The Committed: A Fortnightly Tech Podcast

Episode 294: “I’m Not Going to Use This in an Operating Theater”

Ian Schray — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 23:39:09 +0000

In our triumphant return, we talk about iOS 15, iPadOS 15, the new iPad mini, and our experiences with the iPhone 13 Pro. And don’t miss Rob’s notch rant...

Links

Mega battery life comparison test

Apple MagSafe Battery Pack

Anker Magnetic Wireless Portable Charger

Unlock glitch

Picks of the Week

Rob: Find My

Kirk: The Wire

Ian: Choosy

Episode 293: “They Smell Like Feet Right Now”

Ian Schray — Tue, 04 May 2021 02:21:48 +0000

In our first episode of 2021 (yeah, we know…), Rob, Kirk, and Ian discuss recent Apple announcements and give some hands-on insight into AirPods Max, M1 MacBook Air, AirTags, and more.

Links

New iPad, Who Dis?

23 Things You Can Track with Apple’s New AirTags

All the Apps That Support Apple's Spatial Audio Feature

Picks of the Week

Rob: Wyze Robot Vacuum with LIDAR

Kirk: Theragun Prime

Ian: USB-C Adapter for MacBook Air and Pro

Episode 292: “Three Guys Walk into a Bar”

Ian Schray — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 19:03:49 +0000

We ruminate on the changes we’ve seen in our technology stacks in 2020, discuss 2-factor authentication with Apple IDs, and wonder aloud who Apple Fitness+ is actually for (hint: it’s not us).

As a programming note, this will be the last regular, fortnightly episode of The Committed. For the foreseeable future, The Committed will publish on a far less regular and more sporadic schedule. We’re still here, and we’ll do more episodes, just not every two weeks.

Links

Apple ID

I hate working out but Apple Fitness+ got me hooked

Hear what AirPods Max sound like on your own headphones

2021 Focus Planner [affiliate link]

Vivino

Picks of the Week

Rob: Grand Mountain Adventure

Kirk: Marmalade

Ian: No One Sings Like You Anymore, Vol. 1

Episode 291: “On the Low of the High End”

Ian Schray — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 23:19:50 +0000

We talk about AirPods Max, Apple Fitness+, and our impressions of Big Sur.

LINKS

AirPods Max

Apple Fitness+ Coming Monday

How to check a Mac’s OS upgrade history in System Profiler

How to find what software has been automatically updated on your Mac

Episode 290: “Holiday Gift Guide”

Ian Schray — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 19:10:08 +0000

We hold our annual, round-robin gift guide this episode, with far fewer tech items than you’d expect!

LINKS

Stainless Steel Can Opener Bar Tool For Topless Beer Can Opener

Apple California Poppy leather link watch band

MoKo Smart Folio Case for iPad Air

Kikkerland Bedside Caddy

Robert Fripp: Music for Quiet Moments

Letter to You - Springsteen album plus Apple TV+ show

Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick 500 Watt 9-Speed Immersion Multi-Purpose Hand Blender

Dieter Rams: The Complete Works

Metal Aluminum Mouse Pad

Lekeye Drain Hair Catcher

Episode 289: “Apple Event Again Again”

Ian Schray — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 23:29:52 +0000

We talk about Apple’s new M1-based MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini. For the Rob fans out there, this show is for you!

Links

A Yatch Rock A

Dear Linus…You’re wrong about the Apple M1

Apple Announces First Macs with Apple Silicon

Picks of the Week

Kirk: Modernist Bread

Rob: Meross or Kefoss smart plugs

Ian: ToothFairy

Episode 288: “Junk Drawer”

Ian Schray — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 22:05:32 +0000

We talk about iPhone 12, Apple Watch Series 6, then we go round robin about the good and bad of iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and watchOS 7.

Links

Review: Apple Watch Series 6 & Solo Loop Band

Apple Watch Band Review: California Poppy Leather Link and Atlantic Blue Braided Solo Loop

BuddyWatch

Picks of the Week

Kirk: The Queen’s Gambit

Rob: Basevs Magnetic USB C Cable for MacBook Pro

Ian: GoCube

Episode 287: “Apple Event... Again.”

Ian Schray — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 20:22:43 +0000

We talk about the new announcements from this week’s Apple announcement, including HomePod mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Links

Get a New iPhone for $0 With Trade-In for New & Existing Customers

Episode 286: “Apple Event”

Ian Schray — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 21:30:58 +0000

We cover the new Apple Watch Series 6, the new iPad Air, and the Apple One bundle. Ian goes “TMI” at least twice.

Donate to The Committed

Links

iMac Triple Hard Disk Mount

The Difference Between the New iPad Air and the 11-inch iPad Pro

Change Activity Goals on the Apple Watch in watchOS 7

Apple Introduces New Apple Watch, iPad Air, and AppleOne Services Bundle

Episode 285: “Keyboard Hammock”

Ian Schray — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 20:59:07 +0000

We do an all-tips show, offering tips and suggestions for macOS, iPadOS, and iOS. Then we talk way too much about keyboards.

Links

How to Send Files Securely

Samsung T5

Picks of the Week

Kirk: Damages

Rob: Logitech MX Master 3 mouse

Ian: Logitech MX Keys for Mac (or at Best Buy) and Rob's review

Episode 284: “All We Have is Cars”

Ian Schray — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 21:38:17 +0000

We talk about the new iMac, Phil Schiller’s well-deserved move, Tim Cook’s tenure at Apple, Face ID limitations in the era of masks, and the new Microsoft Surface Duo.

Links

2020 iMac review: The last picture show

Phil Schiller advances to Apple Fellow

An introduction to every Apple Fellow in company history

Tim Cook: “People Have Left Crying” After Meetings With Apple CEO

How Tim Cook Made Apple His Own [paywall]

MTA asks Apple’s help to solve iPhone mask issues

How to use Face ID with a face mask on iPhone & iPad

Microsoft Surface Duo

Picks of the Week

Rob: Cielo Breez Plus

Kirk: Whatever Ian has picked

Ian: VIVO Adapter VESA Mount Kit & ErGear 22-35” Premium Single Monitor Stand Mount

Episode 283: “Off Topic”

Ian Schray — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 18:57:34 +0000

We talk about drone photography, changing per-site settings in Safari, Apple’s horrible Developer app for macOS, and a too-brief history of Apple.

Links

Behold Vermont, From Above

Save Settings in Safari for Websites You Visit Often

A deeper look at Apple’s Developer app

A full history of macOS (OS X) release dates and rates

The most invisible and influential eras in Apple history

Picks of the Week

Rob: Tim’s Vermeer

Kirk and Ian: Origins Chapter 6: “Almost Famous Turns 20”

Ian: folklore

Episode 282: “Can You Hear Me?”

Ian Schray — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 19:47:29 +0000

We discuss Google’s privacy policy and the iPadOS 14 public beta. Then we talk about basketball. No, really.

Links

Google to Auto-Delete User History After 18 Months

Two Weeks with iPadOS 14: Redefining the Modern iPad Experience

First Look: iPadOS 14 Public Beta

Picks of the Week

Rob: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Seasons 1 and 2; 3 is meh, feh, and bleh)

Kirk: Utopia Avenue

Ian: The Last Dance

Episode 281: “We Need to Talk”

Ian Schray — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 22:03:49 +0000

We cover the pros and cons of the App Store, the history of macOS/Mac OS X, and then talk about this year’s WWDC.

