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Apple's missing spark, HoloLens, Skymall and other stories you might've missed this week

Microsoft dives head-first into augmented reality, President Obama addresses the State of the Union -- and the internet-- and (say it ain't so!) Skymall files for bankruptcy. Get caught up on these stories and more in this latest edition of Weekends with Engadget.

When did Apple become the boring one?

Apple has made some tiny tweaks and several size adjustments to its arsenal of gadgets lately, but the company is lacking the unique ideas it had in the 2000s. Read why Aaron Souppouris thinks Apple is falling behind among the likes of Microsoft and Google.

I experienced 'mixed reality' with Microsoft's holographic computer headset, 'HoloLens'

Microsoft's "mixed reality" holographic headset is still a bit rough around the edges, but its potential is pretty amazing. Read what augmented reality buffs have to look forward to when this device hits the market in Ben Gilbert's hands-on.

Microsoft isn't saying much about what's inside HoloLens

What is the HoloLens packing under its hood? Microsoft is keeping its specs pretty vague, but here Tim Seppala sums up what we've been able to confirm so far.

Can Microsoft make HoloLens more than a mirage?

Now that Microsoft has all eyes on Project HoloLens, will it be able to launch it without screwing things up? We revisit a list of Microsoft gadgets that sounded great at the time, but didn't quite live up to the hype.

Obama pledges to 'protect a free and open internet,' tackle climate change

Net Neutrality made it onto the President's agenda during his State of the Union address Tuesday. He pledged to not only keep broadband internet "free and open," but also to make it more accessible to underserved communities.

How a queer black filmmaker made virtual reality a reality at Sundance

Virtual reality is coming to Sundance film festival courtesy of filmmaker Shari Frilot. Her New Frontier exhibit will feature 11 movies that blend art and technology in a format that's already grabbing the attention of big names like Joseph Gordon-Levitt and James Franco.

What's new in Windows 10 for PCs? A lot.

Sure, we've known Microsoft's new OS was coming since September, but the company still managed to surprise us with news of universal apps, Project Spartan and its move into augmented reality. Read on for the full breakdown of this week's Windows 10 event.

Here's a closer look at the latest build of Windows 10 (video)

We got to take a test run of Windows 10 in its more final form on a Dell Venue Pro 11 tablet. Watch the video in this story for a peek at the notification center, the "revamped Photos and Settings apps," Cortana's new desktop voice search and more.

Crapgadget purveyor Skymall is filing for bankruptcy

In completely unsurprising but strangely disappointing news, Skymall has filed for bankruptcy. The company's CEO blames in-flight WiFi for its demise, which we assume means passengers are no longer forced to browse this beloved catalog of ridiculous gadgets as their only source of entertainment when they forget to bring a magazine.

Please don't use these passwords. Sincerely, the internet.

C'mon, guys. If you're using one of these passwords you're practically begging for someone to hack you. View the full list of the most popular passwords of 2014 to feel a little better about that time yours was abc123.