The Engadget Podcast

This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into our review of Amazon's Halo Rise and look into the role it plays in the company's overall strategy as a healthcare provider. Then, our hosts contemplate the cancelation and possible end of E3, as well as the spate of odd news around April Fools day, including Twitter's doge-ification and ASUS' ill-timed gaming handheld launch.Our review of Amazon’s Halo Rise bedside sleep tracker – 2:02E3 2023 has been canceled – 29:20This week in Twitter mess: bluecheckpocalypse delayed and a doge takeover – 40:41 ASUS’ ROG Ally handheld isn’t a April Fool’s joke – 46:42OnePlus launches $60 Nord Buds 2 with ANC – 53:02Microsoft released an Xbox controller made of old CDs – 57:32 Working on – 1:03:20 Pop culture picks – 1:05:23

With the Tetris movie hitting Apple TV+ this week, we chat with the game’s creator, Alexey Pajitnov, and Henk Rogers, the man who helped bring it out of the Soviet Union. We discuss just how realistic the film is (it definitely takes plenty of fantastical liberties), the impact of Tetris on gaming and where it could be headed in the future. Also, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into the recent letter from the Future of Life Institute, which was signed by Elon Musk and other tech leaders, and called for a pause on AI development beyond GPT4. It turns out that wasn’t entirely altruistic.Interview with Tetris designer Alexey Pajitnov and Tetris publisher Henk Rogers – 1:17The open letter asking for a 6-month pause of AI development is more suspicious than you think – 16:57Do the proposed U.S. DATA and RESTRICT acts reach too far in trying to ban TikTok? – 26:48 Pres. Biden bans the use of commercial spyware – 36:20Microsoft is focused on security, AI and a light processor friendly version in Windows 12 – 39:11Google unveils AI planning tool to help beat extreme heat due to climate change – 43:21Apple’s WWDC dates announced: June 5 to 9 – 45:12 Working on – 57:39 Pop culture picks – 1:02:16

Google finally opened up its Bard AI for testing, and it turns out it’s a little loopy. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into their experience with Bard, as well as how it compares with Microsoft’s BingAI (and GPT4, consequently). Also, we discuss even more AI news from NVIDIA, Microsoft and Midjourney, as well as TikTok CEO Shou Chew’s date with Congress.Google opened its Bard AI chatbot to the masses, it seems a little drunk – 1:22So many other AI updates from Microsoft, NVIDIA, Adobe and more – 23:14Other news: TikTok’s CEO goes to Congress – 36:25Cherlynn’s experience with Tesla’s wireless charging platform – 42:05Acer announces production on…an e-bike?? – 48:20Around Engadget: Tripod desk, Konnected Kamada Joe grill, history of game controllers – 49:43Working on – 51:57Pop culture picks – 54:56

The downfall of Silicon Valley bank affects the entire technology industry. This week, we chat with Alex Wilhelm, editor in chief at TechCrunch+, about why SVB failed and what it means for the broader ecosystem. Where were the regulations? And why were VCs so quick to abandon it? Also, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into the latest AI news from Google, Microsoft and the launch of OpenAI’s GPT4. Like we’ve said before, the AI news will never end!What caused Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse? – 1:13FBI report: Americans lost $2.7 billion dollars to cypto scams last year – 22:05Google adds generative AI to Workspace products –23:45Google announces research into AI for Ultrasound diagnosis – 27:55Open AI announces GPT-4, which can understand image inputs, too – 35:50Microsoft confirms Bing AI is powered by GPT-4, announces layoffs in AI ethics – 38:12Meta lays off an additional 10,000 workers – 41:16 Samsung announces Galaxy A54 –43:11Sony's $600 point-and-shoot camera for the visually impaired – 48:31Working on – 57:10Pop culture picks – 58:42

This week, we chat with Senior Editor Andrew Tarantola about Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain computer interface (BCI) company. The FDA reportedly denied approval for human trials last week—Andy explains why that happened, as well as what BCIs could mean for humans in the future. Also, Cherlynn dives into the accessibility news from Microsoft’s Ability Summit.What’s going on with Neuralink and BCI tech? – 2:05Elon Musk goes after disabled Twitter employee, quickly apologizes – 19:52Microsoft touts new accessibility tech at 2023 Ability Summit – 28:32 Sonos’ Era 300 speaker finally has spatial audio – 35:04 What we think of the Yellow iPhone and a few other colorful gadgets announced this week – 45:25Working On – 51:49 Around Engadget: the reMarkable Folio is a very pretty e-paper keyboard – 54:28Pop culture picks – 56:29

