Michael Gorman

Engadget Editorial Policies

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In pursuit of our mission to provide accurate and ethical coverage, the Engadget editorial team consistently fact-checks and reviews site content to provide readers with an informative, entertaining, and engaging experience. Click here for more information on our editorial process.

Stories By Michael Gorman

  • Public Access' time is done, but a better Engadget community awaits

    It's been just shy of two years since we unveiled Public Access, our grand experiment in community contribution. In that time, we've seen some excellent stories published on the platform by you, and we are grateful for those efforts. Today, however, we are moving the Engadget community in a new direction and will be shutting Public Access down this Thursday, March 9th. For those of you in the community, you can rest assured your contributions aren't going anywhere -- the links to your stories will remain live and shareable, even though your profile pages will disappear. That said, we will be removing all site navigation to Public Access stories, so you need to copy the links to your stuff if you want to be able to read and share them moving forward. And, if you have any questions, just email publicaccess at engadget dot com, and we'll answer them! While your Public Access profile will be no more, you can (and should) sign up for an Engadget account that'll let you continue contributing to the Engadget community by submitting comments and gadget reviews. We've got some new features (including new and improved profile pages) planned for our community that are coming soon, so sign up, tell us what you think, and enjoy the ride!

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  • Aisha Tyler on technology's power to enable filmmakers

    Actor, author, comedian, talk show host, filmmaker. Aisha Tyler is all of these things. She's also the 2017 CES Ambassador, which is why we had to have her on the Engadget stage to discuss the role technology plays in professional career and its impact on her ability to do the projects she wants to. Watch. Learn. Enjoy.

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  • Penthouse's CEO thinks VR porn should be a carnival of sex

    Penthouse is one of the most recognizable brands in the adult industry, having been around for over 50 years. And while new owner and CEO Kelly Holland is reverential to Penthouse's illustrious past -- she's investing heavily in its print magazine -- she's very much focused on the future. You probably won't be surprised to hear that she's a big believer in the potential of VR, or that she's unimpressed by much of what her competitors are making.

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  • Apple's new MacBook Pro is slim, trim and has a stunning screen

    We knew it was coming, and now it's here: Apple's newest MacBook Pro. It's thinner, it's lighter and it comes with a better screen than the Pros of yesteryear. But, given how much of the company's presentation was dedicated to it, the showstopper for the new MBP is a truly unique hardware feature in the world of computing -- an OLED screen embedded in the keyboard called the Touch Bar.

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  • David Pogue hates 3D TVs, but loves HDR and autonomous cars

    #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-344625{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-344625, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-344625{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-344625").style.display="none";}catch(e){}David Pogue is renowned for his musical talents, technological expertise and strong opinions. On the Engadget stage at CES 2016, he waxed poetic about the virtues of self-driving cars, told me why HDR is something we should all be excited about, and even explained his theory that 80 percent of everything "is crap." Like I said... the man is highly opinionated.

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  • What you need to know: CES 2016 day one

    #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-499618{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-499618, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-499618{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-499618").style.display="none";}catch(e){}The show floor at CES 2016 doesn't officially open until January 6th, but we've been in Las Vegas for days already -- working hard to bring you news of the coolest, weirdest futuristic gear the industry has to offer. Yesterday was our first full day of coverage, and these are the highlights from day one. We saw new visions for the future of electric and autonomous cars, self-adjusting fashion accessories, devices that put you to sleep and wake you up via smells and even a water bottle from the future. Watch. Read. Learn. Enjoy!

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  • After Hours: Engadget drinks on the job

    #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-138786{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-138786, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-138786{width:630px;display:block;}try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-138786").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Most of the time we're chained to our laptops, providing you a never ending stream of reporting on the technological wonders of the world. But at the end of the day, we like to let our hair down, enjoy a cocktail or two, have some fun and get a little weird. So turn off the lights and close the doors, y'all. This is what happens After Hours, our new monthly series that shows what happens when we take technology out of the office and into the streets.

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  • The next phase of Engadget's evolution

    A year and a half ago, I told you that Engadget's editorial mission was going to change. Since then, we've delivered on that promise, telling stories about how and why technology is affecting the world we live in. Our editorial evolution continued, but the site remained largely untouched. It's time our visuals caught up with our vision. And unlike Darwin, we didn't need any birds to show us the way.Welcome to Engadget 5.0.

