Apple’s wireless routers look like they’re headed down the same path as the now defunct Thunderbolt Display. Dave Hamilton and Bryan Chaffin join Jeff Gamet to look at the state of Apple’s WiFi router lineup, and explain why they think it’s fine the AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express, and Time Capsule are heading out to pasture. They also offer up their thoughts on the new Retina MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar.
MGG 632: The Truth and Its Relatives
Your questions answered, including those about Sierra’s keyboard viewer, recommended OS and RAM configurations for older (and newer!) Macs, Stopping apps from launching on login, finding photos on your iPhone, Bluetooth interference and more. Then it’s Cool Stuff Found and some tips. How can you go wrong? By NOT downloading this episode.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-11-18: Apple's Bulbs and Listener Email on Apple TV
Bryan Chaffin and John Martellaro talk about Apple’s new Bulbs commercial for MacBook Pro, a spot centered around big ideas. They also take in some listener email about whether or not 4K TV is really something Apple should be worried about on Apple TV.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-11-17: Goodbye AppleScript, Apple Axes Sal Soghoian
Apple’s Product Manager of Automation Technologies Sal Soghoian is out of a job, and that doesn’t bode well for the future of AppleScript and Automator. Bryan Chaffin joins Jeff Gamet to talk about what’s likely in store for automation on the Mac, the impact that’s going to have on pro users, and Sal’s efforts to keep automation tools alive.
ACM 385: Apple Coffee Table Book and Design Run Amok
Apple has a new coffee table book out called Designed by Apple in California. Bryan Chaffin is joined by guest-host John Kheit to talk about it. Spoiler: Bryan likes it and John sees it as a sign of Apple having lost the plot. They also discuss the idea that design has run amok at Apple, starting with the idea that Jony Ive needed Steve Jobs as a counter balance.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-11-16: Why is $feature Missing from Apple TV?
Today it’s time to look at Apple TV and ask one tough question: why don’t we get $feature on Apple TV? Good thing we’re geeks and we understand variables, too, because for this episode $feature = array(“4K Output”,”Amazon Prime Video”,”Netflix Inside of TV App”); Listen and hear what John and Dave have to say about all this… then send us your feedback and let us know!
TMO Daily Observations 2016-11-15: Apple's Coffee Table Book, HP's Campaign to Win Mac Users
Apple has a new product out. It comes in two sizes, small and large, at $199 and $299, respectively. And it’s a coffee table book. Bryan Chaffin, Dave Hamilton, and John Martellaro discuss the book and ask if it’s a sign that Apple has lost sight of the game. They also discuss HP’s new Z2 Mini and that company’s efforts to lure Mac users to the world of Windows.
TMO Background Mode: Interview with Creator & Host of The MacCast Podcast Adam Christianson
Adam Christianson is the creator and host of the acclaimed MacCast podcast. Adam is also the very awesome webmaster for The Mac Observer. However, Adam didn’t start out in high tech. At an early age, he wanted to become a cartoonist, inspired by Garfield’s creator Jim Davis. In high school, somewhat wiser, he transitioned to graphic design. Later, Adam attended Cal Poly which has a fabulous art and graphics design program. Early in his career, Adam gained experience in eCommerce and web mastering with Upper Deck, Corp. learning HTML, Perl, CGI forms, Visual BASIC and C#. However, by 2004, he’d discovered that his true love was tech talk and podcasting, and The MacCast was born. Adam was able to use his career skills to follow his dream, and he’s still living it today.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-11-14: Samsung Buying Harman, HomeKit Security, AT&T Stream Saver
Samsung is buying audio company Harman and it may be in part to compete with Apple’s CarPlay. Bryan Chaffin and Dave Hamilton join Jeff Gamet to look at Samsung’s motives, plus Dave explains HomeKit’s security versus other Internet of Things devices, and they take a look at AT&T’s Stream Saver.
MGG 631: The Odd Couple Episode
We asked, you shared your top Mac apps, we share them back! Some great additions in the list here, too. Some mutual favorites and some surprises. Listen to hear if yours made the list! Then it’s on to discussion about trackpad scrolling, iOS Mail swiping, ripping movies (with subtitles!) and more. Download, listen and… enjoy!
TMO Daily Observations 2016-11-11: Interview with TMO's Bryan Chaffin
This week we’re diving in deep with authors and writers in the Apple community. Today TMO’s own Bryan Chaffin joins Jeff Gamet to talk about his experiences writing fiction, the evolution of his novel, and finding a publishing agent.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-11-10: Interview with Amy Gahran
This week we’re diving in deep with authors and writers in the Apple community. Today author and journalist Amy Gahran joins Jeff Gamet to talk about how her books took her deep into research, self publishing, and more.
