we’re excited about even more emergency satellite calling capabilities. And while the Apple Watch Series 9 looks like a worthwhile upgrade, we’re more intrigued by the new double tap finger gesture.
Starfield is here! It’s just too bad we only like some of it. This week, Devindra chats with Senior Editor Jessica Conditt about Bethesda’s latest massive open world title, and why it just feels like Fallout 4 in space. Also, we dive into reports around Nintendo demoing the Switch 2 at Gamescom, and we dream up what our ideal sequel console could be. (Just call it the Super Switch!)
Engadget’s Starfield review: You will like some of it – 1:25
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a big win for games in Early Access – 22:11
Eurogamer reports Nintendo demoed the Switch 2 to devs at Gamescom – 33:42
What we’re playing: Viewfinder, Sprawl, Armored Core VI and more – 41:44
Pixel 8 Pro 360 render has leaked – 52:00
New York City reins in AirBnb – 53:37
Logitech’s UE EpicBoom sounds like a killer party speaker – 57:45
Mozilla report finds that cars are a data privacy nightmare – 1:00:44
AI News: How much of Kaedim’s 3D modeling AI is actually AI? – 1:06:57
Working on – 1:14:20
Pop culture picks – 1:15:43
It wouldn’t be the end of summer if we weren’t gearing up for another iPhone launch! This week, Devindra and Cherlynn are joined by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the purveyor of many Apple rumors, to discuss what we expect from the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Based on Gurman’s reporting so far, the iPhone 15 will likely get Apple’s Dynamic Island and improved tech from last year’s Pro phone. The iPhone 15 Pro, meanwhile, will see thinner bezels, a titanium frame and a periscope camera for the Pro Max.
You can also expect Apple to finally move over to USB-C for both of these phones, which should improve data (and potentially charging) speeds. Be sure to subscribe to Mark’s Bloomberg newsletter, Power On, to follow his reporting.
Apple iPhone 15 event preview with Bloomberg’s Apple leaker-in-chief Mark Gurman – 1:46
Tech events season is in full swing with more events from Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Intel – 28:23
Meta removed a large Chinese propaganda ring on Facebook – 36:23
Have you seen Windows 11’s weird popups while using Google? – 47:06
India is the first country to land a probe on the Moon’s South Pole – 52:04
Working on – 54:12
Pop culture picks – 59:40
The PSP is back! Sort of. This week, Sony announced the PlayStation Portal, a $200 handheld that can only stream games from your PS5. In this episode, Devindra and Producer Ben Ellman try to figure out what the heck Sony is doing. Is the Portal something gamers actually want? Or did Sony completely miss an opportunity to build a better portable? Also, we discuss why we’re excited for Armored Core VI and some serious big mecha action.
Sony announces $200 Playstation Portal handheld – 1:10
Armored Core VI: Shadows of Rubicon review – 25:44
Coming in October – Samsung’s 57-inch 4k ultra wide monitor – 34:22
Atari’s new 2600+ can play 2600 and 7800 cartridges…if you still have them – 39:32
NVIDIA’s DLSS 3.5 makes ray tracing look even better with AI – 41:35
Half-Life 2 is getting an unofficial remaster with RTX – 45:48
Other News: Microsoft product event scheduled for September 21 – 51:44
Elon Musk floats the idea of removing the block feature on X – 54:09
AI News: US judge rules that AI art can’t be copyrighted – 1:00:32
Working on – 1:04:27
Pop culture picks – 1:07:57
This week, Cherlynn and Sam are joined by noted foldables lover Michael Fisher (aka Mr Mobile) to talk all about their respective reviews of Samsung’s latest products. Why are our hosts more excited for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 than the Z Fold 5? Is Samsung coasting? Then, we discuss the latest happenings in X vs Threads, as well as a bunch of lighthearted news in tech this week.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Fold 5 reviews with MrMobile – 1:22
Will Elon actually pay for lawsuits related to posts on X? – 41:32
Threads is getting a website and search – 49:16
Slack UI changes are coming to your workspace soon – 54:31
MrBeast is getting countersued for $100m – 1:03:21
Working on – 1:13:55
Pop culture picks – 1:19:52
While our reviewers spend time testing the numerous Samsung devices that were just announced, this episode Cherlynn and Sam dive into the relatively slow week in tech. Of course, we can’t escape the onslaught of news coming from X-Twitter-Musk land, just like how residents from a building across from the company’s San Francisco headquarters were unable to escape from blinding lights this weekend. We also go over some updates from Meta and Google and discover why Cherlynn loves clowns.
This week in X/Twitter news: A disturbing strobe-light of a logo and hiding your checkmark – 1:21
Tesla under investigation for steering and battery range issues – 11:31
Half of Meta Threads users are now inactive – 24:16
Meta may be working on an Abraham Lincoln AI chatbot – 29:39
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests the iPhone 15 could come with USB-C charging – 37:58
Working on – 54:13
Pop culture picks – 56:47
Samsung made a huge flex this week by hosting its first Unpacked event in Seoul, South Korea (sorry NYC!). In this episode, Cherlynn, Devindra and Senior Writer Sam Rutherford dive into all of Samsung’s news: The Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, Watch 6 and Tab S9. Is Samsung playing it safe this year, or is it actually bringing something new to the world of foldables? Also, we discuss Twitter’s rebrand to “X” (sigh), as well as why astrophysicist Avi Loeb is likely wrong about his extraterrestrial alien balls.
Samsung’s Summer Unpacked 2023 Overview – 0:54
Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 – 3:23
Galaxy Watch 6 – 19:24
Galaxy Tab S9 – 26:19
Other News: Twitter is now X – 33:40
GM announces plans to revive the Chevy Bolt – 47:44
Astrophysicist Avi Loeb found tiny metal balls in the ocean, they probably aren’t alien tech – 51:30
Microsoft announces pizza-scented controller as a TMNT promotion – 53:54
AI News: Netflix lists machine learning jobs in the middle of Hollywood’s double strike – 55:54
Working on – 1:00:34
Pop culture picks – 1:08:24
AI can now place us inside South Park episodes – should we be worried? This week, Devindra and Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham chat with Edward Saatchi, the CEO of The Simulation, about his company’s new AI technology that can generate TV episodes, movies and more. We preview a test South Park episode featuring Devindra, and discuss if this technology is actually a good thing for creatives. Also, Editor at Large James Trew joins to discuss his piece on AI-powered immortality. And to keep the sci-fi theme going, Devindra chats with the director and writer of Netflix’s They Cloned Tyrone, Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier.
Interview with The Simulation CEO Edward Saatchi – 0:59
James Trew on digital immortality and AI’s place in a new field, “grief tech” – 20:48
Microsoft / Activision Blizzard’s final merger deadline pushed to October – 32:19
Apple is working on its own generative AI chatbot – 33:19
Google tests AI tool to generate news articles – 38:15
ASUS takes over Intel’s NUC PC business – 44:20
Around Engadget: Sam Rutherford’s Nothing Phone 2 review – 51:21
Listener mail: Rohan from Singapore on what’s keeping the iPad from being a “real” computer – 56:11
Working on – 1:03:54
Pop culture picks – 1:07:43
Interview with the the creators of the new Netflix movie They Cloned Tyrone – 1:13:25
It looks like Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is trucking along, following a court rejection of the FTC’s injunction attempt. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Jordan Minor, a Senior Analyst at PCMag covering games, about this massive deal and what it means for the gaming industry. Will further consolidation end up being harmful for consumers (as we’ve been saying for a while), or will Microsoft actually help the beleaguered Activision? Also, we dive into our experiences with the latest Apple betas: iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma and watchOS 10.
Microsoft is (mostly) cleared to buy Activision Blizzard for $69 billion – 00:56
Our previews of the iOS 17, iPad OS 17, macOS Sonoma, and WatchOS 10 betas – 21:55
Meta’s Threads hits 100m users, Elon is not happy about it – 47:58
Microsoft confirms Chinese hackers used 365 email exploit to access US government accounts – 51:32
Google’s Bard can now speak 40 languages – 52:29
Around Engadget: Sam Rutherford’s ROG Ally review and Katie Malone on why passkeys are suddenly everywhere – 1:01:46
Working on – 1:05:47
Pop culture picks – 1:07:06
It’s been a wild week for social media! While Twitter encountered many self-inflicted wounds, users jumped to Blue Sky and Mastodon. Then Meta decided it was a fine time to drop its Twitter copycat, Threads. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Engadget’s Karissa Bell about where all of these services are headed. Will Threads be the clear winner, thanks to Instagram’s social graph? Or will the future lie with fully decentralized platforms like Mastodon?
Twitter continues to crumble, Meta introduces Threads Twitter clone – 1:10
The next AirPods Pro release could include health features like a hearing test and body temperature sensors – 34:06
Google’s Pixel 8 Pro prototype leaked – 37:18
EU Digital Markets Act identifies a class of large ‘gatekeeper’ tech companies for additional regulation – 51:07
U.S. Federal Trade Commission announces huge fines for fake product reviews – 55:45
Working on – 1:03:19
Picks – 1:06:15
This episode, Cherlynn is joined by senior writer Sam Rutherford and senior commerce editor at Wired Julian Chokkattu to talk about our reviews of the Pixel Fold. Will the recent spate of foldables by companies like Motorola and Google give Samsung some real competition and motivation to step up its game? We can only wait to find out. Samsung is holding its next Galaxy Unpacked in late July, and we’ll see what it has to unveil then. This episode, we also take a look at the latest addition to the Google Graveyard and the state of the podcast industry.
Google’s Pixel Fold is the challenger Samsung needs – 1:22
Google has given up on making its own AR glasses, will focus on AR software – 38:50
Automotive organization SAE will create a standard version of Tesla’s charging plug for EVs – 45:19
SiriusXM will shut down widely used podcast app Stitcher on August 29 – 52:11
RIP John Goodenough, inventor of the lithium-ion battery – 54:53
Working on – 56:01
Pop culture picks – 59:02
This episode, Cherlynn is joined by senior reporter Jess Conditt and special guest Michael Fisher to talk about the week of reviews. From the Moto Razr+ to the Pixel Tablet, we look at how these devices fit into our lives and make them better (or worse). Than, we go over the highlights from Summer Games Fest and dig into that Titanic situation.
Moto Razr+ review: a foldable with an external display you’ll actually want to use – 1:56
Pixel Tablet review: Google made a great smart display and a passable tablet – 31:53
The doomed OceanGate submarine was piloted with a Logitech game controller – 47:50
Amazon is shutting down Halo health services at the end of July – 59:15
Jess Conditt’s takeaways from Summer Game Fest – 1:02:51
Working on – 1:19:27
Pop culture picks – 1:20:51
What good is Reddit without the support of its community? This week, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss the recent subreddit revolts, following the company’s decision to dramatically increase the cost of its API for third parties. They’re joined by Ryan Broderick, the internet culture reporter behind the must-read newsletter Garbage Day. Will the protests amount to any sort of change? Or will Reddit CEO Steve Huffman prevail and make the company ready for a potential IPO? Also, we dive into our reviews of the new MacBook Air 15, as well as the M2 Ultra Mac Studio. Who needs a Mac Pro when Apple has such a powerful desktop already?
Why are Redditors protesting Reddit’s API changes? – 1:15
M2 Mac Studio and 15-inch MacBook Air reviews – 19:14
U.S. Federal Trade Commission files injunction to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision/Blizzard – 27:04
Alan Wake 2, South of Midnight and Baby Steps are Summer Games Fest standouts – 30:29
Working on – 34:06
Pop culture picks – 36:26
After tons of typing and running around Apple’s campus, we’re ready to wrap up WWDC 2023. This week, Devindra chats with Editor-in-Chief Dana Wollman and Senior Writer Sam Rutherford about Apple’s foray into spatial computing with the Vision Pro, the 15-inch MacBook Air, and the company’s many (many) software announcements. Also, we discuss Spotify’s latest podcast flubs, Diablo 4, and the new Genndy Tartakovsky animated series Unicorn: Warriors Eternal.
Wrapping up WWDC 2023: a few more thoughts on the newly-announced Vision Pro – 1:44
MacBook Air 15-inch, Mac Studio refresh, and the first Mac Pro update since 2019 –10:40
What's new in iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and MacOS Sonoma – 16:34
Spotify lays off 200 in podcast group, combines Gimlet and Parcast into Spotify Studios – 40:57
Working on – 47:19
Pop culture picks – 49:16
We’ve survived day one of Apple’s WWDC ‘23, and we’re ready to talk about the company’s new Vision Pro mixed reality headset. In this bonus episode, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into their thoughts on Apple’s spatial computing play, as well as Devindra’s 30-minute hands on session with the headset. It’s undoubtedly the best AR/VR experience we’ve seen yet, but there are still plenty of issues Apple needs to solve.
It’s only a few days until the beginning of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference next week, and we’re eager to see what the iPhone maker is cooking up. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by Engadget Senior Writer Sam Rutherford to dive into all of the Apple rumors: That fabled mixed reality headset, a potential 15-inch MacBook Air and more! But really, all eyes are on the headset. Is Apple setting itself up for failure, or for a future where smart glasses are actually a thing? Also, we discuss the late-breaking news about Meta’s Quest 3 headset, which sounds like it will offer better VR and color mixed reality support for $500.
Apple’s AR Headset, iOS 17, MacOS 14 and everything else we expect to see at WWDC 2023 – 1:16
Meta Quest 3 details drop ahead of Apple’s developer conference next week – 33:48
Oppo debuts MR Glass Developer Edition – 37:41
AI leaders issue dire warning on its risks, neglecting their own responsibility in its development – 41:46
Chatbot rolled out by National Eating Disorders Association taken offline after giving bad advice – 45:37
Working on – 52:17
Listener mailbag – 56:41
Pop culture picks – 58:39
It’s a bigger than usual AI week for Microsoft, thanks to its Build developer conference. This week, we chat with Panos Panay, Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer, about Windows Copilot, a new “AI assistant” headed to Windows 11. Is this just a smarter Clippy, or will AI actually transform the way we use Windows? Also, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss what’s up with Apple’s Mixed Reality headset as we gear up for WWDC in a few weeks.
Microsoft announces AI in just about everything at Build 2023 – 1:42
Devindra’s interview with Microsoft Chief Product Officer Panos Panay – 11:28
Processing the interview with Panos and other headlines from Build – 33:57
Bloomberg report on Apple’s AR headset reveals significant divisions within the company – 45:55
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announces his Presidential bid in a glitch-filled Twitter Space with Elon Musk – 56:00
Amazon’s Fire Max 11 looks read to do actual work – 1:03:22
What we’re working on – 1:08:01
Pop culture picks – 1:09:59
This week, we’re focusing on Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), an annual event meant to promote the need for accessible tech solutions. Cherlynn returns to tell us what Apple, Google, Adobe and others are doing to make their products more useful for people with disabilities (and, it turns out, many general users too). We also discuss Sam Altman’s trip to Congress, and why we’re not entirely impressed with the OpenAI CEO’s calls for AI regulation. Finally, we explain why the BlackBerry movie is one of the best films about tech ever made (take that, Tetris!).
Tech companies highlight new features for Global Accessibility Awareness Day – 1:27
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman goes to Congress and advocates for A.I. regulation – 34:24
Amazon announced a bunch of hardware: new Echo Buds, Echo Show and Echo Pop – 45:10
Montana’s TikTok ban has been signed, scheduled to go into effect in 2024 – 49:04
Working On (and Cherlynn’s experience on the ground at Google I/O) – 53:55
Pop culture picks – 1:04:44
It’s a huge week for news: Google I/O happened, and we finally got a close look at the Pixel Fold and the company’s latest AI plans. Engadget Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham also joins to discuss his review of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the follow-up to one of the greatest games ever made. (No pressure, Nate!) We also chat about Nintendo’s confirmation that it won’t be announcing any new hardware until next year, and the perils of chatbots serving as the latest avatars for Hindu gods in India.
Google’s Pixel Fold was finally announced (it’s $1,799) – 1:25
Also announced at Google I/O: a ton of Bard integration in search, Pixel Tablet and Pixel 7a – 14:43
Nate Ingraham’s Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review – 39:29
Nintendo says no new hardware will be announced this year – 52:51
Roku is doing home security now – 56:40
AI Updates: Religious chatbots run the risk of sparking violence in India – 58:12
Working on – 1:03:45
Pop culture picks – 1:05:43
This week, Senior Editor Jessica Conditt joins to discuss what went wrong with Redfall, Microsoft’s latest Xbox exclusive that launched to middling reviews. Jess says it’s good enough for Game Pass, but that’s pretty disappointing for a game from Arkane, the studio behind Dishonored and Prey. Also, they chat about Star Wars: Jedi Survivor and its horrendous PC port, and weigh in on how AI and streaming affects the WGA strike. Stay tuned at the end for an interview with Nida Manzoor, the director of Polite Society, who talks about how she lives with tech.
Jess Conditt’s review of Redfall, a surprise disappointment from Arkane – 1:17
Also released recently, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – 16:01
AI is a factor in the WGA strike – 23:07
U.S. proposes tax on power used to mine crypto – 29:29
Report claims Elon Musk threatened to reassign NPR's Twitter account – 31:16
AI Updates: Microsoft opens Bing AI testing to all, Google AI researcher George Hinton warns the world on rapid AI adoption – 35:55
Working on – 43:36
Pop culture picks – 47:23
Devindra’s interview with ‘Polite Society’ director Nida Manzoor – 53:57
This week, Devindra chats with Sam Rutherford about his recent experiences with ASUS’s ROG Ally, a powerful new Steam Deck competitor, and Nintendo’s long-awaited The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The ROG Ally sounds like one of the best portable gaming systems yet, though we’re still waiting for pricing details. And Zelda was apparently a blast to play, but of course it was. Also, Devindra and Podcast Producer Ben Ellman dive into the latest news, including the FAA grounding SpaceX’s Starship and Grimes’ decision to let people run free with her AI voice.
Sam Rutherford’s review of the ROG Ally handheld gaming PC – 1:52
Sam’s Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom demo experience – 15:08
FAA grounds SpaceX’s Starship after launch explosion spreads debris – 28:26
UK regulator blocks Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision/Blizzard – 34:04
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny features 25 mins of de-aged Harrison Ford – 39:54
This week in AI: Snapchat users revolt against AI assistant, Grimes offers 50/50 credit to songs with her AI voice – 43:19
Working on – 50:21
Pop culture picks – 52:07
Is Google’s foldable coming soon? This week, Cherlynn, Devindra and Senior Writer Sam Rutherford discuss the rumored Pixel Fold, which may debut at Google I/O next month. Also, Devindra and Sam compare the Razer Blade 16 to the Razer Blade 18, two powerful (and expensive!) gaming laptops. In other news, we dive into SpaceX’s exploding Starship rocket, and the fake AI generated collab between The Weeknd and Drake.
Google’s Pixel Fold is rumored to launch at Google I/O – 1:25
Sam Rutherford’s review of the Razer Blade 16 vs Blade 18 – 17:38
SpaceX’s Starship launches, spontaneously disassembles (it blew up) – 27:20
Montana takes a big step toward banning TikTok – 33:05
Sega buys Angry Birds developer Rovio – 41:52
EV News: more Tesla price cuts, Polestar 4 doesn’t have a back window – 46:15
This week in AI: Have you heard the AI generated Drake/Weeknd collab? – 1:01:51
Around Engadget – 1:11:26
Working on – 1:12:39
Pop culture picks – 1:14:48
So long HBO Max, hello… Max? This week, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss Warner Bros. pivot away from the beleaguered HBO Max service, and towards something that unifies HBO and Discovery’s content. Does Max help, or hurt the HBO brand? And does the name even matter when people will always line up for the next Game of Thrones spin-off? Also, we dive into the NVIDIA RTX 4070, a champ of a mid-range GPU, as well as the latest from Elon Musk’s disastrous Twitter reign.
Max (just Max) is replacing HBO Max – 1:34
NVIDIA’s RTX 4070 review: excellent at 1440p gaming, still pricey at $499 – 21:15
This week in Twitter mess: NPR and PBS quit Twitter over account labeling, AI project allegedly in the works – 23:03
Worker morale is low at Meta after layoffs – 27:57
Lo-fi girl is back, and she made a new synth wave friend – 30:40
AI Update: Stable Diffusion is already taking illustrator jobs in China – 32:34
Working on – 35:48
Pop culture picks – 37:44
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into our review of Amazon's Halo Rise and look into the role it plays in the company's overall strategy as a healthcare provider. Then, our hosts contemplate the cancelation and possible end of E3, as well as the spate of odd news around April Fools day, including Twitter's doge-ification and ASUS' ill-timed gaming handheld launch.
Our review of Amazon’s Halo Rise bedside sleep tracker – 2:02
E3 2023 has been canceled – 29:20
This week in Twitter mess: bluecheckpocalypse delayed and a doge takeover – 40:41
ASUS’ ROG Ally handheld isn’t a April Fool’s joke – 46:42
OnePlus launches $60 Nord Buds 2 with ANC – 53:02
Microsoft released an Xbox controller made of old CDs – 57:32
Working on – 1:03:20
Pop culture picks – 1:05:23
With the Tetris movie hitting Apple TV+ this week, we chat with the game’s creator, Alexey Pajitnov, and Henk Rogers, the man who helped bring it out of the Soviet Union. We discuss just how realistic the film is (it definitely takes plenty of fantastical liberties), the impact of Tetris on gaming and where it could be headed in the future. Also, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into the recent letter from the Future of Life Institute, which was signed by Elon Musk and other tech leaders, and called for a pause on AI development beyond GPT4. It turns out that wasn’t entirely altruistic.
