

Engadget News + Next
Engadget
Each weekday morning we bring you the tech news you need today, and then in the afternoon we showcase stories about the technology, science, and culture that will influence tomorrow, all brought to you by Engadget.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 2, 2026 • 4min
Instagram chief: AI is so ubiquitous 'it will be more practical to fingerprint real media than fake media'
Adam Mosseri says creators should prioritize "unflattering" images to prove they are real. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 2, 2026 • 7min
Starlink is lowering thousands of satellites' orbits, Airloom has a new approach to wind power, and Minimal phone pioneer Punkt is back w
-Starlink will lower the orbits of roughly 4,400 satellites this year as a safety measure, according to engineering VP, Michael Nicolls. In a post on X, Nicolls wrote that the company is "beginning a significant reconfiguration of its satellite constellation," in which all satellites orbiting at around 342 miles will be lowered to around 298 miles.
-Rather than the very tall towers typically used for this approach, Airloom's structures are 20 to 30 meters high and are made of a loop of adjustable wings that move along a track, a design that’s sort of like a roller coaster.
-The Swiss minimal phone pioneer Punkt is back with another model, the MC03. The new handset continues Punkt's focus on privacy, security and digital minimalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 1, 2026 • 8min
The 6 best iPad accessories for 2026
Turn your Apple tablet into the ultimate productivity tool with the right gear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 31, 2025 • 9min
Tech's 5 biggest winners of 2025
The companies, products and trends that fared the best over the last 12 months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 31, 2025 • 7min
The IDC warns of a major PC market downturn, Meta bought Manus, and Samsung unveiled a new $200 smartphone
-In its worst-case-scenario model, the IDC predicts PC shipments could shrink by up to 8.9 percent in 2026 because of the high cost of memory.
-Meta has acquired an AI startup called Manus — known for its custom research and website-building agents — in a deal valued at more than $2 billion. It's reportedly one of the largest acquisitions yet involving a startup nurtured in China's AI ecosystem.
-Samsung will have two new inexpensive mobile devices arriving on the US market next month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 30, 2025 • 6min
LG will show off a humanoid robot for household chores at CES 2026
The two-armed, five-fingered robot named CLOiD is supposed to help with tasks around the home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 30, 2025 • 8min
NASA finally has a leader, but its future is no more certain
-Considering the caliber of President Trump's other appointees, Jared Isaacman is probably the best candidate for the job. Outside of being a successful entrepreneur, he has flown fighter jets and been to space twice as part of the Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn private missions.
-Michał Kiciński, co-founder of CD Projekt, has acquired total ownership of the DRM-free video game storefront GOG. The digital video game platform was started by CD Projekt in 2008 with a stated mission to preserve "Good Old Games" (hence the GOG acronym).
-Ubisoft had to shut down Rainbow Six Siege's servers and roll back transactions, a situation that came from a widespread breach that left various players with billions of in-game credits, ultra-rare skins of weapons, and banned accounts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 29, 2025 • 7min
OpenAI is hiring a new Head of Preparedness
CEO Sam Altman posted about the role on X, saying the models 'are starting to present some real challenges.' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 29, 2025 • 7min
Apple escalates its appeal of a $2 billion fine, Ubisoft is rolling back Rainbow Six Siege servers, and Samsung plans to integrate Google Photos into its TVs
-Apple has requested to appeal to the UK's Court of Appeal, which would escalate the case beyond the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The latest appeal attempt follows an October decision from the CAT, where the court found that Apple engaged in anticompetitive practices by exploiting its dominant market position with the App Store to charge higher fees.
-Ubisoft has shut down Rainbow Six Siege's servers and is in the process of rolling back the fallout of a widespread breach that left various players with billions of in-game credits, ultra-rare skins of weapons, and banned accounts. As of Sunday afternoon, the status page on Rainbow Six Siege's website still shows "unplanned outage" on all servers across PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
-The aim is for Google Photos to work seamlessly with Vision AI Companion, Samsung's souped-up version of Bixby. This would help to make user photos part of the day-to-day TV experience, with photos appearing while navigating the TV's OS during "contextual and convenient moments." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 26, 2025 • 10min
The 4 best budget laptops for 2026
Get a great machine for cheap with our top-rated picks for budget laptops all costing $1,000 or less. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


