Apple’s iPhone 7 has a mystery chip inside and John Martellaro thinks he knows what it may be doing. John, along with Kelly Guimont joins Jeff Gamet to talk about the iPhone 7 and privacy, along with how the mystery chip may be ensuring our data stays encrypted. They also compare Amazon’s Echo and Echo Dot.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-10-18: Siri Falls Behind, MacBook Pro Refresh Delays
Siri seems to be lagging behind in the voice interface game, or at least that’s what some analysts think. Dave Hamilton and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to talk about the current state of Siri and the limitations they’ve encountered. They also take a look at what may be holding up the release of new MacBook Pro models.
MGG 627: It's a Kludge!
Did you know that Safari can auto-close a newly-launched tab when you’re finished reading it? That’s just one of the things you’ll learn in today’s MGG. Dropbox’s accessibility hacks, editing EXIF on iOS, the security of hidden Wi-Fi networks, enabling Universal Clipboard, and managing macOS Sierra’s multiple monitors are more. Plus, have you ever wanted to know the origins of the word, ‘kludge”? Download today and listen!
TMO Background Mode: Interview with Developer Community Manager Chuq Von Rospach
Chuq Von Rospach worked for Apple for nearly 20 years, starting in 1989. In the mid-1980s, he landed first at Sun Microsystems and worked on the launch of early Sun workstations. Thanks to that work, and his boss going over to Apple, Chuq followed. At Apple, they developed Apple’s first paid technical support organization for Apple’s A/UX (Unix) system for the Motorola 68K Macs. Chuq has great stories to tell about Apple’s ill-fated but legendary Network Server, Mac executive Jean-Louis Gassée, the disastrous Apple CEO Michael Spindler, the failed attempt to sell Apple to Sun in 1996, the acquisition of NeXT and return of Steve Jobs. You want Apple stories? Chuq has ’em!
TMO Daily Observations 2016-10-17: Apple Car gets a New Focus, Apple's Cashless Society
Apple’s car projects looks like it’s heading down a different path. John Martellaro and Bryan Chaffin join Jeff Gamet to look at how Bob Mansfield is refocusing the company’s car project and discussing what they expect will happen next. They also offer up their thoughts on Tim Cook’s plans to bring us into a cashless society.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-10-14: Nike+ Apple Watch, Google's Voting Aid
Good news athletes, the Nike+ Apple Watch Series 2 will be available on October 28th. Bryan Chaffin and Dave Hamilton join Jeff Gamet to talk about why they might–or might not–want the special edition Apple Watch model, plus Bryan finds a way to use Google to keep track of who’s on this November’s ballot.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-10-13: Social Networks and Police Surveillance
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social networks have been giving Geofeedia access to user’s posts that’s being used for police surveillance. Dave Hamilton and Bryan Chaffin join Jeff Gamet to look at what Geofeedia was collecting, how it was being used by law enforcement, and the ethical issues social networks face when giving companies our publicly available data.
ACM 380: USB Kill 2.0 and Samsung Schadenfreude
Bryan and Jeff talk about USB Kill 2.0, a device that looks like a hard drive, but can damage—if not destroy—a Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, or any other device with a USB port. They also take a few moments to enjoy some schadenfreude at Samsung’s defense.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-10-12: Amazon Music Unlimited, AI Morality
Amazon is expanding its streaming music offerings with Amazon Music Unlimited. Kelly Guimont and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to share their thoughts on AMU and how it fits into Amazon’s plans. They also loop back to Monday’s show to look at the moral implications of deeper human relationships with artificial intelligences.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-10-11: Dash's App Store Death, UK Apple Watch Ban
Dash is gone from the Mac and iOS App Stores, and the story behind why is a big bucket of drama. John Martellaro and Dave Hamilton join Jeff Gamet to look at what transpired to get Dash banned from the App Store and cost the developer his account. They also offer up their thoughts on the UK Prime Minister banning the Apple Watch from Cabinet meetings.
TMO Background Mode: Interview with Writer and Raconteur Bob 'Dr. Mac' LeVitus
Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus is a writer, book author and raconteur. He writes for the Houston Chronicle and The Mac Observer, and he specializes in the “Dummies” books about Apple products like the Mac, the iPad and iPhone. But Bob wasn’t always a writer. Early on, he wanted to work in a recording studio and it just so happened, in high school, he had a good friend, Jermaine Jackson. That resulted in Bob touring with the Jackson 5. Later, he became a roadie with Shaun Cassidy. (Bob tells a secret.) Bob’s also worked in advertising, a story in itself, and also as the official evangelist for Power Computing in the 1990s. Speaking of Apple, he said “We were their worst nightmare.” Does Bob know how to tell stories? Oh, yes.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-10-10: Samsung's Ongoing Note 7 Fire Issues, Robot Sex
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 battery problem isn’t going away and some replacement units are catching on fire, too. Bryan Chaffin and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to discuss Samsung’s burning product failure, plus John schools Jeff on the perils of robot sex.