Interview with Tetris designer Alexey Pajitnov and Tetris publisher Henk Rogers – 1:17
The open letter asking for a 6-month pause of AI development is more suspicious than you think – 16:57
Do the proposed U.S. DATA and RESTRICT acts reach too far in trying to ban TikTok? – 26:48
Pres. Biden bans the use of commercial spyware – 36:20
Microsoft is focused on security, AI and a light processor friendly version in Windows 12 – 39:11
Google unveils AI planning tool to help beat extreme heat due to climate change – 43:21
Apple’s WWDC dates announced: June 5 to 9 – 45:12
Working on – 57:39
Pop culture picks – 1:02:16
Google finally opened up its Bard AI for testing, and it turns out it’s a little loopy. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into their experience with Bard, as well as how it compares with Microsoft’s BingAI (and GPT4, consequently). Also, we discuss even more AI news from NVIDIA, Microsoft and Midjourney, as well as TikTok CEO Shou Chew’s date with Congress.
Google opened its Bard AI chatbot to the masses, it seems a little drunk – 1:22
So many other AI updates from Microsoft, NVIDIA, Adobe and more – 23:14
Other news: TikTok’s CEO goes to Congress – 36:25
Cherlynn’s experience with Tesla’s wireless charging platform – 42:05
Acer announces production on…an e-bike?? – 48:20
Around Engadget: Tripod desk, Konnected Kamada Joe grill, history of game controllers – 49:43
Working on – 51:57
Pop culture picks – 54:56
The downfall of Silicon Valley bank affects the entire technology industry. This week, we chat with Alex Wilhelm, editor in chief at TechCrunch+, about why SVB failed and what it means for the broader ecosystem. Where were the regulations? And why were VCs so quick to abandon it? Also, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into the latest AI news from Google, Microsoft and the launch of OpenAI’s GPT4. Like we’ve said before, the AI news will never end!
What caused Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse? – 1:13
FBI report: Americans lost $2.7 billion dollars to cypto scams last year – 22:05
Google adds generative AI to Workspace products –23:45
Google announces research into AI for Ultrasound diagnosis – 27:55
Open AI announces GPT-4, which can understand image inputs, too – 35:50
Microsoft confirms Bing AI is powered by GPT-4, announces layoffs in AI ethics – 38:12
Meta lays off an additional 10,000 workers – 41:16
Samsung announces Galaxy A54 –43:11
Sony's $600 point-and-shoot camera for the visually impaired – 48:31
Working on – 57:10
Pop culture picks – 58:42
This week, we chat with Senior Editor Andrew Tarantola about Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain computer interface (BCI) company. The FDA reportedly denied approval for human trials last week—Andy explains why that happened, as well as what BCIs could mean for humans in the future. Also, Cherlynn dives into the accessibility news from Microsoft’s Ability Summit.
What’s going on with Neuralink and BCI tech? – 2:05
Elon Musk goes after disabled Twitter employee, quickly apologizes – 19:52
Microsoft touts new accessibility tech at 2023 Ability Summit – 28:32
Sonos’ Era 300 speaker finally has spatial audio – 35:04
What we think of the Yellow iPhone and a few other colorful gadgets announced this week – 45:25
Working On – 51:49
Around Engadget: the reMarkable Folio is a very pretty e-paper keyboard – 54:28
Pop culture picks – 56:29
This week, our hosts are joined by UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith to dive into the most interesting devices that were announced at Mobile World Congress, which has been happening this week in Barcelona. Are foldables getting more interesting, or are they going to become as stale as regular smartphones have become? Also, just how fast is too fast when it comes to charging? Then, we go over Cherlynn’s review of the Galaxy S23+ and why Microsoft bringing Bing AI to the Windows 11 taskbar isn’t what it seems.
What’s cool at Mobile World Congress with UK bureau chief Mat Smith – 1:22
Hands on with the Oppo Find N2 Flip – 6:44
Motorola’s Rizr is a concept phone with a rolling screen – 21:09
Samsung Galaxy S23+ review: solid, but not outstanding – 31:17
Microsoft brings Bing AI to the Windows 11 taskbar…sort of – 32:43
Meta says it plans to release AR glasses in 2027 – 34:51
US House panel gives Biden the power to ban TikTok – 38:00
Working on – 41:17
Pop culture picks – 42:57
The AI news just won’t stop! This week, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss the latest on Bing AI – Microsoft is loosening up some recent restrictions, following reports of its bad behavior – as well as the rise of ChatGPT stories on the Kindle store. Spotify is also launching its own AI DJ, starring the digitized voice of one of its current hosts. In other news, we discuss Microsoft’s recent agreements with NVIDIA and Nintendo, which could warm regulators towards approving its Activision Blizzard acquisition.
After the Microsoft and Google announcements, AI is suddenly everywhere – 1:17
Microsoft tries to win over regulators by putting Xbox games on GeForce Now – 26:29
Glucose monitoring on the Apple Watch could be coming soon – 28:16
Twitter limits SMS two-factor authentication to Blue users – 30:43
Amazon’s acquisition of One Medical is finished, regulators are still curious – 35:31
No Man’s Sky Fractal VR update is out just in time for PS VR 2 – 39:04
Working on – 42:58
Pop culture picks – 46:10
The PlayStation VR2 is here, and it’s mostly great! But its high price and limited library make it hard to recommend for many gamers. This week, Devindra and Nathan Ingraham dive into our review of the PS VR2, and why our feelings about it are sort of complicated. Also, we discuss why Bing’s AI search is catching a bad attitude, and what Microsoft has to say about it. And be sure to stay tuned for our thoughts on HBO’s The Last of Us as we reach the middle of its first season.
Playstation VR2 review: a great headset that should be cheaper – 1:30
Microsoft apologizes for strange problems with Bing’s ChatGPT service – 23:43
This week in Twitter mess: Elon takes over your main feed – 41:47
Around Engadget: Oppo Find M2 foldable review – 44:35
Pop culture picks (with minor spoilers for The Last of Us) – 50:47
Last of Us spoilers end – 1:01:15
What a wild week chock full of news all over tech! Microsoft and Google both unveiled their AI products for the masses, with Microsoft holding a whole event this week to show off the new Edge and Bing. Google also had an event in Paris and unveiled the first Android 14 developer preview, while OnePlus launched its first-ever tablet alongside a new phone. Cherlynn is joined this week by guest co-host Sam Rutherford to tear into the week’s onslaught of news, and check in to see how we feel about Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra while reviewing it.
Microsoft’s AI event unveils Bing and Edge with OpenAI collaboration – 1:46
Google unveils Bard chatbot, its ChatGPT competitor – 23:48
Mat Smith’s OnePlus 11 review – 29:18
Also coming from OnePlus: a tablet, earbuds and a keyboard – 37:41
Sam Rutherford’s Galaxy S23 Ultra review – 44:38
AI-generated Seinfeld show “Nothing, Forever” banned from Twitch – 55:58
Android 14 developer preview is available now – 58:16
What is even happening with Twitter’s API access? – 1:02:26
Working on – 1:08:08
Pop culture picks – 1:09:06
This week, Cherlynn is joined by guest co-host Sam Rutherford to break down everything Samsung announced at its Unpacked event this week. Are we excited about the first major flagship phones of the year? And how about those confusing new laptops? Also, because we've had a Galaxy S23 Ultra in our possession for about 12 hours, we discussed our early impressions of the new phone. Plus, we take a look at the new Apple HomePod and other news in tech.
Samsung unveils the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra – 1:44
The Galaxy Book 3 announcement was so confusing – 20:00
HomePod 2023 review – 33:39
More layoffs in tech: Rivian, PayPal and more – 39:47
OpenAI introduces paid plan for ChatGPT – 44:39
Working on – 52:35
Pop culture picks – 53:45
We’ve finally got new gadgets to review! This week, Cherlynn, Devindra and Engadget’s Sam Rutherford dive into the new 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 Max chip. Sure, it looks the same as before, but demanding users may appreciate the performance bump. Also, they discuss where the new M2 Pro-powered Mac Mini fits into Apple’s lineup. And of course, Cherlynn and Sam update us on everything they expect from Samsung’s Unpacked event next week. We’ll get the Galaxy S23, naturally, but rumors also point to new computers too.
MacBook Pro M2 Max review and Mac mini thoughts – 1:26
Samsung Unpacked 2023 preview – 13:02
Other news: Hacker leaks 2019 No Fly list – 27:14
Microsoft announces multibillion dollar investment in OpenAI days after layoffs – 33:45
Scientists found a colony of Emperor penguins after tracking poop markings on satellite images – 43:10
Formovie Theater UST projector and LG CineBeam projector reviews – 47:30
Ayaneo 2 handheld review: Like a Steam Deck, but fancier – 59:00
Pop culture picks – 1:06:14
Apple’s first major announcements of 2023 are here! This week, Devindra and Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham chat about Apple’s new M2 Pro/Max MacBook Pros and Mac Mini. Sure, they seem like solid upgrades, but did they come too late? Also, we dive into the latest rumors around Apple’s AR and MR headsets, as well as news about cheaper AirPods and new AirPods Max. And in other news, we explore the downside of AI in journalism, as well as another round of layoffs in tech.
Apple announces M2 Pro and Max chips for MacBook Pro and Mac Mini – 1:23
The big HomePod is back from the dead! – 15:34
Apple’s AR headset may be delayed, a cheaper mixed reality headset may be in development – 25:41
Other News: CNet’s AI article problem, Twitter breaks third party apps, and layoffs at Microsoft – 32:11
Working on – 44:44
Pop culture picks – 46:08
The IT Crowd was right! You really should try turning everything off and on again to make it work. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss how the FAA did just that to fix its NOTAM system, which alerts pilots of potential hazards. It turns out a database error was enough to send that system into a spiral, which forced the FAA to ground flights Wednesday morning. But of course, this was just one issue facing air travel in America – we also dive into Southwest’s holiday fiasco, as well as potential transportation alternatives.
FAA grounds planes after NOTAM outage – 1:34
Other News: Microsoft may have given up on the Surface Duo 3 in favor of foldables – 28:23
Biden calls for legislation on social media platforms – 35:31
NASA is funding ideas for a seaplane and faster deep space travel – 38:18
Hyundai’s new EV can “crab walk” into parallel parking spaces – 40:49
Samsung’s first Unpacked of 2023 scheduled for February 1 – 45:13
Pop culture picks – 52:47
CES is on! This week, Devindra and UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith chat about some of the biggest news from the show, including massive upgrades for laptops, wild new TV concepts and two different pee analyzers! As usual, CES is a mix of major news and random weirdness. Senior Editor Karissa Bell also joins to give us her perspective on the ground at the show.
Can you believe CES is just a week away? For our final episode of 2022, Cherlynn, Devindra and Senior Writer Sam Rutherford dive into their expectations for CES 2023. We’ll definitely hear more from Intel and AMD when it comes to CPUs, as well as AMD and NVIDIA’s latest mobile video cards. But we’re always keeping our eyes out for the weird stuff at the show, like Lenovo’s wild swiss army lamp, a combination webcam, facelight and USB hub. And of course, there will likely be tons of news around new TVs, PCs and cars.
CES 2023 Preview – 1:27
PC hardware to look forward to – 5:06
Phones and mobile at CES – 22:16
New TVs and gaming monitors to expect – 28:11
Wearables at CES 2023 – 35:38
Other news – 42:07
Working on – 44:47
Pop culture picks – 46:06
We made it, folks! The end of the year is upon us, so Cherlynn, Devindra and UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith have gathered to break down the high and low points for the tech world. And for the first time, we duke it out to decide the first ever Engadget Podcast awards for the best and worst tech of the year. Let’s just hope things look brighter in 2023.
Engadget’s best / worst of 2022 – 1:23
Devindra, Cherlynn and Mat’s personal best / worst of the year – 27:07
Engadget Podcast Official Best / Worst of the Year – 47:36
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried arrested in the Bahamas – 1:00:09
Dell’s Concept Luna laptop can be dismantled in seconds – 1:02:41
Google’s smart home devices now support the Matter standard – 1:10:25
Working on – 1:13:22
Pop culture picks – 1:15:00
This week, many of us saw our social media feeds taken over by colorful, surreal pictures of people we follow, except they don’t quite look like themselves. The images were generated by Lensa AI, and it’s the latest in what feels like a now-annual trend to use a new app to create mockups of your face in various scenarios. Alongside Lensa, some folks also saw blocks of text from another AI generator, ChatGPT. So on this episode of the podcast, Devindra and Cherlynn chat the appeal, implications and possible future of these types of AI, before being joined by Engadget editor-at-large James Trew for a check in on the state of action cameras.
Lensa AI magic avatars and Chat GPT – 1:27
What’s the state of the GoPro-style action camera in 2022? – 23:47
iPhone users can now share digital car keys with Pixel owners – 43:02
iOS 16.2 includes time limits on AirDrop receiving – 47:44
Carl Pei said Nothing wants to come to the US – 53:40
Working on – 1:08:02
Picks – 1:10:51
Finally, a Kindle you can write on! This week, we dive into Cherlynn’s review of the Kindle Scribe, Amazon’s first e-reader that can also capture handwritten notes. The hardware is great, but as usual, Amazon’s software feels half-baked. Also, Devindra and Cherlynn discuss the rise of new Twitter alternatives like Hive Social and Post. It looks like many communities are already splintering off to these services, but unfortunately, they can’t yet replicate the magic of Twitter.
Kindle Scribe review – 1:13
Rise of the Twitter clones: Hive Social, Post, and Mastodon – 19:28
Amazon will lose $10 billion on its Alexa division this year – 34:12
We’ve got a new trailer for the Super Mario Bros. animated movie – 38:01
Working on – 43:58
Pop culture picks – 45:30
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Senior Commerce Editor, Valentina Palladino, about our massive Holiday Gift Guide. If you’re looking for a decent laptop to gift, or maybe some budget gear for yourself, we’ve got you covered! Also, they dig into the FTX debacle (which got much worse than last week!), and Elon Musk’s ongoing fail whale Twitter acquisition. And on a surprising note, we end up having strong feelings about Amazon’s chat-based virtual healthcare service.
Engadget 2022 Holiday Gift Guide – 1:24
NASA’s Artemis 1 rocket finally launches – 27:20
Cherlynn got to try Apple’s SOS satellite text message service – 28:56
Qualcomm announces Snapdragon chips with hardware-accelerated ray tracing – 34:33
Tuvalu turns to the metaverse to save its culture from climate change – 38:38
Meta axes its Portal video chat device – 40:21
FTX continues to collapse as regulator investigations begin – 43:15
Elon Twitter is a mess: your weekly update – 48:36
Working on – 1:02:47
Pop culture picks – 1:05:59
We’re still waiting for Apple to deliver a real foldable iPhone, but that didn’t stop a group of engineers in China from crafting their own prototype. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into the possibility of a real foldable iPhone, plus they discuss Meta’s massive layoffs and the fast downfall of the crypto exchange FTX. Also, what are the ethics of Apple limiting AirDrop in China (and eventually the rest of the world)?
Chinese modders made a foldable iPhone – 1:32
Meta lays off 11,000 people worldwide – 12:48
Sale of crypto exchange FTX to Chinese-based Binance fails – 20:56
Musk Twitter is a mess: the weekly update – 26:41
Apple sets time limit for receiving Airdrops in China – 31:38
Volvo unveils its EX90 EV SUV – 35:52
Instagram’s web client has finally been redesigned – 39:37
Google starts issuing Stadia refunds – 41:22
Working on – 47:03
Pop culture picks – 49:10
Well, it finally happened: Elon Musk has officially taken over Twitter. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by Engadget’s Karissa Bell to discuss how Musk is reshaping the social network. Are all the changes bad, or is there some method to his madness? (Spoiler: It looks more like desperation than anything else.) Also, we dive into some recent Google AI news, and Devindra explains why the new Apple TV 4K is genuinely great.
Elon Musk’s Twitter fiasco – 1:26
Thinking of leaving Twitter? Here are some platforms to check out – 21:49
Google announces package tracking in Gmail – 29:55
Texas AG sues Google over facial recognition data collection – 35:23
The PS VR2 will cost $550, arrives February 22, 2023 – 38:07
Xiaomi’s 12S Ultra concept phone has a massive camera with interchangeable lenses – 40:35
Working on – 43:42
Pop culture picks – 48:57
This week, Devindra and Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham dive into Apple’s latest iPad and iPad Pro. The new base iPad seemingly justifies its price, but it also leaves out plenty of consumers who were well-served by the old $329 iPad. We hope that model sticks around for a long while. Also, we discuss if anyone needs M2 power in an iPad Pro (why not just get a MacBook?!), and we prepare for Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter. (Note: When this episode was recorded, his acquisition wasn’t finalized yet.)
Timestamps
Apple just dropped several new devices on us this week, seemingly out of nowhere. In this episode, Cherlynn and Devindra break down Apple’s new base iPad and iPad Pro with M2. They chat about why the iPad lineup is now more confusing than ever, and what that means going forward. (At least the new Apple TV 4K seems likely a genuinely solid upgrade.)
Apple announces updated base iPad and Apple TV 4K – 1:36
Microsoft lays off hundreds of workers – 20:22
Netflix announces “extra user” fee to crack down on password sharing – 27:40
Intel says the next generation of Thunderbolt is on the way – 35:47
Silent Hill 2 remake and a movie are on the way – 41:29
Working on – 47:37
Pop culture picks – 53:21
What a week! This episode, Cherlynn, Devindra and Engadget’s Sam Rutherford dive into everything we learned at Microsoft’s Surface event. No, there was no new Surface Duo or Neo, and the actual fresh hardware was mostly incremental. We also reviewed the Pixel 7, 7 Pro and Pixel Watch, and Sam had some hands-on time with the latest Quest VR headset. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s some other news from Samsung, Chromebooks and more.
Surface Studio 2+, Surface Laptop 5 and Surface Pro 9 – 1:32
Microsoft's new Designer app is powered by Dall-E – 4:56
Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro review – 32:48
Pixel Watch review – 40:34
Sam Rutherford’s Meta Quest Pro hands-on thoughts – 55:24
Other news – 1:11:47
Working on – 1:21:23
Pop culture picks – 1:24:32
This week, Cherlynn, Devindra and Engadget’s Sam Rutherford dive into everything we learned at Google’s Pixel 7 event. Sure, it’s nice to have new phones, but it’s even nicer to see Google developing a cohesive design for all of its new devices. The Pixel Watch actually looks cool! And while we were ready to knock the (way too late) Pixel Tablet, its speaker base seems genuinely useful. Google may have finally figured out how to combine its software and AI smarts with well-designed hardware.
Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro first thoughts – 12:04
Pixel Watch – 18:00
Also announced, Google Nest updates – 37:11
Intel Arc A750 and A770 graphics cards review – 42:27
Elon Musk announces intent to buy Twitter (again) – 44:56
Tesla showed off its robot (sort of) – 46:32
Gatorade made a smart water bottle – 47:40
iPhone 14 Plus review – 49:42
Pop culture picks – 52:41
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into the massive amounts of news from Amazon’s recent event. There’s a Kindle you can write on! And Amazon also wants to track your sleep on bed. We discuss what’s interesting about all of this gear, as well as why we still don’t trust Amazon with some of our data. Also, Cherlynn tells us what she likes (and doesn’t) about the Apple Watch Ultra, and Devindra explains why the Sonos Sub Mini is a pretty great value.
Stay tuned to the end for our chat with Josh Newman, VP of Mobile Innovation at Intel. He discusses Unison, Intel’s new app for sending texts and taking calls on your PC via your iPhone or Android phone. It’s something PC users have been waiting for, and it sounds like Intel is serious about making it work smoothly.
Amazon hardware event unveils a writable Kindle, QLED Fire TV, and Alexa improvements – 1:19
Google’s Search On event details new features for search and maps – 26:29
Apple Watch Ultra, Fitbit Sense 2, and Sonos Sub reviews – 39:54
Intel and Samsung debut a PC with a slidable screen – 58:37
Intel’s 13th gen CPUs look impressive – 59:54
NASA’s Dart mission might have smacked an astroid out of orbit – 1:05:32
Oura releases 3rd generation smart ring – 1:06:42
Working on – 1:07:34
Pop culture picks – 1:08:24
Intel Unison interview – 1:15:26
Surprise! The iPhone 14 is pretty repairable, it turns out. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Engadget’s Sam Rutherford about this move towards greater repairability and what it means for future iPhones. Also, they dive into NVIDIA’s powerful (and expensive!) new RTX 4080 and 4090 GPUs. Sure, they’re faster than before, but does anyone really need all that power?
