So beginning today, you can watch AppStories on the MacStories YouTube channel:

Today’s episode was a great place to start because Federico and I discussed his iPad mini review, and in the video version, he was able to show off the hardware in a way that isn’t possible in the audio-only version.

It’s safe to say that bringing AppStories to YouTube is a good sign that our YouTube channel has graduated from an experiment to a full-fledged component of MacStories. If you haven’t subscribed to the channel yet, you can check it out and subscribe here.

It’s not a conventional YouTube channel by any stretch, and as I recently discussed with Robb on Ruminate, it’s not meant to be. The purpose of the channel is to reach podcast listeners we wouldn’t have otherwise, enhance the experience for listeners of our shows, and add a new dimension to what we do on MacStories.net – and soon, Club MacStories – which it has accomplished more and more with each passing week.

If you’re curious about AppStories on YouTube, you can subscribe to just the show or the whole channel, which also includes

• the video versions of Comfort Zone and NPC: Next Portable Console;
• podcast bonus material for NPC;
• audio versions of Ruminate, Magic Rays of Light, and MacStories Unwind;
• playlists of classic AppStories episodes; and
• a growing collection of MacStories videos.

It should go without saying that the audio versions of our podcasts aren’t going anywhere, but I always hear concerns that the video version of a show will wreck the audio-only version. It won’t. AppStories in particular has been an audio-first podcast for seven years, so that’s not changing; but if you want to watch AppStories, now you can.

Thanks to everyone who has subscribed to the MacStories YouTube channel and tried our podcasts there. If you haven’t checked out the channel in a while, stop by sometime. It’s changed a lot since we launched it in June, and we’re not finished building it out yet. We have plenty of plans yet to come, including a little bonus for Club members later this week.

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

The new iPad mini.

My first reaction when I picked up the new iPad mini last Thursday morning was that it felt heavier than my 11” iPad Pro. Obviously, that was not the case – it’s nearly 150 grams lighter, in fact. But after several months of intense usage of the new, incredibly thin iPad Pro, the different weight distribution and the thicker form factor of the iPad mini got me for a second. Despite being “new”, compared to the latest-generation iPad Pro, the iPad mini felt old.

The second thing I noticed is that, color aside, the new iPad mini looks and feels exactly like the sixth-generation model I reviewed here on MacStories three years ago. The size is the same, down to the millimeter. The weight is the same. The display technology is the same. Three minor visual details give the “new” iPad mini away: it says “iPad mini” on the back, it’s called “iPad mini (A17 Pro)” on the box, and it’s even called “iPad mini (A17 Pro)” (and not “iPad mini (7th generation)”) in Settings ⇾ General ⇾ About.

I’m spending time on these minor, largely inconsequential details because I don’t know how else to put it: this iPad mini is pretty much the same iPad I already reviewed in 2021. The iPadOS experience is unchanged. You still cannot use Stage Manager on any iPad mini (not even when docked), and the classic Split View/Slide Over environment is passable, but more constrained than on an iPad Air or Pro. I covered all these aspects of the mini experience in 2021; everything still holds true today.

What matters today, however, is what’s inside. The iPad mini with A17 Pro is an iPad mini that supports Apple Intelligence, the Apple Pencil Pro, and faster Wi-Fi. And while the display technology is unchanged – it’s an IPS display that refreshes at 60 Hz – the so-called jelly scrolling issue has been fixed thanks to an optimized display controller.

As someone who lives in Italy and cannot access Apple Intelligence, that leaves me with an iPad mini that is only marginally different from the previous one, with software features coming soon that I won’t be able to use for a while. It leaves me with a device that comes in a blue color that isn’t nearly as fun as the one on my iPhone 16 Plus and feels chunkier than my iPad Pro while offering fewer options in terms of accessories (no Magic Keyboard) and software modularity (no Stage Manager on an external display).

And yet, despite the strange nature of this beast and its shortcomings, I’ve found myself in a similar spot to three years ago: I don’t need this iPad mini in my life, but I want to use it under very specific circumstances.

Only this time, I’ve realized why.

Special Episode of AppStories, Now with Video Too

We recorded a special episode of AppStories all about the new iPad mini and my review. As usual, you can listen to the episode in any podcast player or via the AppStories website.

Today, however, we’re also debuting a video version of AppStories on our YouTube channel. Going forward, all AppStories episodes will be released in audio and video formats via standard RSS feeds and YouTube, respectively.

AppStories debuted in 2017, and with over 400 episodes recorded, it’s long past due for a video version.

It’s safe to say that bringing AppStories to YouTube is a good sign that our YouTube channel has graduated from an experiment to a full-fledged component of MacStories. If you haven’t subscribed to the channel yet, you can check it out and subscribe here, and it also includes:

• the video versions of Comfort Zone and NPC: Next Portable Console;
• podcast bonus material for NPC;
• audio versions of Ruminate, Magic Rays of Light, and MacStories Unwind;
• playlists of classic AppStories episodes; and
• a growing collection of MacStories videos.

I hope you’ll enjoy the video version of AppStories. You can find our YouTube channel here.

Setting Up the iPad mini

Apple sent me a review unit of the blue iPad mini with 512 GB of storage (a new tier this year), alongside an Apple Pencil Pro and a denim Smart Folio. The denim color looks alright; the blue color of the iPad mini is, frankly, a travesty. I don’t know what it is, exactly, that pushes Apple every so often to release “colors” that are different variations of gray with a smidge of colored paint in the mix, but here we are. If you were expecting an ultramarine equivalent of the iPad mini, this is not it.

One is ultramarine; the other is “blue”.

The iPad mini (right) is visibly thicker than the M4 iPad Pro.

Something that surprised me when I started setting up the iPad mini was the absence of any developer or public beta program to install iPadOS 18.1 on it. My iPad Pro was running the iPadOS 18.1 developer beta, so while I was able to migrate my iCloud account and system settings, I couldn’t restore from a backup because iPadOS 18.1 wasn’t available for the new iPad mini at all last week. That was unusual. I’ve reviewed my fair share of iPads over the years; traditionally, Apple releases a specific version of their current betas for members of the press to install on their review units.

With this iPad mini, I had to start from scratch, which I decided to use to my advantage. It gave me an opportunity to investigate some questions. How would I set up the iPad mini as a companion device to my iPhone 16 Plus and 11” iPad Pro in 2024? In a world where the Vision Pro also exists as a personal, private device for entertainment, what role would an iPad mini specifically set up for “media consumption” fill in my life?

And the biggest question of all: would there even be a place for it at this point?

The Role of the iPad mini

Look at any marketing webpage or press release about the iPad mini, and you’ll see that Apple is more than eager to tell you that doctors and pilots love using it. My last experiences in those fields were, respectively, Pilotwings on the Super Nintendo and Trauma Center on the Nintendo DS. I’m fairly certain that curriculum wouldn’t qualify me as an expert in either profession, so those iPad mini use cases aren’t something I can review here.

I can write about two things: how this iPad mini compares to the previous one from a hardware perspective and, more broadly (and more interestingly for me), what role the iPad mini may fill in 2024 in a post-OLED iPad Pro, post-Vision Pro Apple ecosystem.

What’s Different: Better Wi-Fi, Apple Pencil Pro, and No More “Jelly Scrolling”

As I mentioned above, the new iPad mini comes with the A17 Pro chip, and since it’ll need to power Apple Intelligence, it also now offers 8 GB of RAM – the bare minimum needed to run AI models on Apple’s platforms these days. I haven’t been able to test Apple Intelligence on the iPad mini, so all I can say is that, yes, the new model is just as fast as the iPhone 15 Pro was last year. For the things I do with an iPad mini, I don’t need to run benchmarks; whether it’s watching YouTube videos, browsing Mastodon, or reading articles in GoodLinks, there’s never been a single time when I thought, “I wish this iPad mini was faster”. But then again, the old iPad mini was fine, too, for the basic tasks I threw at it.

Where I did notice an improvement was in the Wi-Fi department. Thanks to its adoption of Wi-Fi 6E (up from Wi-Fi 6), the new mini benchmarked higher than the old model in speed tests and, funnily enough, came in slightly higher than my M4 iPad Pro as well. From the same spot in the living room in close proximity to my Wi-Fi 6E router, the three iPads performed speed tests at the following rates across multiple tests:¹

• Old iPad mini (Wi-Fi 6): 600 Mbps down, 200 Mbps up
• M4 iPad Pro (Wi-Fi 6E): 643 Mbps down, 212 Mbps up
• New iPad mini (Wi-Fi 6E): 762 Mbps down, 274 Mbps up

As you can see, the 6Ghz band helps the Wi-Fi 6E-enabled devices, resulting in amazing performance for streaming bandwidth-intensive applications. For example, I used my iPad mini to stream Astro Bot from my PS5 using the MirrorPlay app, and it was rock solid, on par with the latest iPad Pro. That wasn’t the case when I last tried to stream games locally with the iPad mini and iPad Pro paired with a G8 game controller last year.

The new iPad mini running Astro Bot from my PS5. I’m using the GameSir G8 Plus controller here.

For this change alone, I would make the case that if you’re looking for a compact tablet for videogame streaming (whether locally or over the Internet), the new iPad mini is a very compelling package. In fact, I’d argue that – display technology considerations aside – the iPad mini is the ideal form factor for a streaming companion device; it’s bigger than a phone, but not as heavy as a 11” tablet.

The other change in this iPad mini is support for the Apple Pencil Pro. Apple has been (rightfully) criticized over the past year for some of its confusing updates to the Apple Pencil lineup, but with this iPad mini, it feels like the company is now telling a clear narrative with this accessory. The new iPad mini supports two Apple Pencil models: the entry-level Apple Pencil with USB-C and the Apple Pencil Pro. This means that, as of late 2024, the iPad mini, Air, and Pro all support the same Apple Pencil models with no perplexing exceptions.

The iPad mini paired with the Apple Pencil Pro.

Now, you know me; I’m not a heavy user of the Apple Pencil. But I do think that the Pencil Pro makes for a really interesting accessory to the iPad mini, even when used for non-artistic purposes. For instance, I’ve had fun catching up on my reading queue while holding the mini in my left hand and the Pencil Pro in my right hand to quickly highlight passages in GoodLinks. Thanks to the ability to run a custom shortcut by squeezing the Pencil Pro, I’ve also been able to quickly copy an article’s link to the clipboard just by holding the Pencil, without needing to use the share sheet. The iPad mini also supports Apple Pencil Hover now, which is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated features of the Apple Pencil. Being able to hover over a hyperlink in Safari to see where it points to is extra nice.

With a squeeze of the Pencil Pro, I can instantly copy the URL of what I’m reading in GoodLinks (left).

None of these features are new (they’ve been supported since the new iPad Pros in May), but they feel different when the iPad you’re using is so portable and lightweight you can hold it with one hand. The Pencil Pro + iPad mini combo feels like the ultimate digital notepad, more flexible than the Apple Pencil 2 ever was thanks to the new options offered by the Pro model.

Silvia’s much better handwriting with the Apple Pencil Pro, iPad mini, and Steve Troughton-Smith’s upcoming Notepad app.

We now come to the infamous phenomenon known as “jelly scrolling”. If you recall from my review of the iPad mini three years ago, this is not something I initially noticed, and I don’t think I was alone. However, once my eyes saw the issue one time months later, it ruined my experience with that display forever.

For those unaware, jelly scrolling refers to a display issue where, in portrait orientation, scrolling a page would result in one half of the screen “moving” more slowly than the other. It could go unnoticed for months if you weren’t paying attention or your eyes simply weren’t seeing it, but once they did, you’d see a jelly-like effect onscreen with the two halves of the display sort of “wobbling” as you scrolled. There are plenty of videos that demonstrate this effect in motion, and as I said, it was more of a, “Once you see it, there’s no way to unsee it,” sort of problem. When my eyes picked up on it months after the review, it bothered me forever that I didn’t mention it in my original story.

I’m happy to report that, in the new iPad mini, the jelly scrolling issue has been fixed without the need to change the underlying display technology of the device. The new iPad mini has an optimized display controller that ensures the entire panel will refresh at the same rate and speed. For this reason, even though it’s the same display across two generations with the same refresh rate, color gamut, pixel density, and brightness, the new iPad mini does not have one side of the screen that refreshes more quickly than the other.

There’s an argument to be made that a tablet that costs $500 in 2024 should have a refresh rate higher than 60Hz. I’d argue that the same is true for the iPhone 16 lineup: ideally, Apple should raise the baseline to 90Hz and keep ProMotion at 120Hz exclusive to Pro devices. However, as someone who uses the iPhone 16 Plus as his iPhone of choice, it would be hypocritical of me to say that the 60Hz display of the iPad mini is a dealbreaker. This device doesn’t have the same fancy display as my 11” iPad Pro, but for what I want to use it for, it’s fine.

Would I prefer an “iPad mini Pro” with OLED and ProMotion? Of course I would love that option. But with jelly scrolling out of the equation now, I’m fine with reading articles, watching videos, and streaming games on my iPad mini at 60 Hz.

There are other hardware changes in the iPad mini I could mention, but they’re so minor, I don’t want to dwell on them for too long. It now has Bluetooth 5.3 onboard instead of Bluetooth 5.0. The iPad mini, like the Pro and Air models, has switched to eSIM only for cellular plans, which means I have one fewer physical component to worry about. And the USB-C port has graduated from USB 3.1 Gen 1 speeds (5 Gbps) to USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), which results in faster file transfers. However, I don’t plan on using this iPad for production work that involves transferring large audio or video files (we have a YouTube channel now), so while it’s welcome, this is a change I can largely ignore.

The Most Compact Tablet for (Occasional) Split View

Over the past three years, I’ve gotten fixated on this idea: the iPad mini isn’t a device I’d recommend for multitasking, but it is the most compact Apple computer you can have for the occasional Split View with two almost iPhone-sized apps side by side. I don’t use this device for serious, multi-window productivity that involves work tasks. But I’ve been surprised by how many times I found myself enjoying the ability to quickly invoke two apps at once, do something, and then go back to full-screen.

Split View on the iPad mini. The Ivory + Spotify combo is something I do almost every day when I’m done working.

Or, let me put it another way: the iPad mini fills the multitasking gap left open by my iPhone and the absence of a foldable iPhone in Apple’s lineup. Even on my 16 Plus, there are times when I wish I could use, just for a few seconds, two iPhone apps in vertical Split View. The iPad mini is the only Apple device I can hold with one hand while also using Split View or Slide Over. And there’s something to be said about that option when you need it.

