Reviewing VPNs and a security debrief with Engadget’s Sam Chapman

This week, Devindra chats with Sam Chapman, Engadget’s new security reporter who’s been reviewing VPNs and related products. He dives into what led him to security, the VPNs he likes the most and thoughts on potential cyberattacks. Additionally, we discuss Microsoft’s latest news around the Windows 10 Extended Security Update, and Devindra explains why M3GAN 2.0 absolutely rules.

It's been a busy week! In this episode, Devindra and Senior Editor Jessica Conditt dive into their final thoughts on the Switch 2, as well as Jess's time covering Summer Game Fest. We also put a bow on WWDC 2025 and explore what works and doesn't with Apple's Liquid Glass redesign. Summer Games Fest 2025: Sword of the Sea, Mouse: PI for Hire, Big Walk and a ton more indies – 1:17Nintendo Switch 2 review: more polish on the Switch form factor with scant new releases – 22:09WWDC 2025 wrap up: what will users think of liquid glass? – 38:11Air Traffic Control audio reveals Predator drones flew over LA protests – 53:31Meta announces large investment in Scale AI and a new AI Superintelligence initiative – 54:24Warner Bros. Discovery to split into two devisions along old company lines – 59:12  Pop culture picks – 1:00:34  

In this special episode, recorded live in Cupertino, Cherlynn and Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham are joined by the Washington Post's Chris Velazco and Wired's Julian Chokkattu to discuss Apple's announcements at WWDC 2025. Though the announcements were all over the place and felt difficult to judge until they roll out to devices, our guests and hosts agree that they felt more meaningful than past WWDCs.

The Switch 2 has finally launched, and we've got our systems in-hand to show them off. This week, Devindra, Sam Rutherford and Nathan Ingraham will dive into their first impressions of Nintendo's new console and Mario Kart World. And of course, we'll discuss the chaotic launch experience. Also, we chat about what to expect from Apple's WWDC 2025, where we'll likely see a new naming scheme and facelift for Apple operating systems, as well as more details about their AI plans with Apple Intelligence.  The Switch 2 is finally out! Here’s our first thoughts – 1:05Switch 2 display: bigger, brighter, and has HDR! – 8:53 Switch 2 games: Mario Kart world is the king of the castle for now – 12:11WWDC 2025 preview: what to look forward to after last year’s botched AI Siri announcement – 26:02Working on: how to stop worrying and love the Dad EV – 39:01 

This week we're fielding your burning tech questions, as well as diving into a bunch of AI web browser news. Opera has started testing its fully agentic AI browser, the Browser Company is dumping the Arc browser in favor of something AI related and Mozilla is getting in a bit of hot water with experimental AI preview summaries. Try as we might, we just can't escape AI.Listener Mailbag: How to set up an Xbox account for your kids, will screens be obsolete, and more – 1:34Web browsers go AI ‘agentic’: The Browser Company leaves Arc behind. Opera and Firefox debut new features – 25:37xAI is paying Telegram $300m this year to use Grok – 54:04Apple’s self repair program extends to iPads – 56:30Apple might switch its OS numbering next year, iOS26 could be on the way – 58:57Working on – 1:02:41Pop culture picks – 1:09:26  

Would you believe Google really wants to sell you on its AI? This week, we dive into the news from Google I/O 2025 with Engadget's Karissa Bell. We discuss how Gemini is headed to even more places, as well as Karissa's brief hands-on with Google's prototype XR glasses. It seems like Google is trying a bit harder now than it did with Google Glass and its defunct Daydream VR platform. But will the company end up giving up again, or does it really have a shot against Meta and Apple? Lots of AI and a little XR: Highlights from Google I/O 2025 – 1:15OpenAI buys Jony Ive’s design company for $6.6B, in an all equity deal – 29:27Fujifilm’s $850 X Half could be the perfect retro camera for the social media age – 39:42Sesame Street is moving from HBO to Netflix – 44:09Cuts to IMLS will lead to headaches accessing content on apps like Libby and Hoopla – 45:49Listener Mail: Should I replace my Chromebook with a Mac or PC Laptop? – 48:33Pop culture picks – 52:22