The iPhone 14 is surprisingly repairable – 1:17
NVIDIA announces RTX 4090 and 4080 GPUs (and a Portal mod with ray tracing) – 21:08
Huge hack at Rockstar leaks GTA 6 videos and dev code – 34:22
Uber was also hacked last week by the same crew that hit Rockstar – 38:37
Windows 11 2022 Update – 40:21
Google is offering a $30 1080p HDR Chrome cast with Google TV – 44:05
Does anyone need the Logitech G cloud gaming handset? – 46:59
Twitch is banning gambling streams on October 18 – 51:56
Working on – 55:34
Pop culture picks – 1:01:35
So after all the hype last week, are the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro any good? And are the Apple Watch SE and Series 8 worth an upgrade? This week, Cherlynn chats with Devindra about her furious rush to review all of Apple’s latest gear. It turns out the iPhone 14 Pro is a pretty big step forward, but the same can’t be said for the plain 14. Also, they discuss the wider impact of removing SIM cards from this iPhone lineup, as well as the value of the Pro’s new 48MP camera.
Review of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 – 2:10
How does the iPhone 14 series stack up against this year’s other phones? – 45:07
Apple Watch SE and Series 8 reviews – 48:26
A few thoughts on iOS 16 – 54:25
Northeastern University VR lab targeted by mail bomb – 56:47
Period tracking app Flo gets anonymous mode – 59:22
We finally got a trailer for the Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – 1:01:11
What we’re working on – 1:03:07
Pop culture picks – 1:07:31
It’s Apple week, everyone! Editor-in-chief Dana Wollman joins Devindra to chat about everything Apple announced, including the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro, as well as all of the Apple Watches. Sure, they’re faster and have many more features, but did you know they could potentially save your life? At least, that’s the idea Apple is trying to sell.
We’re still not quite sold on the Apple Watch Ultra, but it’s sure to become the next over-priced wrist accessory for tech bros. Also, Dana discusses Apple’s new ovulation tracking feature in the Apple Watch Series 8/Ultra, which is a big step forward from its previous efforts.
Apple’s Far Out event: overview and what we didn’t see – 1:23
iPhone 14 Pro – 16:39
iPhone 14 – 22:18
Apple Watch Ultra and Series 8 – 34:11
Apple Watch SE – 41:09
Pop culture picks – 50:27
This week, Cherlynn is joined by UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith to discuss what they expect Apple to announce at its upcoming event on September 7th. Besides new iPhones and Watches, what might the company launch? Our hosts are also joined by senior reporter Jess Conditt to go over the highlights from Gamescom, including Sony’s new DualSense controller and PSVR2 update. We’ll be taking a break next week, so come back in two weeks for a new episode!
Apple confirms September 7 “Far Out” event – 1:46
What to expect from the IFA electronics show in Berlin – 32:35
Gamescom brought us a bunch of interesting announcements – 41:56
Other news: Mark Zuckerberg’s bad VR avatar and a Blackberry movie coming soon – 1:11:47
Working on – 1:13:01
Pop culture picks – 1:15:48
This week, Cherlynn and guest co-host Sam Rutherford are joined by the Washington Post’s Chris Velazco to discuss their thoughts on Samsung’s latest foldables and wearables after having spent close to a week with them. Are the Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 ready for the mainstream? Is it more fun reviewing these devices than regular phones? Then, our hosts talk Apple’s next iPhone event, as well as Airbnb woes.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Fold 4 review – 1:54
Galaxy Watch 5 / 5 Pro review – 36:41
Apple might be planning a September 7th event for the iPhone 14 – 49:02
New reports of gender discrimination from Nintendo of America – 56:59
Ready your Pixels: Android 13 is out of beta – 1:03:43
Sam Rutherford’s review of Samsung’s massive Odyssey Ark monitor – 1:05:23
Adidas' solar headphones can be charged by your bedroom light – 1:14:22
Airbnb is working on a way to detect party rentals before they happen – 1:17:47
Working on – 1:25:31
Pop culture picks – 1:26:37
This week, Cherlynn is joined by guest co-host Sam Rutherford and special guest Michael Fisher (aka The Mr Mobile) to talk about all the things Samsung launched at its Unpacked event this week. Is it a bad thing that the new updates were mostly incremental? Does Samsung need more competition to spur it to do better? How do we feel about the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro after spending almost a full day with them in the real world? Then, we look (dubiously) at the resurrected iOS battery percentage indicator, as well as Kim Kardashian's flesh-colored variants of the Beats Fit Pro.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a small improvement, but the company isn’t taking risks – 4:55
The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a very solid premium foldable – 9:35
The Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro offer minimal aesthetic and hardware updates – 21:42
The iOS 16 developer beta brings back an odd-looking battery percentage display – 50:18
Kim Kardashian’s skin-colored Beats Fit Pro buds are supposed to help you blend in.. or stand out.. – 54:31
Some EV news: Rivian is testing dual motors, while the Ford F-150 Lightning gets a price hike – 58:47
Definitely-still-alive-service Google Stadia gets a new feature: Party Stream – 1:02:50
Working on – 1:04:21
Pop culture picks – 1:05:15
This week on the show, Cherlynn is joined by guest co-host Sam Rutherford to talk about the newly launched OnePlus 10T. Why did the company choose to sacrifice an alert slider, wireless charging and some other features in exchange for extreme speed? How does the OnePlus 10T stack up against other midrange phones like the Pixel 6a? Then, our hosts discuss the cloud-gaming handheld that Logitech and Tencent are working on, as well as the curious headlines that permeated the consumer tech news cycle this week.
OnePlus 10T review – 1:37
Logitech and Tencent want to get into handheld cloud gaming – 24:15
It’s not just your machine: Uber receipts are actually crashing Outlook – 30:34
Spotify finally adds a play button that doesn’t shuffle, but only for premium users – 32:22
PS5 Accolades feature is being discontinued because online gamers don’t like to be nice – 36:09
Microsoft negs Activision Blizzard’s game library amid acquisition process – 37:33
No, Google Stadia isn’t shutting down (yet) – 39:28
Batgirl cancellation and Discovery+ merger leaves HBO Max’s future in doubt – 43:04
Working on – 51:58
Picks – 53:12
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into the world of AI art with Senior Editor Dan Cooper and Creative Futurist John LePore. We know Dall-E and Midjourney can create some truly compelling images from a bit of text, but do they owe a debt to all of the images that they were trained on? Also, we explore the sorry state of Meta and Cherlynn gushes about the new Pixel Buds Pro. Stay tuned to the end of the show for our chat with Joshua Stiksma, Design Director of Moss 2, who discusses the current state of VR game development.
Is AI-generated art borrowed or stolen? – 1:30
Meta’s many problems and a reversal on Instagram plans – 27:35
Pixel Buds Pro review – 42:16
Bloomberg report reveals a few details about Grand Theft Auto 6 – 51:37
Playstation VR 2 will have live-streaming support and cinematic mode – 53:25
RIP Car Thing by Spotify – 54:35
Filipino politician wants to make ghosting illegal – 58:08
Listener Mailbag – 1:00:55
Working on – 1:08:05
Pop culture picks – 1:12:34
Interview with Polyarc design director Joshua Stiksma on Moss: Book II – 1:17:56
Is the Pixel 6a the best Android phone under $500? Tune in for Cherlynn’s review! This week, Devindra and Cherlynn also discuss why losing almost a million subscribers was actually a good thing fo Netflix. And they dive into Qualcomm’s latest hardware for smartwatches, as well as the latest updates from Twitter’s ongoing fight with Elon Musk.
The Pixel 6a is the best midrange Android phone on the market now – 1:53
Netflix lost a million subscribers, and that’s a good thing? – 17:11
Delaware judge allows faster trial for Twitter v. Elon Musk – 29:56
Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked is happening on August 10 – 32:42
Leaked files show that Uber was shady from early in its life – 37:41
Qualcomm unveils wearable-focused Snapdragon W5 chips – 42:21
Alienware’s m17 R5 gaming laptop is a beast that few people need – 46:25
The new Instagram Map is like Google Maps, but with more selfies – 48:16
OnePlus 10T launch set for August 3 – 52:19
Working on – 53:06
Pop culture picks – 58:01
This week on the show, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into Apple’s new MacBook Air M2 and its recent batch of OS betas. It turns out a redesign and a whole new chip makes the MacBook Air even more compelling than before (at least more than the 13-inch MacBook Pro). Also, we chat with Lisa Grossman, Astronomy Writer at Science News, about the astounding new photos and data from the James Webb Space Telescope. It’s a clear upgrade from Hubble, and NASA is just getting started!
Apple’s M2 MacBook Air is extremely good – 1:21
There’s lots of fun stuff to explore in the iOS 16 beta – 7:39
Stage Manager in MacOS Ventura is a step forward for window organization – 18:11
What’s new in WatchOS 9 beta – 24:11
New pictures confirm the James Webb Space Telescope will revolutionize astronomy – 30:44
Elon Musk is trying to back out of his Twitter deal after three whole months – 53:14
Mat Smith’s Nothing Phone 1 hands-on – 54:49
Listener Mail: a phishing test for employees at Lowe’s – 1:02:45
Working on – 1:05:58
Pop culture picks – 1:06:50
This week, Devindra and Senior Writer Sam Rutherford dive into the Supreme Court’s latest EPA ruling, which severely limits the agency’s ability to curtail power plant emissions. Devindra also chats with ProPublica reporter Lisa Song about what this means for the EPA and other federal agencies. (Basically, it makes fighting climate change much harder.) Also, we discuss Apple’s new lockdown mode, which adds an extreme layer of security to your devices, and why Gen Z is so Minion crazy.
How bad is the Supreme Court’s EPA ruling? – 1:49
Apple is building a lockdown mode for an “extreme” level of security – 27:43
Axie Infinity hack was traced back to a fake LinkedIn job offer – 32:39.359
Toyota has run out of EV tax credits in the US – 37:51
God of War Ragnarok will be released on November 9, 2022 – 46:14
WTF is going on with all the Minions memes? – 48:02
Working on – 51:32
Picks – 1:03:49
This week, Cherlynn is joined by senior editors Jessica Conditt and Karissa Bell to discuss the United States ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, and how, in our digital age, it affects the most vulnerable in our communities. Then, our hosts look at the Supreme Court ruling that guts the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to enforce the Clean Air Act. In consumer tech news, we also look at Sony’s new PlayStation-inspired peripherals and Snapchat’s new subscription service.
What digital privacy looks like post-Roe v. Wade – 1:41
SCOTUS nerfs the EPA’s ability to enforce carbon emission limits – 42:10
Layoffs at Unity, Niantic, and Tesla – 45:26
Apple is starting to allow third party payments in Korea – 49:55
Sony's new hardware brand brings headsets and monitors with PlayStation style – 52:17
Snapchat+ is membership model for power users – 56:25
Picks – 59:59
What’s so “Pro” about the new 13-inch MacBook Pro? Devindra and Cherlynn chat with Laptop Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Sherri L. Smith, about Apple’s confusing new ultraportable. Sure, the M2 chip makes it faster, but why does it have a worse screen and fewer features than the new MacBook Air? Are real professionals better off with the faster (but more expensive) 14-inch MacBook Pro? Also, they dive into the wild new VR headset prototypes from Meta, as well as Twitter’s reinvention of blogging.
Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 is a strange disappointment – 1:18
Meta’s VR prototypes seek to pass the “visual Turing test” – 22:59
Facebook Pay becomes Meta pay in hopes of becoming the metaverse’s digital wallet – 28:06
Microsoft phases out AI that can detect human emotions – 32:45
Amazon is working on a way to digitize the voice of your dead loved ones – 33:59
Twitter introduces b̶l̶o̶g̶g̶i̶n̶g̶ longform writing feature, Notes – 36:09
Carl Pei’s Nothing phone won’t be coming to the US – 42:22
Working on – 43:28
Pop culture picks – 46:03
This week, Devindra and Cherlynn dig into the story around Google engineer Blake Lemoine’s interview with the Washington Post and his belief that the company’s LaMDA language model is alive. What does it mean for AI (or anything else) to have consciousness? How should we think of AI, and what other areas of concern should we as a society consider as machines become more sophisticated and human-like? Then, we recap some of the biggest gaming news this week, as well as some wacky gadget announcements.
No, Google’s LaMDA AI isn’t sentient – 1:40
First look at gameplay from Bethesda’s Starfield RPG at Summer Games Fest – 25:39
Capcom announces Street Fighter 6 with a gorgeous trailer – 29:22
Hideo Kojima’s next game will be for Xbox – 32:55
Overwatch 2 early access coming on October 4th – 33:43
U.S. proposes legislation banning sale of location data – 34:14
Sony released a $3,700 Walkman for rich, nostalgic audiophiles – 38:42
Working on – 43:13
Pop culture picks – 44:34
This week, Cherlynn and guest co-host Sam dive into all the announcements from WWDC 2022, as well as what it was like to cover the event both remotely and in-person. How did we (and our audience) feel about things that we did and didn’t see at the show? Plus, Sam tells us more about Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop Go 2, plus news on regulations around USB-C and our right to repair our devices.
WWDC 2022 – 1:39
M2 MacBook Air and 13 inch MacBook Pro – 4:18
New features in macOS Ventura – 15:27
What’s coming to iOS and iPadOS 16 – 20:13
Big changes to the iOS lock screen – 21:04
WatchOS 9 – 44:46
Surface Laptop Go 2 hands-on – 58:21
The EU reaches deal to use USB-C to charge all devices – 1:06:07
New York state passed a Right to Repair bill – 1:12:31
Working on –1:20:07
Pop culture picks – 1:21:12
We’re gearing up for Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference! This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat about the announcements they’re expecting at WWDC, including new computers with M2 chips (and potentially a revamped MacBook Air!). What’s next for iOS and MacOS – will lockscreen widgets really be useful? And they hold out hope to hear something about the company’s AR/VR glasses. Also, they discuss the surprising news about Sheryl Sandberg leaving Meta, as well as Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop Go 2.
What to expect at WWDC 2022 – 1:29
Could Apple AR Glasses make an appearance? Some rumors – 2:30
Possible news on iPhone 14, iOS 16, iPadOS, and WatchOS – 14:10
Youtube’s TV app now lets you use your phone as a second screen – 30:15
Surface Laptop Go 2 announcement – 33:19
Sheryl Sandberg leaves Facebook after 14 years – 36:23
France bans English e-sports terminology – 42:33
Working on – 44:22
Pop culture picks – 52:38
This week, Devindra and Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham dive into the latest news around Clearview AI, the controversial facial recognition company that’s now seeing pushback from governments and regulators around the world. Will a few fines put a stop to the company’s facial recognition search platform? Also, they discuss how Clearview’s troubles relate to countries being more restrictive about data in general. Finally, they pour one out for Seth Green’s lost Bored Ape – RIP NFT!
Facial Recognition company Clearview AI is on the ropes after several big settlements – 1:22
The era of borderless data may be ending – 15:04
Privacy focused search company DuckDuckGo quietly allowed Microsoft browsing trackers – 23:08
New details about AMD’s Ryzen 7000 chips – 28:34
Oh no, somebody stole Seth Green’s Bored Ape – 33:16
Working on –36:29
Pop culture picks – 41:36
What the heck is going on in the land of cryptocurrency and NFTs? This week, Devindra and Engadget UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith chat with Manda Farough, co-host and producer of the Virtual Economy podcast, about the massive crypto crash. They discuss how the fall of the Luna cryptocurrency and its sibling, TerraUSD, sent shockwaves through the industry. Also, they dive into ICE’s surprisingly robust (and scary) surveillance system, as well the DHS’s stalled misinformation board.
Terra, Luna, and the recent Crypto crash – 2:05
Acer’s glasses-free 3D laptop – 26:35
Report outs U.S.’s ICE as breeching data privacy, has facial recognition data on Americans – 33:37
Homeland Security “pauses” disinformation board – 43:15
There is once again a rumor about USB-C on iPhone – 46:41
Working on – 52:44
Pop culture picks – 59:35
Interview with Love, Death & Robots co-creator Time Miller and animation director Jennifer Yuh Nelson – 1:06:51
This week, Engadget Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham joins Cherlynn and Devindra to dive into everything announced at Google I/O. There were plenty of new devices, of course, but Google also showed off how its improved AI tech is making maps, translation and more features even smarter. Also, Cherlynn discusses her exclusive feature on Microsoft’s Adaptive Mouse, as well as the company’s new Inclusive Tech Lab. And in other news, we bid farewell to the iPod and reminisce about the early days of MP3 players.
Google IO overview – 1:45
A return for Google Glass? – 13:24
Pixel 6a announcement – 29:11
Pixel Watch – 33:49
Pixel Buds Pro – 38:27
Notes from Microsoft’s Ability Summit – 43:43
Apple officially discontinues the iPod – 1:01:04
Sonos Ray is real and it’s $279 – 1:08:53
New info on Intel’s 12th Gen HX Chips – 1:20:45
Pop culture picks – 1:26:21
So does the Overwatch 2 beta live up to all of the hype and anticipation? This week, Jessica Conditt joins Devindra to chat about Blizzard’s long-awaited sequel and why she thinks it’s worth the wait. Also, we discuss why you should care about data privacy given the current wave of anti-abortion legislation, and why the Embracer Group is gobbling up so many developers.
Overwatch 2 beta brings some freshness to a stale game, but is it enough? – 1:15
What does the potential overturn of Roe v. Wade mean for online privacy in the US? – 13:28
Swedish game company Embracer buys several Square Enix studios – 17:47
Sonos is reportedly working on a $250 sound bar called the Ray – 21:46
Obi-Wan trailer drops for May the 4th – 23:19
Engadget’s coverage of Formula-E races in Monaco – 24:53
Working on – 27:14
Pop culture picks – 29:59
This week, our hosts are joined by senior editor Karissa Bell and Yahoo Finance’s Tech Editor Dan Howley to break down Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover. How did we get here, what is left before Elon Musk officially owns Twitter (if regulatory approvals go through) and will our lives really be impacted? Then, guest cohost Sam Rutherford and Cherlynn talk about Google’s all-but-confirmed Pixel Watch and Android 13 before ranting about Motorola.
Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion: How, and more importantly, why? – 1:43
The Android 13 public beta is now live – 26:02
Dear Motorola, stop with the endless rehashes! – 39:15
Working on – 46:06
Pop culture picks – 50:04
This week, Cherlynn is joined by guest co-host Jessica Conditt to take a closer look at the Playdate -- the cute little gaming console with a crank. The two go on to rave about Samsung’s new Pokemon-themed Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Apple’s BTS dance lessons on Fitness+, before questioning why anyone would want electric chopsticks that make food taste saltier.
The Playdate is an adorable, impeccably designed indie game machine – 1:28
Samsung’s Pokemon-themed Galaxy Z Flip 3 is also delightful – 17:48
Apple Fitness+: Now featuring BTS dance workouts – 20:11
Netflix announces that it lost subscribers for the first time in a decade – 26:53
Also from Netflix: there's actually going to be a series based on Exploding Kittens – 33:04
WhatsApp is testing an option to hide its “last seen” feature – 37:57
Researchers in Japan invented chopsticks that make food taste saltier – 40:56
Working on – 45:33
Pop culture picks – 48:30
This week, Cherlynn and guest co-host Sam Rutherford discuss the new Nintendo Switch Sports games, a coincidental week of beauty gadget coverage and the ongoing saga of Elon Musk trying to own Twitter. We also go over Activision Blizzard’s new Chief Diversity Officer and Meta laying claim to almost half of all digital asset sales in its virtual world.
Nintendo Switch Sports – 1:53
Theraface Pro and PMD Beauty Personal Microderm Classic reviews – 14:56
Elon Musk isn’t done with Twitter, might be trying to buy the company – 23:59
Blizzard has hired a Chief Diversity Officer to help sort out its whole mess – 36:31
Meta wants a 47.5% cut on all items sold in the Metaverse – 40:45
Vivo’s X Fold has a fingerprint reader on both screens – 44:28
Netflix is pushing out a 2 Thumbs Up rating system for better recommendations - 49:40
Working on – 53:52
Pop culture picks – 55:14
What a week it’s been for Twitter. Elon Musk snapped up 9.2 percent of the company, becoming its biggest shareholder. He soon became a board member and shortly after, Twitter announced it was bringing a long-awaited Edit feature to its Blue service. Senior reporter Karissa Bell joined us this week to discuss how it all went down, as well as the potential repercussions. Then, we looked at Peloton’s newest gadget, Microsoft’s updates to Windows 11 as well as more controversy over Apple’s AirTags.
Why did Elon Musk buy 9.2% of Twitter? – 1:42
Mat Smith’s Peloton Guide hands-on – 27:08
Windows 11 getting a redesigned File Explorer and video call upgrades – 38:31
Dyson’s headphone / mask combo isn’t an April Fool’s joke – 41:01
OnePlus 10 Pro review – 44:07
Dates for Microsoft Build and WWDC have been announced – 46:40
Airtag stalking is a growing problem – 48:34
Snapchat filter helps users learn ASL alphabet – 52:38
Open AI’s DALL E project is making amazing images – 53:41
Working on – 56:25
Pop culture picks – 1:02:15
It’s time to talk about all of those other new Apple gadgets. This week, Engadget Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham joins Devindra to dive into Apple’s Studio Display, a nice looking 5K monitor that’s really only meant for the Mac faithful. Also, they discuss why the new iPad Air is a fabulous tablet, and explore what could be the best 5G laptop for RV nomads. Stay tuned to the end for a chat with Dan Erickson, the creator of the excellent Apple TV+ series Severance.