Links

The Pros and Cons of Apple’s iOS App Store

What’s your favorite version of macOS/Mac OS X?

(Disclaimer: Ian works for an online events company that is producing their own event this fall.)

Apple’s New Plans for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac Unveiled at WWDC 2020

Episode 280: “They Took the Young Out”

Ian Schray — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 18:23:12 +0000

We talk about the Apple Watch, ARM coming to Macs, rumored small-bezel iMacs, and Apple Music metadata. Then we continue our Road to WWDC story; this time covering our hopes for macOS.

Links

New iMac With 'iPad Pro Design Language' and Thin Bezels Reportedly Coming at WWDC

New iPhone/Watch page

Apple Music and Metadata: No Humans Involved

Picks of the Week

Rob: skoko iPad Air Matte Back Protector skin

Kirk: No pick

Ian: The Little Red Book of Fly Fishing

Episode 279: “Space Nerd”

Ian Schray — Wed, 27 May 2020 22:34:37 +0000

We give an update on Wink, talk about the new ability to turn off the floating heads in FaceTime, using a HomePod without internet access, then give our wish list for WWDC 2020.

Links

Apple can solve our Face ID mask woes by stealing one of Android’s best features

Go old school Terminal for stock quotes

iPadOS 14 wishlist

Why iOS needs support for multiple accounts

Picks of the Week

Rob: LOHAS 100W equivalent no-flicker LED bulbs (My blog post)

Kirk: Hanayama Baroq cast puzzle

Ian: Tile Mate

Episode 278: “Lick a Safe Place”

Ian Schray — Thu, 14 May 2020 15:47:16 +0000

We talk a bit more about the Magic Keyboard, split-view apps on iPadOS, how to get more out of your HomePod, Rob’s broken iPhone, and the odd decision made by Wink.

Links

How to Do Everything with the HomePod

HomePod Wall Bracket

iPhone SE lacks support for Haptic Touch on notifications, and it’s not a bug

Taking it back to the matte

Wink to Customers: Pay Us or Your Stuff Breaks Next Week

SmartThings

Hubitat

Picks of the Week

Rob: Moshi iVisor series

Kirk: Roger Eno and Brian Eno: Mixing Colours

Ian: Apple Watch Series 5 Nike

Episode 277: “Superhuman Internet”

Ian Schray — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 18:31:18 +0000

We talk Bluetooth oddities in macOS, the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, and Rob’s new iPad Air.

Links

AirPods: Automatically and instantly switch between iPhone, Mac & iPad

The Magic Keyboard Turns the iPad into a New Computing Device

Magic Keyboard: Turning the iPad Into Something New

An unfair fight? New iPad Air versus 2016 iPad Pro

Picks of the Week

Rob: GuitarTuna (related: Three months’ free Fender Play lessons)

Kirk: Ciderology

Ian: Right Angle USB-C Cable

Episode 276: “This One Goes to F19”

Ian Schray — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 22:52:09 +0000

We talk about Apple and Google’s partnership, automatically switching to your AirPods, the new iPhone SE, and Kirk’s article about how to decide which iPad is best for you.

LINKS

Apple and Google partner for COVID-19 'contact tracing' tech

AirPods: Automatically and instantly switch between iPhone, Mac & iPad

iPhone SE gets redesigned with an A13 Bionic, adds Portrait Mode

Which iPad Is Best for You?

iPad vs. MacBook: is iPadOS a game changer?

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Atari Vault

Kirk: Wirecutter waffle makers

Ian: Lightning/Apple Watch Charging Cable

Episode 275: “Less Worse”

Ian Schray — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 22:36:23 +0000

We talk about Rob’s recent bank scam woes, the new cursor in iPadOS 13.4, then launch into a discussion about how to stay sane and productive when working from home.

Links

How I lost control of our bank accounts to a phone scammer

Take Control of Working from Home Temporarily

Picks of the Week

Rob: Double feature: Daniel Craig without his usual voice in Logan Lucky and Knives Out

Kirk: KitchenAid Kettle

Ian: Stump Stand

Episode 274: “Robbish”

Ian Schray — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 17:14:56 +0000

We talk about cleaning your Mac, working from home, the new iPad Pro and MacBook Air announcements, then Rob gives a full run-down on the new DJI Mavic Mini and his rekindled love affair with drone piloting.

Links

How to clean your Mac's keyboard, display, and more

Take Control of Working from Home Temporarily

Apple introduces new iPad Pro…with LiDAR

Apple updates MacBook Air

DJI Mavic Mini

New (proposed) FAA rules

DJI’s response to the proposed rules

Who should know where a drone pilot is?

Picks of the Week

Rob: Wings - The Complete Series

Ian: USB-C to Lightning Adapters

Episode 273: “Command is All You Need”

Ian Schray — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 22:36:30 +0000

We lament the passing of MacSurfer, discuss our disdain for the rumored iPad trackpad, Apple News+, and our love for Subler.

Then we talk about discoverability, and the lack thereof on Apple’s five primary operating systems.

Links

RIP MacSurfer

9 questions about the rumored iPad Smart Keyboard with trackpad

Here’s Why Apple News+ Doesn’t Work

If you rip your own discs, you need Subler

Picks of the Week

Rob: The Expanse - TV series

Kirk: A Suitable Boy

Ian: Once Upon a Time In... Hollywood

Episode 272: “It Should Be Turn-Offable”

Ian Schray — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 23:52:11 +0000

We talk briefly about the Coronavirus’s effect on Apple’s quarterly guidance, then fall down a rabbit hole discussing the bad ol’ days of Apple’s profit (or lack thereof). Rob also rants about Split View on macOS.

Links

Ozzy Osbourne Cancels 2020 Tour to Seek Medical Treatment

Investor update on quarterly guidance

Fun With Charts: When Apple was in the red

Apple security in 2019: year in review

Why is Apple rolling out new OS features in February?

How to fix Split View in macOS Mojave and Catalina

Picks of the Week

Rob: For All Mankind

Kirk: Contagion

Ian: Paperlike

Episode 271: “The Smoking Jacket of Computing Devices”

Ian Schray — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 21:37:25 +0000

Kirk and Ian talk about Sonos, Apple’s Average Sale Price (ASP) and how it has and will continue to change. Then we talk about how the iPad has (and hasn’t) changed the computing world since it was introduced ten years ago.

LINKS

Sonos changes their tune

Kirk on Chuck Joiner’s Podcast

Surprise! Cheaper Apple products are hits

The iPad Awkwardly Turns 10 – Daring Fireball

How the iPad has changed in the past 10 years (and how it hasn't)

Tablet vs. Laptop: Pros and Cons of Replacing a Laptop with a Tablet

New Apple iPad at Amazon

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Kirk: Instant Pot

Ian: The Outsider

Episode 270: “Insert Title Here”

Ian Schray — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 21:06:41 +0000

We talk about productivity hacks, “Disliking” Apple Music, Sonos’s decision to EOL certain models, and then talk about backup strategies and tactics.

LINKS

What’s the Point of “Disliking” Music on Apple Music?

Playing Multi-Room Audio After Sonos

What does iCloud back up?

Geeking out: Create local Time Machine-like backups of your web sites

Did Apple abandon iCloud encryption due to FBI?

