This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with CNET’s Scott Stein about Microsoft’s latest Mixed Reality endeavour: Mesh. It’s a virtual meeting platform that can work across HoloLens, VR headsets, computers and smartphones, making it one of the most versatile remote work solutions we’ve seen yet. Will Microsoft Mesh power all our virtual meetings in the future? Or do we need AR glasses to get here first? Also, they dive into Google’s new privacy changes around ads. No more personalized ads based on your browsing history! Microsoft’s Mesh AR might be the future of meetings – 1:08 Google announces end to ads by individual tracking – 35:08 Other news from Google: Pixel Updates – 46:09 Other News: Zoom Golden Globes were a mess – 49:28 Other News: China threatens India with Electrical Grid malware – 52:29 Other News: Square buys Jay-Z’s Tidal streaming service – 57:08 Other News: Nintendo Switch Pro rumors get real – 59:56 Working On – 1:03:56 Picks – 1:09:50

This week, Devindra and Cherlynn chat with PhD candidate and all-around space nerd Sophia Gad-Nasr about NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover. We dive into what it’s journey was like, what was so remarkable about its landing, and what it’ll be working on in the future. Also, we chat about the new PSVR headset, the death of Fry’s Electronics and Cinefex magazine, and more! What’s Perseverance’s mission on Mars? Feat. Sophia Gad - Nasr – 1:05 The secret code inside Perseverance’s supersonic parachute – 9:58 Perseverance: The Tech Specs – 17:12 Other News - Android update – 27:10 Other News - PS 5 VR – 32:13 Other News - Huawei foldable phone – 36:47 Other News - Quick Spotify News – 45:52 Other News - RIP Fry’s electronics and Cinefx Magazine – 52:40 Around Engadget / Working On – 59:19 Picks – 1:11:40

Texas is facing a once-in-a-century storm, and unfortunately its power grid couldn’t keep up. This week, Devindra and Cherlynn chat with native Texan and techie Alex Cranz about what happened, and why Texas is so unique when it comes to power infrastructure in the US. Also, they dive into Facebook’s decision to halt new sharing in Australia, and why Lastpass decided to make its free password management a lot more complicated. Why is Texas’ power grid so messed up? – 1:26 Other News from the tech world: • Facebook bans all news in Australia – 37:01 • Lastpass makes a dubious move for paying customers – 46:24 • Google will finally let teachers mute kids in virtual classrooms – 51:10 • Microsoft’s new Xbox wireless headset, accessibility updates, and FPS boost – 57:14 • Carl Pei’s Nothing buys Essential’s assets – 1:01:50 Working on (Color e-ink, Thinkpad review) – 1:05:57 Pop Culture Picks – 1:10:49

While it'll be a while before we can celebrate a manned mission to Mars, this week the United Arab Emirates and China made a step towards that goal. Both countries now have satellites orbiting the Red Planet, and China also plans to launch a rover to the surface later this year. In this week's episode, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss the new Space Race for Mars, and how it'll help us learn more about our neighbor. Also, they dive into Facebook's test to limit political content, and the halted TikTok acquisition. China and the UAE enter the race to Mars – 1:09 Social Media News: TikTok sale has been delayed indefinitely – 10:30 Facebook is experimenting with showing less political news to users – 22:14 Other news: The future of E3, Cat Lawyer is everyone’s Zoom nightmare – 27:52 Working On – 40:46 Picks – 49:44

Are we living in a simulation? That’s what Rodney Ascher aims to explore with his new documentary, A Glitch in the Matrix, which premiered at Sundance this week. In this special interview episode, we chat with Ascher about how he broke down such a complex subject. And we also talk with Natalia Almada, the director of Users, about her gorgeous exploration of our relationship with tech, and why it’s particularly anxiety-inducing for parents. A Glitch in the Matrix is available for viewing on VOD services starting February 5th. Users doesn’t have a release date yet. ‘Users’ director Natalia Almada – 1:47 ‘A Glitch in the Matrix’ director Rodney Ascher – 27:35

