Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Podcasts
  4. s

Close to the Metal Episode 53: Windows Mixed Reality isn’t so mixed

Add as a preferred source on Google

IFA 2017, Europe’s biggest consumer electronics show, is about to begin, and with it we’ve received a burst of new reveals. Microsoft is using the show to talk about Windows Mixed Reality, which we went hands-on with, and clarify what the first batch of headsets will do.

The products are a bit different from what the term “mixed reality” lead us to think. Instead of focusing on a blend of virtual and augmented reality, they heavily focus on augmented reality, using built-in cameras primarily for spatial recognition without the use of external sensors.

It’s innovative, and  important, but not for the reasons we first thought. We’ll examine all the latest Windows Mixed Reality news on this week’s Close to the Metal.

Close to the Metal is a podcast from Digital Trends that takes a deep dive into computing and PC gaming topics. Each show, we’ll focus in on one topic, and leave no stone unturned as we show off the latest in hardware and software. Whether it’s the latest GPU, supercomputers, or which 2-in-1 you should buy, we break down the complicated jargon and talk about how user experience is affected in the real world. Please subscribe, share, and send your questions to podcast@digitaltrends.com. We broadcast the show live on YouTube and Facebook at 10 a.m. Pacific / 1 p.m. Eastern, every Tuesday.

Matthew S. Smith
Matthew S. Smith is the former Lead Editor, Reviews at Digital Trends. He previously guided the Products Team, which dives…
The iPhone Duo taught the iPad a much-needed lesson in multitasking. iPadOS 27.2 makes Split View less of a chore.
A small iPad tweak that fixes a big daily annoyance.
Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

It’s funny when a brand-new phone teaches an old tablet a lesson. That’s exactly what the iPhone Duo seems to have done for the iPad. I’m genuinely glad somebody at Apple was paying attention, as it was overdue.

iPadOS 27.2 makes setting up side-by-side apps on an iPad much easier, and it is an iPad multitasker’s dream come true if you ask me.

Read more
Hackers remotely turned supermarket freezers into ovens across Europe, ruining millions of euros worth of food
The ice cream aisle is melting, and this time a heatwave isn’t to blame.
supermarket photo refrigerator section

Imagine walking into your local supermarket and finding the freezer aisle blowing hot air. That’s what happened at dozens of grocery stores across Europe last night, after hackers remotely cranked up the temperature of their fridges and freezers to a scorching 50°C (122°F).

What is happening?

Read more
Google’s next Googlebook could make your Android tablets feel outdated
Googlebooks are moving beyond traditional laptops, and the next one might look more like a tablet.
Computer, Electronics, Laptop

Googlebooks have only been around for a little over a month, but Google is already looking beyond traditional laptops. The company has confirmed that detachable Googlebooks are on the way, meaning we could soon see devices that work as both a tablet and a laptop without carrying two separate gadgets.

The announcement came during the Android Dev Summit 2026, where Google outlined its plans to expand the Googlebook lineup beyond the clamshell and convertible designs currently available. While the company hasn't revealed an official launch date or shown any hardware, an earlier leak suggests Lenovo could be the first manufacturer to bring one to market.

Read more