When I’m unwinding at the end of the day, sometimes I like to put a YouTube video on one side of the screen and keep Mastodon open on the other. The iPad mini lets me do it. Or maybe I want to keep both my Ivory and Threads timelines open at the same time because some live event is going on. Or perhaps I just want to keep GoodLinks or Safari open and invoke Quick Notes to jot down an idea I had while reading. These aren’t highly complex, convoluted tasks; they’re simple workflows that benefit from the ability to split the screen or summon a temporary window. The iPad mini is the best device Apple makes for this kind of “ephemeral multitasking”.

Slide Over is equally useful on the iPad mini, especially because I can invoke it with just my thumb.

And don’t forget: Slide Over comes with its own window picker, too!

In a post-Stage Manager world, there’s something about the reliability of Split View and Slide Over that I want to publicly acknowledge and appreciate. I briefly mentioned this in the story I wrote about the making of my iOS and iPadOS 18 review: for the past three months, I’ve only used Stage Manager when I connect my iPad Pro to an external display. When I’m working on the iPad by itself, I no longer use Stage Manager and exclusively work in the traditional Split View and Slide Over environment instead.

The iPad mini is not an ideal multitasking machine. It doesn’t support Stage Manager, three-column app layouts aren’t available by default², and apps in Split View can become so small that they feel like slightly wider iPhone apps. And yet, there is something so nice and – as I argued three years ago – delightful about controlling Split View multitasking with your thumbs as you hold the device in landscape, it’s hard to convey unless you try it.

Most iPad mini reviews, including mine from 2021, typically focus on the media consumption aspect of the device. And I’ll get to that before I wrap up. What I’m trying to say, however, is that I no longer buy the argument that you’d “never” want to multitask on such a small display. I’ve found tangible, practical benefits in the ability to “consume content” while doing something else on the side. This doesn’t mean that I’m going to write my next longform essay on the iPad mini. It means that multitasking is a spectrum, and I love how the mini lets me dip in and out of multiple apps in a way that the iPhone still doesn’t allow for.

The Third Place

My Ayn Odin 2 Mini, Vision Pro, Steam Deck OLED, and iPad mini.

As I used the new iPad mini last week, I was reminded of a PlayStation 2 advertising campaign from 2000 to promote the launch of Sony’s new console. The campaign, called ”The Third Place”, featured a commercial directed by David Lynch, among others that are wrongfully attributed to him, but which play along a similar theme.

The concept behind these eerie, cryptic commercials is actually quite fascinating and rooted in history. In sociology, there’s this concept of a third place, which represents a social environment separate from a person’s home (their first place) and workplace (their second place). Examples of “third places” include coffee shops, parks, theaters, clubs – places where people go to socialize, hang out, and ground themselves in a different reality that is socially and physically separate from what they do at home and what they do at work. In Ancient Greece, the agora was a classic example of a third place. The lines get blurry in our modern society when you consider places that can be work and social environments at once, such as co-working spaces, but you get the idea.

With their ad campaign (directed by TBWA, a name familiar to Apple users), Sony wanted to position the PS2 as an escapist device to find your third place in the boundless possibilities provided by the digital worlds of videogames. Truth be told, when I saw those commercials as a kid (I was 12 in 2000), I just thought they were cool because they were so edgy and mysterious; it was only decades later that I was able to appreciate the concept of a third place in relation to gaming, VR, and everything in between.

I’ve been thinking about the idea of a third place lately as it relates to the tech products we use and the different roles they aim to serve.

The way I see it, so many different devices are vying for the third place in our lives. We have our phones, which are, in many ways, the primary computers we use at home, to communicate with others, to capture memories of our loved ones and personal experiences; they are an extension of ourselves, and, in a sense, our first place in a digital world. We have our computers – whether they’re traditional laptops, modular tablets, or desktops – that we use and rely on for work; they’re our second place. And then there’s a long tail of different devices seeking to fill the space in between: call it downtime, entertainment, relaxing, unwinding, or just doing something that brings you joy and amusement without having to use your phone or computer.

For some people, that can be a videogame console or a handheld. For others, it’s an eBook reader. Or perhaps it’s a VR headset, a Vision Pro, or smart glasses that you can wear to watch movies or stream games. Maybe it’s an Apple TV or dedicated streaming device. Just like humans gravitate toward a variety of physical third places to spend time and socialize, so can “third place devices” coexist with each other in a person’s time separate from their family or work obligations. This is why, for most people, it’s not uncommon to own more than one of these devices and use them for different purposes. We’re surrounded by dozens of potential digital third places.

The tech industry has been chasing this dream (and profitable landscape) of what comes after the phone and computer for decades. In Apple history, look no further than Steve Jobs’ introduction of the original iPad in 2010, presented as a third device in between a Mac and iPhone that could be “far better” at key things such as watching videos, browsing your photos, and playing games. When a person’s primary computer is always in their pocket (and unlikely to go away anytime soon), and when their work happens on a larger screen, what other space is there to fill?

When I started looking at these products through this lens, I realized something. The iPad mini is the ideal third place device for things I don’t want to do on my iPhone or iPad Pro. By virtue of being so small, but bigger than a phone, it occupies a unique space in my digital life: it’s the place I go to when I want to read a book, browse the web, or watch some videos without having to be distracted by everything else that’s on my phone, or be reminded of the tasks I have to do on my iPad Pro. The iPad mini is, for me at least, pure digital escapism disguised as an 8.3” tablet.

From this perspective, I don’t need the iPad mini to run Stage Manager. I don’t need it to have a ProMotion display or more RAM. I don’t need it to be bigger or come with a Magic Keyboard. I need it, in fact, to be nothing more than it currently is. I was wrong in trying to frame the iPad mini as an alternative to other models. The iPad mini would lose the fight in any comparison or measurement against the 11” iPad Pro.

But it’s because of its objective shortcomings that the iPad mini makes sense and still has reason to exist today. It is, after all, a third device in between my phone and laptop. It’s a third place, and I can’t wait to spend more time there.

Access Extra Content and Perks

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What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

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It’s been a while since I last showed off my desk. The last time I did so as part of MacStories Weekly Issue 405 in February, I had just acquired an 11-inch iPad Pro, and my desk looked quite different than it does now. It had an imposing corner shelf holding a variety of plushies, accessories, and other knickknacks, in addition to providing support for my microphone arm. Overall, it felt a lot more cluttered than it does now.

As the months went on, I’ve had to rethink my desktop layout to accommodate the many changes that I’ve made to my device usage. Now more than ever, my M2 MacBook Air is at the center of everything I do – so much so that the iPad Pro is now nothing more than an eBook reader for me and rarely lives on my desk as a result. This summer, we also launched Comfort Zone, a new weekly show in the MacStories family of podcasts. Since Comfort Zone is both an audio and video podcast, I started recording video at my desk for the first time ever, which also meant that I had to tweak my desk to optimize it for lighting and a new microphone setup.

In the end, these changes have added up to a completely new desk setup. So today, I’m going to take you on a quick desk tour. Let me walk you through the main highlights of what makes this desk my favorite little corner in our home.

First, I should once again address that this is a small desk tucked into a small space. For some context, my partner and I live in a three-room apartment in Grenoble, France. While this means that we get to enjoy great views of the French Alps from most of our windows, it also means that we’ve had to reach a compromise to keep our workspaces separate during the day. As a result, my partner got to install their sizable desk in the dedicated spare room, and I got to settle mine in our bedroom. This is the main reason why I have to keep my desk space cozy and compact.

My desk corner in our main bedroom.

The main thing you may notice when looking at my desk is the monitor hooked up to my M2 MacBook Air. It’s the 28.2-inch Huawei MateView, which I grabbed on sale a couple of years ago for about $450.¹ Huawei is not usually a brand that inspires confidence in me. And yet, I absolutely love this monitor and its unusual 3:2 aspect ratio. It makes for a taller, narrower canvas that is perfect for browsing the web (allowing you to see more of a web page at once) or working on designs in Figma, and it’s still comfortably wide enough for watching videos and playing videogames. For a monitor of this price, I’ve also been pretty impressed with the decent color accuracy and apparent contrast ratio that it provides at a 4K resolution. While I would probably save for a more expensive display today, I’m going to hold on to this one for as long as I can — mostly because I fear going back to a standard 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio now.

The M2 MacBook Air sits on a TwelveSouth HiRise Pro stand that’s height-adjustable and made of sturdy aluminum. I used to keep the Mac closed in a vertical stand tucked behind the monitor, but I’ve come to realize how handy it is being able to occasionally open it to use the built-in display alongside my main screen. I do this when I’m on video calls to keep the call window visible while I’m working, or when I want to watch a video on the side. Otherwise, I like to keep the MacBook lid closed and focus on a single screen.

Between the Mac and the monitor, I’ve installed a Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro. I’ve owned this dock for a long time, and it still works perfectly enough today that I’ve not felt the need to upgrade to a newer, more expensive Thunderbolt 4 dock. It offers two Thunderbolt 3 ports, one full-sized DisplayPort, an Ethernet port, five USB-A ports (including one on the front), a standard USB-C port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and one front-facing SD card slot. Almost everything on my desk, including a Belkin height-adjustable MagSafe stand for my iPhone, is now hooked to the Mac by this dock, and I’ve still got ports to spare.

The Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro

I’ve settled on this Belkin height-adjustable MagSafe stand, which perfectly fits under the monitor at its lowest height.

In my last desk setup showcase, I was using a Blue Yeti microphone for calls and the occasional podcast recording. This microphone is still in great condition and is now being used by my partner as part of their own desk setup. The reason I let it go is that I was not quite satisfied with how it made me sound. My voice already sounds deeper than I would like, and I found that the Yeti exacerbated that impression. So now, I’m using the Audio-Technica ATR2100X microphone.

This one isn’t perfect by any means, but it sounds a lot closer to what I want, and most importantly, it is very affordable. Another positive aspect about the ATR2100X is that it can connect via both XLR and USB-C. Since I didn’t want to invest in an audio interface just yet, this straightforward connectivity was perfect for me. The microphone is connected directly to the Belkin dock via USB-C, and I always keep a 3.5mm to Lightning cable dangling from its built-in headphone jack so I can use my AirPods Max for monitoring while I record Comfort Zone.

The microphone sits on the Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP.² This microphone arm caused me quite a few headaches in the past few months. As you may have noticed, my desk has two built-in drawers that I find incredibly useful to store cables, medications, and other items that I need on a daily basis. However, the drawback of these drawers is that I simply can’t use the built-in clamp that comes with this microphone arm (or any other microphone arm) to attach it to the side of the desk. Elgato has a solution for this: the Heavy Base. You can use the Heavy Base’s offset mount to attach the Wave Mic Arm LP, then simply set the base down on your desk. This is perfect if your desk is too thick to accommodate a clamp. Unfortunately, for the past few months, the Heavy Base was out of stock pretty much everywhere I looked, and when retailers had one in stock, they always had the old version without the offset mount. In the end, it was only this month that I was finally able to order one from a German music store. It works exactly as intended, and the arm is firmly mounted to the base and stable.

My Audio-Technica ATR2100X attached to the Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP, itself mounted to the Elgato Heavy Base

When it comes to recording video for the podcast, all I use is an old iPhone SE from 2020. This phone used to belong to my partner, and today it barely holds a charge. But despite the iPhone SE’s age and its smaller camera sensor, the video quality is still miles ahead of most off-the-shelf webcams, and it has been serving me well for video calls over the past few years, and now Comfort Zone on YouTube. To mount the iPhone on my desk, I’ve come up with a somewhat hacky solution. With the help of a MagSafe-compatible case, I’ve attached the iPhone to a Belkin MagSafe mount, which itself is mounted on top of the beautiful LEGO Orchid set. Yes, I know; I’m a genius.

Despite the hacky vibes of this camera mounting contraption, I just love how I’ve been able to revive this phone as a webcam thanks to Continuity Camera on macOS. If you have an older iPhone lying around in a closet, I highly recommend trying to use it as a webcam. It’s a pretty good bargain.

Here’s my genius video recording contraption made out of an old iPhone SE, a MagSafe mount, and a LEGO plant.

To light up the desk, I use the BenQ ScreenBar Halo, which John reviewed on MacStories. This light bar is perched on top of my monitor and is able to shine a diffuse glow behind the monitor, as well as down in front of the monitor where my Magic Keyboard and Trackpad are. The result is a super cozy vibe both at night and during the day. Purchasing the ScreenBar Halo prevented me from going down the rabbit hole of setting up a couple of light strips around the back of the desk, so I’m glad I went this route instead. It has been a wonderful addition to this atmosphere of this workspace corner.

In addition to the ScreenBar Halo on top of my monitor, I’ve also recently added the Elgato Key Light Neo. The Key Light Neo is a more affordable alternative to the company’s larger Key Lights, and it’s a great way to light yourself up on camera without taking up too much space on an already crowded desk. I’ve been using it for the past two Comfort Zone recordings, and it’s done a lot to improve the look of my video feed.

My monitor holds both the BenQ ScreenBar Halo and the Elgato Key Light Neo.

I’m a firm believer that good lighting and color choices are not enough to ensure that a desk looks and feels like a cozy corner where you’d want to spend ten hours at a time. For this reason, even though the corner shelf filled with plushies and knickknacks is gone, I still wanted to keep my field of view filled with fun and cute items. So you’ll probably be able to spot a tiny Baby Yoda figurine, a third-generation iPod Nano, and a yellow corgi-shaped fidget toy lying about the surface of the desk.

On the wall, I’ve hung a sample of my collection of favorite postcards. Those include a set of beautiful (and colorful) postcards from our last Berlin trip hugging the left wall, as well as postcards from my home island of La Réunion surrounding Stephen Hackett’s 2024 Apple History Calendar. I would like to say that I’ve arranged them in a specific and thoughtfully-considered pattern, but the only real pattern here is vibes.

Now, obviously, this setup will keep evolving. On my list of probable additions in the near future is an audio interface and a second yellow HomePod mini so I can finally listen to music in stereo when I’m not wearing headphones. I’m also not quite satisfied with my keyboard situation. I’m still using Apple’s Magic Keyboard, and the only real reason is that I can’t imagine myself doing without its built-in Touch ID sensor.

