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...
Apr 02, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 119
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...
Mar 25, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 118
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...
Mar 18, 2021•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 117
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 / d...
Mar 12, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 116
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...
Mar 05, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 115
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 – ...
Feb 26, 2021•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 114
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...
Feb 19, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 113
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 TikT...
Feb 12, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 112
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 s...
Feb 05, 2021•46 min•Ep. 111
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’...
Feb 05, 2021•59 min•Ep. 110
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 blee...
Jan 29, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 109
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 Presiden...
Jan 22, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 108
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, so...
Jan 14, 2021•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 107
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: ...
Jan 08, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 106
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 202...
Dec 31, 2020•58 min•Ep. 105
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
Dec 18, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 104
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 C...
Dec 11, 2020•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 103
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 o...
Dec 04, 2020•52 min•Ep. 102
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.
Nov 24, 2020•23 min•Ep. 101
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 ...
Nov 20, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 100
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...
Nov 13, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 99
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
Nov 06, 2020•47 min•Ep. 98
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 ...
Oct 30, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 97
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...
Oct 23, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 96
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...
Oct 16, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 95
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 Ny...
Oct 09, 2020•51 min•Ep. 94
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. Go...
Oct 02, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 93
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 ...
Sep 25, 2020•55 min•Ep. 92
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 F...
Sep 18, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 91
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:...
Sep 11, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 90