Keep an eye on your Time Machine backups with BackupLoupe

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: NetNewsWire 5

Kirk: Leica M10 Monocrom

Ian: The Athletic (affiliate)

Episode 269: “This is Going to Go in the Shredder”

Ian Schray — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 15:45:52 +0000

In our first episode of 2020, we talk about HomePod vs. Sonos, modding your AirPods Pro, and the current firehose of episodic content available.

Links

Should You Avoid Writing This Year as ’20’ on Checks?

How I Modded the Silicone Tips of AirPods Pro with a Memory Foam Layer

HomePod vs. Sonos One Stereo Pair Comparison

Stereo-paired HomePods need to be a Mac sound option

Apple TV+ Isn’t Worth It

Welcome to Apple – A one-party state

Picks of the Week

Rob: BlissLights SkyLight

Kirk: Giri/Haji

Ian: Outlook for iOS and iPadOS

Episode 268: “It’s Just a Click"

Ian Schray — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 18:36:01 +0000

In the final episode of 2019, we talk about Apple News+, AirPods Pro availability, a new standard for smart devices, and Rob’s new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.

Then we take a look at significant releases of 2019, what we’re going to do to improve ourselves in the end-of-year down time, and what we’re looking forward to in 2020.

Links

Apple Arcade annual subscription now available, with two months free

Apple’s AirPods Pro are sold out online ahead of the holidays

iStockNow

Amazon, Apple, Google, and the Zigbee Alliance to develop connectivity standard

De-distractionate the Touch Bar

2020 Digital Planner (affiliate link)

The Daily Stoic

Awaken Every Day

Dropbox Security Checkup

Picks of the Week

Rob: Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series of books

Kirk: In Our Time

Ian: Don't Be Evil: How Big Tech Betrayed Its Founding Principles -- and All of Us

Episode 267: “Previously Damp”

Ian Schray — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 19:34:57 +0000

We talk about chains of trust, whether or not Apple actually believes the iPad Pro will replace your PC, and Apple’s apparently new strategy for testing prerelease software. Then we do our annual holiday gift guide!

LINKS

Apple finally admits iPad Pro won't replace your PC

The chain of trust in Apple’s devices

Apple iOS 14: Features, Changes, Testing After iOS 13 Bugs

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Ian

dbrand device decals

Timekeeper Tuxedo 24 Hour Clock

Dual Wireless Charger

AirPods Pro

Adobe Creative Cloud

Kirk

Bit City

Cuisinart waffle maker

Lee Child books

Dyson V8 Absolute

Rob

Emergency seat belt cutter/window breaker

Moonfire 50th Anniversary Edition

Apple Arcade

Lego Millennium Falcon

Episode 266: “It’s Slappy”

Ian Schray — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 22:13:21 +0000

We cover a wide variety this time… New MacBook Pro, Google’s creepy Project Nightingale, Apple Music Replay, AirPods Pro, and Yacht Rock. Then Ian and Kirk lament the lack of “One Information Repository that Rules them All” while Rob ignores us.

Links

Google’s ‘Project Nightingale’ Gathers Personal Health Data on Millions of Americans

WWDC app is now Apple Developer app

Apple Music Replay Provides a Summary of Your Music Listening; or Does It?

A Yatch Rock A

AirPods Pro is just the start of Apple’s audio-processing revolution

Picks of the Week

Rob: pfSense

Kirk: Snakes on a Plane

Ian: JETech Magnetic Case for Apple iPad Pro 12.9

Episode 265: “Where’s the Car?”

Ian Schray — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 23:54:55 +0000

We talk about the problems with Electron apps, Google’s acquisition of Fitbit, how Mac portable keyboards suck, and the Apple TV app on Amazon Fire TV products. We then discuss Apple’s success in non-computer products.

Links

Electron apps getting banned

Google acquires Fitbit

Portable Macs’ keyboards still suck

Apple TV App Now Available on Some Amazon Fire TV Devices

Amazon Fire Stick 4K

iStockNow

Picks of the Week

Rob: The Man Behind the Maps (Great interview with the author)

Kirk: Just Kids

Ian: Cinder

Episode 264: “Gather ‘Round the Fire”

Ian Schray — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 04:29:18 +0000

We talk about Kirk’s new book and how to navigate the changes between iTunes and the new uni-task apps in macOS Catalina.

Links

Instaread

Radio Paradise

Picks of the Week

Kirk: The Last Ship

Ian: Powerbeats Pro

Episode 263: “I Wasn’t Aware of an Actual Fiasco”

Ian Schray — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 00:11:38 +0000

We talk about eSIMs and Reminders before launching into a discussion about macOS Catalina, which was released this week. This is one where Rob talks a lot.

Links

macOS 10.15 Vista

Some Thoughts on The App Formerly Known as iTunes and macOS Catalina

A walkthrough on key changes in Catalina

How Home Sharing Works in macOS Catalina

How the New Sidecar Feature Works to Turn an iPad Into a Secondary Mac Display

Apple’s White Paper on Sidecar

Picks of the Week

Rob: 120mm USB-powered quiet fan

Kirk: The Hustle

Ian: The West Wing Weekly Podcast

Episode 262: “Front Pocket Wallet Guy”

Ian Schray — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 23:17:06 +0000

We cover our favorite (and most irksome) features of the iPhone 11, iOS 13, iPadOS 13, and the new Apple Watch.

LINKS

The Dark Side of Dark Mode

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: IKEA Bergshult/Granhult shelving

Kirk: Apple Watch Meyer Lemon Leather Loop Band Review

Ian: USB C Hub for iPad Pro

Episode 261: “Boom. Sandwich.”

Ian Schray — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 23:20:32 +0000

We cover the new products Apple announced in this week’s special event.

Links

The Last Apple Keynote (Hopefully)

The Next Track

PhotoActive

Episode 260: “It’s the Hotel California of Audio”

Ian Schray — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 02:10:19 +0000

We talk about Apple Card, audio inputs on Macs, music listening, and then we dive deep into Kirk’s recent coverage of the HomePod.

Links

Set up audio devices on iMac (Mid 2014) and later

How to Share Your Listening History in Apple Music

The Problems with Apple’s HomePods

The HomePod Is a Mono Speaker

Picks of the Week

Rob: Blinded by the Light

Kirk: Rams

Ian: Mindhunter

Episode 259: “I’m the Mayor of Joe’s House Now”

Ian Schray — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 15:31:16 +0000

We talk about the last Blockbuster, the Apple Card, AppleCare, cryptography, the new Kindle Oasis, and back to school time for Rob and Ian.

LINKS

The Last Blockbuster

Apple Card

Apple offering AppleCare monthly plans for new iPhones along with theft and loss option

The Clever Cryptography Behind Apple's 'Find My' Feature

The User-Unfriendly Feature and Pricing Structure of OmniOutliner

Review: The New (2019) Kindle Oasis

Picks of the Week

Rob: Rollerblade wheels for your office chair

Kirk: Justified

Ian: Cable Clips

Episode 258: “How Many Billions”

Ian Schray — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 20:59:45 +0000

We talk about Apple’s earnings, software pricing structures, and a selective history of macOS/Mac OS X/OS X releases.

LINKS

Moom in the App Store

Donate with PayPal

Apple’s Q3 2019 results: Evolving from the iPhone to Wearables and Services

The User-Unfriendly Feature and Pricing Structure of OmniOutliner

A useless analysis of macOS (OS X) release dates

Omni: Retiring the iOS Document Browser

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Kidde Fire Escape Ladder

Ian: Sound City

Episode 257: “We Cannot Be a Two-Phone Species”

Ian Schray — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 23:11:39 +0000

With summer in full swing, we talk about ways to declutter physical and digital spaces to increase productivity. But first, we talk about the App Store, MacBooks, Zoom, and tiny iPhones.