Apple’s confounding Studio Display – 1:28
The M1 iPad Air, however, is great – 16:05
Snap buys brain interface company NextMind – 28:37
Apple acquired UK banking startup Credit Kudos – 33:27
The saga of the LA Tesla jump TikTok stunt – 40:23
Ask Engadget: The best setup for retiree trailer life – 44:54
Working on – 52:40
Pop culture picks – 55:58
Interview with Severance creator Dan Erickson – 1:02:44
Would you believe Samsung has more new phones? This week, Devindra and Senior Writer Sam Rutherford discuss the new Galaxy A53 5G and A33, the company’s new feature-packed mid-range phones. The A53 has a 120Hz screen, four cameras and 5G support for $450! The iPhone SE doesn’t stand a chance against it. Also, Devindra dives into his review of the Mac Studio–finally, Apple has a great desktop for creative professionals.
Samsung announces Galaxy A53 5G and A33 – 1:28
Mac Studio review – 14:46
Disney+ teasers for Ms. Marvel and Obi Wan – 28:20
Working on – 41:18
Picks – 45:21
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into all of the news from Apple’s first 2022 event. What’s so great about the revamped iPhone SE? Is the new iPad Air better than the iPad Mini? And who really needs the Mac Studio anyway? Also, we chat about Android 12L and other Google news, the recently announced Magic Leap 2 and our fond memories of illicit filesharing services.
Apple announces iPhone SE (Gen 3) – 2:52
The iPad Air now has an M1 chip – 12:26
Apple’s next step in processing power, the M1 Ultra – 20:07
Mac Studio announcement – 25:43
Apple Studio Display – 29:05
Android 12L coming to larger screens later this year – 35:52
Google promises Chrome 99 will be faster on Android and Macs – 39:57
New Pixel update brings Samsung exclusives to Pixel – 41:18
Magic Leap 2 announced – 45:17
Limewire is now…an NFT marketplace?? – 50:51
Carl Pei’s Nothing to announce 2022 roadmap – 55:20
Working On – 57:06
Picks – 1:02:29
Interview with Upload creator Greg Daniels – 1:11:13
In spite of everything else going on in the world, Mobile World Congress 2022 took place this week. Companies like Oppo, Huawei, TCL, Samsung and Lenovo showed off a ton of new products, ranging from laptops and tablets to foldable concepts and some phones. While it felt strange to cover the news coming out of the show, especially from a distance, we were still able to check out some interesting tech. UK bureau chief Mat Smith joins us to make sense of all the news.
A not-so Mobile World Congress – 2:23
Huawei MatePad – 5:27
Oppo Find X5 – 15:26
Honor Magic 4 – 20:04
TCL’s latest foldable concept – 31:18
The Thinkpad X13s is powered by Snapdragon – 40:53
Apple’s “Peek Performance” event is scheduled for March 8th – 53:27
Multiple disability organizations call on US DOJ to finalize accessibility rules – 1:00:37
Biden wants to end targeted ads that are aimed at children – 1:07:46
Thermacell’s smart mosquito repellent system – 1:08:37
Working on – 1:12:30
Picks – 1:16:33
It’s a gaming heavy week! Devindra chats with Engadget Senior Editor Jessica Conditt about one of our most anticipated games of the year, Horizon Forbidden West. Plus, they dive into the lackluster Street Fighter 6 reveal, the PlayStation VR 2 and what’s up with Elden Ring. Finally, we explore what went wrong with the Uncharted movie.
Horizon Forbidden West is here – 2:24
PS VR 2 details are finally out – 17:47
Street Fighter 6 was announced – 22:24
Intel and AMD announce powerful new chips for ultraportables – 28:08
A new tool on Steam will check your library for Steam Deck compatibility – 30:17
Working on – 33:00
Pop Culture Picks – 34:29
It’s all about Samsung this week! Cherlynn, Devindra and Engadget Senior Editor Sam Rutherford dive into the company’s newest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S22 and S22 Ultra. It’s jam-packed with new features, we just wish they were easier to use. (And what the heck is “Vision Booster” anyway?) Also, Sam gives us his thoughts on Alienware’s x14 gaming laptop, and Cherlynn is introduced to the infamous Bitcoin cryptocouple.
Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22 Ultra Reviews – 1:35
Alienware X14 Review – 30:49
Android 13 developer preview / privacy sandbox on Android – 39:20
New productivity tools in Google Smart Canvas – 43:38
Chrome OS Flex – 46:36
Motorola and Verizon’s weird 5G neckband – 47:32
Cryptocouple scammers caught trying to launder 25,000 BTC – 52:54
Working on – 57:33
Pop Culture Picks – 1:02:00
Tech news season is in full swing as Samsung launched its Galaxy S22 flagship phones this week, along with new Tab S8 tablets. This week on the podcast, Cherlynn is joined by senior writer Sam Rutherford and special guest Chris Velazco from The Washington Post to discuss Samsung’s new gear. The trio also recap some of the best games announced at Nintendo Direct, followed by a look at the week’s biggest news including Peloton’s layoffs, Steam Deck previews and the Olympics.
Samsung unveiled the S22 Ultra and Tab S8 series – 1:30
Nintendo’s first Direct of 2022 – 27:02
Peloton’s layoffs and terrible severance – 39:33
Microsoft promises COD will stay multi-platform for now – 48:02
Steam Deck: the early impressions are in – 51:15
Louis Vuitton smartwatch mini-review – 55:57
Grindr geofences the Olympic Village – 1:00:31
Working on – 1:04:56
Pop Culture picks – 1:07:15
The big gaming deals keep on coming! This week, Devindra and Cherlynn chat with Senior Editor Jessica Conditt about Sony’s surprising $3.6 billion Bungie acquisition. It’s too soon for it to be a direct response to the Microsoft/Activision deal, but clearly Sony sees the need for new blood. Also, they dive into Spotify’s weak response to protests around the Joe Rogan podcast. Should Spotify be using a stronger editorial hand? And yes, they discuss the whole New York Times/Wordle acquisition too.
Sony buys Bungie for $3.6 billion – 1:41
More artists leave Spotify over Joe Rogan / COVID misinformation – 21:03
New York Times buys Wordle – 38:14
Alphabet (Google) and Apple post huge earnings – 45:42
Working on – 52:58
Picks – 56:09
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra bring you the best and worst of Sundance 2022’s tech-related projects. What films coming out of the show will be worth watching when they’re released? Are VR projects easily viewable? What, if anything, did they say about the metaverse? Then, our hosts go over Samsung’s news on this year's first Unpacked launch event, Neil Young's fight against Spotify and what went down at the Antiwork subreddit.
Sundance 2022 New Frontiers (VR/AR show) – 2:03
Cool tech films at Sundance (After Yang, TikTok Boom, We Met in Virtual Reality) – 12:25
Preview of Samsung’s first Unpacked of 2022 – 37:03
Neil Young vs. Spotify: Young’s music pulled over Joe Rogan’s podcast – 42:30
Reddit’s /r/AntiWork blew up in a big way – 46:45
Listener Mailbag – 55:50
Working On – 1:01:00
Interview with We Met in Virtual Reality director Joe Hunting – 1:03:54
Now that the James Webb Space Telescope is safely on the way to its orbital home, Cherlynn and Devindra chat about why it’s so important with Space.com editor-in-chief Tariq Malik, as well as science and technology journalist Swapna Krishna. They dive into why it’s such a big upgrade from Hubble, as well as the discoveries astronomers hope to make about exoplanets, black holes and our own solar system. Also, Senior Editor Jessica Conditt joins to chat about Microsoft’s mammoth $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Is more consolidating a bad thing for the video game industry? (Spoilers: Probably.)
James Webb Space Telescope post-launch update – 1:07
Microsoft buys Activision/Blizzard for $68.7 billion – 31:03
Working On – 58:46
Pop Culture Picks – 1:01:06
It’s that time of the year again! Cherlynn and Devindra break down some of the best tech they’ve seen at CES 2022, as well as a bunch of weird and awful products. Get ready for notebooks with hybrid Intel chips and better NVIDIA graphics! And how about a foldable laptop or two? Our big takeaway: it’s going to be an interesting year for Windows laptops. Also, we dive into Razer’s crazy gaming table and Samsung’s wild, rotating 55-inch gaming monitor.
Chipmakers at CES: Intel, AMD, and more – 1:19
Laptopapolooza: Lenovo’s Thinkbook Plus Gen 3, Dell’s XPS 13 Plus sans headphone jack – 10:40.322
Google announces Fast Pair and Android Auto improvements – 37:51
A couple of phones from CES: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE and OnePlus 10 Pro – 43:11
Standout weird stuff: Samsung’s Massive Curved Monitor and Razer’s new mask – 45:55
Other News – 1:05:04
Pop Culture Picks – 1:08:59
We’re back from the holidays and gearing up to (virtually) cover CES 2022. Cherlynn and Devindra chat about some of the most interesting new tech we expect to see, like Quantum Dot OLED displays and new CPUs. And they discuss what the global chip shortage could mean for CES and the rest of 2022. (Prepare to wait a lot longer for all your new gear!)
Our second pandemic CES is going to be a little weird – 1:41
What is Quantum Dot OLED? – 14:23
What we expect from new PC CPUs and GPUs – 24:37
What will wearables look like at CES? – 28:05
Cars and CES – 31:18
Pop Culture Picks – 39:07
This week, Devindra chats with Engadget Editor-at-large James Trew about the Analogue Pocket, an innovative portable gaming device that accurately can play cartridges from older systems like the Game Boy, Game Gear and Atari Lynx. Also, Senior Editor Dan Cooper joins to dive into this week’s news and why you should be watching HBO’s Succession. Senior Editor Jessica Conditt also joins to dive into her investigative feature on MetaWorld, an intriguing VR project that turned out to be a scam.
Analogue Pocket: the perfect retro portable (for a price) – 1:15
Dell’s Concept Pari is an ingenious movable webcam – 22:41
Concept Luna - a laptop that’s easier to repair and recycle – 29:46
Apple removes all mention of CSAM scanning from its website – 35:34
SharePlay comes to MacOS Monterey – 39:21
Working on – 41:47
Pop Culture Picks – 52:23
Jess Conditt on her investigation into MetaWorld – 1:05:03
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra recap the year's greatest winners and losers in tech. From the expected companies like Apple, Facebook (sorry, Meta) and Google, to the ones we begrudgingly acknowledge, like NFTs and the Metaverse, our hosts look back on 2021's highlights. We'd love to find out what your picks for the best and worst in tech this year might be, too, so feel free to send them our way!
Tech’s biggest winners of 2021 – 2:04
Tech’s biggest losers of 2021 – 28:57
Twitter’s privacy changes get weaponized immediately – 50:28
Working on – 53:14
Pop Culture Picks – 54:37
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss the significance of Jack Dorsey leaving Twitter. Will the social network thrive, or stumble, after losing its co-founder for a second time? Also, Cherlynn explains what’s up with all of Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon chips for phones, computers and… portable gaming consoles? Is it enough to take on Apple’s M1 chips? Or will Windows once again hold Snapdragon PCs back?
What is Twitter without founder Jack Dorsey? – 1:21
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip – 22:38
Updates from the Theranos / Elizabeth Holmes trial – 45:44
Spotify’s Wrapped feature is available this week – 51:41
Working on – 56:18
Pop culture picks – 59:20
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by Engadget’s Jessica Conditt to dive into the latest controversy around Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick. According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, he was well aware of sexual misconduct allegations at the company, and he deliberately kept Activision’s board in the dark. Also, we chat about what Apple’s self service program means for you, as well as a new accessibility gadget that brings eye tracking to the iPad.
New report says Activision/Blizzard CEO protected abusers at the studio – 1:20
Apple announces new program to repair products at home – 19:20
Google Cloud outage takes down Spotify, Snapchat, Etsy, and other sites – 24:40
TD Pilot will let people with disabilities control an iPad with their eyes – 30:02
Halo Infinite free multiplayer beta is available now – 36:13
Paramount+ Pulls Star Trek: Discovery from Netflix before new season – 37:37
StreamLabs was accused of plagiarism, drops “OBS” from its name – 41:15
Rep. Paul Gosar retweets Attack on Titan edit about killing AOC right after being censured for doing it the first time – 44:19
LA’s Staples Center is now the Crypto.com arena – 45:59
Gucci made a $10K Xbox + case – 49:02
Working on – 52:57
Picks – 55:57
It’s that time of the year again: Figuring out all of the best gifts to buy from our Holiday Gift Guide. This week, Commerce Editor Valentina Palladino joins Cherlynn and Devindra to chat about our latest batch of product suggestions, as well as some tips on snagging deals ahead of Black Friday. Also, they chat about Microsoft’s intriguing new $249 Surface Laptop SE, a low-spec, kid-focused notebook for schools. And Devindra chats with Ethan Zuckerman, a UMASS Amherst professor and technology researcher, about Facebook/Meta’s vision of the metaverse and ways we can combat corporate control of the internet. (Check out Ethan’s article at The Atlantic: Hey Facebook, I Built a Metaverse 27 Years Ago.)
Microsoft goes after Chromebooks with the $249 Surface Laptop SE – 1:50
Holiday Gift Guide with Commerce Editor Valentina Palladino – 17:06
Google Project Relate brings voice recognition to people with speech impairments – 36:12
Peloton is making a $495 smart camera to detect your workout form – 42:11
Twitter Blue expands Twitter functionality for $3 a month – 46:16
Apple will make it easier to replace an iPhone 13 screen without breaking FaceID – 52:45
Roombas are about to get much smarter Alexa voice commands – 54:47
Peter Jackson sells most of WETA to Unity – 55:55
Pop Culture Picks – 58:36
Metaverse interview with Ethan Zuckerman – 1:07:26
This week, Devindra and Engadget’s Jessica Conditt dive into Facebook’s big metaverse moves. Is it more than a name change? Is Meta a smart bet on where the future of computing is going? Also, Devindra and producer Ben chat about the Google Wave-like additions to Microsoft Office, and Samsung’s jeans for the Z Flip 3.
Facebook / Meta’s big metaverse moment – 1:19
Microsoft announces Loop collaboration tool at Ignite – 33:29
In-browser video editing and audio recording for Office – 42:17
Ford electrified its classic F-100 as a concept car – 46:02
Samsung releases jeans with a pocket specifically for the Galaxy Z Flip 3 – 51:26
Working on – 56:28
Picks – 58:06
It’s been a busy week! For our special 100th episode, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into their MacBook Pro and Pixel 6 reviews, answer audience questions, and they chat with Engadget’s Karissa Bell about what we’ve learned from the Facebook Papers. (Unfortunately, this episode was recorded before Facebook renamed itself to Meta, but we’ll be chatting about all of that next week!)
100 Episodes! Livestream Q&A – 1:30
MacBook Pro 14” and 16” Review – 16:20
AirPods Gen 3 review – 25:20
Pixel 6 review – 26:31
The Facebook Papers continue the fiasco – 43:14
iOS 15.1 with SharePlay is out – 58:22
Android releases version 12L for tablets – 1:02:29
Intel’s Alder Lake hybrid chips are a big strike against AMD – 1:07:46
Sony's Xperia Pro-I – 1:14:36
Dune Part II was confirmed – 1:19:40
Working on – 1:22:04
Pop culture picks – 1:24:15
Techtober continues with a deep dive into Apple’s latest MacBook Pros, powered by the new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. Cherlynn and Devindra also chat about what’s new with the Pixel 6, and Mr. Mobile himself (Michael Fisher) joins to break down the Surface Duo 2. It turns out Microsoft needed more than a year to fix all of the problems with its dual-screen phone.
Apple’s new MacBooks with M1 Pro and M1 Pro Max – 1:37
Google finally details Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro’s specs – 23:22
Microsoft’s Surface Duo 2 is inconsistent and buggy – 38:41
Facebook may be changing its name – 1:04:05
Facebook Portal Go Review – 1:05:05
Finally, you can post to Instagram from desktop – 1:06:02
Samsung had yet another Unpacked event – 1:06:23
Also in events: Razer, DJI – 1:07:35
We have a trailer for the Uncharted movie – 1:07:56
Mel Brooks is doing History of the World: Part II for Hulu – 1:09:19
Fisher Price made a version of its toy phone that actually makes calls – 1:10:14
Working on – 1:11:25
Pop culture picks – 1:12:26
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat about what to expect from Apple’s upcoming event (new MacBooks, baby!), as well as all of the other launch shindigs from Google, Samsung and Sony. Cherlynn also tells all about her Apple Watch Series 7 review, and why she hates testing sleep tracking gadgets. And to catch up on some big news from last week, Manda Farough from the Virtual Economy Podcast joins to dive into the massive Twitch hack.
There’s a new Apple event on October 18, will there be MacBooks? – 1:25
Apple Watch Series 7 review – 9:09
The Apple Watch still doesn’t do sleep tracking well – 13:17
The Twitch hack: what we know a week later – 29:43
Too many tech events next week: Apple, Google, and Samsung all in 3 days – 52:29
What’s expected at the Google event? – 56:04
Motorola brought back the Edge for 2021 – 57:48
Acer announced a glasses-free 3D laptop – 1:00:35
Someone leaked HTC Vive’s new bug eye VR setup – 1:03:04
Working on – 1:05:59
Pop culture picks – 1:07:50
It’s not too often we get a new version of Windows and a new Android release! This week, Engadget Editor-in-Chief Dana Wollman joins Cherlynn and Devindra to chat about her Surface Pro 8 review, Windows 11, as well as the Surface Laptop Studio and Go. Also, Senior Editor Karissa Bell joins to talk about the latest news from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen.
Windows 11 review – 1:15
Surface Pro 8 review – 14:57
Surface Laptop Studio review – 22:21
Surface Go 3 review – 32:00
Sustainability data is going to be a bigger thing in Google products soon – 36:17
Android 12 release / Pixel event announced for October 19 – 47:06
Twitch was hacked revealing lots of information – 48:57
OLED Switch review is up! – 50:03
Canon made a huge VR fish eye lens – 52:15
Catching up on the fallout from the Facebook whistleblower interview – 55:10
Picks – 1:18:23
This week, we go over the news from Amazon’s devices and services event, especially its intriguing Astro robot for the home. With the company’s history with data collection and security cameras in mind, we discuss the questionable merits of such a device. Then, we delve into the news from Google’s Search On event (also this week) and Facebook’s own slides about research that said Instagram is detrimental to teens.
Here’s what was announced at Amazon’s Fall hardware event – 1:31
Meet Astro, a camera robot that wanders around your house – 2:32
Echo Show 15 – 10:33
Amazon Halo View – 13:30
Amazon Glow – 17:04
A summary of Google’s Search On event– 28:30
Facebook responds to whistleblower leaks that it knew Instagram was bad for teen mental health –39:07
Fitbit Charge 5 full review is up – 45:29
Chris Pratt is Mario – 46:46
Working on – 51:00
Picks – 54:06
It's fall, and new gadget season has officially begun! This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into all of Microsoft's new hardware: The Surface Laptop Studio, Pro 8 and Duo 2. (RIP, Surface Book.) Also, Commerce Editor Valentina Palladino joins to chat about the iPhone 13, 13 Mini and her iPad Mini review. And of course, we carve out some time to yell at Facebook.
The best of Microsoft’s Surface event: Surface Laptop Studio – 3:51
Surface Pro 8 – 16:26
Surface Duo 2 – 22:33
iPhone 13 and mini reviews: it’s all about the cameras – 33:05
iPad Mini review: cute and functional – 48:45
Fitbit Charge 5 review preview – 1:02:38
The European Union wants all phones to charge via USB-C – 1:07:30
Amazon announces bigger, brighter Kindle Paperwhite – 1:12:39
Facebook announces portable Portal / Wall Street Journal’s Facebook files – 1:13:11
Working on – 1:19:41
Pop culture picks – 1:22:35
So Apple really called it the iPhone 13. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat about Apple’s latest announcements, and why the iPhone 13 is more like an iPhone 12S. Also, they discuss why the revamped iPad Mini is the most intriguing new Apple gadget this year. (Hold off on getting a new iPad Air for now, folks.)
What’s new with the iPhone 13 (A15, camera, battery life, and more) – 3:07
The iPad mini stole the show – 25:43
Classic iPad was also updated – 32:04
Apple Watch Series 7: smaller bezels, faster charging – 33:10
Fitness+ Updates – 38:22
Nintendo drops Bluetooth audio for Switch out of nowhere – 49:13
Sonos Beam with Dolby Atmos – 52:59
Xiaomi is working on smart glasses – 56:16
Working on – 1:01:42
Pop culture picks – 1:05:14
This week, Devindra and Cherlynn chat with Wired Reviews Editor Julian Chokkattu about Apple’s upcoming launch event on September 14th. What will the next iPhone be called, and what new features will it bring? We’ll bring down everything we know so far, along with other new hardware to expect from Apple. Also, Devindra and Engadget Senior Editor Karissa Bell chat about Facebook’s first smart glasses, the Ray-Ban Stories. Are we ready for a world where everyone has cameras on their faces? Probably not!
Expectations for the September 14 Apple event: iPhone 13(?) – 1:19
Could we see a new basic iPad? – 21:29
Updates with Apple Watch Series 7 – 27:43
Breaking: Hands on with Facebook’s smart glasses from Ray-Ban – 38:47
The Matrix Resurrections trailer looks great – 53:13
The new Roomba will detect pet poop – 57:56
Working on – 1:01:46
Picks – 1:04:54
We're back after a week off, and we've got a lot of news to catch up on! This week, Devindra chats with Senior Editor Daniel Cooper about the iPhone potentially getting satellite phone connectivity, as well as the upcoming launch of Windows 11. Plus, they answer some questions from our YouTube livestream audience. And of course, they can't help but dive into the messy Ted Lasso season 2 discourse.