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  • If you code Android or iOS apps, Engadget wants YOU!

    While the web is where most of Engadget's over 20 million monthly readers get their fix, we also bring the goods through our Android and iOS apps. That's why we're looking to hire two talented engineers in San Francisco who can help reinvent our apps and make them better than ever! You can get the full details of the position here, but know that experience in media is a huge plus, as you'll be collaborating extensively with Engadget's editorial team. These are full-time positions with generous benefits. If you think you'd be a good fit, drop us a note with your resumé and/or LinkedIn profile, a few work samples you're proud of, and a quick summary of why you think you'd be a great addition to our team. We look forward to hearing from you.

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  • One login to rule them all: Welcome to the new Engadget comments

    Our community of readers (that's you!) is of the utmost importance to us, and we're committed to making the Engadget experience the very best it can be. For three years, Engadget's been using Livefyre as our commenting system, and while it's not perfect, it served us well. We believe we can do better, however, and so it's time for a change. Our new commenting system was built in-house, by us and for you. That means we can and will be adding features to make it better as we go, and we want your feedback. This is just the first step in our plan to make Engadget the very best place on the web to not only read about technology, but also to talk about it with your fellow like-minded readers, too!

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  • 'Citizen Mars': five ordinary people, one extraordinary mission

    #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-928939{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-928939, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-928939{width:629px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-928939").style.display="none";}catch(e){} More than two years ago, Mars One began its search to find those it would send on a one-way trip to the red planet. In the time since, plenty of questions have been asked about the organization and its plans to colonize a world 140 million miles away. Will we have the technology and scientific know-how to deliver four humans safely to the Martian surface by 2027? Can those people build a sustainable settlement so far from Earthly aid? What are the psychological and physical tolls of both the six-month trip and the ensuing mission? Can a reality TV show actually pay for it all? Despite those and other questions, people from around the world pledged their time and money to Mars One for the opportunity to go on its mission. Earlier this year, the pool of applicants seeking to live and die on Mars (starting in 2027) was whittled down to a group of 100. Citizen Mars is a five-part series about a group of those would-be astronauts.

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  • 'Citizen Mars': the story of five people and a one-way trip to the red planet

    #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-351169{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-351169, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-351169{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-351169").style.display="none";}catch(e){} You've heard about Mars One. We've spoken to its CEO and co-founder. And, plenty of ink's been spilled on the project due to the unanswered questions regarding its scientific, technological and financial feasibility. The concerns don't end there, either. Traveling to Mars is an incredibly lengthy and dangerous endeavor, and it's unclear how the crew will deal with the social and psychological stresses inherent to the mission. There are those who believe Mars One is preying upon the largesse of its backers and would-be colonists. Who would, despite such questions, still dedicate themselves to Mars One and the dream of walking on another planet? Citizen Mars tells the story of five such individuals. The five-part series premieres on Engadget September 1st.

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  • The best of Public Access Vol.7: online security and Android frustrations

    Microsoft set the world on fire this week with the release of Windows 10 as a free download for existing Windows users. And in our review of the OS, we found that Edge, Windows 10's new web browser, is a sleek and speedy onramp to the information superhighway. Simply upgrading to the latest and greatest software doesn't make you impervious to harm on the internet, however, so last week we asked you to share how you stay secure online. Caroline Leopold doles out some handy tips for password management and stresses the importance of HTTPS. Meanwhile, Jess James has a bone to pick with Google's all-encompassing power over Android, and Bob Summerwill thinks we could all be more efficient at our jobs if we eliminated synchronous operations from the workplace and embraced asynchronous communication instead.

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  • The best of Public Access Vol. 4: Mac Powerbooks, Microsoft Bob and more

    The past week on Public Access has seen y'all looking both forward and back in tech history. Englishman and US resident Jess James explained how he would change the course of history (and the outcome of the US revolutionary war) with a big screen TV and some Monty Python. Meanwhile, Miné Salkin wrote of being smitten with the Macintosh PowerBook 100 as a child, and Joe Duncan explained the difficulties of selling the Tandy Video Information System in the early '90s. Lachlan Harris bridged the old and new, making the case that Microsoft's Bob software (from 1995) never actually left us and the DNA of that helping friendly program remains a part of Windows 10. And, Oded Lilos told us why speech recognition and voice assistants -- despite the sizable part they'll play in our computing future -- won't be replacing keyboards anytime soon. P.S. The homepage is coming soon! in the meantime you can check out the latest from Public Access right here. Not a member? Apply, and keep the weird alive.