Still, I think I’ve reached a good place with this desk corner. I’ve been able to keep all of it contained, and so far, my partner is glad that our bedroom has not been overrun with my tech devices and accessories. Most crucially, this small corner feels like a space where I enjoy spending time, from early in the morning all the way to sleepless nights.

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Last year’s Club MacStories Fall Membership Drive was a big success, so we’re doing it again. There are more details below, but from now through November 1st, we’re offering 20% off on all annual Club MacStories plans plus special columns, a live Discord event, giveaways, deals, and more throughout the event. There’s a lot going on, so let’s look at the details.

To take advantage of the discounted plans, please use the coupon code CLUB2024 at checkout or click on one of the buttons below.

Join Club MacStories:

Join Club MacStories+:

Join Club Premier:

Visit our Plans page for more details on each Club option.

Club MacStories is a bigger part of MacStories that ever before. The Club has grown steadily every year since it was started in 2015, and every plan is packed with more of what you love about MacStories. With this month’s event, we want to accomplish three things:

• Thank our current members with two weeks of what makes the Club special;
• Offer a special 20% off on annual plans to grow the Club further; and
• Make switching to a higher-tier membership more affordable for existing members.

The support of Club MacStories members is the foundation of MacStories. It’s given us the freedom to expand, focus on our in-depth stories and reviews, and build a closer relationship with readers. And most recently, while ad dollars have dried up and websites are shutting down and laying off staff due to plummeting ad revenue, we’re still growing and have plans to do even more in the coming year. That wouldn’t have been possible without the Club.

What’s unique about Club MacStories is that it’s the perfect complement to MacStories. If you’re a fan of the site and our podcasts, you’ll find that the Club is a natural extension of what you already love, with more of everything.

Our Club Discord community has become a fantastic resource for Club MacStories+ and Premier members.

That’s been the case since the Club launched over eight years ago. We didn’t hide MacStories content behind a paywall when the Club was started. Instead, the Club has always been designed to supplement MacStories with more app coverage, complex automations, longer podcast episodes, and more. Then, with the introduction of Club MacStories+ and Club Premier, we built on that model further with a vibrant, respectful Discord community of app and automation fans who help each other get the most out of their technology.

Club newsletters are available in our fully-searchable web app for Club MacStories+ and Premier members.

We know that folks are inundated with subscriptions these days, which is why we work hard to offer what we think is a great value at every tier of the Club. Our nine-year track record of consistency and content, which includes over 500 issues of our newsletters, speaks for itself, but we also realize that committing to an annual plan is still a lot. So that is why we’re excited to offer a big discount during our fall membership drive. Here’s a breakdown of each tier and the discounts we’re offering through November 1, 2024:

If you’re not familiar with the Club, you can learn more and compare plans side-by-side here and read our FAQ page.

These discounts are available to anyone signing up for an annual Club membership for the first time, reactivating an expired plan, or upgrading a current plan.

To take advantage of the discounted plans, please use the coupon code CLUB2024 at checkout or click on one of the buttons below.

When you change a monthly plan to an annual one, you’ll get credit for the remainder of your current month’s subscription.

Join Club MacStories:

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As a thank you to members, we’re also rolling out loads of extra content, giveaways, deals, and more this week and next, starting with new additions to our Club MacStories+ and Club Premier app discounts page, which we’ll begin revealing tomorrow on Mastodon and Threads. Then, through Nov. 1st, we’ll have columns, giveaways, a special Discord audio event tomorrow, and more, so keep an eye on the MacStories and Club MacStories Mastodon accounts and the MacStories Threads account every day to hear what’s coming next. We’ll be sure to keep any giveaway entries open throughout the fall Membership Event, too, so no matter when you join, they’ll be available.

Thanks again to our many loyal Club MacStories members, and welcome to everyone joining for the first time. You’ve all helped us grow MacStories, launch new projects, and build MacStories on a strong foundation while staying independent and true to our editorial values. We look forward to bringing you even more of what makes MacStories special for many years to come.

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Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

Comfort Zone

Niléane is fired up about the state of tech, Chris is enjoying the sweet, sweet sounds of a V12 engine, and Matt is really into a new web browser.

Magic Rays of Light

Sigmund and Devon highlight Shrinking season two and the debut of NBA All-Star Weekend in Immersive Video. Then they recap Bad Monkey and Slow Horses season four.

MacStories Unwind

This week, Federico suspects his new vacuum cleaner is the victim of corporate foul play, and I am denied a donut and apple cider slushie thanks to my reliance on technology.

Comfort Zone, Episode 20, ‘Get Me a Dr. Pepper Robot’ Show Notes

Weekly Topics

Some general examples of things sucking.

• Sonos Arc
• Sonos Sub
• Zen Browser

Other Stuff We Discussed

• Matt’s northern lights over NYC photo
• Sonos Beam
• Arc browser
  -Amazon Astro

Follow the Hosts

• Chris on YouTube
• Matt on Birchtree
• Niléane on Mastodon
• Comfort Zone on Mastodon

Magic Rays of Light, Episode 141, ‘Shrinking Returns, Immersive Basketball, Bad Monkey, and Slow Horses’ Show Notes

Highlights

• Shrinking
• 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend

Apple TV News

• One For All Apple TV Remote
• Apple Announces a Minor Update to the iPad mini
• Beats Pill x Kim Kardashian
• Tablo
• ‎Trakt
• ‎Unwatched: RSS Video Player

Trailer Talk

• Silo Season 2

Apple Original News

• First Look at The Gorge

Extras

• Steve McQueen: Into The Breach With The Blitz Director | Empire
• Slow Horses: Who Said That?
• Slow Horses: S1E1 “Failure’s Contagious” on YouTube

Recaps

• Bad Monkey
• Slow Horses

TV App Highlights

• Alien: Romulus
• The Wild Robot
• Brothers
• Lee
• Woman of the Hour

Up Next

• Hysteria!
• Louder: The Soundtrack of Change

Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.

Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube and follow us on Mastodon.

Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads

Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads

MacStories Unwind, ‘Paying in the Black’ Show Notes

Links and Show Notes

A Vacuum Dilemma

• Dyson Gen5detect cordless vacuum cleaner
• Dyson Gen5detect Accessories sold out
• John’s solution for Federico’s balcony

Paying in the Black

• Italy to allow larger cash payments despite central bank objections

MacStories Unwind+

We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.

To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.

MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.

If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

MacPaw has released a new version of its cleanup and maintenance utility CleanMyMac, dropping the “X” from its name, refreshing the design, and simplifying the app substantially.

The latest version is divided into six modules that host a variety of tools:

• Smart Care
• Cleanup
• Protection
• Performance
• Applications
• My Clutter

It also includes an assistant that rates the health of your Mac and recommends maintenance actions to you.

A lot of the tools available in CleanMyMac’s update will be familiar to long-time users. The difference is that the app’s modules have been simplified and explained in a less technical manner, which should make the app approachable to a broader audience.

The My Clutter module does more to find file clutter than before, scanning for large, old, and duplicate files, as well as images that are the same or close matches to each other. The scan can take a while depending on the amount of storage on your Mac, but I was impressed with the volume of files it identified that I could summarily delete.

CleanMyMac’s menu bar item.

The app also features a menu bar item that opens a grid of tiles reporting the highlights of your Mac’s health. Clicking on any of the tiles reveals additional details about that component.

The Smart Care, Cleanup, Protection, Performance, and Applications modules include a variety of other maintenance tools. You can tune up your Mac by clearing caches and other unnecessary files taking up your storage, free up memory, scan for viruses and malware, and uninstall or update apps to name just a handful of the many tools at your disposal.

The My Clutter scan may take a while if you have a lot of files.

I’ve been running the new version of CleanMyMac for about a week, and it’s been running smoothly. The My Clutter file scan does take a lot of time; my 4TB Mac Studio took about 25 minutes to scan, but the app did a fantastic job identifying files I could delete. The other available scans have worked well, too, and are faster, making it simple for me to periodically maintain my Mac.

CleanMyMac is available directly from MacPaw starting at $39.95 per year for one Mac (with multi-device bundles available at a discount), or as a one-time purchase starting at $119.95. Either option includes a seven-day free trial. Alternatively, you can download CleanMyMac as part of a Setapp subscription (affiliate link).

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

AppStories

This week, Federico and John share the changes they’ve made to their desk setups in recent months and the philosophies that have driven those changes.

On AppStories+, Federico and John share their reactions to Submerged, the first scripted short film published for Apple Immersive Video on the Vision Pro.

This episode is sponsored by:

• Notion: Try the powerful, easy-to-use Notion AI today.

Ruminate

It’s biscuit week! Plus (not) ordering chicken on CarPlay and YouTube algorithms.

AppStories, Episode 407, ‘A Desk Setup Update’ Show Notes

AppStories+ Pre-Show

Visit AppStories.com to learn more about the extended, high bitrate audio version of AppStories that is delivered early each week and subscribe.

• Submerged on Apple Vision Pro.

Our Desk Setups

John

• Large Balolo desk shelf with modular accessory attachments, including the latest addition of Balolo’s Tablet Holder
  • AppStories listeners can get 10% off by using the code macstories at checkout
  • Other Balolo accessories I use include:
    • Phone Qi2 charger accessory
    • Headphones hook
    • Apple Watch charging mount
    • Loupedeck or Stream Deck mount
• Harmon Kardon SoundSticks III speakers
• Trendnet 2.5Gbps switch
• Satachi 2.5Gbps dongle
• Steelcase Gesture chair
• Video setup
  • Elgato Mini Mount
  • Elgato FaceCam Pro
  • Elgato Master Mount, Flex Arm, and Solid Arm
  • Elgato Key Light and Key Light Mini
  • Twelve South HoverBar Duo for the iPad
  • Also mentioned:
    • Logitech MX Creative Console

Federico

• Gigabyte M27U monitor
• CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt dock with Apple Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable
• Custom-built eGPU with NVIDIA 4090 Founders Edition (more details on NPC)
• LG C2 65” OLED

Ruminate, Episode 195, ‘Biscuit Week’ Show Notes

Biscuit Week

You can now order Chick-fil-A using CarPlay - 9to5Mac

Paul Stockton: “@ruminate Digestives Gold 2/10…” - social.lol

MacStories - YouTube

Wireless Travel Charger for iPhone and Apple Watch, Native Union’s Voyage, Reviewed - YouTube

MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.

If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

To help us find and make the most of those opportunities, which allow us to fund an expanding and diverse collection of properties, we’re looking for someone to join the MacStories team.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has ad sales experience;
• Understands the MacStories audience and the types of sponsors we work with;
• Will work with our editors to explore and develop new advertising initiatives;
• Wants a flexible, remote position; and
• Is willing to work on a commission basis.

If you’re interested in applying for the position, please get in touch with sales@macstories.net with your qualifications and availability.

– Federico and John

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Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

The Native Union Voyage with USB-C cable and canvas pouch.

Last week, I abandoned the Belkin BoostCharge Pro Wireless Charger because of a recent recall. Fortuitously at about the same time, Native Union sent me its Voyage 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger to test. Although I preferred having the Apple Watch charging puck integrated with the power source for charging, as the Belkin battery did, the Native Union’s Voyage has proven to be an excellent replacement and far more flexible in how it can be used.

The Voyage consists of two charging disks joined by a soft rubberized strip that allows the two halves to fold into a compact, magnetically connected unit. The device comes in sandstone or black and is made of plastic, with the soft-touch rubbery hinge extending around the exterior edge of the disks. When folded, the Voyage is about the thickness of two iPhone 16 Pros, which may be too thick for some pockets but works well in a bag with your other gear. Overall, the device feels sturdy, and the build quality is excellent.

Charging an iPhone and AirPods Pro 2.

There are a few ways to use the Voyage. If you want to charge your iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time, you can fold the Voyage flat, push up on the Apple Watch charging puck so it’s perpendicular to the rest of the device, and start charging both. The Voyage is a Qi2 charger, meaning it can deliver 15W of power to an iPhone. The Apple Watch puck delivers 5W of power. Qi2’s power delivery is a step up from the original Qi standard, but it’s worth noting that you can get faster charging from Apple’s official iPhone MagSafe charger and Apple Watch charger.

Charging an iPhone and Apple Watch at 15 and 5W, respectively.

That said, there’s a benefit to the Voyage’s integrated design that Apple’s faster chargers don’t offer. Not only can you charge your iPhone and Apple Watch (or AirPods Pro) simultaneously, but you have other options, too. First, if you fold the Voyage back on itself, you can charge just your iPhone. In this configuration, the Voyage is thick enough to double as a landscape-oriented stand, allowing you to use it to watch videos whether you’re charging your iPhone or not. If you’re charging in this configuration, you’ll also have access to the iPhone’s StandBy mode.

Using the Voyage in StandBy mode.

Another option is to flip the same configuration over and drop your Apple Watch or AirPods Pro on the Voyage’s flat surface to charge. Alternatively, you can flip the charging puck up and use your Apple Watch in nightstand mode as it charges. That’s a total of four ways to charge your devices with a charger that has a footprint not much bigger than an official Apple MagSafe charger.

Using the Voyage as a stand.

The Voyage comes with a fabric-covered USB-C cable that matches the color of the device. There’s also a canvas bag in the box for storing the Voyage and its cable, although I’ll probably use it for storing small dongles and other odds and ends instead.

So far, the Voyage has been a good substitute for the charger I was using before. I’d prefer it if the Voyage supported faster MagSafe charging, but its compact size makes up for the slower charging in most contexts. The device has been equally handy having around the house whenever I need to top off my iPhone, Apple Watch, or AirPods Pro as it’s been easy to keep in my backpack for working away from home. So while the Voyage won’t replace faster charging solutions I have connected to my desk, it’s filled the role of having a charger handy at all times very well.

The Voyage 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger is available directly from Native Union for $99.99.

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

Source: Apple.

Apple has updated the iPad mini, with a revision that is sure to leave some fans of the device disappointed. That’s because there have been virtually no changes to the device’s screen, cameras, or authentication systems.

The new iPad mini features an A17 Pro chip that was added to allow the device to work better with the upcoming Apple Intelligence features. According to Apple’s press release:

A17 Pro delivers a huge performance boost for even the most demanding tasks, with a faster CPU and GPU, a 2x faster Neural Engine than the previous-generation iPad mini,1 and support for Apple Intelligence.