00:45: Senior Editor Dan Cooper joins
01:56: News talk: Will the next iPhone have satellite calling?
07:12: BTW, we're now Yahoo again!
07:50: Apple will let some media apps link to outside payment providers
09:55: Apple announces the first states to bring driver's license to Apple Wallet
14:15: Microsoft announces a Surface event on Sept 22, Windows 11 launching Oct. 5
22:15: Twitch streamers organized #DayOffTwitch to protest hate raids
26:15: RIP Locast
37:28: Audience Q&A
40:20: Q about accessibility features in Win 11
41:20: Q about the Reddit protests and policing misinformation
46:53: Q on Linux improvements in Win 11
48:33: Will old processors work in Win 11?
49:30: Dev working on: Razer Blade 14, Twelve Minutes
55:30: Dan working on: HP Pavilion Aero, Saints Row
1:06:00: Pop culture picks: Ted Lasso, Candyman, Lower Decks
1:23:10: Neill Blomkamp on Demonic
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by Washington Post Staff Writer (and former Engadget colleague) Chris Velazco to dive into all of the latest phone reviews. What’s up with Samsung’s Flip 3 and Fold 3? Who needs the Pixel 5a? And why did Qualcomm try to make a phone of its own? Tune in for our discussion, as well as to find out what you should be looking for in your next phone upgrade.
The current state of 5G coverage and what we expect from mobile hardware season – 2:17
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and Fold 3: final reviews – 13:55
Pixel 5a review: a great buy for most people – 39:26
Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders (it’s bad) – 45:02
Facebook gets into VR work with horizon Workrooms – 52:19
What do social platforms do now that the Taliban is Afghanistan’s governing party? – 1:02:56
CES 2022 is happening…maybe – 1:08:35
OnlyFans announces SFW branch (and announced they’re banning most NSFW) – 1:13:14
Working on – 1:17:13
Pop culture picks – 1:20:07
This week, Cherlynn and guest co-host Mat Smith are joined by foldable aficionado and tech personality Michael Fisher (aka Mr Mobile) to talk all about foldables. Specifically, Samsung’s Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3, as well as the new Galaxy Watch 4 series and Buds 2. Then, our hosts try to make sense of the confusion around Apple’s CSAM-detecting features, and go over some other gadgets launched this week.
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked News: Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 with Mr. Mobile – 1:58
Where the Z Fold and Z Flip sit in foldable history – 27:47
Also announced at Unpacked: Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic – 38:00
Making sense of Apple’s Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) detection feature – 44:16
Xiaomi's robot dog is terrifying – 52:49
What we're working on – 54:44
Pop culture picks – 57:00
This week, Cherlynn is joined by guest co-host Terrence O’Brien and senior tech correspondent at Business Insider Lisa Eadicicco to discuss Google’s own mobile chip Tensor and the Pixel 6. We share more insight from having seen and used the phones in person, too. Plus, updates from the Activision Blizzard case.
Google announces Tensor, its own mobile chip, will debut on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro – 1:47
Activision/Blizzard hit with another lawsuit – 33:08
NLRB recommends a new union election for Amazon’s Alabama warehouse – 40:04
Google Nest launches new battery-powered doorbell and security cameras – 43:06
Amazon releases a soap dispenser that counts to 20 – 47:58
R2-D2 Tamagotchi is coming later this year – 49:26
Working on – 52:23
Pop culture picks – 56:40
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into the toxic mess at Activision Blizzard with Senior Editor Jessica Conditt. California is suing the company over its frat boy culture, something we’ve seen at many gaming companies over the years. What’s actually going on, and what does it mean for the gaming industry as a whole? Tune in for our thoughts! Also, we chat about Facebook’s metaverse ambitions, some new chip plans for Intel and… Xbox Krispy Kreme donuts.
What’s happening with the Activision Blizzard walkout? – 1:25
Netflix might be getting into gaming? – 16:51
Facebook has started mentioning “the metaverse” a lot – 21:18
New Samsung S-Pen for foldables – 26:16
Intel is doing some interesting marketing to keep up with its competition – 32:33
New earbuds from Nothing (the company) and Master & Dynamic – 37:50
Krispy Kreme has an official Xbox donut – 42:52
Working on – 44:46
Pop culture picks – 49:52
This week on the show, Devindra and Engadget Buyer’s Guide Editor Kris Naudus chat about Valve’s new Steam Deck with Jordan Minor, Apps and Games Analyst at PCMag. Is the hardware powerful enough to truly make it a portable gaming PC? And should we trust Valve with hardware at all after the Steam Machine debacle? Also, we dive into Jeff Bezos’s jaunt to space, Facebook’s spat with the Biden administration and the issues surrounding NSO’s controversial spyware Pegasus.
What is Valve’s Steam Deck and can it compete with the Switch? – 1:21
Jeff Bezos touches space – 27:14
President Biden gets tough on Facebook…almost – 33:15
Details about NSO’s zero-click phone spyware program are troubling – 37:03
A recap of the Anime Tube Kickstarter disaster – 48:39
Soon you can buy a Sad Wolverine figure (but it’s expensive) – 48:39
Working on – 59:08
Pop culture picks – 1:02:49
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Tariq Malik, Editor in Chief of Space.com, about Richard Branson’s recent Virgin Galactic flight and this new billionaire space race. What, exactly, are these super rich guys trying to accomplish? And how does Virgin Galactic differ from Jeff Bezos’s Blue Original and Elon Musk’s SpaceX? Also, we dive into Windows 365, Microsoft’s new service that lets you access a cloud Windows PC from practically anywhere.
Space.com editor in chief Tariq Malik explains the new billionaire space race – 1:32
Microsoft launches its Windows 365 cloud service – 36:04
Notes from the Android 12 Beta 3 release – 43:30
President Biden signs executive order on net neutrality, right to repair – 47:11
New MacOS Beta release reverts Safari tab design – 51:35
Tag Heuer’s Super Mario smartwatch exists, costs over $2,000 – 53:31
Working on – 57:25
Pop culture picks – 59:46
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss Nintendo’s surprise OLED Switch announcement along with Time tech columnist Patrick Lucas Austin. It definitely isn’t the Switch Pro we’ve been hearing so much, but there are still some nifty upgrades for true Switch diehards. So is it worth $350? Tune in to find out! Also, we chat about the DOD cancelling its $10 billion JEDI contract, and a futuristic new electric scooter from BMW.
The OLED Nintendo Switch is real, we have the details – 1:22
Amazon and Microsoft both lose as US DoD cancels big IT contract – 25:58
37 states join in antitrust suit against Google over its Play store – 31:23
BMW’s new electric scooter looks like an anime prop – 36:03
Sony’s neck speakers are back, this time for remote workers – 39:12
Carl Pei’s Nothing will release wireless earbuds as first product – 42:38
Qualcomm and Asus team up on a Snapdragon phone – 44:31
Former President Trump attempts to sue social media founders – 51:03
Working on – 51:57
Pop culture picks – 53:09
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by Gizmodo’s Sam Rutherford to chat about Samsung’s smartwatch updates and the few tidbits of news from Mobile World Congress. Also, they dive into the newly released previews for iOS 15, macOS Monterey and Windows 11. It’s the rare year where both Mac and Windows are getting some major updates.
New stuff from Samsung (One UI, Galaxy Buds 2) – 1:34
Mobile World Congress happened…sort of – 18:34
First impressions from the Windows 11 insider preview – 27:34
Apple releases betas for iOS 15, iPad OS 15, watchOS 8, and macOS Monterey – 34:01
Amazon wants Lena Khan to recuse herself – 48:29
Amazon Halo get Movement Health update – 51:35
Working on – 57:52
Pop culture picks – 59:05
Microsoft officially unveiled Windows 11 this week, and Cherlynn and Devindra are ready to dive into everything that’s new. Turns out, it looks a lot like the leak we saw last week! But there are still some new features worth calling out, especially support for Android apps. Also, they chat about the death of John McAfee, the infamous antivirus founder, and why a Snapchat post led the Supreme Court to establish new free speech precedent for students. Stay tuned at the end of the show for an interview with Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Director Mike Daly and Mike Fitzgerald, Core Technology Director at Insomniac Games.
Microsoft announces Windows 11 – 1:23
Windows 11 release date and availability (short answer: there’s a lot we don’t know yet!) – 14:51
John McAfee found dead in a Spanish prison – 24:23
The Supreme Court defends teens’ right to say “F school” online – 27:46
Peloton might be making a wearable, bricks its treadmill for non-subscribers – 32:03
Apple Fitness + updates – 35:46
Tide and NASA are making space detergent (for space clothes) – 38:18
Netflix’s weird new dating show “Sexy Beasts” – 42:09
Working on –43:42
Pop culture picks – 45:13
Interview with Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart developers – 55:26
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat about the surprising Windows 11 leak, which spoiled Microsoft’s upcoming Windows event. While it’s not a complete build, the leak still gives us a sense of where Windows 11 is headed. Also, we break down the best games we saw at E3, including Elden Ring and Forza Horizon 5!
Woah, did an early build of Windows 11 leak? – 1:37
The most interesting stuff at E3 2021 – 12:37
Elden Ring at the Summer Games Fest – 19:07
Ubisoft announcements: Rainbow Six Extraction, Far Cry 6, and more – 22:43
Microsoft E3 announcements: everybody’s excited for Starfield – 29:18
Nintendo at E3: We got to see one more minute of BOTW2 – 34:29
Other News: OnePlus Nord N200 5G – 42:12
Android update includes new features – 45:53
Google to open its first retail store in Manhattan – 48:18
Working on – 54:14
Pop culture picks – 56:07
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith to talk about Apple's torrent of announcements from WWDC 2021. iOS 15's upcoming changes are the most intriguing, but we also went over updates to watchOS, iPadOS and macOS. Plus, we got more details from Apple after the keynote on things like Assistive Touch on watchOS and whether people need accounts to streaming apps to use SharePlay in FaceTime. Then, we talk about what we're expecting to see at E3 over the weekend, as well as why Amazon's Sidewalk should be an opt-in feature.
WWDC Overview – 1:40
New features in iOS 15 – 2:07
MacOS Monterey announcement – 26:54
What’s new in WatchOS 8 – 29:32
E3 preview / recent game releases – 35:50
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart – 41:06
FFVII Intergrade – 44:59
You might want to opt out of Amazon Sidewalk – 49:12
Android 12’s second public beta is here – 55:18
Biden ends Trump’s orders on TikTok and WeChat – 56:01
Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds review – 57:04
Listener mailbag: “Where should I buy digital movies?” – 59:08
Working on – 1:03:54
Pop culture picks – 1:07:26
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat about the big news from virtual Computex: NVIDIA’s RTX 3080 Ti and 3070 Ti; AMD’s Radeon 6000M mobile graphics; and the latest chips from Intel. Come learn why these companies are basically a triad of frenemies. Also, they dive into Microsoft’s upcoming next-gen Windows event, and the demise of Donald Trump’s blog.
New NVIDIA 3080 Ti GPUs announced at Computex – 3:46
AMD gets serious about mobile gaming with the Radeon RX 6000M – 12:02
Intel announces two new U-Series chips – 17:27
Microsoft will say something about the next generation of Windows on June 24th – 23:27
Alienware X15 and X17 are really thin…but are they worth the price? – 32:02
Trump quits blogging – 37:43
Working on – 43:13
Pop culture picks – 44:57
Terrence O’Brien interviews musician Alessandro Cortini and Tony Rolando of Make Noise about designing the Strega synthesizer – 55:53
This week, Devindra chats with Senior Mobile Editor Chris Velazco about Amazon’s surprising new acquisition of MGM. Yes, that’s right, the fabled studio behind the Bond franchise, among others. Is this just a play for more Prime Video content? Or is Amazon just trying to crush Netflix and Apple? Also, they discuss a potential Switch-like portable gaming PC from Valve, as well as some news from Build 2021.
Amazon buys MGM Studios for $8.45 billion – 1:51
Is Valve making a Switch-like portable gaming PC? – 14:49
News from Microsoft Build: Teams is becoming a collaborative app platform – 24:29
Satya Nadella hints at a new version of Windows – 31:15
USB-C upgrade will deliver up to 240W of power – 37:57
Working on – 42:49
Pop Culture Picks – 48:43
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Senior Mobile Editor Chris Velazco about the slew of news from Google I/O, including the new Material You design and Google’s team-up with Samsung in smartwatches. Also, Chris tells us why he thinks the iPad Pro is one of the best devices Apple has ever made (it’s just too bad the software can’t keep up). And Devindra explains why the new iMac M1 is actually a radical portable desktop.
The important stuff from Google I/O – 1:09
New stuff for Android (Material You design) – 4:44
Google and Samsung team up for WearOS – 14:04
StarLine video calls – 25:51
LaMDA AI – 29:47
iPad Pro M1 review – 37:54
iMac M1 Review – 48:24
The electric Ford F-150 is coming – 57:57
Samsung announces new display types – 1:01:09
Amazon / Apple / Spotify all announce lossless audio streaming – 1:05:11
IFA 2021 has been cancelled – 1:09:44
Microsoft kills Windows 10X – 1:12:53
Working on – 1:15:35
Pop culture picks – 1:17:01
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Mike Futter, author of the GameDev Business Handbook and co-host of the Virtual Economy podcast, about the ongoing legal battle between Epic Games and Apple. What does it mean for the app economy? And is Apple actually a monopoly in the app world? Also, they chat about Intel’s new 11th-gen H-series processors, NVIDIA’s RTX 3050 and 3050 Ti on notebooks, and HTC Vive’s Pro 2 and Focus 3 VR headsets.
Why are Epic and Apple fighting? – 1:21
YouTube chat Q&A about Epic v. Apple – 30:27
Intel’s H series chips are finally here – 36:04
NVIDIA RTX 3050/Ti are officially confirmed – 38:22
HTC Vive Pro 2 and Focus 3 announcement (they’re expensive) – 40:08
Biden admin taps Uber and Lyft to drive people to vaccine sites – 45:56
Facebook is limiting access to WhatsApp accounts if you don’t agree to the new TOS – 50:38
Roku bought a bunch of Quibi shows – 53:54
Working on – 55:45
Pop culture picks – 57:44
This week, Facebook’s Oversight Board upheld the company’s decision to ban Donald Trump… with some caveats. Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Senior Editor Karissa Bell about the long-awaited decision, and what it means for the future of Facebook’s “Supreme Court.” Also they dive into Peloton’s very very bad week, and Google’s upcoming entertainment updates for Android tablets.
Facebook Oversight Board upholds trump ban – 3:25
Peloton recalls Tread treadmills after injuries, 1 death – 23:47
Google Entertainment Space on Android tablets – 30:01
Pixel Buds A-Series announcement leaked in deleted tweet – 36:05
Another AI ethicist jumps ship from Google, goes to Apple – 39:23
Twitter implements taller images and angry tweet detection – 41:13
Disney redesigned Star Wars lightsabers available at its parks – 48:20
Carole Baskin from Tiger King launched a cryptocurrency / Dogecoin continues to rise – 50:26
Bill and Melinda Gates divorce leaves some questions for nonprofit world – 55:32
Working on – 59:01
Pop culture picks – 1:01:44
Can you believe there was another Samsung event this week? Cherlynn and Devindra chat about all of Samsung’s new computers from its latest Galaxy Unpacked fiesta, and why they matter (or don’t). Also, they discuss Basecamp’s latest decision to ban political talk at work, and explore why so many writers are moving to Substack.
Unpacked, again: Samsung announces Galaxy Book laptops – 1:07
Basecamp announces weird rules about employee political discussions – 25:41
How Substack made e-mail newsletters cool again – 31:14
CES 2022 will be in-person – 38:59
Microsoft sets 5-year accessibility goal – 43:54
Working on – 47:44
Pop culture picks – 54:04
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Engadget’s Chris Velazco about Apple’s AirTags and the new purple iPhone. We dive into what it’s like to use the AirTags to find things, and their potential limitations. Meanwhile, the purple iPhone is indeed very purple. Also, they chat about why Microsoft buying Nuance is such a huge deal, and how useful Amazon’s AR hair salon could be.
Hands on with AirTags…and Purple iPhone – 1:11
News Roundup: Microsoft buys voice recognition company Nuance for 19.7B – 17:17.046
News Roundup: Discord isn’t selling to anyone, plans to go public – 25:29
News Roundup: Xbox Cloud Gaming beta arrives on iOS and Windows PCs – 33:03
News Roundup: Other News: Amazon's (Possible) AR Hair Salon – 35:09
News Roundup: Fitbit Luxe – 41:24
Working on – 47:47
Pop Culture Picks – 53:46
Cherlynn and Devindra chat about what really matters from Apple's huge hardware event together with our YouTube audience. Does anyone want colorful iMacs? And does the iPad Pro really need M1 chips?
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat about NVIDIA’s massive GTC developer conference. It turns out ARM chips are going to be a much bigger deal for NVIDIA! Also, they discuss the recently announced Surface Laptop 4 and Microsoft’s new family of accessories. We also spend a bit of time with Cherlynn’s horrific OnePlus Watch review experience.
A few notes from NVIDIA’s Graphics Technology Conference – 1:05
Surface Laptop 4 Preview – 10:36
OnePlus watch review (it’s not great) – 18:25
Other News: Apple event is scheduled for 4/20 – 32:57
Other News: Another Samsung Galaxy Unpacked on April 28 – 35:34
Other News: Sony Experia III announcement + specs – 37:02
Other News: TCL "Fold n’ Roll" rollable phone concept – 41:00
Other News: Google Earth update includes 3D time-lapse videos – 45:42
Other News: AMD unveils its first Ryzen 5000 chips – 50:49
Working on – 51:51
Pop Culture Picks – 51:51
This week on the Engadget Podcast, renowned physicist Dr. Michio Kaku joins Cherlynn and Devindra to chat about his new book, The God Equation: The Quest for a Theory of Everything. He dives into the trouble with the Standard Model of physics, this week’s surprising news around muons and why believes we’ll eventually unite with superintelligent robots and roam the cosmos as beings of pure energy. (Hey, it could happen.) Also, Chris Velazco joins to get up in his feelings about LG abandoning the mobile market.
Michio Kaku on his new book “The God Equation” – 0:59
LG Mobile, in memoriam (with Chris Velazco) – 24:51
Other News: Facebook leaked data on 500M users – 38:42
Other News: Google IO, E3, and Microsoft Build conference dates – 38:42
Other News: Google v. Oracle is finally settled – 46:31
Other News: the Sonos Roam got a great review – 50:26
Working on – 53:34
Pop Culture Picks – 55:12
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by UK bureau chief Mat Smith to dive deeper into our review of Google’s new Nest Hub. Is the sleep-tracking smart display creepy or cool? Plus, loads of updates from Google and a peek at Xiaomi’s first foldable phone. Be careful this April Fools, everyone!
Google’s Nest Hub sleep tracking is a little creepy – 1:21
Other Google announcements: Maps updates, Stack app, FLoC advertising, and Google Messages on T-Mobile – 27:52
Xiaomi’s first foldable phone: Mi Mix Fold – 38:47
Other tech news: An upcoming Apple event – 50:02
Other News: VOLTSwagen April Fools joke was a big flop – 53:55
Other News: Netflix paid a crazy amount for Knives Out sequels – 56:01
Working On – 57:19
Pop Culture Picks – 1:01:11
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Engadget’s Karissa Bell about some surprising moves from the White House. President Biden plans to nominate antitrust scholar Lina Khan to the FTC, and he’s bringing on Tim Wu, the creator of the term “net neutrality,” as a special advisor. Is this a sign that this administration will take Big Tech to task? Also, we dive into the latest from OnePlus, why Microsoft is rebranding Xbox Live, and of course, the Snyder Cut of Justice League.
Why is the Biden Administration hiring critics of Big Tech? – 1:10
Other News: Slack enables inter-team DMs – 22:32
Other News: Intel’s new CEO announces IDM 2.0 / US domestic chip production – 27:16
Other News: Snapdragon 780G could catch up to Apple – 33:14
Other News: Xbox drops “Live” – 37:19
Other News: OnePlus event – 40:17
OnePlus Watch – 44:50
Working On – 48:47
Pop Culture Picks – 57:57
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by senior mobile editor Chris Velazco to try and make sense of Samsung’s ‘Awesome Unpacked’ event. The company didn’t just unveil new Galaxy A-series phones, but also tried excruciatingly hard to flex its ‘understanding’ of Gen Z lingo. We also take a look at Google’s new Nest Hub, which is a smart display that uses radar to… tell when you’re asleep? Is that cool or creepy? Plus, updates from elsewhere in the world of tech.
