The Engadget Podcast

It seems like Marc Andreessen had a lot of free time this week, as the VC wrapped up his entire pro-tech worldview in a massive tome, the Techno-Optimist Manifesto. Andreessen claims “technology is the glory of human ambition and achievement, the spearhead of progress, and the realization of our potential,” and he goes on to vilify anyone who dares to step in the way of “progress.” To break down this document, we’re joined by tech critic Paris Marx, host of the Tech Won’t Save Us podcast, and the author of the Disconnect newsletter, as well as the book Road to Nowhere: What Silicon Valley Gets Wrong About the Future of Transportation.Also, Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham discusses why he loves Spider-Man 2 on the PlayStation 5, and we try to make sense of Apple’s new $79 Pencil.Nate Ingraham’s Spider-Man 2 review: The rare game that’s both bigger and better – 0:55We break down Mark Andreessen’s dangerously optimistic manifesto on AI – 11:39Microsoft now officially owns Activision/Blizzard – 35:44X (fka Twitter) tests $1 “Not a bot” program for new users – 38:53There’s a new, cheaper Apple Pencil with USB-C but what generation is it? – 41:03YouTube debuts ‘news hub’ to direct users to reliable sources – 46:46Working on – 51:20Pop culture picks – 52:20

We still have months to wait before Dune: Part Two hits theaters, so what better time to reminisce about David Lynch's intriguing adaptation of Frank Herbert's masterpiece? Reviled at the time, Lynch's Dune has now firmly established itself as a cult sci-fi epic, a film with boundless creative energy hampered by studio interference. In this bonus episode, Devindra chats with film journalist Max Evry, author of A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch's Dune. We explore why he devoted two years of his life towards researching an unloved film, as well as how it's a refreshing departure from the superhero films dominating theaters today.

The Meta Quest 3 is here, and it’s the best standalone VR headset we’ve ever seen. But is that enough to make people care about virtual reality? In this episode, Devindra and Senior Writer Sam Rutherford chat with Tested’s Norm Chan about the Quest 3 and Meta’s mixed reality future. While the company’s vision of the metaverse is pretty sterile, it’s still nice to see Meta learning from the mistakes of the Quest Pro.Sam also dives into his Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro reviews, as well as his thoughts about the Pixel Watch 2. We also dive into Wired’s retraction of an op-ed claiming that Google manipulated your search queries, as well as Twitter/X’s complete inability to deliver accurate news during the Hamas and Israel conflict. Timestamps: Meta Quest 3 Review with Tested’s Norm Chan – 1:44Sam Rutherford’s Pixel 8 review: We’re finally excited about mobile AI again – 36:18Other News: Wired retracts op-ed about Google changing search queries – 56:04Israel-Hamas conflict misinformation shows X moderation is completely broken – 58:09Google reportedly pays Apple $18-20 billion a year to remain iOS default search engine – 1:03:08Sony finally announces PS5 Slim – 1:09:31California passes Right to Repair law – 1:11:29Working on – 1:13:44Pop culture picks – 1:16:26

Yes, Techtober is in full swing! This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Engadget’s Sam Rutherford about everything from the Made by Google event. That includes the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel Watch 2. We give Google credit for leaning on AI long before it was trendy, but we wonder if the Pixel 8 Pro’s temperature sensor will actually be useful. Also, we dive into Samsung’s latest FE devices, Apple’s fix for overheating iPhone 15s, and Google’s Chromebook Plus initiative. Google announces the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Watch 2 and Buds Pro, along with a slew of AI features – 1:05 Engadget’s first take on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro – 7:15Samsung announces new FE devices – 58:51 Apple says iOS 17 update should fix those hot iPhones – 1:02:45Google could be directing users to advertisers using semantic match algorithm – 1:12:33Quantum Dot inventors win Nobel Prize – 1:21:11 Working on – 1:23:12 Pop culture picks – 1:25:55

This week, it’s Meta’s turn to highlight AI during its device event. In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn dive into all of the news from Meta’s Connect 2023 event, where it unveiled Meta AI and accompanying celebrity-powered chatbots. Oh yah, and it introduced the Meta Quest 3 and new Ray-Ban smart glasses, too. More so than the metaverse and VR, it’s really AI that Zuckerberg wants to push across all of Meta’s apps and devices. And in other news, we discuss why the end of the WGA strike is a big deal for AI in Hollywood; ex-Microsoft exec Panos Panay officially heading to Amazon; and why the FTC is targeting Amazon over its potential ecommerce monopoly. Meta’s Connect event announces Quest 3 VR, Ray-Ban smart glasses and a slew of AI – 0:35Hollywood Writers’ Guild ends strike with studio agreements on AI authorship, streaming residuals – 28:51 Panos Panay is officially going to head Amazon’s devices team – 32:03 FTC sues Amazon over ‘monopolistic practices’ – 35:30FCC revives Obama-era net neutrality rules – 37:59Jony Ive and Sam Altman are working on AI-powered hardware – 40:43Top U.S. spy agencies are working on AI chatbots of their own – 55:56Working on – 58:24Pop culture picks – 59:23

