Entertainment journalist, film critic, and avid content consumer Scott Mantz joins host Ken Ray for an in-depth discussion on video streaming today. Are production costs getting too high? Is Apple TV+ doing what Apple wants it to do? Can all of today’s streaming services survive? And can one movie or TV show be a break out hit given all of the titles being produced? Plus – Scott and Ken talk Star Trek… because they cannot help themselves.
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Articles by Ken_Ray
Mixing Realities with Ross Rubin - TMO Show 2024-07-19
Reticle Research Founder and Principal Analyst Ross Rubin joins host Ken Ray to talk augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality from the hardware side. Has Apple Vision Pro been a failure? Has Apple Vision Pro helped the Meta Quest 3? Is there time for another big player to enter the headset space? And what is the end goal for players in mixed reality? Ross lends his insight on this edition of The Mac Observer Show.
Startup Step-by-Step with JOhn Rokos - TMO Show 2024-07-12
JOhn Rokos is the Founder, CEO, and Product Architect at Enemy Tree… and he had an idea for an iPhone case. It doesn’t take a lot to have an idea, but it takes quite a bit to turn that idea into an actual business selling actual things. On this episode he shares with us the time a business didn’t work out, as well as the many people, steps, and tools that helped make OpenCase happen.
Mixing MR Headsets with Robert Hurt - TMO Show 2024-07-05
Robert Hurt is a visualization scientist working at IPAC, a science and data center for astrophysics at the California Institute of Technology. His work has been used by NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He also hosted the video podcast “The Hidden Universe” for NASA’s Spitzer Science Center. He’s developed for mixed reality, he’s a fan of mixed reality – and he joins us today to compare and contrast the two biggest AR/VR/MR devices today – Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro.
WWDC 24 Recap with Creative Strategies' Carolina Milanesi - TMO Show 2024-06-28
Carolina Milanesi, analyst and President of Creative Strategies, joins host Ken Ray to talk A.I., Apple Intelligence, and various WWDC announcements. Topics include:
- Making the case for A.I.
- Rating Apple Intelligence
- Whether Apple is “late” to A.I.
- Whether Apple Intelligence will spur an iPhone “Supercycle”
- Other announcements of note from WWDC24
Talking Apple Retail with Michael Steeber - TMO Show 2024-06-21
Michael Steeber, “Tabletops” publisher and developer of the app “Facades,” is probably the person with the most knowledge of Apple Retail today outside of Apple. This week, he joins host Ken Ray to discuss:
- His history with Apple Retail
- The short, sad tenure of Apple Retail exec John Browett
- Apple Vision Pro in Apple Stores
- Apple Retail – Post-Pandemic and Post-Angela Ahrendts
- The Apple Store Time Machine
- The Facades App
- Favorite Apple Retail Locations
Accessing Accessibility with Shelly Brisbin - TMO Show 2024-06-14
Shelly Brisbin knows a lot about a lot, including accessibility and tech. She’s a producer and reporter at Texas Standard, a contributor to Six Colors, and host of the podcast “Parallel.” Recorded pre-WWDC2024, Shelly joins us to talk about what everyone needs to know about accessibility in tech, her time with Apple Vision Pro, her thoughts on AI and Apple and AI, and the tech she wants more than any other.
Folding iPhones, Crashing Cars, A.I. and Pre-WWDC24 with Ben Bajarin - TMO Show 2024-06-07
Creative Strategies CEO Ben Bajarin joins us for the inaugural episode of “The Mac Observer Show.” Topics tackled include:
- Thoughts on Apple and robotics
- Why Apple would/will bring a foldable iPhone to market
- Why Apple crashed the car
- Early days for Apple Vision Pro
- Expectations and possibilities for Apple and AI
And We're Back... The Mac Observer Show Promo
The Mac Observer Show is coming your way! Hosted by Ken Ray, it’s a different thing than we’ve done before. Not day-to-day news this time. The Mac Observer Show looks at a range of topics with a range of guests. Silicon Valley insiders, experts in various parts of Apple’s business, people knowledgable in other parts of tech… We’re talking AI and foldable iPhones and accessibility and Apple Retail and Apple Vision Pro and so much more.
The Mac Observer Show – every Friday on YouTube, wherever you get podcasts and of course – MacObserver.com.
All Ashore That's Going Ashore
Doubt around the headset, a wish for corporate marriage, and make way for “Big Beasts.” That’s the final installment of the Observation Deck.
But Before We Go... - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-31
The current incarnation of The Daily Observations Podcast is coming to an end. But there is still a show to do! TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk about rumors that Apple’s mixed reality headset is being delayed. Plus – Needham analyst Laura Martin thinks Apple and Disney should merge. It’s been fun.
Date and Deets Announced for WWDC23
Dates and deets for WWDC, news around noise machines, and Apple Pay goes sleepy time. That’s today from the Observation Deck.
Anticipating WWDC 2023 - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-30
Apple has announced dates and details for WWDC 2023. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk over the remoteness of the conference and what the world can expect. Plus – Glitches with Apple Pay and (maybe) Apple Podcasts. AND – Ken and Jeff give first impressions of Apple Music Classical.
Siri, Savants and What's the Opposite of a Swan Song?
Apple Pay Later starts its slow roll, the OS beta train is already moving again, and the curtain is finally up on Apple Music Classical.
Changes for Developer Betas and Indie Podcasts - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-29
Apple’s making it harder for non-developers to get developer betas of its latest software. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken with the story. Plus – Ken is worried that changes in Apple Podcasts are reducing independent podcast discoverability. He mixes up the terms “network” and “channels,” though the questions are still sound.
Travelin' Tim Takes his Time in China
Tim Cook and China and iPhone and China, updates aplenty for Apple gear, and Apple’s big plans for the big screen come into focus.
Cook, China, and the Latest Round of Updates - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-28
Travelin’ Tim’s taking his time in China. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk over a meeting between China’s commerce minister and Apple’s CEO. Also, Jeff has a look at the lates OS updates from Apple.
Reported Mixed Feelings on Mixed Reality
Stories of discord around Apple’s MR headset, Tim Cook makes a big trip to China, and new titles teased for Apple TV+.
Mixed Feelings on Apple's MR Headset - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-27
Both the New York Times and Bloomberg say there are certain misgivings around Apple’s mixed reality headset inside Apple. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk over the latest chatter. Plus China, the Steve Jobs audio chatbot, and soccer pour out of the mailbag.
'Seriously, Come Back to the Office'
Apple may be getting serious on the back to work thing, another Epic rant from Tim Sweeney, and Apple may be sinking big bucks into cinema.
Spring OS Updates Without a Product Event? - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-24
Word is Apple is getting serious about having people back in the office three days a week. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken puzzle over the report. Plus – Jeff thinks Apple will release its next OS updates next week. So, no spring product thing then?
Privacy, Security, and Baseball
User privacy versus national security, Free Friday Night Baseball is a thing of the past, and a glitch in the Apple Music matrix.
Making Apple TV+ a Superstation? - TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-23
Changes to “Friday Night Baseball” on Apple TV make Ken wonder whether Apple is trying to turn Apple TV+ into a superstation. He and TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts bat the idea around. Plus – They talk over the random playlists that are turning up for some Apple Music users.
iPhone 14 Plus Can't Even FAIL Properly
iPhone 14 Plus fails at failing, Apple and Foxconn rerun a play in India, and developers get release candidates of Apple operating systems.
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