With the closed loop broken and zero-COVID restrictions lifted, iPhone City workers are reportedly making iPhones while suffering with COVID – sometimes by choice, sometimes as directed by management. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken puzzle over the issue. Then, why the slow walk on AirTag info? And why can’t we prompt them to update?
The Mac Observer's Daily Observations Podcast
Join Ken Ray each weekday as he assembles a panel of TMO staffers and contributors to talk through the iPhone and other Apple stories and news of the day. Quick, informative, and entertaining. Make Daily Observations a part of your day!
Episodes
How-To Christmas and Predicting 2023 - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-20
If you’re giving electronics this holiday season, there are some steps you might want to take ahead of time. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts fills us in. Plus – Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives has a few predictions for the new year. Ken and Jeff kick them around.
Negative Zero COVID - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-19
The closed loop at Foxconn’s iPhone City plant in Zhengzhou is open. Most of the plant’s COVID restrictions have been lifted as China pulls a big “never mind” on its zero-COVID policies. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk that over. Plus – Will Smith, AirDrop, and Continuity are in for Mailbag Monday.
Disappointing and Delightful Tech - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-16
An OfCom study on smart speaker use prompts TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken to talk tech that disappoints and tech that delights.
Don’t Fear the App-Pocalypse - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-15
Bloomberg says Apple is prepping iOS for third-party app stores and app side-loading in the EU as early as iOS 17. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken to talk over potential pros and cons. Plus – a couple of financial analysts have early takes on the talk.
Apple Car Talk with Roberto Baldwin - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-14
Last week, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that Apple has way scaled back its automotive plans. Apple watchers have wondered about Apple Car for years, but what does the automotive world make of Cupertino’s plans? Tech and automotive journalist Roberto Baldwin (@strngwys on Twitter) joins Ken to do a bit of Apple Car talk.
Where iPhones Are Sold and Some Christmas Carols - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-13
CIRP says where iPhones are sold in the states may be a weak point for Apple. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken discuss that. Plus – talking over SNL’s very bloody parody of “A Christmas Carol” and Apple Pay.
Canada Takes Apple to Task and Playing the Twitter Blues - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-12
Canadian politicians are angry about changes to AirDrop on behalf of Chinese citizens. Wait’ll they hear what’s going to happen to Canadians! Also, Twitter Blue is a thing again. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk it all over.
More End-to-End Encryption and Giving the Gift of Will Smith - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-09
Dreamlight Valley resident and TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken today to discuss Apple’s Advanced Data Protection for iCloud. What is it, who needs it, and how does one activate it? Plus – Will Smith is promoting Apple TV+. Too soon?
Super-Apps and Dreamlight Valley - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-08
TMO writer Nick deCourville brings us two tales of fantasy: The Disney video game Dreamlight Valley is headed to the Mac, and Microsoft is considering a super-app. One of these exposes a few levels of nerd for Ken.
Pricing Tools for Developers and Things We Didn't See Coming - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-07
Longtime Apple podcaster Adam Christianson joins Ken to kick around the pricing tools Apple’s opening for developers. Plus – with close to 40-years combined of Apple news under their belts, Adam and Ken talk about what they did not see coming, and what they look forward to seeing.
iPhone Misses Christmas and Musk Misses the Point - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-06
Foxconn says it’s getting iPhone production back on track. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk righting the ship post holidays. Plus Apple’s pause in Twitter ads was not about Elon Musk nor free speech. It was apparently about propriety and decency. We’ll talk it over.
A Mixed Reality and Mailbag Monday - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-05
Bloomberg and TF International have info on Apple’s mixed reality headset. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to discuss that. Plus the Sunbird messaging app, Eufy video storage, and Elon Musk are in for Mailbag Monday.
But Just Wait 14 Months - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-02
Want a positive spin on the current quarter? Ken tries to convince TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts how great things will look for Apple in Q1FY24 – provided nothing goes wrong. Also – Android is getting one communications app to rule them all (and ditch the green text bubbles). Jeff fills us in on Sunbird.
Music and Video Wrapped and Replayed - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-01
Year’s end can mean only one thing: War between Spotify and Apple Music. Nick deCourville joins Ken to talk about the end of the year music recaps Wrapped and Replay. Plus – New old content is officially “Included with Apple TV+,” and Will Smith does PR for “Emancipation”
Our Security and Smartphone Futures - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-30
Mac Geek Gab co-host Dave Hamilton is really excited about Rapid Security Response coming in iOS 16.2. Ken is as well, though he seems argumentative about it anyway. Also – societal norms around smartphones are still being hammered out, in Dave’s estimation. He’ll drive a conversation about those.
Captains of Industry - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-29
Elon Musk has decided to pick a fight with Apple. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk over the Twitter Owner and CEO’s trollish behavior. Plus – Disney CEO Bob Iger addresses talk of Apple acquiring Disney, and Tim Cook’s post-Thanksgiving visit with victims of the Hingham Apple Store crash.
Protests in China and Chipmaking in Arizona - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-28
“iPhone City” isn’t the only city in China seeing protests. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins us to talk societal issues, Foxconn issues, and issues for Apple investors. Then, a Mailbag Monday question from Johnny: If chipmaking needs water, why are chipmakers going to Arizona?
Noise Around Various Voice Assistants - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-23
News on the Hingham Apple Store tragedy, stirring the Apple/Disney M&A stew, and the noise around various voice assistants – we’re wrapping a holiday shortened week with TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts. Happy Thanksgiving, one and all.
What a Week Monday Was - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-22
Bad news and interesting topics to tackle Tuesday. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to discuss a tragedy at a Boston-area Apple Store, whether Apple can keep outperforming the markets, processors coming out of the Arizona desert, and Bob Iger’s return as CEO of Disney.
Two Takes on AAPL and Solutions to the Twitter Issue - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-21
Will Apple buoy the markets or is it set to sink? Two pieces from Barron’s argue both sides. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk them over. Plus – An Apple exec has left Twitter and a former president is invited to return. How likely are Apple and Google to keep a check on the birdhouse?
A Glass Half Full of Chips - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-18
Is Apple’s plan to buy chips sourced from Arizona actually good news? Depends which headline you read. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to to talk about the glass half-empty takes. Plus – Apple hardware is filling the glass with medical goodness.
Emergency SOS Demo and New Old Content for Apple TV+ - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-17
When is old content new again? When Apple TV+ uses it to generate buzz. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins us to talk the Cupertino-streamer’s stealth programming plan. First though, TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts walks us through the Emergency SOS via satellite demo on iPhone 14.
What Does Warren Buffett's TSMC Investment Tell Us? - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-16
Warren Buffet doesn’t invest in fads. This used to mean he didn’t invest in tech, though between his Apple holdings and the $4.1B he’s invested in chipmaker TSMC, he’s pretty deep in tech at this point. So – what does that mean for technology? “Daily Tech News Show” host Tom Merritt joins Ken to trip down memory lane and peer into tomorrow.