In addition, the new mini features:

• New storage options: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, eliminating the 64GB option altogether
• Support for the Apple Pencil Pro
• Wi-Fi 6E, up from from Wi-Fi 6
• Bluetooth 5.3, an upgrade from 5.0
• New blue and purple options

Those are all worthwhile upgrades, but I expect what will really define the new iPad mini for a lot of users is what hasn’t changed:

• The underlying screen technology remains the same Liquid Retina display that does not support ProMotion
• Both cameras remain the same, but they now support Smart HDR 4 instead of Smart HDR 3
• The front-facing camera remains on the short side of the device
• The Touch ID sensor found on the top button has not been replaced with Face ID

I’m a fan of the iPad mini. I had a 5th generation model and I still use my 6th generation mini, but it’s seen better days. The mini needs a better display, camera, and Face ID. I don’t expect Apple to build a ‘pro’ version of the mini, but if history is any indication, what was released today won’t be updated until around 2027, and that makes me a little sad.

The new iPad mini starts at $499 with 128GB of storage. Pre-orders begin today and deliveries start October 23rd.

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Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

Today, Photomator 3.4 was released, adding flagging, rating, and filtering, which should substantially enhance how photos are organized with the app.

I haven’t spent much time with Photomator 3.4 yet, but the features it adds today will be familiar to anyone who has used other photo editors. The update adds the ability to flag and reject photos and apply a one- to five-star rating. Then, with filters based on flags, rejects, and star ratings, it’s easy to navigate among images to determine which to keep. The process is aided by extensive single-key shortcuts, too.

Source: Photomator.

Photomator’s filtering options extend beyond flags, rejects, and stars. Other filtering options include whether an image is a RAW file or a favorite. You can filter based on a photo’s file name, date, and location, too. Flagged, rejected, and rated images are also gathered in special Utilities Collections, along with a new collection for imported photos. Photographs added from apps like Adobe Lightroom that store flags and ratings in metadata or XMP files are preserved when imported, too.

Flagging photos on the iPad.

I haven’t tried the iOS or iPadOS versions of Photomator yet, but they share similar features, including the ability to flag and star images in the app’s browser UI. The iPhone and iPad versions support context menus for flagging and rating and batch application of flags and stars. The iOS and iPadOS versions of Photomator also include collections that assemble flagged and starred items in one place but don’t support the Mac version’s other filtering tools.

Photomator 3.4 is available as a free download on the App Store for existing customers. Some features require a subscription or lifetime purchase.

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

Earlier today, we published an episode of AppStories covering the latest changes that Federico and I have made to our desk setups and other gear. I last updated my desk setup in July, before we started recording a video version of NPC: Next Portable Console. Since then, I’ve also started publishing bonus NPC videos and hardware reviews on the MacStories YouTube channel, which has driven the bulk of the changes in my setup.

On the hardware side, the changes include the addition of Elgato mounts, namely the Elgato Flex Arm and Solid Arm, along with a second Master Mount and Mini Key Light. I also purchased a Moment Multi Threaded Mount that lets me connect my iPhone 16 Pro Max to the Elgato Flex Arm using a strong MagSafe magnet for filming top-down shots. And I switched my podcast recording headphones to the Moondrop ARIA 2 In-Ear Headphones because the Shure model I used before didn’t stay in my ears.

Making the most of a small space..

The rest of my computing setup hasn’t changed much. I removed my M2 MacBook Air because the 11” M4 iPad Pro has replaced it for most of my lightweight portable needs. I’ve also added the Logitech MX Creative Console and Logitech POP Icon Keys keyboard. I’ve grown to like the Creative Console more than the Loupedeck Live for push-button automation, but for now, I still use both. I’m not entirely sure if I’ll stick with the POP Icon Keys keyboard because, as much as I like the automation that’s been baked into it, I prefer the feel of the Magic Keyboard, but I haven’t shelved it yet. I’ve also abandoned the Belkin BoostCharge Pro Wireless Charger because of a recent recall. Instead, I’ve switched to a Native Union Voyage Magnetic Wireless Charger that I’ve been testing and will review soon.

On the videogame side of things, I’ve gravitated to Anbernic devices, adding the Anbernic RG40XXV and Anbernic RG28XX to my setup. Along with the Anbernic RG35XXSP that was already on my list, I now have a nice range of retro handheld sizes and form factors. I have others as well, but these are my current go-to devices. I also added the Nintendo Switch Lite (Hyrule Edition) because I’m a sucker for anything Zelda and I wanted a smaller Switch for traveling.

The Mobapad M6 HD Joycons with my OLED Switch and the Switch Lite Hyrule Edition.

I’ve tried to be good and stop buying controllers, but there have been some great ones released lately, so my list now includes the Mobapad M6 HD Joycons for my OLED Switch and the GameSir G8+. The G8+ is a lot like the GameSir G8 Galileo that it replaced except that it has Bluetooth and works with the iPhone, iPad mini, and Nintendo Switch; I love it.

Finally, I’ve made several changes to my app lineup. There are more Apple system apps on the list, which is usually the case after a long summer of testing macOS betas. Plus, there are several video recording and editing apps on the list now, including Final Cut Pro for the iPad and Mac, Final Cut Camera, a Stupid Raisins plugin for doing split-screen video, and Camo Studio.

That’s it for now. However, I’m already thinking about some fall and winter projects that will mean more changes to my setup, especially with respect to video production tools.

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Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

Comfort Zone

Niléane is back and she’s brought the long-awaited Mastodon 4.3 update, Matt brought Omnivore, and Chris rounds out his new Apple product reviews with the Apple Watch Series 10. Then we see who took the best photo with an iPhone and introduce a fun new, accessible challenge.

Magic Rays of Light

Sigmund and Devon discuss Sigmund’s experience at London Film Festival, including the world premiere of Blitz. They also highlight this week’s release of Disclaimer and dive deep into Submerged, the first Apple Immersive Video scripted film.

MacStories Unwind

This week, John shares a spooky story, Federico and he both have TV show picks, and they update listeners on their progress in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.

Comfort Zone, Episode 19, ‘Oh, I’m A Limb!’ Show Notes

Weekly Topics

• Mastodon 4.3 is out
• Omnivore
• Apple Watch Series 10

Other Stuff We Discussed

• Niléane’s photo
• Matt’s photo
• Chris’s photo
• Tangerine UI 2.0
• Chris’s Nomad watch band
• Matt’s Nomad watch band
• MacStories watchOS 11 review

Follow the Hosts

• Chris on YouTube
• Matt on Birchtree
• Niléane on Mastodon
• Comfort Zone on Mastodon

Magic Rays of Light, Episode 140, ‘London Film Festival Special: Blitz, Submerged, and Disclaimer’ Show Notes

Highlights

• Blitz
• Submerged
• Disclaimer

Apple Original News

• Apple Releases Immersive Short Film Submerged and Announces Upcoming Immersive Content
• Severance: Season 1 on Blu-ray

Releases

• The Last of the Sea Women
• ‎NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition
• ‎Food Truck Pup+
• ‎Furistas Cat Cafe+
• ‎Smash Hit+
• ‎Balatro+

Extras

• The Making of Submerged
• Bad Monkey (Apple TV+ Original Series Soundtrack)
• Wolfs: Behind the Scenes of the Car Stunt Scene with Austin Abrams l Another Take
• Pachinko: Lee Minho and Kim Minha Revisit Moments from Season 1
• Shrinking: Actually Helpful Recap with Lukita Maxwell

Up Next

• Bad Boys: Ride or Die
• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
• The Floor
• Steve McQueen
• Alien: Romulus
• Small Axe
• Nobody Wants This

Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.

Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube and follow us on Mastodon.

Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads

Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads

MacStories Unwind, ‘Hot Rabbi’ Show Notes

Links and Show Notes

A Spooky Story

• Brightwurks Debuts ‘Here’s to the Crazy Ones’ Letterpress Poster for Charity [Update: Pulled]

Picks

• John’s Pick:
  • Slow Horses on Apple TV
    • Trailer
  • The Legend of Zelda: Echos of Wisdom Check In
• Federico’s Pick
  • Nobody Wants This on Netflix
    • Trailer

Follow us on Mastodon

• MacStories
  • Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Threads

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Instagram

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

MacStories Unwind+

We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.

To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.

MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.

If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.

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Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

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They announced their “Asahi game playing toolkit” which brings together their Vulkan 1.3 graphics driver with, and x86 emulation with Windows game compatibility. It’s all still “Alpha” level quality, but good enough to run some AAA games now. Unlike Apple’s own macOS, Asahi Linux has the only conformant OpenGL®, OpenCL™, and Vulkan® drivers for this hardware (as Apple focus on their own API - Metal).

With Asahi Linux installed on your Mac and at least 16GB of memory to handle emulation overhead, Rosenzweig explained that demanding games like Control, Fallout 4, and Cyberpunk 2077 are all playable. That said, it’s still early days for the Ashahi game-playing toolkit, with more work to be done to support more modern AAA Windows games running at 60fps.

Still, what Rosenzweig and other contributors to the project have achieved is impressive, with more details available on Rosenzweig’s website. It’s also heartening to see developers coming up with solutions that work with commonly-used Windows graphics APIs instead of waiting for game developers to adopt Apple’s Metal framework.

→ Source: gamingonlinux.com

The first is an unboxing and closer look at the Nintendo Switch Lite Hyrule Edition. I’ve had the Switch Lite for a little over a week and love it.

We also published a short video follow-up to one of the news stories we covered on the most recent episode of NPC. It turns out that the mysterious Nintendo device that appeared in the FCC’s records wasn’t quite what we thought it might be, and Brendon got photos from the Nintendo Store in New York, which Brendon also wrote about on Wavelengths.

YouTube’s playlist feature is also a great way to put together themed sets of past episodes of shows like AppStories, which has over 400 episodes. We’re working on more of these, but this week, we added a playlist of all 43 interview episodes we’ve done so far, as well as a collection of our classic Pick 2 episodes where Federico and I spotlight recent apps we’ve been trying.

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Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

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Alongside today’s debut of Submerged, the first scripted film captured in Apple Immersive Video, Apple also released a behind-the-scenes look at the film as well as details of immersive content coming to Apple Vision Pro users in the U.S. later this year. The Making of Submerged offers an inside look at the process behind shooting the immersive film. Writer/director Edward Berger and director of photography James Friend break down the unique considerations that went into telling a story in this new format.

Apple offered even more insight into the creative process behind Submerged:

Shot on location in Prague, Brussels, and Malta over three weeks, Submerged was filmed using a full-scale 23-ton submarine set made with real steel, brass, and metal that was modeled after WWII-era vessels. Significant portions of the set were built to withstand being fully submerged, and featured practical camera traps and special effects that were uniquely rigged to expose Apple Immersive Video cameras to sparks, steam, water, and fire without breaking viewers’ sense of immersion. Cast members who might appear out of frame or focus in a 2D feature were meticulously scripted, and participated in extensive stunt rehearsals, including freedive training in dive tanks and open water, to maintain continuity and realism.

It’s both fascinating and inspiring to see the ways the creative team behind Submerged adapted traditional filmmaking techniques to meet the challenges and embrace the opportunities of immersive video. The film itself is now available for Vision Pro owners to stream for free in the TV app in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the U.K., and the U.S.

Apple has more immersive content on the way for Vision Pro users in the U.S. later this year, too, with global availability to follow. Here’s what fans of immersive video can expect:

• 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend: an immersive short film featuring footage from the event, including the Slam Dunk contest, the first-ever NBA vs. WNBA 3-Point Challenge, Stephen vs. Sabrina, the Rising Stars game, and highlights from the All-Star Game (available next Friday, October 17)
• The Weeknd: an immersive music video for a new song from The Weeknd’s upcoming album, Hurry Up Tomorrow (available in November)
• Adventure: a new episode of the extreme sports series centered on freediver Ant Williams’ attempt to best his record for the longest distance under ice with just a single breath (available in December)
• Concert for One: a new concert series featuring intimate performances from the world’s biggest artists, starting with British singer-songwriter RAYE (available later this year)

The first episode of aerial travel series Elevated, featuring a trip around the islands of Hawai’i, is being made available outside the U.S. today. And early next year, Apple will release another episode of Elevated taking viewers on a crisp autumn journey through Maine’s winding coastlines and beautiful rivers, as well as a new episode of Adventure that follows sport climber Kai Lightner as he free-solo climbs over the rocky coves of Majorca, Spain.

All of these immersive video releases sound exciting, and I look forward to experiencing them. With lack of content being a primary concern among Vision Pro owners, it’s good to see new releases scheduled at a regular pace to keep users engaged. Based on today’s announcements, we have lots of immersive content to look forward to in the coming months.

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

If you have ever heard or seen me talk about my macOS setup, you’ll know that I’m a huge fan of Raycast. A few years ago, Raycast took off on the Mac as an incredible alternative to Spotlight and the long-time Mac power user favorite, Alfred. Today, it has cemented itself as an essential piece of software in my daily workflows.

Raycast’s main strength is that it’s fast. It lets you launch apps, run shortcuts, and manage your windows with straightforward commands, and it is extremely flexible in the way that it allows you to assign keyboard shortcuts and aliases to any command.

That being said, I believe the one aspect of Raycast that drives the tool to its maximum potential is its ecosystem of third-party extensions. Developers can build their own commands and offer them in the Raycast extensions store for free. The store, which users can access by typing “Store” directly in the Raycast search bar, has hundreds of extensions available that vary in functionality and quality. And while some of those optional extensions can be pretty simple or offer a single feature each, the way that they come together to turn Raycast into a Swiss Army knife for your workflows on the Mac makes each of them valuable in their own respect.

So today, rather than highlight Raycast’s well-known built-in features, I thought I would round up some of my favorite optional extensions instead. Here’s a word of warning: some extensions in this list are very specific. But at the same time, though, they’ve each become an integral part of my Mac’s Swiss Army knife.

Alright, let’s get into it.

Deepcast

Since English is not my native language, I tend to rely on translation multiple times per day. The way that I use translation is quite specific: I mostly use it to proofread my English writing by translating it back into French. I’ve found that this trick helps me make sure that my sentences make sense and that I’m not misusing any French idioms that don’t translate well into English. (This happens way too often, believe it or not.)

While Apple’s Translate app has only gotten better in recent years and its integration into macOS is very practical, I’ve found that the quality of its translations still isn’t up to the task in many instances. This is the reason I’ve gone back to DeepL as my main translation service. And thanks to Deepcast, a Raycast extension that lets you use DeepL from any text field on macOS, it has become just as practical as Apple’s integrated translation features.

