The Engadget Podcast

This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat about NVIDIA’s massive GTC developer conference. It turns out ARM chips are going to be a much bigger deal for NVIDIA! Also, they discuss the recently announced Surface Laptop 4 and Microsoft’s new family of accessories. We also spend a bit of time with Cherlynn’s horrific OnePlus Watch review experience. A few notes from NVIDIA’s Graphics Technology Conference – 1:05 Surface Laptop 4 Preview – 10:36 OnePlus watch review (it’s not great) – 18:25 Other News: Apple event is scheduled for 4/20 – 32:57 Other News: Another Samsung Galaxy Unpacked on April 28 – 35:34 Other News: Sony Experia III announcement + specs – 37:02 Other News: TCL "Fold n’ Roll" rollable phone concept – 41:00 Other News: Google Earth update includes 3D time-lapse videos – 45:42 Other News: AMD unveils its first Ryzen 5000 chips – 50:49 Working on – 51:51 Pop Culture Picks – 51:51

This week on the Engadget Podcast, renowned physicist Dr. Michio Kaku joins Cherlynn and Devindra to chat about his new book, The God Equation: The Quest for a Theory of Everything. He dives into the trouble with the Standard Model of physics, this week’s surprising news around muons and why believes we’ll eventually unite with superintelligent robots and roam the cosmos as beings of pure energy. (Hey, it could happen.) Also, Chris Velazco joins to get up in his feelings about LG abandoning the mobile market. Michio Kaku on his new book “The God Equation” – 0:59 LG Mobile, in memoriam (with Chris Velazco) – 24:51 Other News: Facebook leaked data on 500M users – 38:42 Other News: Google IO, E3, and Microsoft Build conference dates – 38:42 Other News: Google v. Oracle is finally settled – 46:31 Other News: the Sonos Roam got a great review – 50:26 Working on – 53:34 Pop Culture Picks – 55:12

This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by UK bureau chief Mat Smith to dive deeper into our review of Google’s new Nest Hub. Is the sleep-tracking smart display creepy or cool? Plus, loads of updates from Google and a peek at Xiaomi’s first foldable phone. Be careful this April Fools, everyone! Google’s Nest Hub sleep tracking is a little creepy – 1:21 Other Google announcements: Maps updates, Stack app, FLoC advertising, and Google Messages on T-Mobile – 27:52 Xiaomi’s first foldable phone: Mi Mix Fold – 38:47 Other tech news: An upcoming Apple event – 50:02 Other News: VOLTSwagen April Fools joke was a big flop – 53:55 Other News: Netflix paid a crazy amount for Knives Out sequels – 56:01 Working On – 57:19 Pop Culture Picks – 1:01:11

This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with Engadget’s Karissa Bell about some surprising moves from the White House. President Biden plans to nominate antitrust scholar Lina Khan to the FTC, and he’s bringing on Tim Wu, the creator of the term “net neutrality,” as a special advisor. Is this a sign that this administration will take Big Tech to task? Also, we dive into the latest from OnePlus, why Microsoft is rebranding Xbox Live, and of course, the Snyder Cut of Justice League. Why is the Biden Administration hiring critics of Big Tech? – 1:10 Other News: Slack enables inter-team DMs – 22:32 Other News: Intel’s new CEO announces IDM 2.0 / US domestic chip production – 27:16 Other News: Snapdragon 780G could catch up to Apple – 33:14 Other News: Xbox drops “Live” – 37:19 Other News: OnePlus event – 40:17 OnePlus Watch – 44:50 Working On – 48:47 Pop Culture Picks – 57:57

This week, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by senior mobile editor Chris Velazco to try and make sense of Samsung’s ‘Awesome Unpacked’ event. The company didn’t just unveil new Galaxy A-series phones, but also tried excruciatingly hard to flex its ‘understanding’ of Gen Z lingo. We also take a look at Google’s new Nest Hub, which is a smart display that uses radar to… tell when you’re asleep? Is that cool or creepy? Plus, updates from elsewhere in the world of tech. Samsung’s “Awesome” Unpacked unveils new A series phones – 2:46 Google’s New Nest Hub watches while you sleep – 29:33 Other News: Intel’s 11th gen desktop chips – 42:55 Other News: AMD Radeon 6700XT Review – 47:44 Other News: Alienware Laptops with Cherry MX Keyboards – 49:06 Other News: Online SXSW is meh – 51:12 Other News: Google antitrust developments – 55:14 Working On – 57:40 Pop Culture Picks – 1:00:02.224 Bonus: Cherlynn’s interview with Robert Kirkman, creator of Amazon Prime Video’s "Invincible" – 1:06:29 Bonus: Devindra’s interview with Apple TV+ “Calls” creator Fede Álvarez – 1:20:24

This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into the wild world of NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, with Engadget Senior Editor Dan Cooper. What do they mean for the future of art and commerce? And should you care about them at all? Also, we chat about Microsoft’s finalized Bethesda acquisition, as well as Facebook’s push to dismiss its latest antitrust charges. WTF are NFTs?: An Explainer – 1:08 Other News: Microsoft finalizes Bethesda acquisition – 36:27 Other News: Facebook launches Instagram lite / dispute’s FTC’s Antitrust claims – 39:15 Other News: Twitter changes its image previews – 45:06 Other News: Sonos announces Roam portable speaker – 46:52 Other News: Phone announcements on the horizon ASUS / Samsung / OnePlus – 50:14 Other News: Chrome OS 10th Anniversary release – 55:59 Working On – 58:46 Pop Culture Picks – 1:00:16

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