Samsung’s “Awesome” Unpacked unveils new A series phones – 2:46
Google’s New Nest Hub watches while you sleep – 29:33
Other News: Intel’s 11th gen desktop chips – 42:55
Other News: AMD Radeon 6700XT Review – 47:44
Other News: Alienware Laptops with Cherry MX Keyboards – 49:06
Other News: Online SXSW is meh – 51:12
Other News: Google antitrust developments – 55:14
Working On – 57:40
Pop Culture Picks – 1:00:02.224
Bonus: Cherlynn’s interview with Robert Kirkman, creator of Amazon Prime Video’s "Invincible" – 1:06:29
Bonus: Devindra’s interview with Apple TV+ “Calls” creator Fede Álvarez – 1:20:24
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into the wild world of NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, with Engadget Senior Editor Dan Cooper. What do they mean for the future of art and commerce? And should you care about them at all? Also, we chat about Microsoft’s finalized Bethesda acquisition, as well as Facebook’s push to dismiss its latest antitrust charges.
WTF are NFTs?: An Explainer – 1:08
Other News: Microsoft finalizes Bethesda acquisition – 36:27
Other News: Facebook launches Instagram lite / dispute’s FTC’s Antitrust claims – 39:15
Other News: Twitter changes its image previews – 45:06
Other News: Sonos announces Roam portable speaker – 46:52
Other News: Phone announcements on the horizon ASUS / Samsung / OnePlus – 50:14
Other News: Chrome OS 10th Anniversary release – 55:59
Working On – 58:46
Pop Culture Picks – 1:00:16
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with CNET’s Scott Stein about Microsoft’s latest Mixed Reality endeavour: Mesh. It’s a virtual meeting platform that can work across HoloLens, VR headsets, computers and smartphones, making it one of the most versatile remote work solutions we’ve seen yet. Will Microsoft Mesh power all our virtual meetings in the future? Or do we need AR glasses to get here first? Also, they dive into Google’s new privacy changes around ads. No more personalized ads based on your browsing history!
Microsoft’s Mesh AR might be the future of meetings – 1:08
Google announces end to ads by individual tracking – 35:08
Other news from Google: Pixel Updates – 46:09
Other News: Zoom Golden Globes were a mess – 49:28
Other News: China threatens India with Electrical Grid malware – 52:29
Other News: Square buys Jay-Z’s Tidal streaming service – 57:08
Other News: Nintendo Switch Pro rumors get real – 59:56
Working On – 1:03:56
Picks – 1:09:50
This week, Devindra and Cherlynn chat with PhD candidate and all-around space nerd Sophia Gad-Nasr about NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover. We dive into what it’s journey was like, what was so remarkable about its landing, and what it’ll be working on in the future. Also, we chat about the new PSVR headset, the death of Fry’s Electronics and Cinefex magazine, and more!
What’s Perseverance’s mission on Mars? Feat. Sophia Gad - Nasr – 1:05
The secret code inside Perseverance’s supersonic parachute – 9:58
Perseverance: The Tech Specs – 17:12
Other News - Android update – 27:10
Other News - PS 5 VR – 32:13
Other News - Huawei foldable phone – 36:47
Other News - Quick Spotify News – 45:52
Other News - RIP Fry’s electronics and Cinefx Magazine – 52:40
Around Engadget / Working On – 59:19
Picks – 1:11:40
Texas is facing a once-in-a-century storm, and unfortunately its power grid couldn’t keep up. This week, Devindra and Cherlynn chat with native Texan and techie Alex Cranz about what happened, and why Texas is so unique when it comes to power infrastructure in the US. Also, they dive into Facebook’s decision to halt new sharing in Australia, and why Lastpass decided to make its free password management a lot more complicated.
Why is Texas’ power grid so messed up? – 1:26
Other News from the tech world:
• Facebook bans all news in Australia – 37:01
• Lastpass makes a dubious move for paying customers – 46:24
• Google will finally let teachers mute kids in virtual classrooms – 51:10
• Microsoft’s new Xbox wireless headset, accessibility updates, and FPS boost – 57:14
• Carl Pei’s Nothing buys Essential’s assets – 1:01:50
Working on (Color e-ink, Thinkpad review) – 1:05:57
Pop Culture Picks – 1:10:49
While it'll be a while before we can celebrate a manned mission to Mars, this week the United Arab Emirates and China made a step towards that goal. Both countries now have satellites orbiting the Red Planet, and China also plans to launch a rover to the surface later this year. In this week's episode, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss the new Space Race for Mars, and how it'll help us learn more about our neighbor. Also, they dive into Facebook's test to limit political content, and the halted TikTok acquisition.
China and the UAE enter the race to Mars – 1:09
Social Media News:
TikTok sale has been delayed indefinitely – 10:30
Facebook is experimenting with showing less political news to users – 22:14
Other news: The future of E3, Cat Lawyer is everyone’s Zoom nightmare – 27:52
Working On – 40:46
Picks – 49:44
Are we living in a simulation? That’s what Rodney Ascher aims to explore with his new documentary, A Glitch in the Matrix, which premiered at Sundance this week. In this special interview episode, we chat with Ascher about how he broke down such a complex subject. And we also talk with Natalia Almada, the director of Users, about her gorgeous exploration of our relationship with tech, and why it’s particularly anxiety-inducing for parents.
A Glitch in the Matrix is available for viewing on VOD services starting February 5th. Users doesn’t have a release date yet.
‘Users’ director Natalia Almada – 1:47
‘A Glitch in the Matrix’ director Rodney Ascher – 27:35
We didn’t have to travel to Utah to drown ourselves in content from the Sundance Film Festival. This week, Devindra and Engadget’s Managing Editor, Terrence O’Brien, chat about all of the wild movies, VR experiences and new media projects they saw at the show. We discuss Rodney Ascher’s dive into simulation theory, A Glitch in the Matrix; the meditative tech documentary Users; and our experiences exploring VR parties. Also, we chat about Jeff Bezos’ plan to step down as Amazon’s CEO (and why it’s terrifying that he has more time to become a supervillain), and the Apple Car rumors are finally starting to sound realistic.
Sundance 2021: Now in VR – 1:30
• Users, A Glitch in the Matrix, and more – 8:42
360˚ films at Sundance: Tinker and 4 Feet High – 25:21
Worst and Weirdest at Sundance – 31:30
Other News
• Bezos to step down as Amazon CEO – 43:36
• New details on the long rumored Apple Car – 48:25
• Google closes Stadia game studios – 51:14
Working On – 55:57
If you were confused about how, exactly, a bunch of Reddit finance obsessives turned the beleaguered GameStop into a white hot stock, you’re not alone. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Mike Futter, author of the GameDev Business Handbook and co-host of the Virtual Economy Podcast, to make sense of this surprising story. Are the online traders just doing it for the lols? Or are they trying to teach the financial industry a lesson? And isn’t this just another example of online memes bleeding into reality, leading to potentially disastrous consequences? We also get a bit of context from an anonymous member from the infamous R/WallStreetBets subreddit.
Stonks get real: Is it really Reddit v. Hedge Funds? – 0:49
Microsoft raises Xbox Live Price, backtracks – 30:35
News shouts from around the tech world – 40:35
Working on – 53:30
Picks – 56:22
We’re back in review mode this week! Cherlynn dishes her thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Ultra, and whether they’re worthy upgrades over last year’s phones. Do all those cameras make a difference? And is there a point to releasing a Galaxy Note this year? Also, Devindra discusses the virtual inauguration for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, as well as the rumors around Apple’s upcoming and potentially pricey VR headset. Is this the best strategy to get to an AR headset?
The Biden Presidency and tech – 1:36
Samsung Galaxy S21 Review – 9:23
Other News (Apple VR, Snapdragon 8705G) – 33:52
Working on – 46:08
Picks – 49:28
We lived through CES 2021 and all we have to show for it is our tired typing fingers. This week, Devindra, Cherlynn and UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith chat about the most notable announcements from the show. Sure, there were tons of TVs, but PC hardware like AMD’s new Ryzen 5000 laptop chips and NVIDIA’s RTX 30-series mobile GPUs will also shape all the systems we see throughout the year. And they also touch on what happened after the US Capitol was attacked by right-wing extremists. It turns out, social media companies finally decided to take action.
CES Highlights: PCs – 7:20
CES Highlights: TVs – 14:10
CES Highlights: Laptops – 22:16
CES Highlights: Weird Stuff – 56:02
• Moflin, an AI pet – 56:40
• Razer Project Hazel face mask – 58:52
• Razer Gaming Chair – 1:03:57
• Avita Admiror II –1:08:45
The fallout from Twitter banning Trump – 1:19:39
Working on – 1:31:29
Picks – 1:33:27
This week, Devindra and Cherlynn were planning to chat about everything coming at CES 2021... but the siege on the U.S. Capitol by right-wing extremists changed things. We discuss how social media and mobile tech played a huge role in planning and executing the attempted coup, and what this means for Twitter and Facebook. And then we somehow manage to keep talking about gadgets and CES.
Online extremism’s role in the siege on US capitol – 1:11
CES Preview: TVs and computers – 19:58
CES Preview: Wearables and other previews – 44:58
Working on – 57:39
Picks – 1:00:33
For the last episode of 2020, Cherlynn and Devindra answer a slew of listener questions, covering everything from when to buy a PlayStation 5 to the future of folding PCs. We also look back at the best moments of covering tech throughout the year (which mostly involve this podcast). And of course, we can’t help but dream about what we’d like to see in 2021, when society (hopefully) shifts back into gear.
We answer your questions about this year in tech – 3:25
What we’re looking forward to in 2021 – 3:25
Working On – 44:42
Picks – 50:21
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra look back at 2020 to figure out the best and worst of tech. From Apples M1 chip to the downfall of Quibi, it was a year of serious highs and lows for the tech industry, especially once you factor how the COVID-19 pandemic changed our lives.
Tech’s Winners of 2020 (Consoles and…the LG Wing?) – 1:31
Tech’s Losers of 2020 (RIP Quibi but not really) – 36:49
In other news – 59:28
Working On – 1:02:19
Picks – 1:06:20
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into Apple’s newest headphones, the AirPods Max, and discuss if they’re actually worth $549. They also chat about the FTC’s antitrust charges against Facebook, and Warner Bros.’ decision to premiere all of their 2021 films on HBO Max. Jessica Conditt also joins to discuss her impressions of Cyberpunk 2077 — was it worth the long wait?
Topics:
Airpods Max – 1:28
Facebook hit with massive antitrust suit – 13:06
WB to release next year’s movies on HBO – 26:25
Cyberpunk 2077, finally! – 37:44
Working On – 59:32
Picks – 1:05:27
This week, Cherlynn is joined by senior editor Jessica Conditt and special guest Harris O’Malley aka Dr. NerdLove to talk all about the ways tech affects dating, relationships and breakups. Will Google Photos, Facebook and Instagram ever stop sending us “memories” of our exes? What are the newest ways to be “Facebook Official”? Are there etiquette rules on when or whether you should remove your ex’s pictures from Instagram? Then, our hosts share what they’ve been working on, including coverage of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 news and upcoming game reviews.
Navigating relationships, breakups, and their digital footprint with Dr. Nerdlove – 1:55
Working on – 40:36
Picks – 46:19
In this holiday interview special, Devindra chats with Team Asobi creative director Nicolas Doucet on developing Astro's Playroom, a game that's bundled with every PlayStation 5 and shows off the full capabilities of its DualSense controller.
Apple’s new M1-equipped MacBook Air is a doozy of an ultraportable. This week, Devindra and Cherlynn chat about what makes it so special, and what it means for the future of Apple’s M1 Mac lineup. How can Intel and AMD even compete? Also, they discuss if Twitter’s Fleets feature is any good, and what Amazon’s Pharmacy push means for online medication ordering.
The Macbook Air M1: Does it live up to the hype? – 1:32
M1 on Macbook Air: benchmarks – 24:49
The ongoing US election/other news – 28:39
Twitter introduces stories: Fleets – 31:54
Amazon expands into prescription drugs – 38:08
Listener mail – 45:03
Working on – 47:52
Picks – 1:00:17
This week, we go over our deeper thoughts on Apple’s announcements from its Mac event on Tuesday. Does Apple have a better shot at making ARM-based laptops work than Microsoft? Plus, our hosts take a closer look at our iPhone 12 Mini and Pro Max reviews and share more thoughts on the PlayStation 5.
Apple Unveils its M1 Chip – 1:41
iPhone 12 hands on and final thoughts – 20:17
Playstation 5 launch day – 30:46
In other news… – 41:31
Working on – 50:15
Picks – 52:55
This week, Devindra and Jessica Conditt dive deep into their Xbox Series X and S reviews. Do Microsoft’s next-gen systems live up to the hype? Also, Tech on the Ballot! A few important tech-related ballot initiatives were decided in California, Massachusetts, and Maine.
Xbox Series X and S: The Full Review – 1:42
Tech on the Ballot – 30:21
Working On – 41:36
Picks – 43:16
This week, Devindra and Cherlynn are joined by Jess Conditt to talk about both new consoles -- well, as much as they can say anyway. Jess chats about her PlayStation 5 preview, and we can finally compare it to the Xbox Series X and S final hardware. Also, they dive into what’s up with AMD and NVIDIA’s latest GPUs, the RTX 3070 and Radeon RX 6000 series.
PS5 vs. Xbox Series S: case and controller overview – 1:41
Other gaming news (RTX 3070, switch game streaming) – 21:51
Social media takes steps against US election misinformation – 27:45
Working on – 36:42
Listener mail – 44:10
Our favorite dead gadgets – 48:36
Picks – 56:09
This week, Devindra chats with Senior Mobile Editor Chris Velazco about his iPhone 12 and 12 Pro reviews. Do they live up to the hype? Are they a decent upgrade over last year? And does 5G matter? Also, they dive into Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s brilliant Among Us Twitch stream, as well as the (wholly unsurprising) death of Quibi
Do you really need to upgrade to an iPhone 12? – 1:46
Twitch might be the new frontier for political promotion – 35:56
RIP Quibi, Lifespan: Six Months – 45:44
Working On – 56:09
Picks – 59:04
It’s been a hardware-heavy week, with Apple’s iPhone 12 event delivering four new iPhones to gawk at. Devindra and Cherlynn take a look at some of the more controversial and outstanding discussions about Apple’s latest and greatest. Then, we talk about Cherlynn’s experience reviewing the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5, and Jessica Conditt joins our hosts to talk about the Xbox Series X after having spent three weeks with the console.
Apple finally unveils the iPhone 12 (pro and mini, too!) – 1:23
Final review of the Pixel 5 and 4a5G – 28:06
Xbox Series X and S preview with Jess Conditt – 45:02
Working On – 59:21
Picks – 1:05:10
The legendary Bill Nye joins our hosts Cherlynn and Devindra on this week’s episode to discuss his new VR Science Kit, as well as climate change, the postal service and the Trump administration’s stance on science. “Uncle Bill,” as we’re allowed to call him (sparingly) also talked about TikTok as a learning platform and the internet as a public service. Then, commerce editor Valentina Palladino shares some advice on how to prepare for Amazon’s upcoming Prime Day on October 13th and 14th.
Bill Nye (The Science Guy!) joins us to talk about VR learning, science leadership, and climate change – 1:05
A Prime Day primer with commerce editor Valentina Palladino – 23:24
Working On – 36:08
Picks – 41:22
Google’s finally shown off the Pixel 5, and people are not too impressed. At its Launch Night In event this week, the company revealed details on its latest phones as well as the new Chromecast and Nest Audio speaker. Not to be outdone, Microsoft dropped some new Surface news the next morning, launching the Surface Laptop Go and updated Surface Pro X. Cherlynn and UK bureau chief Mat Smith break down all the news on this week’s podcast, before going over some takeaways from our iOS 14 review.
Google unveils its Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a5G – 1:39
New Chromecast – 18:24
Nest Audio – 25:22
Laptop Go and Surface Pro X from Microsoft – 34:00
Mat Smith’s iOS 14 review – 43:03
Working On – 59:19
Picks – 1:01:47
This week, Devindra and Cherlynn dive into Microsoft’s massive (and surprising!) acquisition of Bethesda, and all of the other ZeniMax Media studios. Also, Cherlynn dives into her experience with the Apple Watch SE — is it enough to tempt her away from Android?
Microsoft shakes the gaming industry with huge studio buy – 1:42
TikTok is now partly owned by Oracle and [checks notes] …Walmart? – 13:51
Apple Watch SE in depth review – 17:39
Samsung Unpacked (Fan Edition) – 33:29
Baseless speculation on the Amazon product event – 40:31
Working On – 44:19
Picks – 46:51
This week, it’s (almost) all about Apple as Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by Valentina Palladino to dive into Apple’s event on Tuesday. Is the new Apple Watch Series 6 impressive? Is $279 for the Watch SE a good price? Then, Devindra tells us about his review of the Oculus Quest 2 and NVIDIA’s RTX 3080. Then, we look at the crazy LG Wing before catching you up on the flood of news in tech this week.
There was an Apple event, but no iPhones (yet) – 1:50
Apple Watch Series 6 (and Watch SE and Fitness +) – 5:25
iPads 8 get and Air – 30:11
Oculus Quest 2 Review – 39:27
Other news: PS5 price announced, LG Wing – 51:58
Working On/RTX 3080 review preview – 1:03:49
Picks – 1:10:04
The Surface Duo reviews are in and the verdict is a resounding meh. Devindra and Cherlynn talk about what excited them about Microsoft’s dual-screen debut, and explain why using it in the real world was frustrating. Then, UK bureau chief Mat Smith joins our hosts to discuss the Xbox Series S and X versus Sony’s Playstation options, as well as what Apple might have in store for the September 15th event it announced this week.
Finally, we can talk about what the Microsoft Duo is actually like – 1:38
Xbox Series S, what a surprise – 24:09
A timely Apple announcement – 40:30
Working On – 50:44
Picks – 54:01
As if Samsung unveiling the Z Fold 2 plus an NVIDIA event weren’t enough to keep us busy this week, we also got a slew of news from companies all over the consumer electronics industry thanks to IFA 2020. Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by senior mobile editor Chris Velazco to discuss his impressions of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 after spending a day and a half with it. Then, our hosts geek out over NVIDIA and Intel’s latest processors, before blazing through the plethora of IFA news from companies like TCL, Qualcomm, Lenovo and Samsung (again).
Galaxy Z Fold 2 first impression – 1:40
NVIDIA makes a huge step forward – 23:17
Dispatch from Intel – 29:05
So many new things at IFA – 37:05
Working On – 56:51
Picks – 58:54
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat about what it’s like to live with the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, plus they dive into Epic’s war with Apple over the App Store. Also, they’ll discuss how Facebook is still trying (and failing) to make Instagram a Tiktok killer.
Notes from the Galaxy Note 20 review – 1:52
Fortnite v. Apple’s app store – 17:34
Oculus will soon require Facebook login – 28:23
Facebook tries Reels, but can it stand up to TikTok? – 33:12
Working On – 39:14
Picks – 47:26
This week was dominated by Microsoft’s Surface Duo news, with the company finally unveiling full details and availability info for its dual-screen device since it was first showed off last year. Cherlynn and Devindra discuss why this is such a compelling product and spell out some concerns that could hold the Duo back. How can Microsoft justify the controversial price tag and is the software any better than previous efforts? Our hosts also take a deeper look at Cherlynn’s experience reviewing the Galaxy Watch Active 3 and provide updates on some Intel and Avatar news that came out this week.
t’s a jam-packed week of news thanks to Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event. Cherlynn and Devindra chat about the Galaxy Note (and Ultra!), the Z Fold 2, Tab S7 and S7+, Watch 3 and Buds Live. Whew. And they still find time to go into Cherlynn’s glowing Pixel 4a review, and the crazy Microsoft/Tiktok deal and Trump’s latest attempt to block Chinese companies.
Samsung announces so many things – 2:00
ZFold2 – 6:07
Galaxy Note 20 – 16:47
Galaxy Tab – 26:10
Watch 3 – 35:06
Buds Live – 40:38
Google’s Pixel 4a might be the best midrange smartphone – 44:01
Apple refreshes the 27-inch iMac – 55:50
White House tries to block Chinese companies/Working on – 59:10
Pop Culture Picks – 1:09:01
This week on the show, Devindra and Cherlynn chat about Facebook, Apple, Google and Amazon’s congressional antitrust hearing. Are they too big to compete fairly? Or is the tech industry being overly criticized? (It’s most likely the former.) Also, we dive into Garmin’s lackluster response to its widespread system outage, Quibi’s surprising Emmy noms, and Tenet’s international opening.
Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and Google Testify in Anti-Trust Hearings – 2:05
Garmin Gets Hacked, Tries to Play it Cool – 25:46
Quibi was Nominated for [checks notes] 10 Emmys?? – 31:39
Working On – 40:20
Picks – 44:56
This has been a gadget-and-gaming heavy week for Team Engadget, and it’s right in our comfort zone. As Devindra was busy hosting Engadget’s Xbox livestream event, Cherlynn is joined by UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith. They dive into the OnePlus Nord, which was launched this week, and has been hyped up by the company and its fans. The Nord is a return to good affordable phones for OnePlus, and Mat shares his impressions after playing with it for a bit. Our hosts also go over the OnePlus Buds, Xiaomi’s Mi Smart Band 5 (and other products), the ASUS ROG Phone 3 and other gaming phones. And since we’re talking to someone in the UK, we also discuss the differences in attitude towards Chinese-made gadgets in America and Europe.