Links

Apple's latest transparency report includes government demands for App Store removals, redacted NSLs

'Executive review board' has final say on controversial App Store titles

Apple tweaks laptop lineup with cheaper Air; MacBook disappears

Serious Vulnerability in Zoom Video Conference App Could Let Websites Hijack Mac Webcams

Kirk’s Desktop Zero

My New Vitsœ Shelves Have Freed Up Space in My Office

Picks of the Week

Rob: Spider-man: Far From Home

Kirk: Go64

Ian: 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Cellular

Episode 256: “Exacerbation of International Unhappiness”

Ian Schray — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 21:44:48 +0000

We talk about the iPhone SE, GoodNotes going Catalyst, and the departure of Jony Ive from Apple.

Links

The Future of GoodNotes for Mac

WSJ: Jony Ive Became ‘Dispirited’ After Apple Watch and Sometimes Failed to Show Up to Meetings – MacRumors

Tim Cook’s Response

For better and worse, we live in Jony Ive’s world

Apple’s worst designs by Jon Ive, according to the AppleInsider staff

Apple’s best designs by Jon Ive, according to the AppleInsider staff

Take A Look Inside Apple Genius Jony Ive's $17 Million San Francisco Mansion

Picks of the Week

Rob: Telescopic Magnetic Pick Up Tool - what it found near our addition

Kirk: Vitsoe 606 Universal Shelving System

Ian: Anker 60W USB C Charger

Episode 255: “Doing the Crazy Eddy Thing”

Ian Schray — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 03:31:55 +0000

Returning to our fortnightly summer schedule, we talk about iTunes, the new Kindle Oasis, Dropbox’s new enterprise focus, and some thoughts on iPadOS.

LINKS

The Next Track

Kindle Oasis

Dropbox relaunches as an enterprise collaboration workspace

MacBook Pro problem costing $10k turned out to be a $0 fix

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Brinno TLC200PRO HDR Time Lapse Video Camera + Weather Resistant Housing

Kirk: MacBook Pro with Touch Barf

Ian: The Chef Show

Episode 254: “Everything’s a Beta”

Ian Schray — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 21:38:47 +0000

We talk about the wide variety of announcements from WWDC 2019, including iPadOS, the Mac Pro, and get Kirk’s take on iTunes.

Links

iOS 13 revealed but not discussed features

iPadOS features

macOS features

Picks of the Week

Rob: Ring Home Security Kit at Costco

Kirk: Vitsœ 621 table

Ian: Logitech Crayon

Episode 253: “Marzipan Mouth Feel”

Ian Schray — Wed, 29 May 2019 21:46:09 +0000

We continue our Road to WWDC series, this time allowing Rob to get really spun up to complain about Touch Bar, Marzipan, and anything else in his way.

Links

It’s easy to win when you don’t fight fair - how non-Touch Bar MBP models don’t stand a chance

Apple upgrades processors in MacBook Pro, 8-core 15-inch model now available

Apple improves butterfly keyboard (again), offers free fixes

Apple Launches Updated iPod touch with A10 Chip, Larger 256GB Storage Option

UI is horridly ugly (thanks Marzipan)

Subscribing is an awful experience, categories don’t appear to be scrollable

Tip: Set the left and right arrow keys to navigate stories

Why Apple needs iPad apps on the Mac

Apple Trade-In Weirdness

Picks of the Week

Rob: Beyond Meat Beyond Sausage (Brat)

Kirk: Peak Design travel tripod

Ian: VPN Unlimited

Episode 252: “A Really Nice-Looking QR Code”

Ian Schray — Wed, 15 May 2019 22:47:09 +0000

We talk about the Supreme Court’s decision to allow class-action lawsuits against Apple’s App Store business practices, iPhone upgrades, and what we’d like to see in an Apple “concierge” at retail.

LINKS

Downlink

XKeyboarCD

Supreme Court rules that consumers can sue Apple for App Store practices

It’s Amazing That Anyone Upgrades Their iPhone – 500ish Words

The Next Track: Episode #20 – You Think You Know about the Blues? Eliah Wald on the History of the Blues

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Kirk: Catch Me if You Can

Ian: Robert Johnson – The Centennial Collection & Eric Clapton – Me and Mr. Johnson

Episode 251: “Now With 20% Fewer Features”

Ian Schray — Wed, 08 May 2019 23:40:08 +0000

We talk about CarPlay and the Apple Watch, ripping CDs and vinyl, MDM and VPN, and the fire and fury of multiple displays.

LINKS

Audio Hijack

There Used to Be An App For That

Circle

We Couldn’t Wait for a Foldable Mac Screen — So We Made One Ourselves

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Planefinder AR

Kirk: Robert Caro: Working

Ian: Downlink

Episode 250: “Imagine if Fredo Had a Cell Phone”

Ian Schray — Thu, 02 May 2019 21:42:46 +0000

In addition to continuing our Road to WWDC discussion, we talk about Apple Pay, 5Ge, MDM and VPN for family monitoring, Apple News+, and folding Macs??

LINKS

JC Penney drops Apple Pay because they can’t spy on customers who use it

$1 billion for false arrest over tech Apple says it doesn’t even use

AT&T can keep lying to people about 5G

Phil Schiller Lays Out Apple's Case for Cracking Down on Screen Time Monitoring Apps

Apple announces quarterly results, but without unit sales, who cares?

We Couldn’t Wait for a Foldable Mac Screen— So We Made One Ourselves

Apple Should Offer an Icon-Only Option for iOS Device Home Screens

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Avengers: Endgame [Josh Centers’s thread on the goodness of the movies]

Kirk: Samuel Beckett: Endgame

Ian: Avengers: Endgame

Episode 249: “It Won’t Be Me”

Ian Schray — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 21:18:47 +0000

In the run-up to WWDC, we talk about things we’d like to see in iOS and macOS. But first, we talk folding phones, traveling with a MacBook, and dark mode.

LINKS

Galaxy Fold

Galaxy Fold release postponed while Samsung investigates breaking screens

Is Apple Splitting Up iTunes? Here’s How They’ll Do It

Photo import improvements coming to iOS, macOS?

Mouse and trackpad support for iOS coming in iOS 13?

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Logitech MX Master 2S

Kirk: New York Times Crossword

Ian: Creality Ender 3

Episode 248: “Bathrob-y at the Top”

Ian Schray — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 21:32:34 +0000

We talk about swollen Apple Watch batteries, Apple’s services strategy and branding, the HomePod, troubles using Google accounts in macOS Mail after the 10.14.4 update, and more.

LINKS

Apple Sued Over Swollen Batteries in Apple Watches

Apple Solidifies Its Transition to a Services Company

Three Apple products in the danger zone

Apple Drops HomePod Price to $299

Apple just made the experience of upgrading to a new Mac far less painful

PSA: Many users reporting issues signing into Google accounts through Mail on macOS 10.14.4

Force multiple tracks to play as one in iTunes

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Optimum Opti-Seal

Kirk: Coltrane ‘58: Prestige Recordings

Ian: Shun Classic 5-inch Hollow Edge Nakiri Knife

Episode 247: “Burn my Pants Pocket”

Ian Schray — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 21:41:03 +0000

We talk about Apple News+, the new AirPod wireless charging case, the new iPad mini 5, and the new iMacs.

