John Colucci

Engagement Editor

He began his career in media as a teen correspondent for CBS News and a show called Studio Y at the age of 17. College led him in a different direction, doing project management and marketing for Old Navy and Virgin America, before shifting back into media when he joined Engadget. He's interviewed Cookie Monster and the woman behind Sesame Street, iJustine, and appears regularly on HuffPost Live and speaks on panels like his most recent one at SXSW on social media and brands. His main job though is keeping our readers engaged. (With the site, that is, because couples counseling isn't his forte.)

Articles by John Colucci

Engadget presents #enGIVEget: benefiting St. Jude!
Now that our readers (and most Engadget editors) have stuffed their pie holes full of food and done some serious damage with their credit cards over the biggest shopping weekend of the year, it's time we gave a little bit, too. Here's where our #enGIVEget sweepstakes, benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® comes in.
Sound off: Show us your used and abused phones!
That sad, broken handset is what one friend had to use while waiting for his new one to arrive. We know that you too, have felt his pain and are bound to have some similar photos floating around. Whether your phone was dropped into a pool of hydrofluoric acid or ran afoul of a mantis shrimp, we want to see the evidence. Show us in the forums or tweet it out with a #brokenphone hashtag, and let's enjoy a bit of cellphone shadenfreude together.
Engadget Expand is all about you. And us. But really, you.
Engadget Expand is our annual event that's all about you -- our fans. It's not your typical tech conference that's priced for people fortunate to have an expense account. We make the event completely FREE thanks to our generous sponsors, giving you the chance to experience the future -- right now. And while you're at it, you get to meet your favorite Engadget editors. When you join us at the Javits Center North in New York City next week on November 7-8, you'll be set loose on our show floor. You can check out some of our exhibitors and get your hands on gadgets that people can't buy yet (or in some cases, build your own in our workshops), head to our Expand stage and hear from some smart and inspiring people and so much more.
IRL: The OnePlus One is everything my iPhone wasn't
After last month's iPhone event, I was disappointed -- I realized the iPhone 6 and its "Plus" sibling were still catching up to Android in a lot of ways. Regardless, the devoted iPhone fan in me still pre-ordered an iPhone 6 a few days later, in the wee hours of September 12th. The next morning, I awoke to the alarm on my iPhone 5s and went to silence it, only to discover a small spot of water damage had worsened overnight, rendering the phone unusable. With less than 24 hours before jetting off on a work trip, I had no choice but to force myself into using another phone sitting on my desk: the OnePlus One. Now, you might be thinking that this was unusually convenient. The truth is, I decided to get a second phone a couple of weeks earlier and wanted one of the unlocked Android variety. Might as well ensure it's a good phone too, so with an Engadget score of 90, the One made sense.
What's up with Engadget Expand?
We're just two weeks away from our free Engadget Expand event, taking place at New York City's Javits Center on November 7th and 8th and there's still so much to tell you about. If you can't join us in person, don't worry -- we'll keep you updated throughout the weekend with dispatches from the show floor and our livestream here on Engadget.
Engadget and JetBlue will beam you to Expand!
We're sending one lucky Engadget reader (and a guest of choice) to Engadget Expand in New York City on November 7-8, thanks to our friends at JetBlue Airways and our sponsors. What's more, if you're one of the 10 runners-up, Suitable Technologies will give you a block of time to mosey around the Expand floor remotely with its BeamPro device.
Here's what you need to know about Engadget Expand, so far
We've talked a lot about Engadget Expand so far (you know, that free event we're holding at the Javits Center in NYC on November 7th and 8th). It's time we got you caught up on who's speaking (and when), who's exhibiting on the show floor, what's up with Insert Coin and finally, the winner of our 'In The City' sweepstakes. Let's get started.
Engadget Live L.A. was all about that bass (and some treble)
We've had a great run this year with all our Engadget Live events, taking us to Austin, Seattle, Boston and finally Los Angeles. We packed into the Belasco Theatre in downtown L.A. along with some amazing people and exhibitors -- one who was all about that bass and some...bananas.
More to expect at our free Engadget Expand event in NYC!
If you're keeping score, we've announced a bunch of great speakers heading to this year's Engadget Expand (such as RJD2 and the head of DARPA, Arati Prabhakar). Of course there's plenty more where that came from and we're excited to announce what else you'll see at the Javits Center on November 7-8 in New York City!
