The Engadget Podcast

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 – 1:12What we’re looking forward to in 2025 – 21:43Tiktok appeals its ban all the way to the US Supreme Court – 29:53TP-Link routers are being investigated by US authorities – 32:39Quick thoughts from last week’s Game Awards – 35:35Working on – 38:26Pop culture picks – 39:17Interview 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 – 1:13OpenAI’s Sora video generation model was finally released – 37:17GM kills its Cruise robotaxi project – 45:43Google’s Gemini 2.0 is now available for preview – 49:51Tiktok is running out of options to avoid a ban in the U.S. – 57:36Working on – 1:00:04Pop 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 – 2:12Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger retires – 45:13Intel claims its $250 Battlemage Arc GPU can top the NVIDIA RTX 4060  – 50:57MSI’s upcoming Claw 8 AI+ and 7 AI+ are faster than ever, but you still need to navigate Windows with joysticks – 52:18Jaguar’s strange concept EV doesn’t even have a rear window – 57:26It’s music streaming recap season! How do you feel about yours? – 1:04:33Working on / Around Engadget – 1:09:13Pop 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 – 1:07Gaming news with Jess: Sony is reportedly working on a new portable console – 21:18PlayStation’s head of indie games Shuhei Yoshida is leaving Sony after 30 years – 28:34Obsidian’s Avowed looks like a great reason to pick up an Xbox controller – 31:53FTC warns that most connected devices aren’t supported for very long – 37:08Working on – 41:14Pop 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) – 1:05Comcast spins off Rotten Tomatoes, Fandango, and a handful of cable networks into their own company – 22:23Sony is in talks to buy Kadokawa, Japanese publisher behind FromSoft games and Kill la Kill – 24:38German authorities suspect Baltic Sea data cables between Lithuania and Sweden were sabotaged – 26:21Pokémon Go devs Niantic reveal plans to create a Large Geospatial Model to power future AR and robots – 32:26Working on – 45:49Pop 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 – 2:22Musk cozies up to President-elect Trump, could a Department of Government Efficiency be next? – 23:37Interview with Justin Hendrix, founder of Tech Policy Press, on Trump and Musk – 31:50The Onion buys InfoWars with plans to turn the brand into gun control satire – 48:02LG Display’s stretchy new screen – 54:34The Beatles have been nominated for two Grammys with the help of AI – 56:50Goodbye: AOL voiceover Elwood Edwards has died – 58:29Working on – 1:00:11Pop 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 – 3:43Mac mini M4 Pro Review: Phenomenal power with a tiny footprint – 16:51MacBook Pro M4 and M4 Pro Review: Maintaining and extending Apple’s premium laptop dominance – 31:15NYT tech guild on strike made their own games you can play without crossing their digital picket line – 38:28Pop 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 – 0:58Regulators force Lyft to tell U.S. drivers accurate numbers of how much money they’ll make – 45:30AP report: OpenAI’s Whisper transcription model invents parts of audio transcripts – 49:06AOC and Tim Walz streamed Crazy Taxi on Twitch – 53:11McDonalds can finally repair their own McFlurry machines in significant win for Right to repair – 55:54Around Engadget – 59:45Pop 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 – 0:58Netflix closes Team Blue, its attempt at a AAA game studio – 24:16Over 10,000 of the world’s top artists sign a letter protesting AI training using their work – 28:27X Terms of Service changes on account blocking, AI training spurs a fresh wave of Bluesky signups – 30:07Ronald D. Moore (Outlander, Battlestar Galactica) chosen to helm Amazon’s God of War series – 38:35Working on – 42:11Pop 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 – 0:51Devindra’s Meta Quest 3S review: impressive VR for a fair price – 38:14Apple quietly drops new iPad Minis – 45:25Tesla’s Robotaxi event: lots of big promises that will be hard to fulfill – 51:38Amazon and Google go nuclear (power) – 54:44Android 15 starts to hit Pixel devices – 55:51Analogue 3D will give you 4K N64 games, just don’t call it an emulator – 57:14Working on – 1:00:48Pop 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 – 2:09U.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 – 44:46Pop 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 – 1:25Amazon announces Fire HD 8 tablet line along with a few (pretty boring) AI features – 28:28Tech 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 – 46:58Around 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 – 0:42Karissa Bell’s dispatch from Meta Connect 2024 – 27:04Meta 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 – 0:59Israel 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 – 51:35Lionsgate 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 – 0:47Huawei releases a $2,800 tri-fold phone that won’t be coming to the US – 58:30Taylor 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 – 1:01:00Sony releases PS5 Pro Price, it’s $700! – 1:02:21 Meta admits to scraping all Australian user data for AI training – 1:04:12Polaris 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 – 1:14IFA News: Intel’s promising Core Ultra 200V chips, Acer’s controller-embedded laptop, and a trio of interesting devices from Honor – 38:25Brazil blocks X entirely in an escalation of a legal fight with Elon Musk – 49:59Former 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 – 56:59Pop 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 – 0:50Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrested in Paris – 37:45Razer reveals the Wolverine V3 Pro stick drift-resistant controller – 44:23 Meet Plaud’s NotePin. Another AI wearable??? – 45:07Y2K 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 – 0:58Gamescom 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 – 55:48Pop 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 – 1:39Eric Schmidt blames work from home and work-life balance for Google’s loss of AI advantage – 31:07U.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 – 40:50Apple is opening up its NFC to third-party developers – 43:12 Working on – 47:13 Pop Culture Picks – 49:07