After Cherlynn’s review of the Snapdragon-powered Lenovo Flex 5G laptop was published this week, our hosts decided to take a deeper look at Windows on ARM. Between buggy performance and confusion over app compatibility, there’s a lot to unpack. Then, Devindra and Cherlynn look at Apple Silicon and the challenges that might be in the company’s way as it makes its two-year transition to ARM. Will an ARM-based Macbook be powerful enough for the most demanding users? Then, as usual, we share what we’ve been working on and relaxing with, and offer entertainment recommendations you should check out.
What’s up With Wednesday’s Big Twitter Hack? – 1:32
Lenovo Flex 5G/Windows on ARM – 6:51
What Does This Mean for MacOS on ARM? – 23:13
In Other News…– 32:39
Working On – 39:19
Picks – 43:37
We’re back from the July 4th break and we’re ready to dive into some seriously nerdy news. This week, Devindra and Cherlynn chat about Intel’s Thunderbolt 4 standard, and what it means for your next PC. We also dive into Qualcomm’s latest announcements, including the gaming-focused Snapdragon 865 Plus. And finally, we explore why Facebook just can’t seem to do much right these days, especially when it comes to appeasing civil rights groups.
Thunderbolt 4 – 5:09
Qualcomm Announces 865 Plus – 14:00
Facebook Disappoints Ad Boycotters – 28:33
Working On – 38:12
Picks – 45:06
The biggest news event of the week was Apple’s virtual WWDC keynote, during which the company showed off a ton of upcoming features to its various software products. In Devindra’s absence, Cherlynn is joined by Dan Cooper as guest co-host, as well as senior mobile editor Chris Velazco to rip into Apple’s latest updates. From iOS 14 vs Android, to watchOS 7, to macOS and Apple’s transition to ARM chips, there’s plenty to discuss.
Then, our hosts are joined by CNBC’s health and health-tech reporter Chrissy Farr to talk about the latest developments in healthcare and telemedicine. Do wearable companies have the right idea when it comes to developing products for COVID-19? What is Apple’s approach to this burgeoning industry?
This Was Maybe the Biggest WWDC in Years? – 1:41
Siri, Maps, and App Clips – 13:38
iPadOS Gets an Update – 24:03
New Horizons in Telehealth with CNBC’s Chrissy Farr – 42:17
Can Wearables Help Predict COVID-19 (Don’t Bet on It) – 45:44
Sony unveiled the PlayStation 5 last week, sharing with the world the console’s design, specs, games and accessories. One question remains in everyone’s mind: How much will it cost? Devindra and Cherlynn are joined by deputy managing editor Nathan Ingraham to discuss this device’s eye-catching appearance, size and speculate how much it will cost. Nate also tells us why The Last Of Us II is a heartbreaking game worth the emotional investment. Then, our hosts take a look at the latest developments in major tech companies’ facial recognition systems, as well as Twitter’s new voice message format.
We finally know what the PS5 looks like! – 1:10
…but it’s going to be pretty expensive – 5:13
Games announced for PS5 (Spiderman, Stray) – 8:05
Nathan Ingraham reviews The Last of Us, Part II – 13:57
Nintendo announces a bunch of Pokemon games – 24:47
Big tech pauses work on facial recognition – 26:56
Other News – 33:58
Picks – 40:43
It’s all about Android this week as we dive deep into Google’s just-released beta for the upcoming version of its mobile OS. Devindra and Cherlynn are joined by seasoned Android and smart home reporter Florence Ion to discuss their feelings about the preview. What are Bubbles? Is getting more controls and drawers better for organization or is it more clutter? Then, our hosts go over what they’ve been working on, explaining why they are excited for developments in the processor world. As usual, we’ve also got quite a few entertainment recommendations to share.
What’s new with the Android 11 beta? – 1:59
What's iOS doing this year? – 28:52
Working On – 33:08
Picks – 43:48
What a year this past week has been. While protesters were hitting the streets to combat police violence, most of us were left watching the events unfold on social media. And even without those historic demonstrations, it was a pretty momentous week for Twitter and Facebook, both of which were faced with challenging decisions on handling Donald Trump’s more explosive posts. Devindra and Cherlynn chat with Karissa Bell, Engadget’s Senior Editor focusing on social media, about how Twitter and Facebook approached the occasion very differently.
What a Week in Social Media (with Senior Editor Karissa Bell) – 4:17
Personal Safety Tools (for protesting and every day) – 38:01
Working On – 44:32
Picks – 54:41
No, 5G didn’t start the coronavirus pandemic. But that’s not stopping the current wave of conspiracy theories and anti-5G protests. And despite the science saying otherwise, plenty of people are convinced that 5G is actually hurting them. To figure out why, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Omer van den Bergh, a tenured professor of Health Psychology at the University of Leuven in Belgium.
He’s extensively researched idiopathic environmental intolerance, genuine physical symptoms that arise when some people encounter electromagnetic fields, chemical substances (like fragrances), and even vibroacoustic sources like wind mills. While tests prove that these factors don’t genuinely cause illnesses, the mere belief that they do is enough to cause physical reactions. Instead of just telling people it’s all in their head, he argues, Western medicine might need to take these symptoms more seriously.
Additionally, Devindra and Cherlynn discuss the surprisingly confusing launch of HBO Max. It’s basically a rebrand of HBO Now, but somehow HBO managed to bungle it. (And maybe we just have too many streaming services to manage now.)
Timestamps:
Here’s One Reason Why the 5G Harm Myth Won’t Go Away – 1:02
Interview with Prof. Omer van den Bergh – 4:17
HBO Max is Very Confusing – 24:49
Working On – 31:00
Picks – 36:22
We’re back to a somewhat regular week of news on this episode of the Engadget Podcast. Devindra and Cherlynn tackle the good and bad of Dell’s new XPS and Alienware laptops, before diving into Zocdoc’s telehealth play and what that could mean for our healthcare infrastructure in the future. We also contemplate the utility of VR meetings and therapy sessions, as well as the appeal of a quirky pair of wireless earbuds promising to tailor audio to the shape of your ears.
Dell XPS 15, 17 – 1:18
Alienware R51 – 6:36
ZocDoc transitions to telehealth – 11:37
Spatial VR Meetings – 18:08
Nuraloop Headphones – 27:14
Working On – 29:11
Picks – 32:40
It’s a Microsoft heavy week! This week, Devindra and Cherlynn are joined by Alex Cranz, Gizmodo’s Senior Consumer Tech Editor, to chat about the bevy of new Surface devices. In particular, they explore why the Surface Go 2 and Book 3 are a bit disappointing — it turns out a slight spec bump might not be enough to make them competitive. But hey, at least the Headphones 2 and Earbuds are cheaper than we expected.
Surface Go – 1:56
Surface Book 3 – 16:05
Surface Buds/Surface Headphones 2 – 31:47
Listener Mail – 37:53
Working On – 42:39
Picks – 43:53
At long last, the new Pixel Buds are here. Two years after the original’s underwhelming debut, Google finally released its true wireless earbuds this week. Engadget senior news editor (and resident audio expert) Billy Steele joined Cherlynn and Devindra to explain why he called these “a revelation compared to the previous model.” The trio also analyze how Google’s earbuds compare to rivals like the AirPods, Jabra Elite 75t and Sony WF-1000XM3, and Billy highlights what we can expect from true wireless earbuds in 2020.
Then, Devindra and Cherlynn discuss Amazon’s new show Upload, with snippets from a talk with creator Greg Daniels. In short, the comedy series should be a fun, engaging and welcome distraction. Upload premieres today on Prime Video.
Pixel Buds: Google’s First True Wireless Headphones – 1:27
Working On [MSI GS66, ZenBook Duo coming soon] – 31:41
Upload Review: An Amazon sitcom from Greg Daniels (The Office, King of the Hill, Parks and Rec) – 33:17
What if we could track everything happening on Earth in real time? And — even better — what if all of that data was readily accessible? This week, Devindra chats with Lucas Joppa, Microsoft’s Chief Environmental Officer, about the company’s “Planetary Computer” concept, which aims to accomplish just that. Cherlynn also helps break down how other companies like Amazon, Google and Facebook are approaching their own environmental initiatives. While it’s nice to see many tech firms cleaning up their businesses, do they have a moral responsibility to go further?
What Even Is a Planetary Computer? – 2:29
Interview with Microsoft Environmental Officer Lucas Joppa – 3:05
Other Tech Companies’ Sustainability Efforts – 27:05
Working On [MSI GS66, VR Exercise app Supernatural] – 38:55
Picks – 44:47
Gadget nerds, iPhone diehards and OnePlus fans — lend me your ears. This has been a big week for you. Apple launched a new version of the iPhone SE on Wednesday, while OnePlus unveiled its latest flagships on Tuesday. LG also teased the unexpected name for its upcoming flagship, while Motorola declared April 22nd the day it will show off its first high-end phone in years.
On this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn are joined by senior mobile editor Chris Velazco to rip into the glorious phone news that’s been bombarding us these past two weeks. Is it time to take OnePlus seriously as a flagship maker? Can LG save itself with a rebranding campaign or should it pivot to making baked goods? We tackle all these searing questions, and recommend some fun entertainment options as always.
Stay tuned to the end of the episode for an interview with Nathaniel Halpern, writer and creator of the new show Tales from the Loop, which is available on Amazon’s Prime Video.
iPhone SE Returns – 2:14
OnePlus 8 stands up to the competition – 13:06
LG Velvet…that name – 22:50
A Bunch of other phones! – 28:50
Working On – 42:20
Picks – 46:18
Tales from the Loop Interview – 54:27
Do you even Quibi, bro? This week, Devindra chats with TechCrunch’s Anthony Ha about Quibi, the mobile video startup from Hollywood producer Jeffrey Katzenberg. Is it any good? (Spoiler: Not really.) And what does it mean for the future of mobile only video? Also, Devindra interviews Alex Garland, the director of Annihilation and Ex Machina, about his new FX series Devs.
2:07 – Quibi is here, but who is it for and does anyone want it?
15:58 – Interview with Alex Garland on his new show Devs
33:20 – Working On
35:49 – Picks
We’re weeks into stay-at-home life, and some of us are atrophying. Devindra and Cherlynn have spent the last few weeks looking into how tech has enabled us to work, get medicine, see doctors, find sanity and sustain our mental health from home. This week, our hosts are joined by our brand new commerce editor Valentina Palladino as we discuss the ways tech can help us keep physically active.
From home exercise machines to the best activity trackers to places offering free workout tutorials and streams, Devindra, Cherlynn and Valentina have plenty of tips to offer. We also go over the importance of nutrition and eating well, and some of the tech that can help you in that mission. And as always, we have many great entertainment recommendations for those looking for something fresh to enjoy.
Half-Life is back! In this episode, Devindra chats with Valve's Kerry Davis and Dario Casali about developing Half-Life: Alyx, and their approach to bringing the beloved franchise into virtual reality.
This week on the show, Devindra and Cherlynn dive into the deserted island life of Animal Crossing and how games can help us all survive being stuck at home. Also, Senior Editor Jessica Conditt describes how Doom Eternal -- a literal romp through hell on Earth -- serves a similarly relaxing roll for her. And producer Ben Ellman nerds out about Cities Skylines. Don't ever say we don't have varied tastes.
On this week's episode, Cherlynn and Devindra explore the rise of telehealth during the global coronavirus pandemic. With Medicare expanding coverage to include telehealth, as well as the attention around Verily's efforts to launch a screening site, the industry is gaining momentum. This outbreak could make telehealth mainstream, and we need to understand its limits and challenges so that proper legislation can be drawn up in a timely manner.
It's not all serious conversation; our hosts also dive into the gaming hardware news from this week, as well as fun recommendations on how to retain your sanity in these trying times
1:16 – Coronavirus puts telehealth in the spotlight
25:29 – Social Media is our society for now
38:04 – In other news…we have hardware specs for the Playstation 5!
44:40 – Picks
Well, we're officially living through a global pandemic, folks. This week, Devindra and Cherlynn chat about how coronavirus is pushing many companies towards remote work and better employee support. (It's just too bad it took a widespread illness to make those things happen.) Will this be the norm moving forward for white-collar jobs? And for a change of pace, they chat about the tech world's war on bezels and the state of software in folding phones. Be sure to stay tuned for some quarantine viewing recommendations too!
This week on the Engadget Podcast, we dive into the many ways the coronavirus is affecting the tech industry, all the while remembering to wash our hands and not touch our faces. It's not quite a pandemic yet, but there's some hope on the horizon, now that social media companies like Facebook are actually trying to fight coronavirus disinformation. And for something completely different, Devindra chats with Ann Druyan (starting at 26:59), the co-creator of Cosmos, on the show's incredible new season.
Links:
Facebook will run free WHO ads to counter coronavirus misinformation: https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/04/facebook-free-who-ads-coronavirus/
Fake cures and other coronavirus conspiracy theories are flooding WhatsApp, leaving governments and users with a ‘sense of panic’: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/03/02/whatsapp-coronavirus-misinformation/
Pandemic film Contagion becomes one of iTunes' most-watched movies:
https://www.cnet.com/news/pandemic-film-contagion-becomes-one-of-itunes-most-watched-movies/?TheTime=2020-03-05T02%3A31%3A27&ftag=COS-05-10aaa0b&PostType=link&UniqueID=6A8E23A6-5E89-11EA-B599-CCC6C28169F1&ServiceType=twitter
TCL's concept device folds twice to fit a 10-inch screen in your pocket: https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/05/tcl-tri-fold-rollable-extendable-concept-hands-on/
Does the Xbox Series X make gaming PCs obsolete?:
https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/05/xbox-series-x-vs-gaming-pcs/
Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Ultra: Is This Your 5G King? by Engadget
A bunch of things in tech got the proverbial nails slammed into their coffins this week. Andy Rubin's Essential phone company shut down, MWC got canceled due to fears over coronavirus and the Motorola Razr folding flip phone is pretty likely dead on arrival thanks to Samsung's new Galaxy Z Flip.
Cherlynn is joined by senior mobile editor Chris Velazco (Devindra is off on vacation, yay!) to talk about their Galaxy phone coverage and commiserate over no longer going to Barcelona.
The logistical and technical debacle of the Iowa Democratic Caucus is exactly why we're not hopeful about online voting in America. This week on the Engadget Podcast, Devindra and Cherlynn chat about what exactly went wrong for Iowa's Democratic Party. The mysterious app from an unknown progressive tech firm was mostly to blame, but it was also helped by some good old fashioned human error.
Links:
Iowa Democrats say sloppy code led to app failure:
https://www.engadget.com/2020/02/04/iowa-democrats-caucus-app-delay/
Iowa caucus results delayed due to app issues: https://www.engadget.com/2020-02-03-iowa-caucus-mobile-app-problems.html
LG pulls out of Mobile World Congress due to Coronavirus fears:
https://www.engadget.com/2020/02/04/lg-pulls-out-of-mobile-world-congress-2020-coronavirus/
Spotify buys The Ringer: https://www.engadget.com/2020/02/05/spotify-buys-the-ringer/
All of our fears around facial recognition technology are coming true thanks to a little known startup called ClearView AI. This week, Devindra and Cherlynn dive into how ClearView works, and what unchecked access to powerful facial recognition means for the future of privacy. (It's good for cops, not so much everybody else!)
Also, managing editor Terrence O'Brien joins to break down how Billy Eilish recorded a Grammy-winning album in a spare bedroom. It's all yet another milestone for DIY home audio production.
Links:
Sonos announced that it'll be killing off several of its older devices this week, and its loyal customers aren't taking very kindly to that. This week, Devindra, Cherlynn and Deputy Managing Editor Nathan Ingraham dive into Sonos' plans, and what it says about the future of every connected device. (How's that Pebble treating you?) Also, they discuss how Saudi Arabia hacked Jeff Bezos's phone via WhatsApp. Yes, it's as crazy as it sounds.
This week, Devindra, Cherlynn and Senior Editor Nick Summers take a relaxing break from the madness of CES by diving into some of this week's news, like the trailer for Japan's Super Nintendo World park. They also question the wisdom of Sony abandoning E3 (yet again), and welcome Microsoft's new Chromium-infused Edge browser.
In this special interview episode from CES 2020, Devindra chats with the minds behind Quibi -- founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO Meg Whitman, Chief Product Officer Tom Conrad and CTO Ben Post -- to see how it's attempting to disrupt streaming mobile video. Meanwhile, Cherlynn speaks with Lioness founder Liz Klinger about the vibrator that finally got to officially display at CES after years of controversy.
It's that time of the year again, CES! This week, Devindra and Cherlynn discuss some of the best (and worst) things they've seen at the show, including ultraportables, cars and a variety of truly weird stuff. Plus, you'll hear about a strange Westworld dinner that freaked them both out. And be sure to stay tuned for our chat with the noted designer and technologist John Maeda, who gave his thoughts on CES, the bad design choices companies like Samsung make, and discussed his new book, How to Speak Machine: Computational Thinking for the Rest of Us.
To celebrate the arrival of 2020, Devindra and Cherlynn are doing what they do every year: Prepping like crazy for CES. This week, we chat about how the infamous tradeshow has evolved over the years, and the new innovations we're actually looking forward to. And we can't help but dive into the products (and celebrity guests) we're already dreading.
This week, Devindra and Cherlynn tackle the best and worst tech of 2019. Among the winners: Wireless earbuds and premium ultraportables. As for the losers well.... There's a lot to cover. If anything, it seems like this year is a stepping stone towards some real innovation in 2020.
This week, Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar and UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith explore who may need a $52,000 Mac Pro (it's not as crazy as you think!). And when taken together with the 16-inch MacBook Pro and the AirPods Pro, they discuss what this means for Apple's hardware prospects. Is this a sign that Apple is doing a better job of listening to its users?
Another year, another round of Snapdragon processors from Qualcomm. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into the Snapdragon 865 and 765 to see what they tell us about next year's devices. They're faster than before, of course, but they'll also come with a slew of useful new features for smartphones, tablets and even laptops. Of course, they're also built with 5G support in mind -- though not in the way you'd expect.
This week, we discuss the problematic launch of Google's Stadia cloud-based games service. Our senior editor and resident games expert Jessica Conditt joins us to share what she thought of the service, how it fares against Microsoft's Xcloud and what she thinks of streaming games in general. Also, as we head into Thanksgiving, it's time to think about your holiday shopping and the deals you might be able to score for you and your loved ones on Black Friday. We have some tips for that. Plus, the recent, old-school, and straight up old games that we've been playing.
We'll be taking a break for Thanksgiving, so come back in two weeks for a new post-food coma episode.
Get ready for the holidays with an in depth look at Engadget’s gift guide! This week, editor in chief Dana Wollman joins Devindra to chat about how we pick the best gadget gifts and some of the wildest choices we’ve made. And of course, we find time to dive into the new 16” MacBook Pro.
Apple TV+ just launched, Disney+ is on the way, and HBO Max is coming next year. This week on the Engadget Podcast, Devindra and Cherlynn explore why these companies are launching their own streaming services and what it all means for consumers. Are they actually worth subscribing to? Is there simply too much to watch?
This week it's all about computers in our ears, or hearables, if you prefer. Apple announced the long-awaited AirPods Pro on Tuesday, but even though they helped popularize wireless earbuds, now just about every tech company has their own pair as well. We chat about what's new with the AirPods Pro, as well as how to find the perfect pair of earbuds for you. Plus, we talk about the state of smartwatches. (Note: This episode was recorded before Google's Fitbit acquisition was confirmed.)
This week, we dive into some of our latest reviews: Google's Pixel 4, Microsoft's Surface Pro 7, HTC's Vive Cosmos and Dell's XPS 13 2-in-1.
Google is all about ambient computing. That much was made clear at the company's launch event this week. Its products were leaked so thoroughly that there were barely any surprises left. Yet, finally getting to see Google's full portfolio of devices makes it clear: the company is very serious about getting into every facet of your life.
This week, Cherlynn is joined by senior mobile editor Chris Velazco in Devindra's absence, and the two take a long hard look at Google's hardware, software, as well as its experiments to see how it all fits into the concept of ambient computing. And the question is: How concerned do we need to be about all the data Google continues to glean about us?
MacOS Catalina is here, and it's... kind of a mess. In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn are joined by Engadget Editor-in-Chief Dana Wollman to discuss Apple's latest desktop OS. The big question: Is Catalina Apple's Vista? (Pro-tip: Don't rush to upgrade.) We also ponder what Google will show off at next week's Pixel event; chat about PG&E's widespread power outages in California; and dive into the weirdness of Andy's Rubin's latest Essential phone, Project Gem.
Microsoft dropped a load of Surfaces on us last week, each impressive in their own right. We were wowed by the Surface Pro X, Pro 7 and Laptop 3 -- and of course, we can't wait to hear more about the dual-screen Surface Neo and Duo. It's hard not to compare all of those computers to Apple and its relatively straightforward lineup of Macbooks. This week on the Engadget podcast, reviews editor Cherlynn Low and I dive into one big question: Is Microsoft making better PCs than Apple?
If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us ([email protected]) or drop a note in the comments! (Apologies in advance for the the Skype audio quality on Cherlynn's side. We'll be in a studio next week!)
Get your headphones ready, the Engadget Podcast is back in action and headed your way soon!
This week, we discuss Amazon's sprawling new product lineup, ranked from "useful" to "weird." Also, we have some thoughts on Twitter's 280-character experiment
This week on the Engadget Podcast, we discuss our impressions of the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and Apple Watch Series 3, plus our take on the big Google-HTC deal.
