Is your mail forwarder secure? Are you sure? How about your Internet? These are just two of your dozen-or-so questions that John and Dave tackle this week. It’s not just questions, of course. There are Quick Tips, regular tips, Cool Stuff Found, and even some router fun. Press play and enjoy listening to your favorite geeks while learning at least five new things!
Security Friday, App Store Turns Twelve – TMO Daily Observations 2020-07-10
Charlotte Henry joins host Kelly Guimont to discuss Security Friday news items and tips, and the twelfth birthday of the App Store.
Updates to Swift Learning, iOS 14 Preview – TMO Daily Observations 2020-07-09
Charlotte Henry and Jeff Butts join host Kelly Guimont to discuss updates to Apple’s Swift educational resources and new features in iOS 14.
PowerBook Origin Story – TMO Daily Observations 2020-07-08
Bryan Chaffin and host Kelly Guimont chat about an interview with a designer of the original PowerBook and their own Apple Portable histories.
APFS and Time Machine and Big Sur – TMO Daily Observations 2020-07-07
John Martellaro and Dave Hamilton join host Kelly Guimont to discuss the latest iteration of APFS and how it could affect Time Machine drives.
Partner, Many Tricks Software Rob Griffiths - BGM Interview
Rob Griffiths worked for Apple (1990-95), founded macosxhints.com in 2000, went on to write for Macworld Magazine, has done some podcasting, and is currently a partner at Many Tricks Software, makers of great Mac utilities such as Moom, Witch and Name Mangler.
Rob recalled his early years with the T.I. Silent 700, Commodore PET, and Apple II. At Colorado State University, Rob realized programming was not for him and followed a business track. Later, after graduate school, he landed a job with Apple. We chatted about his career, moving on to great years at Macworld Magazine, and then his current partnership at Many Tricks Software. We then delved into WWDC 2020, challenges as an Apple developer, the transition of Macs to Apple Silicon, and the evolution of macOS as a partial touch-screen OS. Good stuff here!
Apple Services and Also Hamilton – TMO Daily Observations 2020-07-06
Charlotte Henry and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Hamilton’s film debut, and Charlotte has an Apple services prediction.
An iCloud of Uncertainty — Mac Geek Gab 823
When iCloud works, it’s great. And, for the most part, that’s how it is. But sometimes…it just gets plain wonky. Several of you had several questions about that this week, and Dave and John dig in to get you sorted! That’s not all, though. Cool Stuff Found, routers, and even some future stuff is all up for discussion when your two favorite geeks get together this week. Press play and enjoy learning at least five new things!
Apple Arcade Shakeup – TMO Daily Observations 2020-07-02
Charlotte Henry and Andrew Orr join host Kelly Guimont to discuss a reported Apple Arcade shakeup, and the future of the service.
Apple Silicon, Target Mode, iOS Apps Coming to Mac, with John Kheit - ACM 533
Bryan Chaffin is joined by John Kheit to talk about Apple Silicon and the Mac moving to Apple-designed ARM processors. They also talk about Target Mode’s demise and something John Kheit predicted years ago: iOS apps coming to the Mac.
About Intel and Moving Macs to Apple Silicon – TMO Daily Observations 2020-07-01
John Martellaro joins guest-host Bryan Chaffin to discuss what may have driven Apple’s timeline for moving its Mac computers to Apple silicon.
New News About News – TMO Daily Observations 2020-06-30
Charlotte Henry joins host Kelly Guimont to discuss updates to Apple’s News app, Google’s news partnerships, and iOS 14 updates to News+.
Former Apple Senior Director Michael Gartenberg (#11) - BGM Interview
Michael Gartenberg spent three years as Apple’s Senior Director of Product Marketing, reporting directly to SVP Phil Schiller. He is currently a freelance writer and has become a regular guest here on Background Mode. This BGM Interview is his 11th appearance.
We explored the WWDC 2020 Keynote in detail. We started with the production values and layout and how some elements of this new kind of presentation might show up in future events. Then we turned to the Mac on Apple Silicon transition and some of the considerations for users. Later, there was a healthy discussion of iOS 14, Scribble and then macOS 11 Big Sur’s design language and how that differs from the nature of the Mac for UNIX users. Michael always delivers keen insights on how Apple markets its products and always helps us better understand the WWDC Keynote.
iPhone as a Teenager – TMO Daily Observations 2020-06-29
Charlotte Henry and Dave Hamilton join host Kelly Guimont to discuss the iPhone anniversary and what is different (or not) then and now.
Full Disks, Slow Speeds, and Low Batteries — Mac Geek Gab 822
Your questions haven’t stopped, and neither have our answers! How to deal with a full disk? What to do for slow internet speeds? How to best manage your battery? All of these topics are addressed, plus Cool Stuff Found, Quick Tips, and more. Press play and enjoy learning at least five new things with John and Dave this week!
Security Friday: Privacy Updates, Macworld All-Star Band Reunion – TMO Daily Observations 2020-06-26
Andrew Orr and Dave Hamilton join host Kelly Guimont to discuss the latest privacy changes from WWDC, and the Macworld All-Star Band reunion.
Charlotte's Bet on AppleOS – TMO Daily Observations 2020-06-25
Charlotte Henry and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Apple’s future operating systems and the amount of wrong in a theory.
WWDC: iOS 14 Preview, Familiar Features – TMO Daily Observations 2020-06-24
Andrew Orr and Jeff Butts join host Kelly Guimont to discuss the iOS 14 preview from WWDC, and why a few of those features look familiar…
WWDC Deep Dive – Mac Geek Gab 821
Dave Hamilton and John F. Braun share their thoughts and experiences with the new technologies Apple announced at WWDC this week.
Science Communicator Dr. Kiki Sanford (#9) - TMO Background Mode Interview
Dr. Kiki Sanford makes her ninth appearance on Background Mode. Kiki is a neurophysiologist with a B.S. in conservation biology and a Ph.D. avian neurophysiology from the University of California. She’s a popular science communicator and creator/co-host of This Week in Science (TWIS) podcast and radio show.
In this episode, we spend the first segment clearing up some confusion about COVID-19. Mask theory of use, the value of lockdowns, how the U.S. is doing compared to Europe, how blood type affects the body’s response, presymptomatic vs. asymptomatic, and what we know about how the virus survives on surfaces. In part II, we discussed how computer neural networks trained to learn like developing human brains also need something akin to sleep. Also, how dogs have a genetic desire to save their owner from trouble. And more. As always, Kiki is delightful as she makes science both fun and interesting.
Theoretical Boot Camp – TMO Daily Observations 2020-06-23
John Martellaro and Dave Hamilton join host Kelly Guimont to discuss what emulation looks like on newly announced Apple Silicon processors.
WWDC Keynote Quick Take – TMO Daily Observations 2020-06-22
Bryan Chaffin, Charlotte Henry, and John Martellaro join host Kelly Guimont for a quick analysis of the WWDC Keynote just after it finished.
Zooming the Web and Learning Your Ms — Mac Geek Gab 820
It’s hours before WWDC begins, and there’s just enough time to get Mac Geek Gab into your hands ahead of the new stuff we’re all about to learn. And, with that, we can still learn at least five new things, including how to Zoom (and unzoom) the web, how to encrypt your files, why you might want to change your cable modem password, and what those three Ms mean. Buckle up, press play, and enjoy the ride with John and Dave!
Security Friday, Apple's AR/VR Future – TMO Daily Observations 2020-06-19
Andrew Orr and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Security Friday news and what Apple’s AR/VR past and future look like.