What you need to know about Facebook's battle with drag queens (update)
Maybe you've seen RuPaul's Drag Race, the flagship show on Logo TV, where men (dressed as women) compete to become America's next drag superstar. At the end of each show, the lowest-scoring competitors "lip sync for their life" in order to stay on the show another week. Now, some drag queens are fighting for their social media lives.
Enter our 'In The City' sweepstakes and we'll fly you to NYC for Expand!
So there's this free Engadget Expand shindig happening November 7-8 at the Javits Center in New York City that you've probably heard about. We've announced a bunch of exciting speakers, including RJD2 and Arati Prabhakar (who heads up DARPA), and plenty more will be added soon. You're super pumped and can't wait to experience the future of technology, but don't live anywhere near NYC. What's someone like yourself to do?
DARPA head joins the list of speakers at Engadget Expand!
Fall's nearly here and so is the next Engadget Expand event. On November 7th and 8th, we'll once again take over New York City's Javits Center North to let you experience the future of technology and hear from the leading minds in the industry.
Sound Off! Are you sticking with Facebook Messenger?
Facebook's Messenger app isn't new -- it's been around since 2011. It was up to users to decide if they wanted a separate app or if they liked exchanging messages inside the regular Facebook app. Now if users tap the message icon on Facebook, a message appears telling them to move over to Messenger. It's no longer an option; it's a requirement Facebook put in place to deliver "the best mobile messaging experience possible."
Even more awesomeness to expect at Engadget Live Boston
If you're a Boston area resident who loves technology, we've got something for you to do on Friday, August 22nd. Join us at Royale at 7PM for our editorial dance-off third Engadget Live event of the year. Flip through the gallery below to find out why this is a cant-miss event.
Engadget Live Seattle is this Friday!
To all our wonderful friends in Seattle, let's make it clear: there's no better place to be this Friday (July 18th) at 7PM than the Showbox SODO for our second Engadget Live event of the year! Why is this a cant-miss event? Flip through the gallery below to find out.
What to expect at Engadget Live Seattle
We're bringing our Engadget Live event series to Seattle's Showbox SODO on Friday, July 18th, 7PM sharp! We also decided that we really enjoy making our readers happy, so effective immediately, all Engadget Live events this year will be free! (If you bought a ticket already, we'll pay it back).
Want to work for Engadget?
We've been really busy here at Engadget this year, putting our hearts into delivering the best consumer technology news and features possible. We've also realized to keep on top of things, we could use a little bit of help -- and that's where you (or someone you know) might come in.
#SandbergSays: We're really not sure.
"Meh." It's possible that Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg was thinking this when speaking at an event in New Delhi. In an interview with NDTV of India, she apologized to users for toying with their emotions in a 2012 experiment. Sandberg went on to admit that the experiment was "poorly communicated." But is she really sorry? We have our own guesses as to what was running through Sandberg's head during this perfectly timed pic, but we know you can do better. Tweet your own caption at us with the hashtag #SandbergSays and we'll update this post with our favorite picks. [Image credit: Kuni Takahashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Austin: Engadget Live is this Friday!
If you're going to be in Austin, TX this Friday, June 20th, join us as we kick off our Engadget Live series at the famed Austin Music Hall, 7PM sharp! Come join your fellow Austin gadget lovers and the brands that excite them for an incredible night. One of the brands you'll get to interact with is Austin's own Chaotic Moon. The production studio will be showing off the untitled follow-up to Shark Punch (which taught us what the ocean's greatest predators looked like inside-out). One player will put on an Oculus Rift and drive a virtual Jeep, while a second uses an iPad to drop bombs on the other's vehicle. Insane, right?
Engadget Live heads to Seattle on July 18th!
Seattle, the always caffeinated, drone-building, Super Bowl-winning, beautiful city that coddles the Puget Sound. We had such a great time hanging with the locals last year that we're making a comeback. Join us at Showbox SODO on Friday, July 18th, 7PM sharp for our second Engadget Live event of the year. (If you happen to be in Austin, Texas, this coming Friday, join us at our first "Live" event there!) What's Engadget Live? Unlike trade shows and press-only events, we bring together gadget lovers with tech brands in an interactive environment. A bunch of great companies (mostly local ones!) will show off their newest products and get feedback directly from fans like you.