The Engadget Podcast

In this conversation, Sam Chapman, Engadget’s Senior Writer specializing in security, shares his journey into the world of cybersecurity. He reviews popular VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, promoting transparency and consumer privacy. The discussion also highlights essential cybersecurity practices, including strong passwords and two-factor authentication. Chapman critiques Microsoft’s Windows 10 update and examines its implications, while also touching on tech ethics in films and the intriguing themes of the Netflix series 'Lupin.'

Jessica Conditt, Senior Editor at Engadget, shares her insights on the gaming world, particularly focusing on the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Summer Game Fest. She emphasizes the evolution of gaming conventions, celebrating indie titles while reflecting on the decline of couch co-op games. The discussion also dives into Apple’s latest Liquid Glass interface from WWDC 2025, analyzing its design impact and user experience. With a mention of exciting new games, Jess highlights the bright future of gaming amidst technological advancements.

Join Chris Velazco, a personal tech reporter at The Washington Post, and Julian Chokkattu, a senior reviews editor at Wired, as they dive into the intriguing announcements from Apple's WWDC 2025. They discuss the mixed reactions to new iPad features that make them more laptop-like and explore the emotional impact of Apple's live translate feature. The conversation also touches on innovative fitness enhancements and the nostalgic redesign of the Photos app, highlighting how these updates reflect user needs while maintaining Apple's design philosophy.

Joining the conversation are Sam Rutherford, a Senior Writer at Engadget specializing in consumer tech, and Nathan Ingraham, an Engadget editor. They share exciting first impressions of the Nintendo Switch 2, highlighting its display, sturdier joy cons, and the thrilling Mario Kart World. The duo also speculates on Apple's WWDC 2025, discussing potential changes to their operating systems and the cautious approach to AI developments. Dive into the chaos of a launched console and the anticipation surrounding future tech advancements!

This week we're fielding your burning tech questions, as well as diving into a bunch of AI web browser news. Opera has started testing its fully agentic AI browser, the Browser Company is dumping the Arc browser in favor of something AI related and Mozilla is getting in a bit of hot water with experimental AI preview summaries. Try as we might, we just can't escape AI.Listener Mailbag: How to set up an Xbox account for your kids, will screens be obsolete, and more – 1:34Web browsers go AI ‘agentic’: The Browser Company leaves Arc behind. Opera and Firefox debut new features – 25:37xAI is paying Telegram $300m this year to use Grok – 54:04Apple’s self repair program extends to iPads – 56:30Apple might switch its OS numbering next year, iOS26 could be on the way – 58:57Working on – 1:02:41Pop culture picks – 1:09:26  

Would you believe Google really wants to sell you on its AI? This week, we dive into the news from Google I/O 2025 with Engadget's Karissa Bell. We discuss how Gemini is headed to even more places, as well as Karissa's brief hands-on with Google's prototype XR glasses. It seems like Google is trying a bit harder now than it did with Google Glass and its defunct Daydream VR platform. But will the company end up giving up again, or does it really have a shot against Meta and Apple? Lots of AI and a little XR: Highlights from Google I/O 2025 – 1:15OpenAI buys Jony Ive’s design company for $6.6B, in an all equity deal – 29:27Fujifilm’s $850 X Half could be the perfect retro camera for the social media age – 39:42Sesame Street is moving from HBO to Netflix – 44:09Cuts to IMLS will lead to headaches accessing content on apps like Libby and Hoopla – 45:49Listener Mail: Should I replace my Chromebook with a Mac or PC Laptop? – 48:33Pop culture picks – 52:22

It looks like we're entering the era of crazy-thin phones. This week, Samsung finally announced the Galaxy S25 Edge, its slimmest smartphone yet. Is there actually a point to it, or is Samsung just trying to beat Apple to its rumored super-thin iPhone? Engadget's Sam Rutherford joins us to dive into the S25 Edge, as well as some pre-Google I/O news from the Android Show. Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge: How much does thin mean to you? – 1:32What’s new at The Android Show 2025 – 16:50Apple touts a bunch of new features for Global Accessibility Awareness Day – 30:34Apple Carplay Ultra is finally here, but only if you have a new Aston Martin – 39:08The DJI Mavic 4 Pro is the new standard for consumer drones – 45:28Our review of the WH-1000XM6, Sony’s standard-bearing wireless headphones just dropped – 52:33Max No More: HBO’s app will be HBO Max once again – 57:09Around Engadget – 1:01:53Listener Mail: Switch 2 details with T-minus 20 days until launch – 1:09:38Pop culture picks – 1:15:57

Astro Teller, the Head of X and former lead at Google X, shares insights on the transformative power of moonshot projects and their societal implications. He discusses the balance of innovation and accountability, referencing notable initiatives like Waymo. Meanwhile, the hosts explore Microsoft's new 12-inch Surface Pro and the compromises made for its mobile capabilities, alongside exciting leaks about a potential Xbox handheld. They also touch on gaming nostalgia and the dynamic landscape of tech acquisitions within the industry.

This week Meta held its first-ever AI dev conference, LlamaCon, focused on the development of its Llama generative AI model. But while there was plenty of hype, not much happened, besides the launch of the Meta AI app and a new Llama API. In this episode, Engadget Senior Reporter Karissa Bell joins us to talk about her thoughts on LlamaCon after attending in person. After just announcing its latest Llama models a few weeks ago, it was as if Meta didn't have much else to say. Meta’s Muted LlamaCon: who was the AI dev conference really for? – 1:31Court orders Apple to stop collecting app fees outside of the iTunes store – 21:44Microsoft announces Xbox series X and S prices are going up – 25:22NPR report: DOGE employees may have access to U.S. nuclear secrets – 26:44New EV startup Slate to offer a barebones pickup for $20k (after tax breaks) – 30:47Swiss academics use AI to influence public opinion on Reddit – 35:08Duolingo to replace contract workers with AI – 40:19Working on – 47:50Pop culture picks – 50:56

4chan, one of the trolliest places on the internet, could be gone for good following last week's hack. In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn break down what 4chan was and why it's influence can be found practically everywhere now. It's like we're living in  a poster's paradise. Also, we discuss YouTube's 20th birthday and all of the memories (and frustrations) it's given us over the years. 4chan is dead, RIP? – 2:08Youtube turns 20 – 15:59Nintendo’s Switch 2 is finally available for preorder at the same price – 33:03Apple and Meta fined a combined €800m under Europe’s New Digital Markets Act – 34:44  OpenAI might be interested in Chrome if Google was compelled to sell – 35:30Google pays Samsung an “enormous” amount to put Gemini on phones – 37:50The Washington Post partners with OpenAI to bring its content to ChatGPT – 38:43Around Engadget – 41:52Listener Mail: Transitioning from Windows to Mac for CAD / 3D design – 47:01Pop culture picks – 54:55