With Deepcast installed, translating text is as easy as selecting it and triggering one of its commands in Raycast. As with anything in Raycast, this can be done by invoking the launcher and typing in the command, or by pressing a keyboard shortcut of your choice. In my setup, I’ve assigned the alias “fr” to Deepcast’s ‘Translate to French’ command and the alias “en” to its ‘Translate to English’ command. Now, no matter what I’m currently working on, translating a string of text is always just three key presses away.

If, like me, you rely on translation on a daily basis, I strongly recommend giving Deepcast a try. The extension requires a DeepL API key to work. However, it’s worth mentioning that, even though I use the extension tens of times every day, DeepL’s free API plan has been more than enough for my use case, and I’m never close to reaching its daily usage cap.

Link Cleaner

Link Cleaner is another extension that comes in handy when I’m writing and posting on Mastodon. The extension does one thing, and does it well: copy any link to your clipboard and invoke the Link Cleaner command via Raycast, and it will immediately strip tracking parameters from the URL.

Tracking parameters are often added to URLs on the web and are mostly used by platforms for analytics purposes – for advertising optimizations. Even if they’re harmless in most cases, tracking parameters tend to over-lengthen your shared URLs, and they tend to make links less readable to anyone who attempts to parse them before clicking on them. Link Cleaner is a great, simple way to clean up your links before sharing them.

QR Code Generator

While we’re in the link-sharing department, let’s also mention the QR Code Generator extension. QR codes are useful in so many instances that I’m not going to attempt to sum up their infinite use cases here. As a result, there are plenty of websites online that let you generate a QR code for a given link. However, most of these websites tend to be unnecessarily complicated to use, if not sometimes outright bound to shady practices wherein anyone who scans your generated codes will be routed through undisclosed third-party domains to generate ad revenue.

Fortunately, this QR Code Generator extension for Raycast doesn’t do any of that. To use it, copy a link to your clipboard and invoke the extension’s command, and it will immediately generate a simple QR code image that you can save and share however you like. It is a great tiny tool to add to your Raycast Swiss Army knife.

Type Snob

Type Snob is an extension that lets you search for a selection of typographic characters that may not be easily typed with a regular Latin keyboard layout. This includes a variety of punctuation characters (dashes, quotations marks, ellipses, and more), as well as basic mathematical characters. To use it, invoke the extension’s ‘Copy Character’ command in Raycast, search for a character, and press Enter to copy it to your clipboard.

Another useful feature of the extension is its relatively hidden ability to let you copy the HTML code for every character (by pressing Command + K then selecting ‘Copy HTML’), which is very useful if you’re using them in a web development project. But even if you’re only using it in a writing or editing context, Type Snob is a good extension to have on hand.

Safari Reading List

Just like Federico, I’ve been struggling in my search for a read later app. As a result, over the past few weeks, I’ve started using Safari’s Reading List feature again to save articles for later. Apart from the addition of a table of contents and summaries to the Reader view in Safari, Reading List hasn’t evolved much. It is still limited to marking links as either read or unread, and it’s still constrained to the Safari sidebar and the browser’s customizable start page.

That being said, it was a pleasant surprise when I discovered that the unofficial Safari extension for Raycast features a ‘Search Reading List’ command. The command is straightforward and simply displays your Reading List items directly inside the Raycast window. Yet, this keyboard-first approach that lets you open one of your read later items in just a few taps has made a world of difference for me. Not only that, but the command also allows you to quickly search through your Reading List items and even copy any of them in Markdown syntax.

Using this command has made me realize how cumbersome it was to constantly have to open the Safari sidebar to access my Reading List. Maybe Apple can take some inspiration here and bake Safari Reading List directly into Spotlight.

Color Picker

We’re now touching on a category of Raycast extensions that may speak more to designers and developers. The first one of those in this list is Color Picker. Just as its name suggests, Color Picker is an extension that, when invoked, turns your mouse cursor into a loupe. Click anywhere on your screen to select a pixel, and the corresponding color code will be copied to your clipboard. You can configure the extension to use your preferred color format (HEX, RGB, HSL, and more), and you can use its additional ‘Color Wheel’ command to pick a color from… well, a color wheel.

In addition to picking new colors, the extension also lets you access and manage the full history of your previously picked colors with the ‘Organize Colors’ command. There, you can copy colors in any of the supported color code formats and even assign custom names to them so you can find them again later. But it doesn’t stop there; in the extension’s settings, you also have the option to add Color Picker directly to the menu bar, which means you can use this extension entirely without having to remember a Raycast command.

In my months spent developing my custom theme for Mastodon, the Color Picker extension has been an amazingly useful tool. While I’m sure there are more advanced color tools on the Mac, I recommend checking it out if, like me, you just need a simple color picker to get by.

Ruler

In a similar vein to Color Picker, the Ruler extension is a basic utility for designers and developers that probably won’t replace anything more advanced that you may already be using. All it does is let you drag segments on your screen to measure distances in pixels. This is useful when designing mockups, when referencing inspiration material, and even in some debugging scenarios when you need to check if an object of any kind is correctly sized onscreen.

To use it, invoke the extension’s ‘Ruler’ command and click anywhere to start dragging a segment. Just as you would expect, you can also hold the Shift key to snap your measuring segment to regular angles if required.

So my cat is… 289 pixels wide.

Git Commands and GitHub CLI Manual

Now, let’s talk about Git for a minute. Git is a powerful piece of software that helps you minutely manage your projects and their version history. The unfortunate thing about Git is how extraordinarily complex it can be; not only is it complex to learn, but this complexity also gets exponentially worse every time your project grows in size and number of collaborators. Branch, merge, rebase, checkout, stash – those words and many more swirl around in front of my eyes whenever I need to type a Git command that’s not just ‘commit’ or ‘push’. If you’ve ever used Git, I’m willing to bet that you can relate to this feeling, at least to some extent.

This is why it never hurts to equip yourself with a couple of Git cheat sheets. Git Commands and GitHub CLI Manual are two similar extensions that let you browse and search for Git commands. The former is ideal if you are already familiar with Git and just need the occasional reminder, while the latter is basically a way to quickly search through GitHub’s Git documentation so you can learn commands as you go.

If you deal with Git on a regular basis, I recommend adding these two to your Raycast setup.

Coffee

For those times when I need to step away from the desk for a minute but don’t want to let my Mac go to sleep for fear of interrupting an important process (such as a video export or a long-running Terminal command), I use a Raycast extension called Coffee. When active, Coffee temporarily overrides your Mac’s screen saver and sleep settings, ensuring your Mac stays awake.

Coffee includes several commands that allow you to toggle it on and off, activate it for a set duration, or keep it active as long as a specific application is running on your Mac. Just like the aforementioned Color Picker extension, Coffee can even be added to your menu bar so you can control it without having to invoke the Raycast search bar. The menu bar icon will also reflect the extension’s current state so you can tell at a glance whether your Mac is caffeinated or not.

Bonus Pick: Twitch

As a bonus pick, I’m going to recommend the great Twitch extension for Raycast. I spend a significant part of my days and nights on Twitch, although most of the time I keep it in Picture-in-Picture or listen to it in the background while I’m working in other apps. Here’s the thing, though: unless you enable push notifications on your iPhone, there is no easy way to know when one of your favorite streamers goes live while you’re on the Mac.

This is where the Twitch extension for Raycast comes in. It allows you to log in with your Twitch account and browse through your followed channels. But the best part is that it can also be added to your Mac menu bar where you can easily tell at a glance how many of your favorite streamers are currently live. If you click the menu bar icon, it will even show you who is currently live, and from there, you can click a channel’s name to immediately start watching in the browser.

This extension has been a great way to keep up with my favorite streamers without having to enable Twitch’s slightly obnoxious push notifications on my phone.

I warned you that some extensions in this list would be extremely specific, but keep in mind that this is precisely why they’ve been so valuable to me. My hope is that this list will give you the urge to search through the Raycast extensions store in order to fulfill your own extremely specific Mac workflow needs.

On a slightly less positive note, at a time when Raycast is rapidly expanding its ambitions, I’ve come to realize how much I depend on its tiny and powerful ecosystem of features and extensions to enjoy working on the Mac. And if I’m honest, I must say I’m increasingly worried that I’m knowingly putting all my eggs in a basket that may (or may not) go away one day.

Still, I am glad for Raycast’s catalog of third-party extensions. It is tangible proof of success that can only prolong the platform’s life expectancy. After all, Swiss Army knives are meant to last.

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Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

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Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, Federico, Brendon, and John cover the latest in Nintendo emulation, a mysterious Nintendo device appears at the FCC, John has a Switch surprise, Microsoft reveals its best-looking controller yet, and Federico mods his Legion Go.

AppStories

This week, Federico and John share the iPhone Lock Screen and Control Center controls that they’re currently using them.

This episode is sponsored by:

• Memberful – Help Your Clients Monetize Their Passion

NPC, Episode 10, ‘A Little SSD Cage’ Show Notes

Links and Show Notes

Intro

• Federico’s new white microphone arm:
  • TONOR Microphone Boom Arm
  • G-STORY 15.6” Inch IPS 4k 60Hz Portable Monitor Gaming Display Integrated with PS5
  • G-STORY 15.6 inch Portable Monitor | Xbox Series S

The Latest Portable Gaming News

• Wii U on Android with Cemu
  • Beta on GitHub
  • Retro Game Corp. and Nintendo
• Ryuninx Shut Down
• What’s this new mystery Nintendo device?
• N64 Operator from Epilogue
  • GB Operator by Epilogue
  • Save the Hero cartridge reader
  • EmuDeck Cloud Sync
• M-Con Controller
  • M-Con update
  • Retro Game Corps first look
• Switch Lite DIY OLED kit
  • Nintendo Switch Lite: Hyrule Edition
  • Retro Remake Super 5 OLED Kits
• REDMAGIC gaming tablet
• • Ghost Cipher Special Edition Series Xbox Controller
• Balatro Makes a Pile of Cash
  • On Apple Arcade
  • On App Store
• Leak suggests Legion Go Lite will be out soon

Federico’s Legion Go SSD Mod

The Cage

• Legion Go

AppStories, Episode 406, ‘Our iPhone Lock Screen and Control Center Controls’ Show Notes

Software and Hardware Requests for Listeners

• John wants a great gradient creation app
  • Something similer to Shareshot without the screenshot framing
  • Also mentioned:
    • Wallpaper Frenzy: A Roundup of My Favorite Wallpaper Apps, Tools, and Artists in 2024
• Federico is looking for a small to medium-sized portable, battery-powered speaker that supports Spotify Tap and Wi-Fi for Spotify Connect (not Sonos)

Our Lock Screen and Control Center controls

• Podcast mentioned
  • Home Screens by LJPUK
• Lock Screens
  • 

    Our Lock Screens. (John (left) and Federico (right))

  • John
    • Quick Note
    • Remind Me Faster
    • Paku
    • Mercury Weather
    • Halide
  • Federico
    • Quick Note
    • Flashlight
    • Remind Me Faster
    • Reminders
• Control Center
  • 

    Our Control Center pages. (John (left and middle) Federico (right))

  • John
    • Page one
      • Remind Me Faster
      • Volume and Brightness
      • Focus Modes
      • Voice Memos
      • Quick Note
      • Home
      • Now Playing
      • CARROT Weather
      • Personal Hot Spot
      • Light and Dark Mode
      • Timers and Alarms
    • Page two
      • Sceens
      • Kitchen lights
      • Office lights
      • Office power outlets
  • Federico
    • Wi-Fi
    • Bluetooth
    • Now Playing
    • Shortcuts
    • AirPlay
    • Timer
    • Calculator
    • Camera
    • AirDrop
    • Flashlight
    • Quick Note
    • Remind Me Faster
    • HomeKit devices
    • Cellular
    • Shazam
    • Screen Recording
• Also mentioned:
  • Forever ✱ Notes: A Simple, Flexible, and Free Approach to Organizing Your Apple Notes

Subscribe here.

On AppStories+,Federico and John explore what it takes to successfully launch a subscription-based app.

We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.

To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.

MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.

If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.

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What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

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Amazon Prime’s Big Deal Days runs today and tomorrow, so just as I did for Prime Day before it, I’ve scoured the thousands of available deals for the best gear that I’ve used, tested, and love. For more of the gear that Federico and I use, check out our Setups page, too.

Here are my top Prime Big Deal Days picks:

Apple Hardware and Accessory Deals

Apple Studio Display.

Studio Display with Stand (16% off)

Apple’s Studio Display has been out for quite a while now, so it’s a regular among Amazon deals. I’ve been using mine for over two years, and it’s the perfect Mac or iPad compliment if you want a big, bright, and crisp display at your desk.

MagSafe Charger (16% off)

Apple recently updated its MagSafe charging puck that I use with my AirPod Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The updated charger, which is Qi2 compatible, allows my iPhone to charge more quickly than was possible with earlier iPhone and charger pairings.

Apple Pencil Pro.

Apple Pencil Pro (24% off)

The Apple Pencil Pro isn’t an accessory that I use every day, but between Smart Script and the radial menu that appears when you squeeze the Pencil’s barrel, I’ve found myself using it more and more for taking notes, editing video in Final Cut Pro, and navigating the web.

The 11-inch iPad Pro.

iPad Pro (11-inch) with M4 chip (10% off)

I’ve had my 11-inch iPad Pro for a while now, and its M4 chip makes it the fastest device I own. That speed is handy for rendering and upscaling video, editing audio, and other computationally intense tasks. Plus, the display is unparalleled.

AirPods Pro 2 (32% off)

I use my AirPods Pro 2 every day. They sound great, and I take advantage of their active noise cancelation and transparency modes all the time. Soon, you’ll be able to use this model to test your hearing, and they’ll double as over-the-counter hearing aids, which will bring even more value to an already great product.

Videogame Deals

PlayStation 5 Slim (10% off)

I have the original PS5, but Federico loves the slim model, which takes up less space in your home. With Astro Bot vying for game of the year on many reviewers’ lists, now is a great time to pick up a PS5 Slim if you don’t already have one.

Playstation 5 Games

Some of the best PS5 games are on sale too:

• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (43% off)
• God of War Ragnarök (42% off)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (37% off)
• The Last of Us Part II Remastered (20% off)
• Rise of the Ronin

SanDisk Nintendo-Branded microSD Cards

I’m a sucker for these SanDisk microSD cards that include Nintendo iconography. Even though I jam them into a device rarely to be seen again, I like knowing they’re “Nintendo” cards. It doesn’t hurt that they’re fast, high-quality cards, too. I love the 256GB Super Mario Super Star cards (53% off) for retro handhelds and the Zelda 1TB cards (43% off) for my Switch because they can fit my entire game library.