LINKS

Get Message URL AppleScript

AirPower Cancelled

Texture Going Away

The Wall Street Journal Details Terms of Partnership with Apple for Apple News+ Service

Readly

Why The New York Times did not sign up for Apple News+

Apple Announces Powerbeats Pro, Launching Soon for $250

Episode 246: “A Billion Pockets”

Ian Schray — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 23:37:02 +0000

We cover select items from this week’s Apple Media Event.

Episode 245: “A Picture of Words”

Ian Schray — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 22:38:53 +0000

We talk about note taking on the iPad in Apple Books, the stealth new feature in Mail Drop for OmniFocus, sleep tracking with the Apple Watch, and the upcoming Apple Event.

LINKS

OmniFocus Mail Drop

Apple Event on March 25th

Taika Waititi to Direct ‘Time Bandits’ Series in Development at Apple

CorelDraw 2019 comes back to the Mac and onto the web

We’re so done with Samsung appliances

Apple Plans Sleep Tracking Feature for Future Watch

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Kirk: Post-Punk Deep Cuts (Apple Music playlist)

Ian: Captain Marvel

Episode 244: “Let-Me-Just Syndrome”

Ian Schray — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 23:51:19 +0000

We talk about Apple Watch sales, then launch into a conversation about digital vs. analog, specifically related to doing tasks for work and life.

LINKS

Apple Sold 10.4M Apple Watches in 4Q18

The Virtue of Using Analog Tools for Business

The Bullet Journal Method

GoodNotes 5

Oregon man who survived snowbound off sauce packets for 5 days gets year of free Taco Bell

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Kirk: Casper Glow

Ian: MOSISO Plastic Hard Shell Case Cover for MacBook

Episode 243: “I’ve Turned Off Lots of Settings”

Ian Schray — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 23:02:30 +0000

We cover a variety of news items, including iOS 12 adoption numbers, Goldman Sachs’s rumored relationship with Apple, Amazon counterfeiting, and apps that send your data to Facebook.

LINKS

Bacon Ipsum

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

83% of all devices introduced in the last 4 years are using iOS 12

Goldman Sachs' partnership with Apple could move it a step closer to being 'a bank branch in your pocket'

Apple Will Soon Let Developers Entice Past Subscribers With Discounted iOS, macOS, and tvOS Subscriptions

Samsung Galaxy Fold

China's Huawei Unveils New 5G Folding-Screen Phone

Palm Tungsten T

Wicked thick phone

Episode 242: “Stockholm Syndroming”

Ian Schray — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 00:02:14 +0000

We cover a variety of topics, including Amazon’s Eero purchase, the rumored upcoming Apple News event, the “Marzipanning” of macOS, and the fact that it’s been five years since the last Macworld Expo.

LINKS

Amazon buying Eero

Apple to Remove “Do Not Track” Feature from Safari

Why Are Images from My TV Different if I Use Apps on the TV or my Apple TV?

Apple Plans News Event For March 25

RBDigital

Apple Plans on Combining iPhone, iPad, Mac Apps by 2021

Ten Years Ago, Apple Said Goodbye to Macworld but Set the Stage for the Future

Techtool Pro doesn’t fix APFS

Neither does DiskWarrior

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: DigiCue Blue Billiard Training Aid

Kirk: The Wolf of Wall Street

Ian: Juegoal Wood Cribbage Board

Episode 241: “We Don’t Know Anything”

Ian Schray — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 22:33:06 +0000

We talk about the continued misunderstanding of what the iPad is, and how that misunderstanding is often fueled by Apple’s messaging, then we talk about selling iPhone on eBay, the iPhone XR, Facebook’s hot water situation with Apple, and Angela Ahrendts’s impending departure from Apple.

LINKS

Why I’m Selling My iPad Pro

Going back to the Mac to finish the Six Colors Report Card

Why I Won’t Sell an iPhone on eBay Any More

The iPhone XR Is Apple's Top Phone, and Other iPhone Sales Secrets

Facebook, Google Caught Deploying Invasive Apps; Apple Shuts Them Down

Three Apple decisions that don’t please the user, but the company won’t change

Angela Ahrendts to depart Apple in April

Can’t Unsee

Real-world use of drones (planes) in Rwanda

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Wings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run

Kirk: Mubi

Ian: The Sopranos

Episode 240: “A Metric Lot”

Ian Schray — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 22:14:04 +0000

In an all-news episode, we talk Mojave’s Dark Mode, minimal iPhone home screens, the Mac Pro, the FaceTime bug, Apple’s Q1 results, and a lot of other stuff.

LINKS

NightOwl

Major iPhone FaceTime bug lets you hear the audio of the person you are calling … before they pick up

Apple took out a CES ad to troll its competitors over privacy

Apple’s dramatic Q1 2019 results

Facebook pays teens to install VPN that spies on them

Foxconn’s LCD plant in doubt

American Airlines will let you stream Apple Music over in-flight Wi-Fi for free

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: On the Nose: A Lifelong Obsession with Yosemite’s Most Iconic Climb

Kirk: Apple’s trade-in program

Ian: AirBuddy

Episode 239: “All in on Dark Mode”

Ian Schray — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 00:16:13 +0000

Ian welcomes Jeff Porten back to the show to discuss the role CES has in the tech world, and how it compares to the old days of Macworld Expo.

LINKS

Edited with iPad Pro campaign

Every Gadget and App Should Have a Dark Mode

Byton

TidBITS CES Coverage

Jeff Porten’s TidBITS Articles

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Jeff: Smart lights in general

Ian: Fender Play

Episode 238: “Mastering Knife Kills”

Ian Schray — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 22:16:08 +0000

We talk about the iPhone Smart Battery Cases, then launch into a discussion about changing up the tools and methods we use to get things done.

LINKS

Feds can’t force you to unlock your iPhone with finger or face, judge rules

iPhone Smart Battery Cases

How the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil Have Changed My Writing Workflow

Scanner Pro

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: George Foreman Grill

Kirk: Wüsthof Classic 7-piece knife set

Ian: GoodNotes 5

Episode 237: “It’s All About the Lens”

Ian Schray — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 23:54:36 +0000

We cover the news that Apple services will be available on non-Apple devices, including TVs from the major manufacturers, the kerfuffle of bending iPads, and what we hope to see from Apple in 2019.

LINKS

Samsung Will Offer iTunes/AirPlay Compatible TVs

Vizio, LG to Add AirPlay 2, HomeKit Support This Spring

AirPlay 2-Enabled TVs

CarPlay supported cars

The Ride Is Over: Apple Faces the End of the iPhone Boom

Letter from Tim Cook to Apple investors

Apple confirms some iPad Pros ship slightly bent, but says it’s normal

2019 iOS wishlist: Better iPhone prices, smaller phones, and iPad software updates

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: KitchenAid stand mixer blade with scraper

Ian: Canon M100

Episode 236: “Kinda Like a Sorting Hat”

Ian Schray — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 21:26:03 +0000

In our final show of 2018, we talk about Kirk’s new car, Apple Maps, the death of Apple Connect, and Mac App Store analytics before briefly touching on several remarkable tech topics of the year.

LINKS

Apple Maps Are the Worst Maps (at Least in the UK)

Apple Pings Connect

Analytics for Mac App Store apps

Resolutionator

Redesigned iPad Pro and Apple Pencil

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: The Dawn Wall

Kirk: Bobby

Ian: Leather Cable Straps

Episode 235: “Universal Reversible”

Ian Schray — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 01:12:09 +0000

We talk briefly about subscription models for software and universal Lightning/Micro USB cables, then cover a small selection of frustratingly non-intuitive features in iOS and macOS.