This week senior editor Chris Velazco and Executive Editor Dana Wollman are talking everything Apple! The iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, and the Apple Watch Series 3... plus more!
This week senior editor Chris Velazco and Executive Editor Dana Wollman meant to recap Chris's review of the Galaxy Note 8, but this quickly devolved into speculation about next week's Apple event and opining about the crowded smartphone space in general.
Executive Editor, Dana Wollman, and Senior Mobile Editor, Chris Velazco, sit down to discuss the best of IFA, as well as Google ARCore
On this episode hosts Dana Wollman and Terrence O'Brien talk about the massive ransomware attack spreading across the globe and Caddyshack. Edgar Alvarez stops by to fills everyone in on all the drama around Fyre Festival, Instagram influencers and the FTC. Then Cherlynn Low and Devindra Hardawar check in from Build to give us the low down on Microsoft's plans for the future.
On this episode senior editor Chris Velazco and social media manager Evan Rodgers join host Terrence O’Brien for the last ever video edition of The Engadget Podcast. From here on out the show is going audio only, which will allow the show to bring you a wider variety of guests from all over the country and the globe. But those aren’t the only changes at the site. Engadget has a new editor chief and a renewed focus on doing what it does best: Bringing you the best and most important stories in tech.
For example, on this week’s show the panel discusses Facebook’s ongoing problem with violent videos and livestreamed crimes. They’ll even try to figure out who, ultimately, should be responsible for policing such content, if anyone. Then they’ll dig deep… real deep on the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. TL;DR: They’re amazing phones that should be on your shortlist and might even make you forget about the Note 7 debacle.
Relevant links:
https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/20/a-letter-from-your-editor-changes-ahead/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/18/facebook-video-steve-stephens/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/18/samsung-galaxy-s8-and-s8-plus-review/
The Wind Down:
Kendrick Lamar - Damn : http://amzn.to/2oroLpZ
The Jetzons - Hard Times: http://amzn.to/2pjTBF8
2 Mello - Chrono Jigga: https://2mellomakes.bandcamp.com/album/chrono-jigga
DJ 8-Bit Mullet - Metroid Remixes: https://soundcloud.com/8bitmullet/metroid-remix-mashup-beat-hip-hop-mix-theme
On this episode of the Engadget Podcast senior editor Cherlynn Low and executive editor Dana Wollman join host Terrence O’Brien to talk about some recent examples of bad corporate behavior. First the trio look the most recent developments at Uber, where days without controversy are increasingly rare. After that, they turn their attention to another perennial punching bag (and soon to be newest member of the Verizon family) Yahoo. The company’s troubles aren’t new. In fact the panel will be discussing just the latest fallout from a scandal surrounding political prisoners in China that dates back to 2007.
Finally, on the Wind Down, Cherlynn reveals that gratuitous nudity isn’t what makes an HBO show and Terrence wholeheartedly endorses the chaotic and experimental “pop.” Then Dana offers her review of 1986’s Little Shop of Horrors.
Relevant links:
https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/11/yahoo-lawsuit-human-rights-trust-chinese-dissidents/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/13/uber-hell-program-lyft-drivers/
The Wind Down:
Arca - Arca: http://amzn.to/2orz4Lz
Little Shop of Horrors: http://amzn.to/2py77Rk
Big Little Lies: http://amzn.to/2orAzcx
Criminal: http://thisiscriminal.com/
On this episode host Terrence O’Brien is joined by executive editor Dana Wollman and (eventually) senior editor Chris Velazco. They start by looking at the current state of cord cutting and weigh the value of YouTube’s new live streaming TV package. Then they’ll try to figure out what the benefit is of Netflix ditching its five star rating system for a simplified option of just thumbs up or thumbs down. Obviously you can watch YouTube and Netflix on an actual television, but portable screens are an increasingly important part of the media market. How does the new 2017 iPad stack up in that world of mobile media machines? Well, pretty good if you ask Chris -- at $329 it doesn’t seem to have too many competitors.
Lastly the trio sign off by recommending an album that will make you cry, a movie that will make you pee your pants and book you’ll die before finishing.
Relevant links:
https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/05/netflix-thumbs/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/05/youtube-tv-now-available/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/06/apple-ipad-2017-review/
The Wind Down:
Mount Eerie - A Crow Looked at Me: http://amzn.to/2oeGi7r
Jaws: http://amzn.to/2oeFaAy
Rafik Schami - Dark Side of Love: http://amzn.to/2nIVMgf
On this special all Samsung edition of the Engadget Podcast host Terrence O’Brien is joined by executive editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Chris Velazco. First all three will debate some of the most burning questions surrounding South Korea’s biggest phone manufacturer. Should Samsung be using resources to build yet another virtual assistant? Is there anyone who wants to use their phone as a desktop? And, most importantly, can the Galaxy S8 save Samsung from itself? Then Chris Velazco will paint a picture of the event on the ground, before the crew dives deep on the finer point of the S8’s design, interface and audio pedigree.
Relevant links:
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/29/samsung-gs8-unbox-your-phone-event-hyperbole/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/29/samsung-galaxy-s8-akg-earbuds/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/29/meet-galaxy-s8-and-s8-plus-hands-on/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/29/samsung-connect-home-router/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/29/does-anyone-actually-want-to-use-a-phone-as-a-desktop/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/29/samsung-dex-hands-on/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/29/samsungs-bixby-ai-assistant-can-see-as-well-as-talk/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/29/samsung-galaxy-s8-unpacked-liveblog/
The Wind Down:
Spoon -- Hot Thoughts: http://amzn.to/2npfHBx
Missing Richard Simmons: https://www.missingrichardsimmons.com/
The Adventure Zone: http://www.maximumfun.org/shows/adventure-zone
Managing editor Dana Wollman and host Terrence O’Brien are joined by a new face on this week’s episode: social media manager Evan Rodgers. They’ll talk about Engadget’s Adult Week -- a collection of articles about growing up in the digital age. Sure, we all know that what you say on social media can really come back to bite you in the ass (and possibly cost you a job). But, the internet is both an obstacle that needs to be navigated and a powerful tool that can teach you to be an independent and self sufficient adult. Without it Terrence and Evan would have never learned how to properly invoice companies during their freelancing days. And Dana has turned to the web to learn how to cook. They grow up so fast… sniff.
Relevant links:
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/20/do-good-online/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/21/the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-your-computer/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/21/nocar-nolicense-noproblem/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/22/i-love-my-child-too-much-to-put-her-on-the-internet/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/22/digital-chill/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/23/what-the-internet-taught-me-about-dressing-like-an-adult/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/23/the-panic-and-pleasure-of-online-dating-as-a-woman-in-her-40s/
The Wind Down:
Baseball: A Film by Ken Burns -- http://amzn.to/2neouXr
Frank Ocean: Slide -- http://amzn.to/2mYg2Km
Jurassic Park -- http://amzn.to/2nejsu5
Senior editors Devindra Hardawar and Nathan Ingraham were among the Engadget team in Austin for SXSW this week. They sit down to talk about what they’ve seen, from movies to VR experiences to former Vice President Joe Biden. They also discuss how covering SXSW differs from the other big events Engadget typically covers and also decide whether or not the show is losing its cool. Also, BBQ. Lots and lots of BBQ.
Relevant links:
https://www.engadget.com/tag/sxsw2017/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/14/sony-motion-sonic-wristband-makes-sound-with-a-wave-of-your-ar/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/13/sony-put-four-perspectives-in-one-vr-headset/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/13/joe-biden-sxsw-cancer-initiative/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/12/what-its-like-playing-rez-infinite-strapped-into-a-synesthesi/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/12/meta-2-ar-headset/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/16/ron-howard-on-his-einstein-show-and-digital-filmmaking/
On this episode a trio of out-of-towners -- managing editor James Trew, senior editor Aaron Souppouris and senior editor Mat Smith -- join host Terrence O’Brien to talk about the latest tech news. First they’ll discuss Consumer Reports decision to start considering security and privacy in their ratings. Then try to figure out just what the hell the New York Times is thinking by putting tweets in the print edition of the paper. Then lastly they’ll talk about the latest out of Wikileaks and yell a whole lot about what a terrible person Julian Assange is.
Relevant links:
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/07/consumer-reports-now-rates-product-privacy-and-security/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/07/new-york-times-reporters-tweets-will-appear-in-its-paper-editio/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/08/apple-ios-wikileaks-cia-exploits/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/07/wikileaks-reveals-cia-hacking-toolkit/
After surviving The Great AWS Outage of 2017, managing editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Devindra Hardawar rejoin host Terrence O’Brien to talk about Nintendo’s Switch. But before they get to that, they’ll take on YouTube’s live TV offering and Twitter’s new tools for fighting harassment. Plus they’ll address the latest controversy surrounding Uber CEO Travis Kalanick.
Relevant links:
https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/28/youtube-tv-is-googles-live-tv-service/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/01/twitter-improves-mute-controls-for-abuse/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/28/uber-ceo-argues-with-driver/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/01/nintendo-switch-review/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/02/nintendo-switch-day-one-patch/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/02/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-switch-review/
The Wind Down:
Code Switch - http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch
The Good Fight - https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/09/watch-the-first-trailer-for-the-cbs-all-access-good-wife-spino/
The Night of the Gun - http://amzn.to/2lEGMjc
Managing editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Nathan Ingraham join host Terrence O’Brien to talk about the biggest tech stories of the week. Of course, that means Uber and the growing controversy around its corporate culture -- including allegations of rampant sexism. They’ll also address Samsung’s plans to sell refurbished Note 7s, Bill Gate’s endorsement of a robot tax and PewDiePie’s most recent controversy. Then it’s time to unwind a bit, and the group has some reading and listening suggestions. Plus, Dana wants your recipes.
Relevant links:
https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/21/samsung-will-reportedly-sell-refurbished-galaxy-note-7s/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/19/bill-gates-calls-for-robot-tax/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/22/youtube-pewdiepie-wont-break-up-anytime-soon
https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/21/uber-has-a-sexism-problem-and-so-does-silicon-valley/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/20/uber-ceo-memo-sexual-harassment-allegations/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/20/uber-reportedly-ignored-repeated-sexual-harassment-by-manager/
http://www.recode.net/2017/2/22/14696824/bernard-coleman-iii-uber-diversity
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/22/technology/uber-workplace-culture.html?_r=0
https://www.susanjfowler.com/blog/2017/2/19/reflecting-on-one-very-strange-year-at-uber
https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/21/how-uber-can-permanently-regain-trust/
On this episode, managing editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O’Brien on to debate the value of reviving dead products and really dig deep on the value of unplugging. First they’ll look at three things primed to come back from the dead: Verizon’s unlimited data plans, nudity in Playboy and the Nokia 3310. Then, fresh from a weekend reading by a fireplace and drinking whiskey in the woods, Terrence talks about the importance of unplugging -- even if only for a few hours -- every week. We’re more connected than ever and that’s a good thing. But even too much of a good thing can be bad for you.
Relevant links:
https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/13/playboy-goes-full-frontal-again/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/15/why-is-verizon-offering-unlimited-data-again/
https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/14/the-nokia-3310-will-reportedly-return-this-month/
Managing editor Dana Wollman and reviews editor Cherlynn Low join host Terrence O’Brien to discuss the biggest tech news of the week. FIrst they’ll debate OnePlus’ benchmark scandal, then try to sort out why the ACLU is partnering with startup incubator Y Combinator and take the “artists” behind the Tinder for baby adoption Kickstarter to task. Finally it’s another week of Trump talk as the panel addresses the impact of the recent immigration ban on the tech industry and how the political climate is impacting our social media habits.
Managing editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Nathan Ingraham join host Terrence O’Brien on the latest episode. First Dana and Nathan face off in the latest installment of Flame Wars, tackling the latest news around Google Voice, struggling streaming service Tidal and the Note 7. Then all three will try to unravel the first week of Donald Trump’s presidency and what it means for science in particular.
Senior editor Chris Velazco, reviews editor Cherlynn Low and Social Media Editor Mallory Johns join host Devindra Hardawar to chat about the biggest stories of the week, including HTC U Ultra phone, which may or may not save the company. Moving on, they dive into the Nintendo Switch’s launch, and discuss President Obama’s commutation of Chelsea Manning’s prison sentence.
Senior editors Edgar Alvarez and Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O’Brien to discuss the biggest stories of the week, including Facebook’s Journalism Project and the Emoji takeover of Monopoly. Then they’ll talk about Volkswagen’s massive settlement and pending indictments. Plus they’ll try to recap Dieselgate without messing up the timeline.
Editor in chief Michael Gorman, executive editor Chris Trout and managing editor Dana Wollman join host Terrence O’Brien to give you one last update from the ground in Las Vegas. They talk about the history of sex at CES, it’s quiet reemergence and all the most absurd gadgets from the show floor. Plus they settle once and for all who is the Flame Wars champion, and who will have something to prove in 2017.
Senior editor Aaron Souppouris, senior HD editor Richard Lawler and senior editor Mat Smith join host Terrence O’Brien to talk about the tech announcements at CES that will shape 2017. Just like every year, it’s a big TV show. LG, Samsung, Sony and plenty others came with their biggest and brightest sets. But it was LG that stole Lawler’s heart with it’s crazy thin W-series OLEDs. The group also chats about how OLEDs are quickly becoming cheaper and more readily available.
Associate editor Billy Steele, senior editor Nicole Lee and deputy managing editor James Trew join host Terrence O’Brien to talk about the early trends emerging from CES. It’s only the first day of the show, but there’s already been plenty of announcements, press conferences and lots of lost sleep. One of the most immediate things you’ll notice on the show floor is that everything has voice control this year, even garbage cans. And tons of companies are rushing to integrate Alexa into cars, washing machines and refrigerators. The panel will also talk about the best and worst things they’ve seen so far.
It’s the last episode of the year and host Terrence O’Brien is closing things out with managing editor Dana Wollman and reviews editor Cherlynn Low. After looking at the biggest winners of 2016 last week, the crew is taking on the biggest losers. That means exploding phones, shady medical startups and trolls galore. Plus the standings for Flame Wars are finalized ahead of CES, so get ready ‘cause things might get real weird next week.
In this week’s episode guest host Devindra Hardawar is joined by Managing Editor Dana Wollman and Senior Editor Chris Velazco as they run through the biggest winners of 2016. While it might have been a rough year for our musical legends, it was a pretty solid one for Netflix and Tesla. Heck, even in the throes of a growing fake news crisis, Facebook managed to have more wins than loses. And, once they’ve finished listing off all the ways emoji are taking over the world, they’ll look at some of the best gadgets of 2016.
Managing Editor Dana Wollman and Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O’Brien to talk about the biggest tech stories of the week. First Dana and Devindra debate the value of Amazon’s delivery drones and Google’s… I mean Alphabet’s new self-driving car company, Waymo. Plus they discuss the privacy freakout surrounding Evernote. Then all three will dig into the never ending security failures of Yahoo. Now that the company has admitted that over 1.5 billion user accounts were compromised -- and didn’t say a word about it for over 2 years -- will Verizon still go through with its planned buy out? The panel certainly hopes not.
Executive editor Christopher Trout and reviews editor Cherlynn Low join host Terrence O’Brien to talk about the week’s biggest news, including: Pandora Premium, Fitbit’s purchase of Pebble and the gaming industry’s nostalgia overload. Then Chris will tell the panel about his investigation into a failed gaming accessory that’s found a second life as a sex toy -- clearly things get a little NSFW. Then all three will talk about what Amazon Go and other advancements in automation and mean for low-skill and low-wage jobs.
Managing editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O’Brien to talk about the week’s biggest tech news, including Nike’s new self-lacing shoes, Netlix’s offline mode and “yelfies.” Then they’ll rant about what’s been bother them this week, whether that’s DirecTV, crappy touchpads or Amazon’s convoluted pile of apps. Lastly they’ll try to unravel the complicated mess that is Rule 41 and what it means for privacy in America.
Relevant links:
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/30/yelp-wants-you-to-add-a-yelfie-to-your-restaurant-reviews/
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/30/nike-hyperadapt-first-look/
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/30/netflixs-offline-viewing-mode-was-inevitable/
https://www.engadget.com/2016/04/20/amazon-needs-to-simplify-prime-video-to-compete-with-netflix/
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/28/att-directv-now-streaming/
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/30/directv-now-hands-on/
https://www.engadget.com/2016/12/01/rule-41-fbi-doj-hacking-power-expand-search-seizure/
Senior editor Devindra Hardawar and reviews editor Cherlynn Low join host Terrence O’Brien to dig through the week’s biggest news. First they’ll talk about two of the biggest new products on the market: the Macbook Pro and the Surface Studio. Then they’ll try to figure out what posses a Ubisoft employee to hide a rather graphic image of a vagina in Watch Dogs 2. Lastly the panel will talk about the growing problem of fake news on the internet and what giants like Facebook can do to combat it.
Relevant links:
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/14/macbook-pro-review-2016/
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/15/watch-dogs-2-player-finds-sex-organ/
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/17/microsoft-surface-studio-review/
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/14/google-is-restricting-adsense-ads-on-fake-news-sites/
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/14/facebook-ad-network-bans-fake-news-websites/
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/14/facebook-didnt-stop-fake-news-because-its-afraid-of-conservati/
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/13/mark-zuckerberg-says-99-percent-of-facebook-is-authentic/
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10eA5-mCZLSS4MQY5QGb5ewC3VAL6pLkT53V_81ZyitM/preview
Trigger warning: This episode in a solid hour of Donald Trump talk.
If you're still with us, strap in. Dana Wollman, Nathan Ingraham and Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O'Brien to talk about how social media traps us in echo chambers. The they'll envision what the world of tech and science looks like under a President Donald Trump. Hint: Things are a little bleak.
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/09/under-trump-the-future-of-net-neutrality-and-broadband-is-uncert/
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/09/planet-earth-might-be-the-biggest-loser-under-president-trump/
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/09/this-is-happening/
Editor in chief Michael Gorman and executive editor Christopher Trout are in town this week and stop by to talk Peter Thiel, Vine and online voting with host Terrence O’Brien and reviews editor Cherlynn Low. Then, after they’ve had their fill of beating up on Thiel, the four will explore how dating and sex have changed in the age of apps. Warning, things get a little NSFW.
Managing editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O’Brien to talk about the value of the Esc key, the Nintendo Switch and the impeding Gilmore Girls resurrection. Then they’ll relive Microsoft’s big Surface event and dig in on future of Twitter… and whether or not it even has one.
Managing editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Mona Lalwani join host Terrence O’Brien to talk Macbook rumors, Amazon ISP ambitions and Julian Assange. Then they’ll talk about all the work that went into Engadget’s five part series covering the world’s first cyborg games, Superhumans and look at VR’s ability generate empathy.
Managing editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Chris Velazco join host Terrence O’Brien to debate Facebook’s trending new problem and the true purpose of Twitter. Then they’ll dig through the ashes of the Galaxy Note 7 for insight and discuss how hashtags actually can change the world.
Managing editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O’Brien to dig through all the big Google news from the week, including the launch of the Pixel phones. Plus they take a brief detour to talk about what makes the PlayStation VR better than its competitors.
Managing editor Dana Wollman, reviews editor Cherlynn Low and senior editor Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O’Brien to discuss Elon Musk’s plans to colonize Mars, racing 3D boats in Red Hook and the over-simplification of “the cyber” at the first presidential debate.
Managing editor Dana Wollman, senior editor Nathan Ingraham and reviews editor Cherlynn Low join guest host Devindra Hardawar to discuss Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 recall, Uber’s self-driving cars and why the heck Google is making another messaging app.
Managing Editor Dana Wollman and Reviews Editor Cherlynn Low join host Terrence O’Brien to discuss all the latest Apple goodies. Plus they’ll talk about Samsung’s software bandaid for your exploding Note 7 and debate whether or not Edward Snowden deserves a Presidential pardon.
Editor-in-Chief Michael Gorman, Executive Editor Christopher Trout and Managing Editor Dana Wollman join host Terrence O’Brien for a special all Apple edition of the podcast from San Francisco. On the show they’ll search for the definition of courage, tell you what it’s really like on the floor of an major press event and give a state of the Apple union.
Editors Cherlynn Low and Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O’Brien to talk about Intel’s latest CPUs, Dead or Alive’s controversial VR feature and Lenovo’s “innovative” take on the keyboard. Then the panel takes a look at Chris Brown’s standoff and how Instagram videos and Facebook Live fit into our modern media landscape.
Editors Nathan Ingraham and Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O’Brien to talk about Android Nougat, PlayStation 4 rumors and why Amazon would create an Echo-exclusive music service. Then the panel addresses the endless harassment faced by Leslie Jones, and use the word “garbage”... a lot.
Editors Cherlynn Low, Dana Wollman and Chris Velazco join host Terrence O’Brien to talk about how fitness trackers ruined Happy Meals, the true potential of AI and try to figure out what monster would want the backspace key to navigate back a page in Chrome.
Editors Cherlynn Low, Devindra Hardawar and Nathan Ingraham join host Terrence O’Brien to debate iPhone rumors, explore the perks of renting gadgets, and express their utter exasperation at Snapchat’s racist filters.
Editors Dana Wollman, Cherlynn Low and Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O’Brien to debate Apple’s new water gun emoji, talk about what it’s like to be harassed on Instagram, try to figure out who owns the code that powers our government.
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.