WWDC 2020

Podcast

Partner, Many Tricks Software Rob Griffiths - BGM Interview

John Martellaro · · Add Comment

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!

Get Your Unofficial WWDC 2020 Pins on Kickstarter
Cool Stuff Found

Get Your Unofficial WWDC 2020 Pins on Kickstarter

Andrew Orr · · Add Comment

Do you miss getting WWDC pins? There’s a Kickstarter campaign selling an unofficial pin set comprised of six designs.

High quality enamel pins are not difficult to get manufactured on time and within budget. The biggest risk is the short timeline we have until WWDC starts. We’ve requested expedition from the manufacturer, but if that isn’t possible then the deliver date could slip into August. Like the software engineers that we are, we’re optimistic that we can meet our estimates and we have no problem estimating aggressively in the face of limitations that are out of our control.

This is a cool project. Pledge US$10 to get 1 random pin, with more reward tiers available. Apparently, Rene Ritchie (formerly of iMore ) has a custom pin included in this project.

Podcast

Former Apple Senior Director Michael Gartenberg (#11) - BGM Interview

John Martellaro · · 1 Comment

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.

Weekly Sponsorship

Use iMazing Configurator to Manage all Your iPhones and iPads [WWDC Coverage Sponsor]

Dave Hamilton · · Add Comment

Managing your own iPhone is fine, but when it comes to managing other people’s iPhones — especially dozens and dozens of them — things get a little more interesting. Thankfully, the good folks at iMazing — our WWDC coverage sponsor for this week — have been hard at work and recently released iMazing Configurator.  Please join me in thanking them for not only sponsoring us this week, but also creating this much-needed tool.