Mac Observer Podcasts

Podcast Archives

1. May. 28th, 2017
   Secure Document Syncing, Splitting Audio & More – Mac Geek Gab 659

   Thunderbolt 3 Docks, Quick PrefPane Access, the best iOS PDF viewer, splitting audio files, and finding your lyrics. THAT's what your two favorite geeks start with this week... and then they go from there! Press play and enjoy.

2. May. 26th, 2017
   Apple Watch Tops Heart Rate Monitor Study, Adam Curry’s Podcaster Pro – TMO Daily Observations 2017-05-26

   Bryan Chaffin and Dave Hamilton join Jeff Gamet to talk about Apple Watch ranking as the most accurate wrist heart rate monitor, plus Dave fills us in on Adam Curry's all-in-one device for recording podcasts.

3. May. 25th, 2017
   The Big Ringless Voicemail Rant – TMO Daily Observations 2017-05-25

   Jeff Butts and Bryan Chaffin join Jeff Gamet to make it clear exactly how they feel about ringless voicemail. Spoiler: they don't like it.

4. May. 24th, 2017
   Samsung’s Iris Scanning Joke, Crappy Business is Not OK, and PC Design – ACM 412

   Unsurprisingly, Samsung's crappy iris scanner on the Galaxy S8 has been defeated. Worse, defeating it is easy. Bryan and Jeff think it's a joke and another example of Samsung's delusions of relevance. They also discuss Bryan's theory that PC makers can't compete with Apple's MacBook with me-too design, and say that surveillance capitalists being honest about spying on your doesn't make their spying OK.

5. May. 24th, 2017
   Apple Wants you to Know Swift, Smarthome Fatigue – TMO Daily Observations 2017-05-24

   Kelly Guimont joins Jeff Gamet to discuss Apple's Swift education strategy, plus they talk about smart home fatigue.

6. May. 23rd, 2017
   IKEA Says Hello to HomeKit, Apple’s Diversity Boss, Huawei Targets the MacBook – TMO Daily Observations 2017-05-23

   HomeKit compatible products are about to become easier to find and more affordable thanks to IKEA. Dave Hamilton and Bryan Chaffin join Jeff Gamet to talk about IKEA's place in the smart home market, plus they noteDenise Young Smith's new position at Apple, and Huawei's new laptop that targets the MacBook.

7. May. 22nd, 2017
   TMO Background Mode Interview with Computer Historian and Author David Greelish

   David Greelish is an author, podcaster and personal computer historian. Back when he was in college in the mid-1980s, he got a job in one of the early computer stores that was also an Apple dealer. They sold all kinds of PCs, but David fell in love with the Mac. While he couldn't afford one, his quest continued until he was able to acquire a used Lisa (that ran Mac software). Like many of us, he fell in love with the early computer movement, and that started his obsession with computer history. He's the founder of the Historical Computer Society, the Atlanta Historical Computing Society, and was Cofounder/Director of the first Vintage Computer Festival S.E. His interviews with industry luminaries are legendary. Take a walk down computer memory lane with me and David.

8. May. 22nd, 2017
   Ford’s Interest in Autonomous Cars, iOS 11 Wish List – TMO Daily Observations 2017-05-22

   The car market just took an interesting turn because Ford's new CEO was running the company's autonomous vehicle division. Bryan Chaffin and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to discuss how what that means for the car industry and the other companies with autonomous vehicle aspirations. They also share some thoughts on what Apple may have planned for its iOS 11 announcements at next month's Worldwide Developer Conference.

9. May. 21st, 2017
   Fixing Album Art, Cracked iPads, and UPnP Dangers – Mac Geek Gab 658

   Your geeks start with some tips: dealing with a bad key on your keyboard, restoring the proper album art after iCloud Music Library has done its part, and dealing with a damaged SD card. Then it's on to some questions, like whether or not UPnP is dangerous for you or what to do when you hear your Mac's fans running more frequently than you think is necessary. All this and more, just after you press play!

10. May. 19th, 2017
    Trusting Siri, Apple’s Diabetes Wristband – TMO Daily Observations 2017-05-19

    In machines we trust, or maybe not. John Martellaro and Bryan Chaffin join Jeff Gamet to talk about how people may perceive the information artificial intelligence systems like Siri will give us as they get smarter. They also have some thoughts on Apple's potential impact on the medical industry.

11. May. 18th, 2017
    Chat Tipping in China, Thoughts on Apple Park – TMO Daily Observations 2017-05-18

    Apple has reportedly blocked in-app tipping in Chinese chat apps, and Jeff Butts and John Martellaro join guest-host Bryan Chaffin to talk about it. They also talk about John Martellaro's thesis that Apple Park celebrates the employee.

12. May. 17th, 2017
    New Macs at WWDC, Apple vs Diabetes, Lattice Data – ACM 411

    This could be the year Apple breaks form and introduces new hardware at WWDC, and Bryan and Jeff explain why. They also discuss Apple's big bets on an even bigger future and the importance of AI, neural nets, and machine learning.

13. May. 17th, 2017
    Siri the Cyber Security Guard – TMO Daily Observations 2017-05-17

    As artificial intelligence systems improve, voice assistants like Siri make take a more active role in protecting our computers and our online activity. John Martellaro and Kelly Guimont join Jeff Gamet to look at how Siri may play a bigger part in our personal cyber security, and whether or not that's something we want.

14. May. 16th, 2017
    iPad mini on Life Support, Michael Lombardo at Apple – TMO Daily Observations 2017-05-16

    A new report is in line with our belief that the iPad mini is in its final days. Bryan Chaffin and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to share their thoughts on the pending demise of Apple's smallest iPad model, and on the company's tablet strategy in general. They also look at what Michael Lombardo potentially joining the company could mean for its original TV show and movie plans.

15. May. 15th, 2017
    TMO Background Mode Interview with Astrophysicist Dr. Kelly Holley-Bockelmann

    Dr. Kelly Holley-Bockelmann is an Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Vanderbilt University. Her research specialty is black holes and gravitational waves. For as long as she can remember, she wanted to be an astrophysicist. In our interview she tells the story about, as a teenager, lying in a field under dark Montana skies and gazing at the Milky Way (the edge of our galaxy). She wondered about all those stars and planets and whether there were other civilizations out there looking up at their own starry skies. It was transformative. Today, she uses a Mac and supercomputers to study how black holes generate ripples in the fabric of spacetime and deepen our astronomical understanding and perspective. Kelly, her students and associates are also devoted Mac users, and she tells me why.

16. May. 15th, 2017
    The Day the Music Died, Hello Alexa Calling – TMO Daily Observations 2017-05-15

    The internet is up in arms over the news that MP3 patent licensing has come to an end. Dave Hamilton and Jeff Butts join Jeff Gamet to explain why that's not the end of the work, or even something to worry about. They also explain why people may be overreacting to the ability to use Alexa Calling to contact anyone who enables the service.