Other Deals

Samsung T9 SSD.

Samsung T9 4TB External SSD (45% off)

I own a couple of these 4TB SSDs and a couple of 2TB models, too. All of them have held up well over many months acting as Time Machine and Carbon Copy Cloner backups as well as outboard storage. With USB-C 3.2, these drives are fast, which makes them perfect for large backup jobs or moving around large sets of files.

WD 20TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive (47% off)

I’ve had the 18TB version of this USB-C 3.0 drive for almost a year, and it’s been fantastic because I can archive old project files and create backups for multiple devices, and I still have room to spare. It’s not super fast or quiet, but connected to my always-on Mac mini server, this drive has been perfect.

Logitech Pebble 2 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo for Mac (21% off)

I originally bought the Logitech Pebble keyboard and mouse to have a lightweight set of input devices that I could use with Windows handheld consoles. I still use the setup for that, but I’ve found that they are also a great fit with the iPad because they’re slim and light, making moving them around the house easy.

UGREEN’s 200W USB-C charger.

UGREEN 200W USB-C Charger (23% off)

I’ve been using this UGREEN desktop charger for a couple of years, and it’s been great because I can tuck it out of the way on one side of my desk where it’s barely noticeable. Then, if I have multiple devices to charge, I can stack them up and plug everything in at once. With 200W of power available, I can even plug in three or four devices at once and charge them quickly with the charger’s four USB-C and two USB-A ports.

Anker 727 Charging Station (41% off)

I use the Anker 727 Charging Station for connecting gaming consoles to an external display. With two standard wall outlets, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports, this charging station can come in handy for a wide variety of scenarios where you have just one available wall outlet but need more options.

Belkin SoundForm Connect AirPlay 2 Adapter and Receiver (34% off)

I have an older pair of Harman Kardon SoundSticks that only work over Bluetooth, but thanks to the Belkin SoundForm Connect, they now work just like any other AirPlay-compatible speaker. This is a great gadget for turning any speaker with a 3.5mm or optical audio input into an AirPlay speaker.

Meross Smart Power Strip (24% off)

The Meross Smart Power Strip is a good deal even when it isn’t on sale. The device is HomeKit-compatible, and its four outlets can be treated as one or as individual electrical sources in the Home app. The power strip also includes four USB-A ports that can be turned on and off as a single unit.

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

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Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

Apple has announced that the 2025 Swift Student Challenge will be held for three weeks in February 2025. According to Apple’s press release:

Students, educators, and their advocates can find out how to prepare for the challenge and sign up to be notified when applications open at developer.apple.com. Apple will recognize a total of 350 Swift Student Challenge winners whose submissions demonstrate excellence in innovation, creativity, social impact, or inclusivity. From this esteemed group, 50 Distinguished Winners will receive additional recognition and be invited to Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino next summer.

The company has also updated its Swift Coding Club, a website with resources for students preparing for the annual Challenge, and added new Develop in Swift Tutorials.

I’m sure we’ll hear more about the Swift Student Challenge in February when it kicks off and then again closer to WWDC as we did this year. I’m glad Apple has extended the timeline for publicizing the Swift Student Challenge, which I’m sure will give students and educators more time to prepare for the event and submit their best work.

→ Source: ttps:

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about and showed off Logitech’s MX Creative Console, a two-piece device made up of a keypad and dialpad, that takes the Elgato Stream Deck head-on. Well, today, Logitech is back with a slightly different approach in the form of its POP Icon Keys keyboard, which borrows some tricks from the Creative Console.

The $49.99 keyboard, shipping later this month, is solidly built and low-profile. It weighs 530g and has four big rubber pads on the bottom corners, giving it a sturdy, stable feel on my desk. The keys use scissor switches and feature aggressively rounded corners, and they’re quiet and have more throw and resistance than an Apple Magic Keyboard, but are easy to adapt to if you’re used to Apple’s keyboards. I particularly like the texture of the keys – which could be partially due to the fact that I’ve been using a worn-down Magic Keyboard – but the keys have a nice feel and don’t show fingerprints.

The POP Icon Keys comes in four color options.

The body of the keyboard is made of a similar plastic, and the keys are surrounded by a strip of glossy, transparent plastic that adds a little flair to the entire package. The color options available for the POP Icon Keys are fun, too. I’ve been testing a black keyboard with neon yellow accents for about a week, and I like it a lot, but there are other color combinations available, including pink, orange and white, and a purpleish-blue color scheme. Also, the POP Icon Keys runs on two AAA batteries, which Logitech says can provide 36 months of operation thanks to the keyboard’s onboard power management.

If that’s where the story ended for the POP Icon Keys, I’d recommend it because it’s a very good keyboard for the price. What sets the POP Icon Keys apart, though, is that it goes a step further, adding automation features similar to those found on the more expensive MX Creative Console.

Logitech has designated the Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, F4-F12, and brightness keys as programmable via its Logi Options+ app. Among other things, you can use these keys to control system settings, execute keyboard shortcuts, and run multiple actions combined into macros. The keys’ original functionality remains available, too, if you hold down the function button. The POP Icon Keys also shares the MX Creative Console’s ability to set up app-specific profiles, meaning you can program keys to perform different tasks depending on which app is active.

For example, you could use the Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down buttons to open different sets of apps for work, a special project, or relaxing with a game. Or you could use the function keys to trigger keyboard shortcuts in your favorite apps or Shortcuts automations.

There are a couple of things I love about this functionality. First, the flexibility is fantastic, especially since you can access the programmable keys without taking your hands off the keyboard, which is an advantage over the MX Creative Console. Second, for just $50, the POP Icon Keys is a great entry point into the world of push-button automation. If it turns out that keyboard-driven automation isn’t your thing, you still have an excellent keyboard, but if it is, you can go a long way with the POP Icon Keys’ options before you graduate to the MX Creative Console or another similar device.

All in all, I like the POP Icon Keys a lot. It’s nicely built and a great way to get started with keyboard automation or supplement other automation workflows you already use. The device is available directly from Logitech and Amazon.

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

Comfort Zone

Surprise! Matt got a new iPhone (you’re shocked 😅) and Chris brings the new AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (yes, that’s the name!). Then it’s time for movie corner and a review of 2023’s film, Ferrari.

Magic Rays of Light

Sigmund and Devon highlight the much-anticipated debut of Wolfs, recap Women in Blue, and discuss a new tvOS “feature” impacting purchased content.

MacStories Unwind

This week, Federico gets some help tackling cable management and I did hard time at the DMV, but still had time for a gritty new crime drama.

Comfort Zone, Episode 18 ‘Ryan Gosling and Gladiator’ Show Notes

Weekly Topics

• iPhone 16 Pro
• AirPods 4

Other Stuff We Discussed

• Chrome uses a ton more battery than Safari, right? Right???
• Matt’s iPhone 16 Pro review on YouTube
• Chris on Letterboxd
• Matt on Letterboxd
• Ferrari

Follow the Hosts

• Chris on YouTube
• Matt on Birchtree
• Niléane on Mastodon
• Comfort Zone on Mastodon

Magic Rays of Light, Episode 139, ‘Wolfs, Women in Blue, and the Sanctity of Credits’ Show Notes

Highlight

• Wolfs

Apple TV News

• ‎Channels: Whole Home DVR

Trailer Talk

• Before
• Shrinking — Season 2

Releases

• Where’s Wanda?

Recap

• Women in Blue

Up Next

• The Front Room
• Mr. McMahon
• Will & Harper
• Babes
• Evil Does Not Exist
• Deadpool & Wolverine
• Speak No Evil
• Salem’s Lot
• Gremlins: The Wild Batch
• We Grown Now
• Dìdi
• It’s What’s Inside
• The Franchise
• The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol
• Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger

Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.

Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube and follow us on Mastodon.

Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads

Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads

MacStories Unwind, ‘I Look Like an Apple Promotional Photo’ Show Notes

Links and Show Notes

Federico Gets Help with Cable Management

• Federico’s new white microphone arm:
  • TONOR Microphone Boom Arm

John Does Hard Time at the DMV

• As complaints mount over long waits, DMV head questioned by NC lawmakers

Pick

• John’s Pick:
  • The Penguin on Max
    • Trailer

MacStories Unwind+

We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.

To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.

MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.

If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

My iPhone 16 Plus.

If you asked me two weeks ago which iPhone model I’d be getting this year, I would have answered without hesitation: my plan was to get an iPhone 16 Pro Max and continue the tradition of the past five years. I’ve been using the largest possible iPhone since the XS Max and have bought the ‘Pro Max’ flavor ever since it was introduced with the iPhone 11 Pro Max in 2019. For the past five years, I’ve upgraded to a Pro Max iPhone model every September.

And the thing is, I did buy an iPhone 16 Pro Max this year, too. But I’ve decided to return it and go with the iPhone 16 Plus instead. Not only do I think that is the most reasonable decision for my needs given this year’s iPhone lineup, but I also believe this “downgrade” is making me appreciate my new iPhone a lot more.

It all comes down to a simple idea: fun.

Realizing That, Indeed, Maybe I’m Not a Pro Anymore

This thought – that perhaps I could be just fine with a regular iPhone instead of a Pro variation – first popped into my head while I was watching Apple’s September keynote. With the addition of last year’s Pro-exclusive Action button and the cross-model introduction of the new Camera Control, I thought maybe I wouldn’t feel “left behind” in terms of major new iOS features. Historically, that’s always been the pull of the Pro line: there’s something exclusive to them – whether it’s the size, display technology, or design language – that pushes me to eschew the base model in favor of the more expensive Pro one, where “Pro” actually means “best”. But if the features I cared about most were trickling down to the non-Pro iPhones too, could my personal definition of “best” also change?

Besides feature availability, I also had a vibe-related realization during the keynote. More than in previous years, some parts of the photography segment were really technical and, for my personal taste, boring. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate that Apple is unlocking incredible potential for photographers and filmmakers who want to shoot with an iPhone and have unlimited control over their workflow. It is necessary for the company to push the envelope and put that kind of power in the hands of people who need it. But that’s the issue: as I was watching the segment on audio mixes and nearly dozing off, for the first time in years I felt that Apple wasn’t targeting me – and that maybe that phone wasn’t meant for me.

I know, right? It sounds obvious. But if you’ve been writing about Apple or have been part of the “Apple community” for as long as I have, you know that there’s a kind of invisible social contract wherein true nerds are supposed to be getting and producing content about the most expensive iPhones every year. I know and say this because I’ve been guilty of this line of thinking before. There’s almost an expectation that whoever creates content about Apple needs to do so from the top down, purchasing the highest-end version of anything the company offers. But if you think about it for a second, this is a shortsighted approach: the vast majority of people can’t afford the most expensive Apple products and, in reality, most of our stories run the risk of sounding too aspirational (if not alienating) to them rather than practical.

This meta commentary about purchasing Apple products and the parasocial pressure of writing about them is necessary context because, regardless of my initial feelings during the keynote, I still went ahead and ordered an iPhone 16 Pro Max. Despite me not caring about any of the advanced camera stuff in the Pro models, despite the Action button and Camera Control arriving on the base models, and despite Brendon’s story on this very topic that resonated with me, I still thought, “Well, surely I’m supposed to be getting an iPhone 16 Pro Max. I can’t be the type of person who ‘downgrades’ to a regular iPhone 16, right?”

And so preorder I did, ever so convinced I had to stick with a more expensive (and more visually boring) iPhone because of the always-on display, ProMotion, telephoto lens, and increased battery life.

When the 16 Pro Max arrived, I could instantly tell that something felt off about it this year. I’m not saying that it wasn’t a good upgrade from my iPhone 15 Pro Max; the improved ultra-wide camera was great, battery life was magnificent, and the thinner bezels looked nice. What I’m saying is that, more so than in previous years, I felt like it was almost “too much iPhone” for me, and that its changes were only marginally improving upon my experience from the previous generation. Meanwhile, I was giving up the fun looks, creative constraints, and increased portability of an iPhone 16 Plus to keep up my end of an unspoken bargain with my audience – or maybe just myself.

The more I used the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the more I felt that it crossed a threshold of weight and screen size that I was not expecting. I’ve always been a strong proponent of large iPhones, but for the first time, the 16 Pro Max felt too big and heavy. This idea solidified when Apple eventually sent me a review unit of the iPhone 16 Plus: there I was, using an iPhone slightly smaller than the Pro Max (but still big enough), which was also 30 grams lighter, and, more importantly, had a stunning ultramarine color that put a smile on my face whenever I used it.

I used the iPhone 16 Plus for a few days alongside my iPhone 16 Pro Max. During that experiment, I realized that my initial feelings were right and I should have trusted my original instincts. The iPhone 16 Plus had all the things I wanted from a new iPhone (large screen, good battery, Action button, Camera Control, A18 performance) in a more accessible package that traded advanced photography features for increased portability and, yes, pure aesthetics. And just like I accepted a few months ago that I’m not necessarily an AirPods Pro person but actually prefer the base model AirPods, so I decided to return my iPhone 16 Pro Max and get an iPhone 16 Plus instead.

After a week, I haven’t missed the bigger, heavier iPhone 16 Pro Max at all. In fact, using the iPhone 16 Plus and forcing myself to be creative within its photographic constraints has reignited in me a passion for the iPhone lineup that I hadn’t felt in years.

Using (and Loving) the iPhone 16 Plus

Let’s address the elephant in the room: I’m not missing ProMotion and the always-on display as much as I feared I would.

I’ve never been a heavy user of Lock Screen widgets, so not seeing glanceable information on my Lock Screen without waking up the display is not a big deal. I thought I was reliant on the always-on display, but it turns out, I was just leaving it on because I could. If anything, I’d argue that not always seeing my iPhone’s display when I’m at my desk helps me stay more focused on what I’m doing, and it’s making me appreciate using my Apple Watch¹ to, well, check the time even more. In a way, the absence of the always-on display is the best Focus mode I’ve ever tested.

Plus, raising my iPhone or tapping the screen to wake up the display is not the end of the world.