Links

OmniFocus subscriptions

Urbo 2-in-1 Universal Reversible Charging Cable

Batch Processing in Apple Photos

Picks of the Week

Rob: Speed Out Titanium

Kirk: Mastering Knife Skills

Ian: Omnicharge 60W USB-C Power Bank

Episode 234: “Holiday Gift Guide”

Ian Schray — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 22:40:43 +0000

We run through our favorite gifts from geeks like us to normal, everyday, well-adjusted human beings.

LINKS

Apple Entrepreneur Camp

How much for that app? U.S. top court hears Apple antitrust dispute

Apple v. Pepper

A bit more on the Apple, App Store antitrust Supreme Court hearing

GIFT GUIDE 2018

Ian

Apple TV 4K

Apple Watch Series 3

Timbuk2 Bags (with trade-in!)

Rob

Third-party Watch bands and iPhone & iPad cases - check FakeSpot

ZeroLemon 30K mAh charger w/ USB-C

Planet Earth II 4K—buy a 4K TV and 4K player first if needed

Kirk

Sonos One

Perfidious Albion, by Sam Byers

KitchenAid pasta roller and cutter

Episode 233: “MacBook iPad Air Pro”

Ian Schray — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 23:37:58 +0000

We talk about Apple’s earnings as well as their technologies that are running out of time, then we quickly cover the new iPad Pro and MacBook Air.

LINKS

Apple’s latest record quarter: Why Apple loves China but hates sales figures

4 Apple products and technologies that are running out of time

Jony Ive Interview: Apple Design Guru on How He Created the New iPad – And the Philosophy Behind It

Apple’s Jony Ive on the Unpredictable Consequences of Innovation

Dissecting a Design: The New Apple iPad Pro

iPad Pro

Pencil 2

iPad Pro Smart Keyboard Folio

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Unclutter

Kirk: When

Ian: AmazonBasics USB Type-C to USB-A

Episode 232: “Norman F-ing Rockwell”

Ian Schray — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 22:49:44 +0000

We cover today’s Apple Event, including MacBook Air, Mac mini, and iPad Pro announcements.

LINKS

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Free Solo

Ian: The 2018 Boston Red Sox

Episode 231: “This Mall Has Everything!”

Ian Schray — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 22:09:30 +0000

We talk about the ever-annoying “Do Not Disturb” warning in iOS, the iPhone XS Max, and Apple Stores. We then talk about what we’d like to see out of next week’s Apple Event.

LINKS

Apple describes 'beautygate' iPhone XS bug, says it will be fixed in iOS 12.1

Apple Touchwood Centre

Apple Pioneer Place

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Money Heist

Kirk: The 2020 Commission Report on the North Korean Nuclear Attacks Against the United States

Ian: Tweetbot 5 for iOS

Episode 230: “Slumming”

Ian Schray — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 21:33:44 +0000

We talk about bagel emoji, Photoshop on the iPad, and a collection of tips from our own Kirk McElhearn.

Links

Apple Fixes Bagel Emoji

Photoshop CC heads for the iPad

Palm mini-”phone”

How to Use Annotations and Quick Actions in the macOS Mojave Finder

How to Sync, View, and Use Photos on the Apple Watch

How to Spot Fake Product Reviews

How to paint a room quickly

Picks of the Week

Rob: Bosch BLAZE 65ft laser distance measure

Kirk: No Immediate Danger: Volume One of Carbon Ideologies

Ian: Play by Dave Grohl

Episode 229: “Two Hundred Words to Say No”

Ian Schray — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 21:22:22 +0000

We talk iCloud- and iTunes-based iOS backups, Apple Watch faces, and some current headlines related to security and privacy.

LINKS

Why it’s hard to read the time on Infograph

Microsoft open sources its patent portfolio

Google shutting down Google+ after exposing data of up to 500,000 users

SMS Text Message Login Codes Autofill in iOS 12 and Mojave, But Remain Insecure

Facebook unveils the Portal, a video chat camera for the people who still trust Facebook

The Big Hack: Statements From Amazon, Apple, Supermicro, and the Chinese Government

Apple tells Congress it found no signs of hacking attack

Joe’s Cat Instagram

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Ridgid 18 gauge Hyperdrive nail gun

Kirk: Vanity Fair

Ian: A Star is Born (soundtrack, too!)

Episode 228: “The Marzipan Wars”

Ian Schray — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 18:09:53 +0000

We talk about Apple Watch Series 4 complications, then launch into a discussion about Mojave and its oddities with permissions. Then we devolve into a global thermonuclear war about Marzipan apps on macOS.

LINKS

Apple Watch: Hello New Faces, Goodbye Old Faces

Why are Apple Watch faces such a mess?

Six Colors review

Comments on the Marzipan apps

Our experience with Moom and App Store customers

Resetting the Mojave Accessibility permissions is a PitA

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Apple Watch Series 4

Kirk: Stocks app

Ian: FreePrints

Episode 227: “Mind the Horns”

Ian Schray — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 20:48:18 +0000

We talk about our first impressions with the iPhone XS and the Apple Watch Series 4, including how Ian’s wearing the Sport Loop wrong.

LINKS

Waze Adds CarPlay Support

Google Maps Adds CarPlay Support

Daring Fireball: The iPhones XS

Daring Fireball: Apple Watch Series 4

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Chefman Electric Egg Steamer/Boiler

Kirk: The Commuter

Ian: OmniFocus 3 for Mac

Episode 226: “It’s Not a Collector’s Item if You Can Buy it Refurbished”

Ian Schray — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 23:05:13 +0000

We talk about the good, the bad, and the horribly terrible features in iOS 12.

LINKS

The iPhones XS

Is the Apple Watch the New iPhone?

Apple’s Measure App and Accuracy

1Password integration

Episode 225: “Tennis Match is the New Aluminium”

Ian Schray — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 19:43:18 +0000

We cover the new announcements from Apple’s September event, as Rob gloats about how much money the notch is saving him.

LINKS

Apple Watch Series 4

iPhone Xs and Xs Max

iPhone Xr

Apple Expands AppleCare+ on iPhones with Optional Theft and Loss Coverage

Episode 224: “There’s Too Much Invested in Bands”

Ian Schray — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 21:52:20 +0000

On the eve of the September 12 Apple event, we talk about stories that have captured our interest over the summer. Oh, and we return to a weekly schedule.

LINKS

Evernote slashes price of Premium subscription as many executives depart

NetNewsWire back with Brent Simmons

Mojave is bad news

macOS Mojave gets new APIs around AppleEvent sandboxing – but AEpocalypse still looms

Apple Event Sandboxing in macOS Mojave Lacks Essential APIs

Mojave’s privacy protection is complex and will crash innocent apps

How a 1998 steve jobs meeting led to the birth of wi-fi

Privacy not absolute: US among consortium of nations calling for encryption back doors

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Otter iOS voice/transcription app

Kirk: Dylan & the Dead

Ian: Nativefier

Episode 223: “It’s Chicken-S”

Ian Schray — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 22:05:02 +0000

In the run-up to the fall Apple event, we talk about what we'd like to see, what we're still waiting to see, and what we probably won't see.