ACM 384: Demand for iPhone 7 Plus, AWS2, MacBook Pro
John Kheit guests with Bryan Chaffin to talk about demand for iPhone 7 Plus, for which wait times are still 3-4 weeks. Apple Watch Series 2 has 2-3 week wait times, and MacBook Pros seem to be flying off the shelves. Join them while they explore these topics.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-11-09: Interview with John L Forrest
This week we’re diving in deep with authors and writers in the Apple community. Today science fiction author John L Forrest joins Jeff Gamet to talk about writing novels and short stories, his process for bringing his ideas to life, self publishing, and more.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-11-08: Interview with David Sparks from MacSparky
This week we’re diving in deep with authors and writers in the Apple community. Today David Sparks joins Jeff Gamet to talk about his earlier Apple-focused books and his transition into self publishing with the MacSparky Field Guides.
TMO Background Mode: Interview with Science Communicator Dr. Kiki Sanford
Dr. Kiki Sanford is a neurophysiologist with a Ph.D from U.C. Davis. She’s a popular science communicator and creator of This Week in Science podcast and radio show. She grew up in the country, and that ignited her interest in wildlife preservation. Early in her career, she obtained her B.S. degree in conservation biology, a field that covers animals, their environment and how humans impact them. Finding post-doctoral research unappealing, she shifted to her current role as a brilliant science communicator. We chatted about her prior research into the brains of small birds, how they store memories, and how they navigate during migration. We also delved into neuro-gaming as well as the perils of being exposed to sophisticated AI agents. After hearing this show, you’ll want to become a scientist too!
TMO Daily Observations 2016-11-07: Interview with Ted Landau
This week we’re diving in deep with authors and writers in the Apple community. Today long time author, journalist, and blogger Ted Landau joins Jeff Gamet to talk about his history in the Apple community, writing one of the top selling Mac titles, running his own Apple-related website, and more.
MGG 630: Label Your Cables!
This episode is all about geeks helping other geeks. First it’s tips from you helping us and other listeners, including a way to bypass macOS Sierra’s network-mounting password dialog! Then we help you with importing just your Health data, musicians using an iPad at gigs, migrating data from one iPhone to another with an older Mac, managing different photo clouds and much more. Join us by downloading and enjoy!
TMO Daily Observations 2016-11-04: Finding the Touch Bar's Market, New Mac Buyer Poll
The new MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar looks great, but it can’t be the primary way for accessing an app’s features. Bryan Chaffin and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to look at how the Touch Bar may fit in to third-party app developer’s plans, and why it may not get adopted as quickly as users may like despite its coolness factor. They also look at the results from TMO’s Twitter poll for new Mac buyers.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-11-03: Finding the Touch Bar MacBook Pro's Target Market
Apple’s new Touch Bar MacBook Pro carries the “pro” moniker, but it isn’t clear exactly who the new laptops are targeting. Dave Hamilton and the Maccast’s Adam Christianson join Jeff Gamet to share their thoughts on who will want the new MacBook Pro, what could be coming in future models, and what pro users are saying about Apple’s latest laptop offerings.
ACM 383: iOS Song Star Ratings Return, MacBook Pro Innovation Rants
iTunes Song Ratings are back in iOS 10.2 beta, and Bryan and Jeff are stoked, even if it’s not perfect. They also talk about the pushback gets when Apple pushes the envelope with its products. They cap the show with a look at MacBooK Pro’s Touch Bar being a double down against making a ToasterFridge.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-11-02: App Store Blocks Vigilante App, Goodbye Mac Startup Chime
Vigilantes may be cool in the movies, but no so much in the App Store. Kelly Guimont and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to offer up their take on Apple pulling an app that alerted iPhone users to crimes in progress, plus they have some thoughts on the death of the startup chime in the new MacBook Pro models.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-11-01: Apple's HomeKit and Internet of Things Security
After the Dyn DDOS attack, The Mac Observer started looking into claims that HomeKit smarthome devices were protected from participating. Today Dave Hamilton and Bryan Chaffin join Jeff Gamet to look at what they found. Hint: Internet security is a complicated thing in spite of HomeKit’s strengths.
TMO Background Mode: Interview with Serial Entrepreneur Mark Fuccio
Mark Fuccio has had a distinguished career in tech. He started with an B.S. in Electrical Engineering from M.I.T. After graduation, he joined Philips Labs in Briarcliff, NY. He’s been a marketing manager at Silicon Graphics, Inc. and a senior director at Drobo, Inc. for Products and Markets. We chatted about the evolution of Unix workstations, the early days of Unix GUIs, how CPU and GPU technology advanced, how Apple moved to (BSD) Unix and Intel and turned the tables on the workstation industry (along with Microsoft). We also chatted about the philosophy of marketing as well as technical issues related to storage—and how Drobo solved those problems. Mark tells the story about a career in which he followed his vision, worked with startups, and created his own path to this day. Geekfest!