This week, our hosts are joined by UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith to dive into the most interesting devices that were announced at Mobile World Congress, which has been happening this week in Barcelona. Are foldables getting more interesting, or are they going to become as stale as regular smartphones have become? Also, just how fast is too fast when it comes to charging? Then, we go over Cherlynn’s review of the Galaxy S23+ and why Microsoft bringing Bing AI to the Windows 11 taskbar isn’t what it seems.What’s cool at Mobile World Congress with UK bureau chief Mat Smith – 1:22Hands on with the Oppo Find N2 Flip – 6:44 Motorola’s Rizr is a concept phone with a rolling screen – 21:09Samsung Galaxy S23+ review: solid, but not outstanding – 31:17 Microsoft brings Bing AI to the Windows 11 taskbar…sort of – 32:43 Meta says it plans to release AR glasses in 2027 – 34:51 US House panel gives Biden the power to ban TikTok – 38:00Working on – 41:17Pop culture picks – 42:57

The AI news just won’t stop! This week, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss the latest on Bing AI – Microsoft is loosening up some recent restrictions, following reports of its bad behavior – as well as the rise of ChatGPT stories on the Kindle store. Spotify is also launching its own AI DJ, starring the digitized voice of one of its current hosts. In other news, we discuss Microsoft’s recent agreements with NVIDIA and Nintendo, which could warm regulators towards approving its Activision Blizzard acquisition. After the Microsoft and Google announcements, AI is suddenly everywhere – 1:17Microsoft tries to win over regulators by putting Xbox games on GeForce Now – 26:29 Glucose monitoring on the Apple Watch could be coming soon – 28:16 Twitter limits SMS two-factor authentication to Blue users – 30:43Amazon’s acquisition of One Medical is finished, regulators are still curious – 35:31No Man’s Sky Fractal VR update is out just in time for PS VR 2 – 39:04Working on – 42:58Pop culture picks – 46:10

The PlayStation VR2 is here, and it’s mostly great! But its high price and limited library make it hard to recommend for many gamers. This week, Devindra and Nathan Ingraham dive into our review of the PS VR2, and why our feelings about it are sort of complicated. Also, we discuss why Bing’s AI search is catching a bad attitude, and what Microsoft has to say about it. And be sure to stay tuned for our thoughts on HBO’s The Last of Us as we reach the middle of its first season.Playstation VR2 review: a great headset that should be cheaper – 1:30Microsoft apologizes for strange problems with Bing’s ChatGPT service – 23:43This week in Twitter mess: Elon takes over your main feed – 41:47Around Engadget: Oppo Find M2 foldable review – 44:35Pop culture picks (with minor spoilers for The Last of Us) – 50:47Last of Us spoilers end – 1:01:15

What a wild week chock full of news all over tech! Microsoft and Google both unveiled their AI products for the masses, with Microsoft holding a whole event this week to show off the new Edge and Bing. Google also had an event in Paris and unveiled the first Android 14 developer preview, while OnePlus launched its first-ever tablet alongside a new phone. Cherlynn is joined this week by guest co-host Sam Rutherford to tear into the week’s onslaught of news, and check in to see how we feel about Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra while reviewing it.Microsoft’s AI event unveils Bing and Edge with OpenAI collaboration – 1:46Google unveils Bard chatbot, its ChatGPT competitor – 23:48Mat Smith’s OnePlus 11 review – 29:18Also coming from OnePlus: a tablet, earbuds and a keyboard – 37:41Sam Rutherford’s Galaxy S23 Ultra review – 44:38AI-generated Seinfeld show “Nothing, Forever” banned from Twitch – 55:58Android 14 developer preview is available now – 58:16What is even happening with Twitter’s API access? – 1:02:26Working on – 1:08:08Pop culture picks – 1:09:06

This week, Cherlynn is joined by guest co-host Sam Rutherford to break down everything Samsung announced at its Unpacked event this week. Are we excited about the first major flagship phones of the year? And how about those confusing new laptops? Also, because we've had a Galaxy S23 Ultra in our possession for about 12 hours, we discussed our early impressions of the new phone. Plus, we take a look at the new Apple HomePod and other news in tech.Samsung unveils the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra – 1:44The Galaxy Book 3 announcement was so confusing – 20:00 HomePod 2023 review – 33:39More layoffs in tech: Rivian, PayPal and more – 39:47 OpenAI introduces paid plan for ChatGPT – 44:39 Working on – 52:35Pop culture picks – 53:45