LINKS

Instaread

Goodreads

Group FaceTime delayed until later this fall

Apple’s Group FaceTime delay is the right move. Here’s why

Back to My Mac will not be available on macOS Mojave

Screens 4

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Mothers Spray Glass Cleaner

Kirk: a cat

Ian: Magnetic Sleeve for Apple Pencil

Episode 222: “Just Read”

Ian Schray — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 22:27:09 +0000

The summer is half over, unbelievably. We talk about how, what, and why we're reading this summer.

LINKS

Skype 7 (Skype classic) to be discontinued soon (not so fast!)

3 small-but-important details from Apple’s Q4 2018 financials call

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August

Dark Matter

Goodreads

PhotoActive Podcast

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Alaska Airlines

Kirk: Quintin Lake’s The Perimeter photo walk

Ian: LEGO James Bond Aston Martin DB5

Episode 221: “Sit and Do Nothing!”

Ian Schray — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 21:28:04 +0000

Ian welcomes Jeff Porten back to the show for a special one-on-one discussion about productivity tools and methodology.

LINKS

30% discount on Take Control of Your Productivity

Episode 220: “Five Days of Wassailing”

Ian Schray — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 22:02:40 +0000

We welcome Jeff Porten to the show to talk about his new book, Take Control of Your Productivity.

LINKS

30% discount on Take Control of Your Productivity

@jeffporten

Surface Go

Apple to deploy 1Password to all 123,000 employees, acquisition talks underway

New MacBook Pros, all with idiotic Touch Bars

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Jeff: G Suite and TechSoup for nonprofits

Rob: Duxtop 8100MC 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop

Kirk: Matt Haig: Notes on a Nervous Planet

Ian: Kitchen Confidential

Episode 219: “A Tale of Two Nerds”

Ian Schray — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 19:36:45 +0000

We talk about iOS and macOS public betas, and lament the dearth of new Mac hardware.

LINKS

How to Disable the Typing Animation in Office 2016 or Office 2013

iOS 12 public beta is out for all

iOS 12 Beta: Why You Should (and Shouldn't) Download It

macOS Mojave Public Beta is now available

6,399 reasons why I haven’t yet replaced my iMac

The sad state of Mac hardware

Where oh where can the Mac updates be?

Keyboard Service Program for MacBook and MacBook Pro

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Wyze Cam Pan

Ian: A Quiet Place

Episode 218: “Microsoft 366”

Ian Schray — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 22:47:16 +0000

We welcome Jeff Carlson back to the show to talk about his new podcast with our own Kirk McElhearn: The PhotoActive Podcast!

LINKS

Microsoft buys GitHub

If Only Apple Would Let You Use Your Own Domain for iCloud Email…

How a parent can take some control of kids’ iPhone, iPad and iPod use

PhotoActive Podcast

Some of Jeff’s photos

William Eggleston

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Jeff: Ecovacs Deebot N79s Robot Vacuum

Kirk: Photographing Flowers

Ian: Moment

Episode 217: “One Watt Too Weak”

Ian Schray — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 21:15:26 +0000

We cover our favorite announcements of WWDC 2018, round robin-style!

LINKS

Donate via PayPal at the thecommitted.tv

PhotoActive Podcast

New features coming with iOS 12.

macOS Mojave

watchOS 5

tvOS 5

The small details of iOS 12, macOS Mojave, and more

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: SoundHound

Kirk: Pistachios

Ian: Kwikset Premis

Episode 216: “The Apple School of Tiering”

Ian Schray — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 23:02:48 +0000

We cover a buffet of topics, including iOS 11.4, AirPlay 2, the Apple Watch update trick, smart door locks, and Apple data dumps.

LINKS

How to speed up Apple Watch software updates dramatically

Hello, stereo paired HomePods

Kwikset Premis

This Is Included When Apple Sends You Your Data Dump

Apple Privacy Enquiries

Apple promotes free month of upgraded iCloud storage to non-paying users

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Little Big Shot Super Nozzle

Kirk: No pick

Ian: OmniFocus 3 for iOS

Episode 215: “Back to my List”

Ian Schray — Wed, 23 May 2018 23:42:35 +0000

We explore a different way of moving icons around on an iPad in iOS 11, then we talk about things we'd like to see from Apple at WWDC 2018 in a couple of weeks.

LINKS

Apple WWDC 2018

Circle with Disney

Outlook for Mac

Old Outlook for Mac

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Deadpool 2

Kirk: The Poems of T.S. Eliot Read by Jeremy Irons

Ian: Evil Genius

Episode 214: “One Big Qi Charger”

Ian Schray — Tue, 15 May 2018 19:35:28 +0000

We talk a bit more about the iMac's 20th anniversary, then talk a lot about CarPlay's past, present, and future.

LINKS

List of CarPlay supported cars

List of third-party CarPlay receivers

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Pinball Arcade (but buy the tables you want soon—losing Bally and Williams!

Ian: I’ll Be Gone in the Dark

Episode 213: “If it’s Over 80, I Don’t Wear Pants”

Ian Schray — Tue, 08 May 2018 21:20:17 +0000

We talk about the 20th anniversary of the iMac: Where it came from, what it meant, and what it's become.

LINKS

iMac Introduction

iMac Specs

What are the differences between the original "Bondi" iMac G3 models?

PowerCD

Mactracker [iOS app]

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Hamilton

Kirk: Brian Eno: Music for Installations

Ian: Action Comics #1000

Episode 212: “Wi-Fi the Whole Time”

Ian Schray — Wed, 02 May 2018 22:10:50 +0000

We talk about Apple Watch updates, Kindle Whispersync with Audible, DirecTV NOW, and the coming demise of support for 32-bit apps on macOS.

LINKS

How to speed up Apple Watch software updates dramatically

Whispersync for Voice with Audible

DirecTV Now + AppleTV 4K

64-bit Requirement for Mac Apps

Create a savable list of 32-bit apps

Hardware: Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 document scanner

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Quicken 2018

Kirk: Robert Mapplethorpe: Flora

Ian: Avengers: Infinity War

Episode 211: “Hard Core Calendaring”

Ian Schray — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 23:04:15 +0000

We talk about Amazon's announcement of reaching 100 million Prime members, then launch into a discussion about whether or not the Apple Watch should be its own "island" or continue to be an iPhone accessory.

LINKS

Amazon Finally Announces Numbers: 100 Million Prime Members

iPhone dependence is killing Apple Watch. Here’s how Cupertino could fix it.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Vienna - RSS reader

Kirk: Money Monster

Ian: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Life: Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3

Episode 210: “Life’s a Spreadsheet”

Ian Schray — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 22:23:15 +0000

We welcome Adam Engst back to the show to talk about the recent redesign of TidBITS.

APPLE PARK PHOTOS

LINKS

How to Use Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 Public DNS (And Why You Should)

TidBITS

Adam Engst on Twitter

Discourse

Episode 209: “It’s a Hobby”

Ian Schray — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 20:51:46 +0000

We cover business card scanning, MDM possibilities, and Apple's rumored move to in-house chips. We also cover Apple's new education-focused products and services.

LINKS

Apple Plans to Use Its Own Chips in Macs From 2020, Replacing Intel

Logitech Crayon

Apple’s Education Push Is Great; But It May not Be Enough

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Twitterific for Mac

Kirk: 42mm Black Stripe Woven Nylon

Ian: The Final Tour: Copenhagen, March 24, 1960

Episode 208: “iMac mini”

Ian Schray — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 21:13:07 +0000

We talk about Texture, Zinio, Readly, and Magzter and how they differ and how we think Apple can help solve the problem of getting access to niche magazines. Ian also fixed his iMac and iPhone, with little-known troubleshooting techniques for both iOS and macOS. Finally, Kirk discusses his decision to "rightsize" from a 27" iMac to a 21.5" iMac.