We didn’t have to travel to Utah to drown ourselves in content from the Sundance Film Festival. This week, Devindra and Engadget’s Managing Editor, Terrence O’Brien, chat about all of the wild movies, VR experiences and new media projects they saw at the show. We discuss Rodney Ascher’s dive into simulation theory, A Glitch in the Matrix; the meditative tech documentary Users; and our experiences exploring VR parties. Also, we chat about Jeff Bezos’ plan to step down as Amazon’s CEO (and why it’s terrifying that he has more time to become a supervillain), and the Apple Car rumors are finally starting to sound realistic. Sundance 2021: Now in VR – 1:30 • Users, A Glitch in the Matrix, and more – 8:42 360˚ films at Sundance: Tinker and 4 Feet High – 25:21 Worst and Weirdest at Sundance – 31:30 Other News • Bezos to step down as Amazon CEO – 43:36 • New details on the long rumored Apple Car – 48:25 • Google closes Stadia game studios – 51:14 Working On – 55:57

If you were confused about how, exactly, a bunch of Reddit finance obsessives turned the beleaguered GameStop into a white hot stock, you’re not alone. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Mike Futter, author of the GameDev Business Handbook and co-host of the Virtual Economy Podcast, to make sense of this surprising story. Are the online traders just doing it for the lols? Or are they trying to teach the financial industry a lesson? And isn’t this just another example of online memes bleeding into reality, leading to potentially disastrous consequences? We also get a bit of context from an anonymous member from the infamous R/WallStreetBets subreddit. Stonks get real: Is it really Reddit v. Hedge Funds? – 0:49 Microsoft raises Xbox Live Price, backtracks – 30:35 News shouts from around the tech world – 40:35 Working on – 53:30 Picks – 56:22

We’re back in review mode this week! Cherlynn dishes her thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Ultra, and whether they’re worthy upgrades over last year’s phones. Do all those cameras make a difference? And is there a point to releasing a Galaxy Note this year? Also, Devindra discusses the virtual inauguration for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, as well as the rumors around Apple’s upcoming and potentially pricey VR headset. Is this the best strategy to get to an AR headset? The Biden Presidency and tech – 1:36 Samsung Galaxy S21 Review – 9:23 Other News (Apple VR, Snapdragon 8705G) – 33:52 Working on – 46:08 Picks – 49:28

We lived through CES 2021 and all we have to show for it is our tired typing fingers. This week, Devindra, Cherlynn and UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith chat about the most notable announcements from the show. Sure, there were tons of TVs, but PC hardware like AMD’s new Ryzen 5000 laptop chips and NVIDIA’s RTX 30-series mobile GPUs will also shape all the systems we see throughout the year. And they also touch on what happened after the US Capitol was attacked by right-wing extremists. It turns out, social media companies finally decided to take action. CES Highlights: PCs – 7:20 CES Highlights: TVs – 14:10 CES Highlights: Laptops – 22:16 CES Highlights: Weird Stuff – 56:02 • Moflin, an AI pet – 56:40 • Razer Project Hazel face mask – 58:52 • Razer Gaming Chair – 1:03:57 • Avita Admiror II –1:08:45 The fallout from Twitter banning Trump – 1:19:39 Working on – 1:31:29 Picks – 1:33:27

This week, Devindra and Cherlynn were planning to chat about everything coming at CES 2021... but the siege on the U.S. Capitol by right-wing extremists changed things. We discuss how social media and mobile tech played a huge role in planning and executing the attempted coup, and what this means for Twitter and Facebook. And then we somehow manage to keep talking about gadgets and CES. Online extremism’s role in the siege on US capitol – 1:11 CES Preview: TVs and computers – 19:58 CES Preview: Wearables and other previews – 44:58 Working on – 57:39 Picks – 1:00:33