The Engadget Podcast

We're back after a week off, and we've got a lot of news to catch up on! This week, Devindra chats with Senior Editor Daniel Cooper about the iPhone potentially getting satellite phone connectivity, as well as the upcoming launch of Windows 11. Plus, they answer some questions from our YouTube livestream audience. And of course, they can't help but dive into the messy Ted Lasso season 2 discourse. 00:45: Senior Editor Dan Cooper joins 01:56: News talk: Will the next iPhone have satellite calling? 07:12: BTW, we're now Yahoo again! 07:50: Apple will let some media apps link to outside payment providers 09:55: Apple announces the first states to bring driver's license to Apple Wallet 14:15: Microsoft announces a Surface event on Sept 22, Windows 11 launching Oct. 5 22:15: Twitch streamers organized #DayOffTwitch to protest hate raids 26:15: RIP Locast 37:28: Audience Q&A 40:20: Q about accessibility features in Win 11 41:20: Q about the Reddit protests and policing misinformation 46:53: Q on Linux improvements in Win 11 48:33: Will old processors work in Win 11? 49:30: Dev working on: Razer Blade 14, Twelve Minutes 55:30: Dan working on: HP Pavilion Aero, Saints Row 1:06:00: Pop culture picks: Ted Lasso, Candyman, Lower Decks 1:23:10: Neill Blomkamp on Demonic

This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by Washington Post Staff Writer (and former Engadget colleague) Chris Velazco to dive into all of the latest phone reviews. What’s up with Samsung’s Flip 3 and Fold 3? Who needs the Pixel 5a? And why did Qualcomm try to make a phone of its own? Tune in for our discussion, as well as to find out what you should be looking for in your next phone upgrade. The current state of 5G coverage and what we expect from mobile hardware season – 2:17 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and Fold 3: final reviews – 13:55 Pixel 5a review: a great buy for most people – 39:26 Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders (it’s bad) – 45:02 Facebook gets into VR work with horizon Workrooms – 52:19 What do social platforms do now that the Taliban is Afghanistan’s governing party? – 1:02:56 CES 2022 is happening…maybe – 1:08:35 OnlyFans announces SFW branch (and announced they’re banning most NSFW) – 1:13:14 Working on – 1:17:13 Pop culture picks – 1:20:07

This week, Cherlynn and guest co-host Mat Smith are joined by foldable aficionado and tech personality Michael Fisher (aka Mr Mobile) to talk all about foldables. Specifically, Samsung’s Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3, as well as the new Galaxy Watch 4 series and Buds 2. Then, our hosts try to make sense of the confusion around Apple’s CSAM-detecting features, and go over some other gadgets launched this week. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked News: Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 with Mr. Mobile – 1:58 Where the Z Fold and Z Flip sit in foldable history – 27:47 Also announced at Unpacked: Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic – 38:00 Making sense of Apple’s Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) detection feature – 44:16 Xiaomi's robot dog is terrifying – 52:49 What we're working on – 54:44 Pop culture picks – 57:00

This week, Cherlynn is joined by guest co-host Terrence O’Brien and senior tech correspondent at Business Insider Lisa Eadicicco to discuss Google’s own mobile chip Tensor and the Pixel 6. We share more insight from having seen and used the phones in person, too. Plus, updates from the Activision Blizzard case. Google announces Tensor, its own mobile chip, will debut on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro – 1:47 Activision/Blizzard hit with another lawsuit – 33:08 NLRB recommends a new union election for Amazon’s Alabama warehouse – 40:04 Google Nest launches new battery-powered doorbell and security cameras – 43:06 Amazon releases a soap dispenser that counts to 20 – 47:58 R2-D2 Tamagotchi is coming later this year – 49:26 Working on – 52:23 Pop culture picks – 56:40

This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into the toxic mess at Activision Blizzard with Senior Editor Jessica Conditt. California is suing the company over its frat boy culture, something we’ve seen at many gaming companies over the years. What’s actually going on, and what does it mean for the gaming industry as a whole? Tune in for our thoughts! Also, we chat about Facebook’s metaverse ambitions, some new chip plans for Intel and… Xbox Krispy Kreme donuts. What’s happening with the Activision Blizzard walkout? – 1:25 Netflix might be getting into gaming? – 16:51 Facebook has started mentioning “the metaverse” a lot – 21:18 New Samsung S-Pen for foldables – 26:16 Intel is doing some interesting marketing to keep up with its competition – 32:33 New earbuds from Nothing (the company) and Master & Dynamic – 37:50 Krispy Kreme has an official Xbox donut – 42:52 Working on – 44:46 Pop culture picks – 49:52