The lack of ProMotion took a longer adjustment period – where by “longer” I mean two days – but now it’s fine. I’ve been switching between my iPad Pro with a ProMotion display and the iPhone 16 Plus without one, and I lived to tell the tale. I wish I had a better way to convey this that doesn’t boil down to, “My eyes got used to it and it’s okay”, but here we are. I was firmly in the camp of, “I can never go back to a non-ProMotion display”, but when you use a device that doesn’t have it but makes you happy for other reasons, it’s doable. Plenty of folks who claim that non-ProMotion iPhones are a non-starter also enjoy using the iPad mini; it’s the same argument. If next year’s “Plus” equivalent model (or whatever replaces it) gets ProMotion, then great! I’ll happily take it. Otherwise, it’s fine.

The feature I’m missing most from the iPhone Pro Max is the telephoto lens. I took a lot of pictures of my dogs using that 5x zoom, and I wish my iPhone 16 Plus had it. But something that Brendon suggested in his story came true for me: the limitations of the iPhone 16 Plus are forcing me to be creative in other ways, and it’s a fun exercise. I need to frame subjects differently, or get closer to them, and accept that I can’t optically zoom from far away like I’ve been doing for the past year.

I took plenty of amazing pictures for years using iPhones without a 5x lens, and I still cherish those photos. When I look at some of the pictures I’ve taken over the past week with my iPhone 16 Plus, I can’t complain. So what if I don’t have access to the absolute best camera Apple makes for professional users? A base model iPhone can still capture remarkable shots. I can live without “best”.

Zelda and Ginger say hi.

The shelf above my desk.

Which brings me to the camera-related changes in this year’s iPhone lineup.

On one hand, I find the default behavior of the Camera Control button too fiddly. The “half-press” faux clicks are tricky to get right, impossible to explain to other people, and, worst of all, not as configurable as I hoped. If I have to carefully swipe on a thin capacitive button to access additional Camera controls, I might as well just touch the screen and get it done faster thanks to larger UI elements. I would have preferred the ability to assign half presses to specific features, such as toggling zoom levels, switching to the selfie camera, or choosing between 12 and 48 MP shooting modes.

My Camera settings in iOS 18.1 beta.

For now, thanks to new options available in the iOS 18.1 beta under Accessibility, I’ve outright disabled half presses, and I’m just using Camera Control as a shutter button. I may reconsider when Apple ships the two-stage shutter mode for auto-focus later this year. But with this setup, I love using Camera Control as a “simple” button that opens the Camera from anywhere and takes a picture. It’s become my default way for launching the Camera and allowed me to get rid of all the other Camera shortcuts I had on the Lock Screen and in Control Center.

On the other hand, I immediately became a fan of the new photographic styles on the iPhone 16 and the ability to bring back shadows in my photos thanks to undertones.

For a few years now, I (and many others) have felt like the iPhone’s camera was producing rather uninspired results where everything looked too homogeneous and equalized. I didn’t know how to put this into words until I read and watched Nilay Patel’s review of the iPhone 16 models. Because the camera aggressively balances highlights and shadows so that everything is bright and visible in a picture, nothing truly stands out by default anymore. I understand why Apple does this (we spend so much money on these phones; surely we want to see every detail, right?), but I still disagree with the approach. I’d rather have fewer details in a photo with character that latches onto my visual memory than a “perfect” shot where everything is nicely lit, but ultimately forgettable.

Post by @viticci

View on Threads

This year, rather than fixing the root of the problem, Apple pretty much said, “You figure it out”. And that’s what I did: I simply tweaked the ‘Standard’ photographic style to have tones in the -0.5/0.7 range and enabled the option to preserve this setting, and that was it. Now every picture I take pops a little bit more, has more shadows, and feels less like an ultra-processed digital artifact despite the reality that, well, it still is. The fact that I can even alter styles after a picture is taken (the amber and gold styles are my favorites so far) with individual controls for color intensity and tone is just icing on the cake.

And now for the hardest part of this story: expressing in a blog post the fleeting, intangible quality of “fun” and why using a colorful iPhone after years of stone-like slabs makes me smile. Most of this is going to sound silly, and that is the point.

The iPhone 16 Plus’ ultramarine color is amazing to see in person. Everything about it stands out: the Apple logo on the back, which has a texture I prefer to the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s glass; the flat, darker sides; the different, shiny hue of the Camera Control button; and especially the brilliant color of the glass camera bump. If you don’t like the idea of your iPhone being very vibrant and recognizable, I get it. Personally, I love that something so colorful is also a piece of cutting-edge technology; it creates a contrast between this device looking toy-like in nature and it actually being a powerful pocket computer. It reminds me of my beloved pink and blue PSPs. There’s something about advanced tech that meets color. I don’t know, ask the iMac about it.

I love the fact that when I pull out this phone, people look at it and ask me questions. If you’d rather not have people start a conversation with you about your phone, I also get it! But as we’ve established, I love talking to people about tech, and I appreciate that this phone is catching people’s attention so that I have to explain what it is and what it does.

I told you this part was going to sound silly, so stay with me: I love how this phone looks alongside the tattoos on my right hand and left arm. I mean, I’m a walking definition of vibrant colors. If you think I’m crazy for believing in such ideas, thank you. When I’m working at my desk and look down at the blue phoenix on my left arm, then see the ultramarine iPhone 16 Plus next to me, I chuckle. This thing looks good.

For now, I’m using the iPhone 16 Plus without a case because I like how the device feels in my hands and want to show off its color. I’m a little concerned about the durability of the blue paint around the camera lenses, though, and I’m considering getting something like an Arc Pulse to protect the camera bump on the back.

I wasn’t expecting this, but the 30-gram difference between the iPhone 16 Pro Max and 16 Plus is noticeable in the hand. I’ve been using the 16 Plus a lot to catch up on my queues in GoodLinks and Unwatched, and I haven’t felt the same pressure on my left wrist (which has been acting up lately) as I did when I was testing the 16 Pro Max. I’m a little disappointed about the rumors that the iPhone 16 Plus will be the last of its kind; however, if Apple will indeed release a much slimmer “iPhone Air” in 2025, I guess this exercise of not using a Pro model for a year will pay off.

Lastly – and I can’t believe I’m typing this after my iOS 18 review – I have to give a shoutout to dark and tinted icons on the iPhone 16 Plus. I installed a deep blue/purple wallpaper to match my phone’s color; when combined with dark icons (which I’m using by default) or some variations of the tinted ones, the results aren’t bad at all:

Fun, Unique Tech for Everyday Life

What I’m trying to convey in this story is the following concept:

For the past few years, I never cared about my iPhone as a physical object. I was more concerned with the resolution, cameras, and other specs – what was inside the phone. The devices themselves weren’t eliciting any particular reaction; they were the same slabs year after year, replaced in a constant cycle of slab-ness for the pursuit of the “best” version of whatever Apple made during that year. This is why the last “new” iPhone I truly remember was the groundbreaking iPhone X. If you asked me to tell you what the 12, 13, 14, and 15 Pro Max felt like in everyday usage, I wouldn’t be able to answer precisely. One of them introduced the Dynamic Island and another was made of titanium, I guess? They were great phones, albeit forgettable in the grand scheme of things.

This year, I’ve realized that using devices that have something fun or unique about them compounds my enjoyment of them. This isn’t about those devices being “pro” or colorful; it’s about them adding something fun and different to my life.

I enjoy using the 11” iPad Pro because it’s thin and has the nano-texture display that lets me work outside. The Steam Deck OLED with matte display produces a similar feeling, plus it’s got a unique ergonomic shape that fits my hands well. I like the orange Action button and Digital Crown circle of my Apple Watch Ultra 1 and how they pair with my orange Sport band. The Meta Ray-Bans are good-looking glasses that also happen to have a camera and speakers. The Legion Go is bulky, but the controllers feel great, the display looks amazing, and the console is extremely moddable. Each of these devices has some flaws and isn’t the “best” option in its respective field; however, as products I use in everyday life, they’re greater than the sum of their parts.

The iPhone 16 Plus isn’t the most powerful model Apple makes. But for me, its combination of color, texture, reduced weight, and modern features makes it the most pleasant, fun experience I’ve had with an iPhone in a long time.

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Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

AppStories

This week, Federico and John share their favorite app updates that take advantage of what’s new in iOS 18.

On AppStories+, John expands on his first look at the Logitech MX Creative Console, and Federico and John discuss Orion, the prototype AR glasses that Meta showed off last week.

This episode is sponsored by:

• Karo – The first of its kind task manager focused on delegating tasks via messaging apps. The first 50 listeners can get 50% off a 1-year subscription here.
• Celtreos – The shoot-em-up game with tiny ships, big weapons, waves of foes, power-ups and obstacles.

Ruminate

A final update on the St Jude campaign, an overflowing snack corner, and Hurricane Helene.

AppStories, Episode 405, ‘iOS 18 App Updates We Love’ Show Notes

AppStories+ Pre-Show

Visit AppStories.com to learn more about the extended, high bitrate audio version of AppStories that is delivered early each week and subscribe.

• First Look: Logitech’s MX Creative Console Is Poised to Compete with Elgato’s Stream Deck Lineup
• First Look: Logitech’s MX Creative Console
• Related:
  • Automation April The Loupedeck Live S Is a More Portable and Affordable Automation Control Panel for the Mac
  • The Macintosh Desktop Experience, Exploring the Loupedeck Live A Task-Focused Mac Control Panel
  • The Macintosh Desktop Experience Four Task-Based Ways I’m Using the Loupedeck Live Daily
• Also mentioned
  • Dropover
  • MacStories Pixel Icon Sets
• The Meta Orion AR Glasses
  • Hands-on with Orion, Meta’s first pair of AR glasses

iOS 18 App Updates We Love

• Paku
• GoodLinks
  • Also mentioned:
    • Readwise Reader
    • Feedbin
• Play
• Shareshot
• SwitchBuddy
  - Control Mark
• Remind Me Faster
• Ticci Tabs

Ruminate, Episode 194, ‘Endless TikToks’ Show Notes

• The Omg Lol Times · St. Jude 2024 Fundraiser Recap
• Heinz Monster Munch Pickled Onion Flavour Mayo Limited Edition
• Utz Potato Chips Mike’s Hot Honey
• Cinnabon® Cinnamon Roll Flavored Drizzled Kettle Corn
• Fruit Punch
• JD’s HOT Collection Set – JD’s Hot Honey

MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.

If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

Social media has splintered across multiple services since the decline of Twitter. I’ve always managed a lot of social media accounts between my own and ones for MacStories, but today the situation is worse than ever. There have always been services like Buffer that make it easier to juggle multiple accounts and services, but they are more expensive than most indie developers, artists, websites, and other creators can afford and offer more features than most need.

That’s where Croissant comes in. It’s a new iPhone app from Ben McCarthy and Aaron Vegh that simplifies cross-posting to Mastodon, Bluesky, and Threads at an indie-friendly price. The app doesn’t try to replicate the many features you’ll find in services like Buffer. Instead, it’s focused on making it easier for indie creators or anyone with multiple social accounts to post on multiple platforms at once.

Croissant’s tint color, app icon, and posting button icon are all customizable.

I’ve been testing Croissant over the past week, connecting it to two Bluesky accounts, two Threads accounts, and five Mastodon accounts, and I’ve been loving it. First off, the design is top-tier, as you’d expect from one of Ben’s apps. The UI’s focus is on drafting your posts, and it’s accented with a deep yellow/orange hue that I love. However, the app offers seven other color options to choose from. There are also a total of seven app icon options and three icons to pick from for the button that publishes a post.

Managing accounts in Croissant.

If you have a lot of accounts you want to use with Croissant, you’ll need to start by signing into each, which requires a little patience. However, once you’re set up and ready to go, the rest is smooth sailing. You’ll see icons for each of the accounts you’ve signed into at the top of the app’s compose view. Tap on the row of icons to manage your accounts, removing any you no longer use and adding any new ones. The gear icon in the top-left corner of the view reveals tint, post icon, and app icon settings, and the box icon at the top-right is used to access draft posts that you can save using the app’s Menu button at the bottom of the compose field.

That same Menu button also allows you to delete a post, add to an existing thread, add a content warning, and pick from various audience options. Plus, there are buttons to tag someone, add hashtags, and attach photos or videos to a post. Croissant displays a character counter at the top of each draft post, too.

I appreciate the ‘Do you really want to post this everywhere?’ step.

My favorite part of Croissant is the interaction that takes place when you’re ready to launch your latest hot take into the social media wilderness. Before you post, a list of every account you’ve connected to Croissant slides up from the bottom of the screen. By default, all of your accounts are selected. Tap the big Post button at the bottom of the list, and you’ll launch your words of wisdom into the world across every service you’ve configured. Before you post, you can also de-select any of the accounts listed. That’s great because, although I could fairly be accused of being a chronic cross-poster, even I rarely post everywhere all at once, so I appreciate the chance to fine-tune where my posts will be published.

I like the simplicity of Croissant a lot, but there are a couple of things I’d love to see added in future updates. The first is Shortcuts support. An action that allows me to pick the accounts to send a post from, coupled with Shortcuts’ ability to pull items from RSS feeds, would make publicizing new MacStories articles and podcast episodes a lot easier. Second, a scheduling feature would go a long way toward completely eliminating the need for services like Buffer for a lot of people. Of course, an iPad and Mac version of Croissant would be great too, but I’ve found using the iPhone app on my iPad and on my Mac with iPhone Mirroring to fill that need well so far – except that on the iPad it means logging into all of my accounts a second time, which is a little tedious.

Sometimes the hottest takes cool after a few days in the drafts box.

There’s an added side benefit to using Croissant that I didn’t realize at first but Brendon pointed out to me. Croissant lets you post without the distraction or stress of getting sucked into your timelines. I’ve often had times where I felt like I needed a break from social media but felt compelled to jump back in to make sure we were promoting everything happening at MacStories. With Croissant, you can have it both ways, letting the world know what you’re up to without needing to scroll your timeline.

Croissant, which is available on the App Store for free but requires a subscription for some features, is a clear win for anyone who works online and wants to promote what they make or who maintains active accounts across several services. Neither group is a good fit for expensive social media management services, but for $2.99/month, $19.99/year, or a one-time payment of $59.99, Croissant is a no-brainer.

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

MacStories readers love to automate their iPhones, which is what makes the BANG!CASE the perfect choice whether you’re using an iPhone 14, 15, or 16 Pro or Pro Max. The BANG!CASE’s retro-futuristic design combines cool aesthetics with its integrated motherboard and independent power supply, which deliver unrivaled power via the BANG!Button and support for the iPhone 16’s Camera Control.