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  • The best of Public Access Vol. 3: the Atari ST, virtues of HD Audio and more

    You can learn a lot from someone's personal gadget arsenal, whether at home or on the road. This past week on Public Access gave us a glimpse of your technological inclinations and taught us quite a bit. Miné Salkin's at-home gear is all about enabling multimedia storytelling and journalism, and constitutes a pretty impressive setup for creating and editing 4K video. Alexander Hohenthaner shared the gear he packs in his bag to get through his daily grind. It's not all about now, however. Nostalgia's a powerful thing, and Jess James gave us a heavy dose with fond memories of his first PC, the Atari ST. Meanwhile, Chris Carroll waxed poetic on how filming family get togethers has brought about some peculiar behavior from his relatives. P.S. The homepage is coming soon! in the meantime you can check out the latest from Public Access right here. Not a member? Apply, and keep the weird alive.

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  • Verizon is buying Engadget, not its editorial

    Verizon is buying Aol, and so Engadget's going to be owned by Big Red, too. What's that mean for you, our readers? Well, nothing, really. In the time that I have been editor-in-chief, the Engadget team has done some incredible work to deliver on the editorial mission I laid out just over a year ago. And things are going according to plan. Engadget's audience is larger than it's ever been (thanks!), and we continue to grow thanks to the strength of our reporting. We will continue to tell the stories that give you the full picture of how technology is changing our world and affecting our lives. And yes, that includes coverage of some of Verizon's not-so-favorite topics, like the Patriot Act, net neutrality and online privacy. Verizon, for its part, has made its contempt for the FCC's recent rulemaking efforts to ensure an open internet well-known, and it has a recent track record of not respecting users' privacy. The company has also publicly opposed the Patriot Act's mass surveillance practices it was forced to comply with. Regardless of the actions or views of our new corporate parent, Engadget's mission will always be to impartially report the news with wit and insight. Of course, I understand the questions about Engadget's ability to maintain its editorial integrity in the wake of this acquisition. After all, Verizon has done nothing to earn us any benefit of the doubt -- quite the opposite, actually. But it doesn't matter who pays our salaries; we're not in the business of censorship. Engadget's editorial isn't for sale. It never has been, and it never will be. Not as long as I and Executive Editor Christopher Trout are running things. Actions speak louder than words, however, and it's time to get back to work. Stick around, I promise you won't want to miss what's next.

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  • Apple Watch review: a status symbol for iOS devotees

    ​Mankind's fascination with watches capable of more than simply telling the time is nothing new. But recently, our collective interest in intelligent timepieces has spiked, and we have more and more powerful wrist-worn computers to choose from than ever -- whether made by startups with record-setting Kickstarter campaigns or the biggest names in consumer electronics. Of course, the biggest name of all, Apple, had yet to release one of its own. Well, the Watch has arrived, and its maker has loftier aspirations for it than the smartwatches preceding it. Apple's Watch isn't some utilitarian gadget -- it's jewelry, an object of lust, not only for what it can do, but also for how it looks. I'm not a watch person. Haven't worn one regularly since high school (I'm 33 years old now), and have never been enamored with the likes of Rolex or Longines. But the Apple Watch is, of course, much more than a mere time teller, and the company expects to sell a lot of these things to people like me -- you don't build a $700 billion company selling niche products, after all. The question is: Why would someone like me want one?