LINKS

Magzter Gold

Readly

Why I Downsized from a 27″ to a 21.5″ iMac

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Alto’s Odyssey

Kirk: Russian Roulette

Ian: Kindle Oasis

Episode 207: “You Save on the Second Person”

Ian Schray — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 22:39:16 +0000

We talk about Apple's acquisition of Texture, Adobe tech support, Ian's phishing problem, and then conclude our discussion of the road ahead for 2018 and Apple.

LINKS

Apple is buying Texture, the digital magazine distributor

rbdigital

Apple Music hits 38 million paid subscribers

AirPods: How to improve Apple's wireless earbuds

Apple to launch branded over-ear headphones as soon as this year – AppleInsider

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Etymotics Earphones

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Black Panther

Kirk: Belk Extensive Type Laptop Suitable Kickstand Second-Gen Wood BookArc for MacBook Pro/Retina/Air Portable Laptop Stand with Thicker Slots for Generic Notebook,Lenovo Laptop Yoga Y50 ThinkPad Dell Laptop XPS Venue Inspiron ASUS Laptop(Dark Walnut)

Ian: The “Hendrix Trilogy”: Valleys of Neptune (2010), People, Hell & Angels(2013), and Both Sides of the Sky (2018)

Episode 206: “That All the Robs Hate”

Ian Schray — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 00:13:44 +0000

We talk a bit about how we listen to music vs. how we used to, and how Apple Music and the HomePod change that. Then we start a discussion about where some of Apple's main product categories can go.

LINKS

Smart Speakers and the Commoditization of Music

Music Millennium

Skype Business

Apple Plans Giant High-End iPhone, Lower-Priced Model – Bloomberg

Apple Watch: What does the future hold?

WatchKit is a sweet solution that will only ever give us baby apps

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Monk: The Complete Series

Kirk: Sony digital voice recorder

Ian: AutoSleep

Episode 205: “Music Sommelier”

Ian Schray — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 22:22:34 +0000

We talk about iCloud Drive Desktop & Documents synching, then discuss our further impressions of the HomePod, including sound variances. And of course, we discuss the "ring" issue.

LINKS

The Latest macOS Update Does This, and It’s Not a Good Idea

HomePod’s white ring problem should be easy to solve, say industrial designers

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: WyzeCam

Kirk: Remote for Mac

Ian: Jostens

Episode 204: “Don’t Squeeze it too Hard, or You’ll Need AppleCare”

Ian Schray — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 21:47:51 +0000

We jump right into talking about our experiences with the HomePod: what we like, what we don't like, and what we don't understand.

LINKS

How to Access HomePod Settings

HomePod Audiophile Review: Sound Performance ‘Deserves a Standing Ovation’ – Mac Rumors

The Best iTunes and iOS EQ Settings for the HomePod

The case against subwoofers for music – CNET

Using the HomePod as an Audio Device when Watching Movies or TV

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Public libraries’ eBook/Kindle lending

Kirk: Mitsubishi Uni KH-20 Hand Crank Wooden Pencil Sharpener

Ian: Bourbon Meatloaf

Episode 203: “Those Big Chunky Watches”

Ian Schray — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 21:49:27 +0000

We talk about Apple Music's current subscriber numbers, the concept of an "Apple Prime" bundle of services, then dive into some of the Apple Q1 2018 earnings results.

LINKS

Apple Music Now Has 36 Million Subscribers, Could Eclipse Spotify in United States This Year

How Apps, Music and More Can Buoy Apple Beyond the iPhone [paywall]

Death of macOS Server

Jason Snell's iWatch sales chart

4 tidbits we learned from Apple’s record quarterly results

Apple Q1 2018 earnings: Record revenue, beating the estimates

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Amazon Prime

Kirk: Derwent Graphic Pencil 3B

Ian: Rework

Episode 202: “50,000 Feet is Not Where Airplanes Fly”

Ian Schray — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 20:39:37 +0000

We talk about the HomePod, the Sonos One, iOS 11.3, and then launch into a discussion of device sleep, Power Nap, and how all of it frustrates us.

Links

HomePod Preorder

Sonos One price drop

iOS 11.3 Beta

Report: Apple to Delay Some New Features in iOS Until Next Year to Focus on Performance and Quality Issues

How Power Nap works on your Mac

Picks of the Week

Rob: Universal Paperclips

Kirk: The Hacking of the American Mind: The Science Behind the Corporate Takeover of Our Bodies and Brains

Ian: A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Episode 201: “Everything’s by the Sink”

Ian Schray — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 22:03:38 +0000

We discuss listener feedback about Amazon Alexa usage, the HomePod's impending release, the iPhone X, Ian's T-Mobile customer service experience, and Def Leppard.

LINKS

On rumors of the iPhone X being produced for only one year

Apple Announces HomePod Available to Order This Friday, In Stores on February 9

Def Leppard Explain Why They Finally Embraced Streaming

Def Leppard Re-Recording 'Forgeries' of Old Hits

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Liberty Puzzles

Kirk: Baked beans

Ian: Affinity Designer

Episode 200: “You’ll Go Feral”

Ian Schray — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 21:43:39 +0000

We celebrate 200 episodes of our little podcast by talking about 5th anniversary of the death of Macworld Expo and the 10th anniversary of the birth of both the MacBook Air and the iOS App Store. We also talk about connected home speakers and try to make sense of the upcoming Apple HomePod.

LINKS

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Ian: Retro 1951 Tornado Rollerball Pen

Episode 199: “I’m Still Writing 199 On All My Checks”

Ian Schray — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 22:13:58 +0000

We talk about the demise of Transmit iOS, the affect social media and smartphones have on our brains, and the current state of the Kindle ecosystem.

LINKS

The demise of Transmit and the future of pro level iOS apps

Two major Apple shareholders push for study of iPhone addiction in children

Zuckerberg’s Dilemma: When Facebook’s Success Is Bad for Society

Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?

The Committed Episode 5: "Ready? Read. Part 1"

The Committed Episode 6: "Ready? Read. Part 2"

The Kindle Changed the Book Business. Can It Change Books?

The Kindle Moment

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Gorogoa

Kirk: Fools and Mortals

Ian: Artemis

Episode 198: “I’m Not a Big Enough Fan of Anything”

Ian Schray — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 22:11:32 +0000

We kick off 2018 with a discussion of Apple's iPhone battery controversy, then go on a bit of a tangent talking about sports (yikes!), and then probably make our British listeners hurt themselves while shaking their heads.

LINKS

Yes, Apple Is Slowing Down Older Phones a Bit; Here’s Why

Why Apple Is Replacing the Battery on my iPhone SE

A Message to Our Customers about iPhone Batteries and Performance

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rob: Lego Saturn 5 rocket

Kirk: Patum Peperium - The Gentleman’s Relish

Ian: I Am Ozzy

Episode 197: “It Sounds Bad Because It’s KISS”

Ian Schray — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 01:04:24 +0000

In the final episode of 2017, we talk about music videos, the iMac Pro as a "halo" product, and the fundamental problem with the MacBook Pro's Touch Bar.