This week on the show, Devindra and Engadget Buyer’s Guide Editor Kris Naudus chat about Valve’s new Steam Deck with Jordan Minor, Apps and Games Analyst at PCMag. Is the hardware powerful enough to truly make it a portable gaming PC? And should we trust Valve with hardware at all after the Steam Machine debacle? Also, we dive into Jeff Bezos’s jaunt to space, Facebook’s spat with the Biden administration and the issues surrounding NSO’s controversial spyware Pegasus. What is Valve’s Steam Deck and can it compete with the Switch? – 1:21 Jeff Bezos touches space – 27:14 President Biden gets tough on Facebook…almost – 33:15 Details about NSO’s zero-click phone spyware program are troubling – 37:03 A recap of the Anime Tube Kickstarter disaster – 48:39 Soon you can buy a Sad Wolverine figure (but it’s expensive) – 48:39 Working on – 59:08 Pop culture picks – 1:02:49

This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Tariq Malik, Editor in Chief of Space.com, about Richard Branson’s recent Virgin Galactic flight and this new billionaire space race. What, exactly, are these super rich guys trying to accomplish? And how does Virgin Galactic differ from Jeff Bezos’s Blue Original and Elon Musk’s SpaceX? Also, we dive into Windows 365, Microsoft’s new service that lets you access a cloud Windows PC from practically anywhere. Space.com editor in chief Tariq Malik explains the new billionaire space race – 1:32 Microsoft launches its Windows 365 cloud service – 36:04 Notes from the Android 12 Beta 3 release – 43:30 President Biden signs executive order on net neutrality, right to repair – 47:11 New MacOS Beta release reverts Safari tab design – 51:35 Tag Heuer’s Super Mario smartwatch exists, costs over $2,000 – 53:31 Working on – 57:25 Pop culture picks – 59:46

This week, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss Nintendo’s surprise OLED Switch announcement along with Time tech columnist Patrick Lucas Austin. It definitely isn’t the Switch Pro we’ve been hearing so much, but there are still some nifty upgrades for true Switch diehards. So is it worth $350? Tune in to find out! Also, we chat about the DOD cancelling its $10 billion JEDI contract, and a futuristic new electric scooter from BMW. The OLED Nintendo Switch is real, we have the details – 1:22 Amazon and Microsoft both lose as US DoD cancels big IT contract – 25:58 37 states join in antitrust suit against Google over its Play store – 31:23 BMW’s new electric scooter looks like an anime prop – 36:03 Sony’s neck speakers are back, this time for remote workers – 39:12 Carl Pei’s Nothing will release wireless earbuds as first product – 42:38 Qualcomm and Asus team up on a Snapdragon phone – 44:31 Former President Trump attempts to sue social media founders – 51:03 Working on – 51:57 Pop culture picks – 53:09

This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by Gizmodo’s Sam Rutherford to chat about Samsung’s smartwatch updates and the few tidbits of news from Mobile World Congress. Also, they dive into the newly released previews for iOS 15, macOS Monterey and Windows 11. It’s the rare year where both Mac and Windows are getting some major updates. New stuff from Samsung (One UI, Galaxy Buds 2) – 1:34 Mobile World Congress happened…sort of – 18:34 First impressions from the Windows 11 insider preview – 27:34 Apple releases betas for iOS 15, iPad OS 15, watchOS 8, and macOS Monterey – 34:01 Amazon wants Lena Khan to recuse herself – 48:29 Amazon Halo get Movement Health update – 51:35 Working on – 57:52 Pop culture picks – 59:05

Microsoft officially unveiled Windows 11 this week, and Cherlynn and Devindra are ready to dive into everything that’s new. Turns out, it looks a lot like the leak we saw last week! But there are still some new features worth calling out, especially support for Android apps. Also, they chat about the death of John McAfee, the infamous antivirus founder, and why a Snapchat post led the Supreme Court to establish new free speech precedent for students. Stay tuned at the end of the show for an interview with Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Director Mike Daly and Mike Fitzgerald, Core Technology Director at Insomniac Games. Microsoft announces Windows 11 – 1:23 Windows 11 release date and availability (short answer: there’s a lot we don’t know yet!) – 14:51 John McAfee found dead in a Spanish prison – 24:23 The Supreme Court defends teens’ right to say “F school” online – 27:46 Peloton might be making a wearable, bricks its treadmill for non-subscribers – 32:03 Apple Fitness + updates – 35:46 Tide and NASA are making space detergent (for space clothes) – 38:18 Netflix’s weird new dating show “Sexy Beasts” – 42:09 Working on –43:42 Pop culture picks – 45:13 Interview with Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart developers – 55:26