MGG 626: Lightning Struck my Switches
Quick Tips start this episode, including topics like macOS Sierra’s picture-in-picture videos, auto-logout, Sierra upgrade hints, macerror, cleaning up your Keychain, printing to PDF on any iOS 10 device, Apple Watch battery life and more. Then it’s on to questions about macOS Sierra’s network login changes, running a mixed macOS and OS X household and, finally, a discussion about lightning strikes and how to recover. Enjoy!
TMO Daily Observations 2016-10-07: DJ Remixes on Apple Music, Listener Comments
The streaming music market just changed because now Apple Music and Spotify can give us DJ remixes. John Martellaro and Bryan Chaffin join Jeff Gamet to look at the implications bringing remixes to the two big music services will have on the market and on SoundCloud. They also respond to listener comments from Wednesday’s discussion on Yahoo helping intelligence agencies scan our email.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-10-06: Samsung Buys Viv AI Platform
Say what? Samsung bought the Viv artificial intelligence platform designed by the creators of Siri. Bryan Chaffin and Dave Hamilton join Jeff Gamet to talk about how Samsung could use Viv, and what impact it will have on competing platforms. They also look at Facebook’s Secret Conversation encryption for Messenger chats.
ACM 379: Apple’s Mysterious October Announcements and Who Cares about Google’s Pixel Smartphone?
Apple moved its quarterly conference call in October, and it’s set off a lot of echo-chamber debate and speculation. Bryan and Jeff weed out the balderdash. They also ask who cares about Google’s new Pixel smartphone line.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-10-05: Yahoo's Secret Email Scanning
A new report says Yahoo! was secretly scanning user’s email at the request of U.S. intelligence agencies. Kelly Guimont and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to debate whether or not that was appropriate and to look at what we should expect for privacy in our email.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-10-04: Goodbye Home Button, Hello macOS Sierra Auto-download
There’s an Apple patent that shows the iPhone’s Home button is going away. Bryan Chaffin and Dave Hamilton join Jeff Gamet to share their thoughts on the future of the Home button, plus they look at what’s up with Apple auto-downloading macOS Sierra to user’s computers.
TMO Background Mode: Interview with Allegis Capital Partner Jean-Louis Gassée
Jean-Louis Gassée is currently a V.C. partner with Allegis Capital. He’s best known, however, for taking over the Macintosh division in 1985, his startup of Be Inc. and his highly respected Monday Note, a technical commentary. Jean-Louis tells the story about how, as a precocious youth in Paris he built crystal AM radios and vacuum tubes. Later, after some “interesting jobs,” he joined Hewlett-Packard (France) in 1968 to launch HP’s first desktop computer, the 9100A. Jean-Louis’s success as an electronics geek eventually led to a job at Data General then the lead executive job for Apple France. Jean-Louis then came to the U.S., and his time in Cupertino is legendary. Join me as this computer pioneer chats about Apple and Macs, past and present.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-10-03: Apple TV's Interface Problem, Happy Apple Music Customers
It’s time for Apple to rethink the Apple TV interface. Dave Hamilton and Bryan Chaffin join Jeff Gamet to look at the problems with Apple TV’s app-focused interface and discuss why it should be content-focused. They also have some thoughts on Apple Music ranking at the top of a recent JD Powers satisfaction survey for streaming music services.
MGG 625: The Spotlight Clone Wars
Faster chargers, ODB2 dongles, Mac vs. Windows File Paths, MacBook Pro specs, Dropbox, macOS Sierra and the Spotlight Clone Wars are all topics discussed in today’s Mac Geek Gab. In fact, they’re not just topics, they’re your questions answered! Plus, Dave and John go on a good photoanalysisd rant for good measure!
TMO Daily Observations 2016-09-30: iPhone Lightning Headphone Adapters, Listener Comments
Third party Lighting to 3.5mm headphone adapters are starting to make their first appearances for the iPhone 7. John Martellaro and Dave Hamilton join Jeff Gamet to look at the headphone adapter market and whether or not most people will really need one. They also respond to listener comments on yesterday’s show where we talked about the limitations of Apple’s Airport Extreme Base Station.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-09-29: John's Apple Product Wish List
Word on the street says new Retina MacBook Pro models are coming in October, and TMO’s sources say they’ll be announced on the 11th. Dave Hamilton and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to talk about John’s wish list for new Apple products, and Jeff disagrees with John’s take on Apple TV.
ACM 378: Life Without a Headphone Jack, More Apple Watch, Siri on the Mac
We’ve had our iPhone 7s for a week and a half, and Bryan and Jeff talk about life without the headphone jack. They also discuss the differences between Apple Watch (Series 0) and the new Apple Watch Series 2. They close out the show talking about Siri on the Mac, using it, and the lack of “Hey Siri” support. Plus, Bryan is punchy from a lack of sleep, so silliness runs rampant.