Want to learn the big secret to keeping your computer happy? How about how to share contacts? What about some quick tips about using calendar? This is what Mac Geek Gab is all about, and Dave and John help guide you through all of this, including getting your questions answered!
TMO Background Mode Interview with TMO Podcaster and Journalist John Braun
John Braun is a software engineer, multiple patent holder, a Mac Observer Contributor and co-host of the Mac Observer’s podcast Mac Geek Gab (MGG). That podcast launched in 2005, and John has co-hosted 750 episodes to date.
We chatted about John’s early interest in computers and science, influenced in part by his father, an engineering manager. John started off partial to chemistry, but later specialized in computers. He holds aa B.S. in Computer Engineering and an M.S. in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
John told me about early work with computer bulletin boards, his career at Pitney Bowes, how he got to know Dave Hamilton and then joined the Mac Observer, how he prepares for the weekly podcast, and all about his two current Macs and why he loves them.
Apple Comment Misfire, Hollywood Unhappy with Interference – TMO Daily Observations 2019-03-04
Bryan Chaffin and Charlotte Henry join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Apple’s International Women’s Day comments and Hollywood interference.
Apple Watch Popularity, Becoming the Next GE – TMO Daily Observations 2019-03-01
John Martellaro and Charlotte Henry join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Apple Watch popularity and the future of Apple’s (financial) services.
Robots, Apple Robots, Autonomous Vehicle Robots, and Foldable Phones with John Martellaro - ACM 503
This episode is all about robots! Apple robots, military robots, delivery repots, preacher robots, manufacturing robots, and self driving car robots! Bryan Chaffin is joined by guest host John Martellaro to deep into what’s happening with robots today and what they expect for robots in the future. Put your SciFi futurist cap on for this one. They also talk about foldable phones, or as they like to think of it, the netbook of 2019.
Project Titan Layoffs, ARM Processors in Macs – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-28
Host Kelly Guimont chats with Bryan Chaffin and John Martellaro about this round of Project Titan Layoffs, and ARM processors coming to Macs.
Thunderbolt Vulnerability, Warrant Canaries – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-27
Andrew Orr and Charlotte Henry join host Kelly Guimont to discuss the new Thunderbolt vulnerability and the latest in warrant canaries.
TMO Background Mode Interview with Houston Chronicle Technology Editor Dwight Silverman
Dwight Silverman is the technology editor for the Houston Chronicle. He manages the TechBurger website, and writes about personal technology for HoustonChronicle.com, Chron.com and the print edition.
Previously, he was the senior web producer for premium products, managing HoustonChronicle.com, the Chronicle’s iPad app and E-edition. He also worked as the social media manager and technology blogger for the Houston Chronicle and Chron.com.
We chatted about becoming a technology journalist in the early days, his work at various newspapers, dealing with unusual writing assignments, how he fell into the Apple/Mac sphere, writing books about the Mac, and his evolution at the Houston Chronicle. We closed with a discussion of te streaming video business and how Apple will break into the business now dominated by Netflix and Amazon.
Apple's Executive Shuffle, Credit Card Update – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-26
Andrew Orr and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to consider Deirdre O’Brien’s new overlapping roles and an Apple/Goldman Sachs followup.
Batteries In The Cloud – Mac Geek Gab 750
Aren’t using all your iCloud Storage? No worries, we’ve got an idea for that. We also have Cool Stuff Found and answers to your other questions. Plus, we iterate on a Quick Tip from last episode making it quicker and tipper! Listen with John and Dave and learn at least five new things!
Apple News vs Publishers, Jeff Williams Talks Pricing – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-25
Bryan Chaffin and Andrew Orr join host Kelly Guimont to discuss opinions of Apple News and COO Jeff Williams’ comments on Apple pricing.
Apple and Content, Marzipan, and the Executive Shuffle, with Charlotte Henry - ACM 502
Where is Apple going with its content drive? Bryan Chaffin is joined by guest-host Charlotte Henry to dive deep into original shows, services, publishing, news, and Apple’s other content ambitions. They also talk about the promise (and potential drawbacks) of Marzipan, and what Apple’s recent executive shuffling might portend.
Barry Diller on Netflix, Facebook's Latest Data Kerfuffle – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-22
Andrew Orr and John Martellaro join host Kelly Guimont to talk about Barry Diller’s backward stance on Netflix, and (say it with me) Facebook’s latest user data kerfuffle.
When Algorithms Fail, Apple's Credit Card – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-21
Bryan Chaffin and Charlotte Henry join host Kelly Guimont to discuss when algorithms fail, as well as the Apple/Goldman Sachs credit card.
Advice to 1999 Apple Customers, Facebook Tomfoolery – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-20
Host Kelly Guimont chats with John Martellaro and Andrew Orr about advice to Mac users 20 years ago, and the latest in Facebook tomfoolery.
Spielberg's Streaming Fears, Apple's Services Future – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-19
Host Kelly Guimont talks to Charlotte Henry and John Martellaro about the moviegoing experience and what Apple’s executive shuffle tells us.
The Mesh Wi-Fi Industrial Complex – Mac Geek Gab 749
Wanna know how to force Safari to download a media file instead of playing it? Want to know how to use the same drive on USB-C and USB-A Macs? Want to know how to secure erase your NAS drive? John and Dave have your answers! There is also a lot of concern about the future of eero, so your two geeks discuss that, too. All this and more, just press play and enjoy learning at least five new things!
TMO Background Mode Encore #6 Interview with Science Communicator Dr. Kiki Sanford
Dr. Kiki Sanford makes her sixth 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 of This Week in Science (TWIS) podcast and radio show.
In this episode, we chat about the science of rising sea levels, neural networks and vocoder technology trained to recognize brain patterns related to listening to human speech, how learning two human languages in childhood positively affects the brain, rebooting the human immune system, whether intelligence is sexy, and the colonization of Mars and whether it will be commercially exploited or preserved by all nations like the Earth’s Antarctic. Dr. Kiki is always a delight to listen to and learn from.
Apple's Post-iPhone Era, Facebook vs UK Lawmakers – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-18
Kelly Guimont chats with Andrew Orr and Charlotte Henry about Augmented Reality as Apple’s future, and the UK putting Facebook on blast.
Webcams and Post-Its, Scary AI – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-14
John Martellaro and Andrew Orr join Kelly Guimont to discuss webcams and security measures, as well as AI that freaks out even Elon Musk.
Apple Infrastructure, Attention to Details, Apple Car/AR/Glasses, with John Martellaro - ACM 501
Does Apple have the infrastructure it needs for a cohesive future? Once that seemed clear, but Bryan Chaffin and guest-host John Martellaro say it’s become harder to see, if so. They then pivot to how augmented reality will figure into Apple’s future plans and products. They cap the show by weighing Apple’s ability to pay attention to details as the company grows.
DuckDuckGo Improvements, Payment System Updates – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-14
Kelly Guimont has Andrew Orr and John Martellaro on to discuss updates to the DuckDuckGo iOS app, and the current(c) state of NFC payments.
Apple as a Publisher, Sony's New Watch Strap – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-13
Dave Hamilton and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to talk about Apple possibly becoming “Netflix for news” and Sony’s new watch strap.
Next to a Crate Full of Chickens – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-12
Today Dave Hamilton and John Martellaro join Kelly Guimont to discuss Angela Ahrendts’ departure and the implications of Amazon buying Eero.