It looks like we're entering the era of crazy-thin phones. This week, Samsung finally announced the Galaxy S25 Edge, its slimmest smartphone yet. Is there actually a point to it, or is Samsung just trying to beat Apple to its rumored super-thin iPhone? Engadget's Sam Rutherford joins us to dive into the S25 Edge, as well as some pre-Google I/O news from the Android Show. Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge: How much does thin mean to you? – 1:32What’s new at The Android Show 2025 – 16:50Apple touts a bunch of new features for Global Accessibility Awareness Day – 30:34Apple Carplay Ultra is finally here, but only if you have a new Aston Martin – 39:08The DJI Mavic 4 Pro is the new standard for consumer drones – 45:28Our review of the WH-1000XM6, Sony’s standard-bearing wireless headphones just dropped – 52:33Max No More: HBO’s app will be HBO Max once again – 57:09Around Engadget – 1:01:53Listener Mail: Switch 2 details with T-minus 20 days until launch – 1:09:38Pop culture picks – 1:15:57

This week we're diving into the new 12-inch Surface Pro, which, alongside the 13-inch Surface Laptop, is a foray into smaller Surface hardware. You can thank Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus chips for that. In this episode, Devindra and Engadget's Igor Bonifacic explore the compromises Microsoft had to make for these devices, and they dive into the rumors around Half Life 3 and the surprise leaked photos of Microsoft and ASUS's potential Xbox handheld. Also, Devindra chats with the head of Google's X division, Astro Teller, about the past and future of the "moonshot factory." Surface Pro 12-inch review: less weight, less power? – 2:04ASUS’ Xbox handheld photos leak in FCC filing – 21:39OpenAI restructures business, announces plan for hostile takeover-proof public benefit corp – 26:14The EPA announces plans to shut down the Energy Star Program – 31:16Telemessage, a Signal clone favored by Trump administration officials has been hacked – 34:44Samsung subsidiary buys Masimo and now it owns all the fancy speakers – 36:35Half-Life 3 is fully formed and playable?! – 40:59Around Engadget – 49:53Pop culture picks – 51:42

This week Meta held its first-ever AI dev conference, LlamaCon, focused on the development of its Llama generative AI model. But while there was plenty of hype, not much happened, besides the launch of the Meta AI app and a new Llama API. In this episode, Engadget Senior Reporter Karissa Bell joins us to talk about her thoughts on LlamaCon after attending in person. After just announcing its latest Llama models a few weeks ago, it was as if Meta didn't have much else to say. Meta’s Muted LlamaCon: who was the AI dev conference really for? – 1:31Court orders Apple to stop collecting app fees outside of the iTunes store – 21:44Microsoft announces Xbox series X and S prices are going up – 25:22NPR report: DOGE employees may have access to U.S. nuclear secrets – 26:44New EV startup Slate to offer a barebones pickup for $20k (after tax breaks) – 30:47Swiss academics use AI to influence public opinion on Reddit – 35:08Duolingo to replace contract workers with AI – 40:19Working on – 47:50Pop culture picks – 50:56

4chan, one of the trolliest places on the internet, could be gone for good following last week's hack. In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn break down what 4chan was and why it's influence can be found practically everywhere now. It's like we're living in  a poster's paradise. Also, we discuss YouTube's 20th birthday and all of the memories (and frustrations) it's given us over the years. 4chan is dead, RIP? – 2:08Youtube turns 20 – 15:59Nintendo’s Switch 2 is finally available for preorder at the same price – 33:03Apple and Meta fined a combined €800m under Europe’s New Digital Markets Act – 34:44  OpenAI might be interested in Chrome if Google was compelled to sell – 35:30Google pays Samsung an “enormous” amount to put Gemini on phones – 37:50The Washington Post partners with OpenAI to bring its content to ChatGPT – 38:43Around Engadget – 41:52Listener Mail: Transitioning from Windows to Mac for CAD / 3D design – 47:01Pop culture picks – 54:55