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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 News from around tech: an upcoming Apple event – 50:02 Other News: VOTSwagon 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 chat about everything we expect at CES 2021, which kicks off next week. We’re looking forward to new TVs, computers and a slew of new gadgets as usual. (But we sure do miss seeing these things in person!) And of course, we spend some time chatting about how right wing extremists relied on tech during Wednesday’s siege on the Capitol. 2021 is already off to a disappointing start. 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