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  • Watch the Apple Watch unbox itself

    #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-844727{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-844727, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-844727{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-844727").style.display="none";}catch(e){} The appointed time has finally arrived. Months after its unveiling, Apple's Watch is finally finding its way onto the public's wrists. Yet, as is often the case with product debuts from the company in Cupertino, demand outstrips supply (for now). Fear not, would-be Watch wearers, even if you haven't gotten your hands on one -- yet -- Engadget can still give you that kid-on-Christmas-morning feeling with our unboxing video. Are you among the fortunate few who got one of Apple's coveted Watches? Well, we want to see your unboxing videos, too. Be it Vine, Instagram or YouTube clip, just send it to us via Twitter using the hashtag #Gadgetsnaps or pop a link to the video in the comments below. We'll be sharing our favorites next week, so show us what you got! And, stay tuned for our full review... Photos by Will Lipman, video produced and edited by Ina Maria

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  • GE at SXSW: tracking brainwaves during BBQ tastings and using a 12-foot smoker

    Two things define SXSW: spectacle and smoked meat. GE's managed to meld the two at its BBQ Research Center. Just up the street from the Austin Convention Center, General Electric's research arm set up shop with a 12-foot tall sensor-laden super smoker and a BBQ tasting room called Brain on BBQ. As you might suspect, tasters wear consumer-grade EEG headbands (the Muse variety) to track how their brainwaves change when eating savory smoked meat, tangy coleslaw and sweet banana pudding. GE's going to mine the data from every participant to see if it can glean some useful insight about the nuances of flavors, but really it's just a way for folks to see what's going on inside their noggin whilst chowing down. The whole setup is meant to draw attention to the company's R&D efforts in food and neuroscience, and show that GE's technology can be leveraged to improve most any industry.

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  • AeroMobil flying car set to take off in 2017, autonomous version to follow

    AeroMobil has been around for five years, pursuing the dream of building a functional and (somewhat) practical flying car. Its third-gen prototype was revealed last October, and today at SXSW, AeroMobil CEO Juraj Vaculik revealed a bit more about the company's past and future and the challenges that remain to go from prototypes to fully fledged consumer vehicles - which the company plans to accomplish in 2017.

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  • 'Game of Thrones' at SXSW: creating digital art with a Braavosi blade

    HBO has made a habit of bringing a bit of Westeros to SXSW attendees. Last year, a virtual reality experience took folks to the top of the 700-foot ice wall defended by Jon Snow and the Night's Watch. This year, Game of Thrones fans get to turn a photo of themselves into a digital collage of swords, crow feathers and stag antlers by swinging Arya Stark's wooden practice sword given to her by Syrio Forel.

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  • 4K, quantum dots and more: see the TV technology of CES 2015

    Every year at CES, some of the most stunning visuals to be seen come from the TV manufacturers, and 2015 is no exception. Sure, 4K was the name of the game at this year's show, but there were also displays with four times that resolution on offer, too. And while most of the TVs were of the LCD variety, there were stunning sets using OLED and quantum dot tech to deliver better, brighter pictures, too. If you want to see more than just the TVs of CES, check out our 2015 Field Guide.

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  • Watch CES Today, find out about what's happening at CES... today

    #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-328766{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-328766, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-328766{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-328766").style.display="none";}catch(e){} It's another beautiful, sunny day in Las Vegas, and CES 2015 is still going strong. Can't be bothered to read all of Engadget's coverage of the show? We've got you covered with highlights, humor and some wisdom from Will.i.am. If you didn't see us live, here's your chance to catch up on what you missed.

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  • Watch Engadget After Hours for a recap of this day at CES 2015

    After a long day covering CES, it's time to kick back and reminisce about the day that was... with a cocktail, of course. Join me, your Editor-in-Chief, Executive Editor Christopher Trout and Engagement Editor John Colucci as we talk about our favorite CES things from the past 24 hours and answer some questions (via Twitter) from our readers.

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  • Want to know what's happening at CES 2015? Watch CES Today!

    #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-55542{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-55542, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-55542{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-55542").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Are you a fan of VR movies, smart beds, witty banter and exposition on Ryan Seacrest? Settle in folks, because we're bringing you all that and more on our CES Today morning show. You'll laugh (we hope), you'll cry (we hope not), but most importantly, you'll learn all about the trending stories of CES 2015 and everything happening on the Engadget stage today!

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  • Engadget Expand starts tomorrow: Prepare yourselves, people!

    Yes, we know...we have repeatedly bombarded you with info about Expand. To recap, it's our FREE event showcasing the future of technology happening tomorrow and Saturday in New York City. Whether you join us in person at the Javits Center, vicariously through live streaming video online, or even by beaming in, we hope you're as excited as we are to get the show started! Here's a quick rundown of all you need to know before it does.

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