The customizable BANG!Button lets you program thousands of actions with a single press, double-press, or press-and-hold. It’s like having three buttons in one for everything from taking photos to recording voice memos to launching apps, all while protecting your iPhone in a stylish case that includes support for MagSafe wireless charging.

Meanwhile, the GAMEBABY case delivers fun retro vibes reminiscent of 90s game consoles. The case includes a detachable lower half with touch capacitive buttons. By flipping the removable bottom half of the case and covering the front of your iPhone, your phone is transformed into a retro gaming handheld compatible with apps like Delta.

The BANG!CASE is available to order now from Bitmo Lab for $49.99, and, while supplies last, a limited supply of the GAMEBABY case is available for an introductory price of just $24.99. Learn more on Bitmo Lab’s YouTube channel and order the two most innovative iPhone cases available today.

Our thanks to Bitmo Lab for sponsoring MacStories this week.

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

Comfort Zone

With Niléane out on assignment, Matt and Chris are joined by MacStories’ own John Voorhees! Chris and John bring brand new, embargoed products, while Matt brings…checking my notes here…a Thunderbolt dock from years ago (but he swears it’s cool).

Magic Rays of Light

Devon and Jonathan highlight new Apple Original Spanish-language medical drama Midnight Family, share their iPhone 16 Pro and Apple Watch Series 10 first impressions, and check in on Slow Horses midway through its fourth season.

This week, an unexpected return to the wild kingdom, my iPhone 16 Pro Max first impressions, and movie and videogame picks.

Comfort Zone, Episode 17, ‘One True Voorhees’ Show Notes

Weekly Topics

• OWC Thunderbolt Dock
• iPhone 16 Pro
• Logitech MX Creative Console

Other Stuff We Discussed

• VIA
• Tailscale
• Longplay
• Things Logbook (opens in Obsidian)
• GoodTask

Follow the Hosts

• Chris on YouTube
• Matt on Birchtree
• Niléane on Mastodon
• Comfort Zone on Mastodon

Magic Rays of Light, Episode 138, ‘Midnight Family, New Hardware Impressions, and a Slow Horses Check-In’ Show Notes

Devon and Jonathan highlight new Apple Original Spanish-language medical drama Midnight Family, share their iPhone 16 Pro and Apple Watch Series 10 first impressions, and check in on Slow Horses midway through its fourth season.

Jonathan Reed | Follow Jonathan on Mastodon, Threads, or Letterboxd

Highlight

• Midnight Family

watchOS 11

• watchOS 11: The MacStories Review

Trailer Talk

• Disclaimer
• Blitz

Releases

• Wolfs

Extras

• An Exclusive Peek at Bad Sisters Season 2 | Vanity Fair
• Apple Maps Guide: Take a Journey Around Japan with Sunny
• ‎Apple Fitness+ Artist Spotlight: Charli xcx

Midseason Check-In

• Slow Horses
• Magic Rays of Light: In Conversation | James Hawes

Up Next

• Ripley
• Inside Out 2
• Full House: Aftershocks
• How Rude, Tanneritos: Jeff Franklin and “Aftershocks”

Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.

Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube and follow us on Mastodon.

Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads

Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads

MacStories Unwind, ‘I Want to Be Friendly With All Animals’ Show Notes

A Return to the Animal Kingdom

• Black vultures
• A wolf in Rome

Picks

• My Pick:
  • The Fall Guy
    • Trailer
    • Rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV
    • Stream on Peacock
• Federico’s Pick:
  • The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
    • On Amazon
    • Launch Trailer

MacStories Unwind+

We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.

To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.

MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.

If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

Nintendo Switch with Hori’s Split Pad Compact controllers, Steam Deck OLED, and Ayn Odin 2. Also, you should play UFO 50.

Picture this problem:

Because of my podcast about portable gaming NPC with John and Brendon, I test a lot of gaming handhelds. And when I say a lot, I mean I currently have a Steam Deck, modded Legion Go, PlayStation Portal, Switch, and Ayn Odin 2 in my nightstand’s drawer. I love checking out different form factors (especially since I’m currently trying to find the most ergonomic one while dealing with some pesky RSI issues), but you know what I don’t love? Having to deal with multi-point Bluetooth earbuds that can only connect to a couple of devices at the same time, which often leads to unpairing and re-pairing those earbuds over and over and over.

As you know, a while ago I came to a realization: it turns out that Apple’s old-school, wired EarPods are still pretty awesome if you want a foolproof, universal way of connecting a single pair of earbuds to a large collection of devices. Handheld manufacturers, in fact, weren’t as courageous as Apple and, despite modern advancements in Bluetooth, decided to leave a universal audio jack port in their portable consoles. So whether I’m doing side quests in Dragon’s Dogma 2 on Windows, playing Wind Waker on a portable Wii (not a typo), or streaming Astro Bot from my PlayStation 5, I can grab my trusted wired Apple EarPods and know that they will work with any type of device. That’s something oddly liberating and simple about that, and I’m not alone in feeling this way.

Now picture a second problem:

I mostly play video games at night, and I want to remain present and be able to hear my surroundings. Dog owners will understand: we have two sleeping in the bedroom with us, and I have to be able to hear that they’re sleeping well, snoring, or whatever. Let me tell you: you don’t want to accidentally miss one of your dogs throwing up in the bedroom because you were too “in the zone” with both your gaming earbuds in. I learned my lesson the hard way.

Now, I could have left my Apple EarPods alone and simply chosen not to put the right EarPod in, leaving the wire hanging there, unused. But I haven’t gotten to this point after 15 years of MacStories by not challenging the status quo and “leaving things be”. Instead, I grabbed my scissors and cut the wire for the right EarBud just above the connector where the main cable splits in two halves.

Behold: the single Apple EarPod I’ve been using as my go-to gaming “headphone” for the past two months.

The EarPod.

I’ve been using The EarPod with all my gaming handhelds, and it’s, honestly, been perfect. After removing the right channel, audio is automatically routed to the left EarPod as mono; regardless, there are ways both on Linux and Windows to force mono audio in games instead of stereo. The result is a comfortable, good-sounding, inexpensive, easier to unfurl wired earbud that works with everything and allows me to keep an ear on my surroundings, but in particular my dog Ginger, who – for whatever reason – doesn’t want to get off the bed when she’s sick. Bless her.

Could I have purchased one of the many results that come up on Amazon for “mono earbud single ear”? Yes. But I genuinely love the shape and sound of Apple’s EarPods; I just wanted to be in a place where I only had to manage one of them.

Plus, this is MacStories. I’ve done far worse than cutting an EarPod wire. If both of those very specific problems I mentioned above also apply to you, well, I guess I can’t recommend modding Apple’s EarPods enough.

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

This week, Federico and John cover the highlights of macOS Sequoia, a good update that feels unfinished.

In the latest episode, we share our thoughts on the Nintendo Switch 2 rumors, Sony’s PS5 nostalgia-fest, and more handheld news. Plus, Federico explains how Astro Bot makes sense of the PS Portal, I share a look at the Anbernic RG40XXV retro handled, and we reach peak Joy-Con with Mobapad’s M6 HD.

AppStories, Episode ‘macOS Sequoia: The MacStories Review’ Show Notes

Links and Show Notes

AppStories+ Pre-Show (Visit AppStories.com to learn more and subscribe)

• Apple Intelligence
• Apple still has a lot of new hardware to release before the end of 2024
• Also mentioned:
  • Samsung T9 external SSD

macOS Sequoia: The MacStories Review

• macOS Sequoia: The MacStories Review

Subscribe here.

On AppStories+, Federico and I chat about how they’re preparing for Apple Intelligence and rumored fall hardware releases.

We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.

To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.

NPC, Episode 9, ‘Switch 2 Ways’ Show Notes

Links and Show Notes

Federico’s Espresso Machine

• DeLonghi EC9355M La Specialista Prestigio Espresso Machine

The Latest Portable Gaming News

• Switch 2 Rumors
  • The Switch 2 may have leaked already
  • Nintendo Switch 2: Everything we know about the coming release
  • Rumor: Chinese Leak Reveals Alleged Nintendo Switch 2 Production Photos and Detailed Specs
  • Also mentioned:
    • Hori Split-Pad Compact Switch Controller
    • Mobapad M6 HD Joycons Nintendo Switch Controller Pro
• Sony 30th Anniversary PS5
  • Connected, Episode 519 ‘I Got the RGB Going On’
  • Celebrating 30 years of PlayStation with a nostalgic look
  • Also mentioned:
    • Who is the PS5 Pro Actually For?
    • FREKVENS speaker
• Retroid Pocket 5 and Mini Update
• AMD confirms Z2 Extreme chip, aims to boost PC gaming handheld battery life by over 300%
• HTC announces the Vive Focus Vision with color passthrough and an eye on gaming
• Who killed TouchArcade?
  • Also mentioned:
    • Blink
• PlayStation Portal
  • Astro Bot
  • Also mentioned:
    • PlayStation Remote Play app gets renamed to chiaki-ng (chiaki-next-generation)
    • Chiaki-ng
    • Nintendo Wii Mini
    • PlayStation TV was a baffling idea and I deeply love mine
• Anbernic RG40XXV
  • Retro Game Corps. Review
  • On Amazon
• Mobapad M6 HD Joycons Nintendo Switch Controller Pro
• Games Mentioned
  • Final Fantasy: Rebirth
  • Astro Bot
  • UFO 50

Credits

Show Art: Brendon Bigley
Music: Will LaPorte

MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.

If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.

Access Extra Content and Perks

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.

What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.

Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;

Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;

Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.

Source: Logitech.

Today, Logitech revealed the MX Creative Console, the company’s first product that takes advantage technology from Loupedeck, a company it acquired in July 2023.

I’ve been a user of Loupedeck products since 2019. When I heard about the acquisition last summer, I was intrigued. Loupedeck positioned itself as a premium accessory for creatives. The company’s early products were dedicated keyboard-like accessories for apps like Adobe Lightroom Classic. With the Loupedeck Live and later, the Live S, Loupedeck’s focus expanded to encompass the needs of streamers and automation more generally.

Suddenly, Loupedeck was competing head-to-head with Elgato and its line of Stream Deck peripherals. I’ve always preferred Loupedeck’s more premium hardware to the Stream Deck, but that came at a higher cost, which I expect made it hard to compete.

The Logitech MX Creative Console slots nicely into my existing setup.

Fast forward to today, and the first Logitech product featuring Loupedeck’s know-how has been announced: the MX Creative Console. It’s a new direction for the hardware, coupled with familiar software. I’ve had Logitech’s new device for a couple of weeks, and I like it a lot.

The MX Creative Console is first and foremost built for Adobe users. That’s clear from the three-month free trial to Creative Cloud that comes with the $199.99 device. Logitech has not only partnered with Adobe for the free trial, but it has worked with Adobe to create a series of plugins specifically for Adobe’s most popular apps, although plugins for other apps are available, too.

I use Adobe apps, but my interest in the MX Creative Console is its ability to run keyboard shortcuts, trigger various system events, and string together multiple actions as macros. For example, I’m using the MX Creative Console to navigate RSS, add files to Dropover, manage my windows, and take screenshots. Those are things you can do with a Stream Deck, too, but Logitech’s MX Creative Console has a few special things going for it that I love.

Up close with the MX Creative Console’s keypad.

First, there’s the fact that the MX Creative Console comes in two parts. The first is a wireless dialpad with a big knob, a scroll wheel, and four programmable buttons; the dialpad is wireless because it has no screens, allowing it to run on AAA batteries. The second part is a keypad with nine customizable buttons plus two buttons for paging among multiple sets of the nine buttons. The two devices can work together, allowing, for example, a press of something like a brightness button on the keypad to control brightness via the dialpad’s knob.

The keypad’s design is closer to that of a Stream Deck than a Loupedeck, which sacrifices some of the Loupedeck’s premium feel, but I still prefer it to a Stream Deck. The keys have a similar but perhaps slightly shallower throw and aren’t as concave as the Stream Deck. That means the icons assigned to each key’s little display aren’t as distorted by the shape of the keys as they are with a Stream Deck’s. There’s also a subtle lip on the edge of each key and a bump on the center key that makes it easy to orient your hand on the MX Creative Console’s keypad without looking at it.

Source: Logitech.

As for the dialpad, it connects to your computer wirelessly via Bluetooth or Logitech’s proprietary Bolt dongle. Either way, the dialpad can be paired with up to three devices, just like many of the company’s keyboards – something I wish Apple would do with its own input devices. In addition to a knob that’s excellent for adjusting sliders or scrolling horizontally, it includes a scroll wheel for navigating long vertical pages and four programmable buttons. The dialpad is even compatible with the iPad, too, connecting via Bluetooth and operating the same way a third-party mouse does for scrolling and clicking.

Overall, my first impressions of the MX Creative Console’s hardware have been positive. By separating the device into two parts, it’s far more portable than many similar devices. I wouldn’t hesitate to throw one or the other or both into my bag because of their compact size and minimal weight. When I’m at my desk, the keypad includes a stand that holds the device at a little more than a 45° angle, too.

Programming the MX Creative Console’s keypad with Logi Options+.

I’m less excited about the MX Creative Console’s software. I’ve been using a beta version, so I’ll reserve judgment until its final release in October, but so far, programming the device isn’t great. That’s true of the Stream Deck too. Like it, Logitech uses a cross-platform app, Logitech Options+, that appears to be built with web technologies and just isn’t very good. Loupedeck users will recognize elements of Loupedeck’s software when they dig into Options+ to program the dialpad or keypad. But that familiarity isn’t an advantage because Loupedeck’s software was one of its weakest points as well.

Logitech has done an admirable job of competing on hardware, but at least in its beta form, Options+ feels like it’s trying to steal Stream Deck’s crown for janky setup software. The only silver lining is that anyone who has used a Stream Deck or Loupedeck before won’t be surprised by Options+’s limitations.

Still, the Logitech MX Creative Console is excellent overall. I’d prefer better software support, but again, it’s worth noting that the version of Options+ I’ve been using is a beta, and it does get the job done. Although the hardware isn’t as nice as the Loupedeck Live S, I prefer it to a standard Stream Deck and appreciate that it’s been split into two components which allows for a variety of desk setups and easier portability. I can’t wait to see where Logitech takes the MX Creative Console next and how Elgato responds.

The Logitech MX Creative Console is available in black and light gray and can be pre-ordered today on Amazon or Logitech’s website. According to Amazon’s listing the device pre-orders will be delivered on October 16th.

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