Gadget season is in full swing! This week, Cherlynn chats about her experience reviewing the iPhone 15 Pro and Apple Watch Series 9. Does a 5x camera zoom make much of a difference? Also, Devindra and Cherlynn dive into Microsoft’s big Surface event in NYC, which actually ended up being more of an AI event. The company announced Copilot, its new AI assistant for Windows and other platforms. Microsoft is basically consolidating all of the Copilot products it’s already announced for Edge, MS 365 and Windows, but maybe this will be less confusing in the long run? Not to miss out on the fun, Amazon also announced several new devices and AI moves around Alexa.iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max reviews – 1:09Apple Watch Series 9 review – 17:45 Microsoft’s Surface event was more of an AI event – 24:59Microsoft data breach reveals plans for new Xbox – 43:05Amazon’s fall event debuts new Echo devices and a Fire TV soundbar – 47:25 Alexa is evolving into a chatbot for your home – 47:25Made on YouTube event reveals a big push into generative AI – 59:04

This week, Cherlynn gives us her on-the-ground thoughts from Apple’s iPhone 15 launch event. It turns out the iPhone 15 Pro’s titanium case is actually noticeably lighter! We’re all also intrigued by Apple’s new double-tap gesture in the Watch Series 9. (Don’t be surprised if it ends up training us how to use the Vision Pro’s gesture commands!)Also, Engadget reporter Malak Saleh joins to discuss her review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, as well as Dyson’s ridiculous Zone air filter mask/headphones. iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9 hands-on – 1:05Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review – 37:40The U.S. v Google antitrust trial is underway – 45:50Intel officially unveils Thunderbolt 5 – 48:57Unity’s per-install fee upsets indie game devs – 55:21Dyson Zone personal air filter review – 1:02:22Working on – 1:14:32Pop culture picks – 1:15:47

Fresh off of Apple’s “Wonderlust” event, Devindra and Engadget Editor-in-Chief Dana Wollman dive into the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro and the Apple Watch Series 9. We explain why Apple’s move towards USB-C on the iPhones has been a long time coming, and why we’re excited about even more emergency satellite calling capabilities. And while the Apple Watch Series 9 looks like a worthwhile upgrade, we’re more intrigued by the new double tap finger gesture.

Starfield is here! It’s just too bad we only like some of it. This week, Devindra chats with Senior Editor Jessica Conditt about Bethesda’s latest massive open world title, and why it just feels like Fallout 4 in space. Also, we dive into reports around Nintendo demoing the Switch 2 at Gamescom, and we dream up what our ideal sequel console could be. (Just call it the Super Switch!)Engadget’s Starfield review: You will like some of it – 1:25Baldur’s Gate 3 is a big win for games in Early Access – 22:11 Eurogamer reports Nintendo demoed the Switch 2 to devs at Gamescom – 33:42What we’re playing: Viewfinder, Sprawl, Armored Core VI and more – 41:44 Pixel 8 Pro 360 render has leaked – 52:00New York City reins in AirBnb – 53:37Logitech’s UE EpicBoom sounds like a killer party speaker – 57:45Mozilla report finds that cars are a data privacy nightmare – 1:00:44 AI News: How much of Kaedim’s 3D modeling AI is actually AI? – 1:06:57 Working on – 1:14:20 Pop culture picks – 1:15:43

It wouldn’t be the end of summer if we weren’t gearing up for another iPhone launch! This week, Devindra and Cherlynn are joined by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the purveyor of many Apple rumors, to discuss what we expect from the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Based on Gurman’s reporting so far, the iPhone 15 will likely get Apple’s Dynamic Island and improved tech from last year’s Pro phone. The iPhone 15 Pro, meanwhile, will see thinner bezels, a titanium frame and a periscope camera for the Pro Max. You can also expect Apple to finally move over to USB-C for both of these phones, which should improve data (and potentially charging) speeds. Be sure to subscribe to Mark’s Bloomberg newsletter, Power On, to follow his reporting. Apple iPhone 15 event preview with Bloomberg’s Apple leaker-in-chief Mark Gurman – 1:46Tech events season is in full swing with more events from Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Intel – 28:23Meta removed a large Chinese propaganda ring on Facebook – 36:23 Have you seen Windows 11’s weird popups while using Google? – 47:06 India is the first country to land a probe on the Moon’s South Pole – 52:04 Working on – 54:12 Pop culture picks – 59:40