MacVoices #26004: Live! – ChatGPT Loses A Feature, Google Searches Get Less Private
Reactions to ChatGPT’s voice mode disappearing from the macOS app, debates about why it happened, and how it impacts their use are provided by Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Mark Fuccio, Web Bixby, and Jim Rea. Whether voice is the future, and if OpenAI’s “code red” priorities played a role are examined. Then, the panel also review the new “Tech Force” that is tapping talent from major tech firms for government initiatives, raising questions about goals, oversight, privacy, and long-term maintenance. The discussion wraps up with a Pennsylvania court ruling allowing police access to certain Google search data without a warrant.
Latest Blog Posts
CES: Why we interview who we interview
After every CES or NAB I get emails asking why we interviewed this vendor or that, and why we didn’t interview others. The answers are pretty much the same each year: We don’t chase what is or might be the “hot things” for that year. If we happen to find them, great....
Amazon Return Codes Now In Apple Wallet
I returned a couple things to Amazon yesterday. For the first time (at least that I’ve noticed), it gave me the option to directly store the QR code for the return in my Apple Wallet. That made the return process even faster than normal when I went to the return desk...
MacVoices Holiday Gift Guide 2025
Gift Guide #8 (3) Brian Flanigan-Arthurs: Anker MagGo 3 in 1 iPhone 17 Charging Station, MagSafe-Compatible Wireless Charger Stand, Qi2 Certified 15W Foldable Charger for iPhone 17/16/15/14/13/12, AirPods, Apple Watch Ultra(Adapter Included)https://amzn.to/4oPXniM Jim...
Schedule Update – No Special Stream on 2025-12-27!
If you watched/listened to MacVoices Live! on 2025-12-23, you heard me announce a special cross-over with Mike Potter and For Mac Eyes Only that would help us celebrate 20 years of our respective shows. The best plans and all that...we have had an unexpected and...
Holiday Apple Music Playlists
I'm not a big playlist person, but decided to put together some for the holidays as I have time, and add to them as things come to mind. Breaking them down into three different type: Hard, Soft, Instrumental. I'll be adding to them as I go, but thought I'd share at...
Watch More Episodes
MacVoices #26003: Live! – Drone Bans, An Italian Fine, and Retaliation
A festive panel discussion dives into drone restrictions impacting DJI, Italy’s fine against Apple over app tracking prompts, and whether the U.S. will retaliate against EU tech enforcement. The group debates privacy, evidence, and financial motives, with plenty of holiday banter and Festivus grievances along the way.
MacVoices #26002: Talking AI and LLMs with The Long Island Macintosh Users Group (2)
Real-world risks and responsible use of AI kick off the second part of our conversation with The Long Island Macintosh Users Group. The group swaps scam stories (spoofed bank calls, W-2 phishing, ransomware) and how AI can amplify fraud. Ways to mitigate exposure in an AI-powered world include cyber insurance, privacy tradeoffs in popular AI tools, copyright/IP guardrails in image generation, and careful experimentation.
MacVoices #26001: Talking AI and LLMs with The Long Island Macintosh Users Group (1)
The first part of an appearance at The Long Island Macintosh Users Group digs into large language models, real-world AI use, and Apple’s philosophy. The conversation ranges from productivity and creativity to ethics, privacy, and deepfakes. Why experimentation, transparency, and skepticism matter as AI becomes part of everyday workflows starts with participation from the group. (1)
MacVoices #25327: Live! – A Deep Dive Into Self-Driving Cars
A lively discussion dives into the self-driving car controversy, contrasting headline-grabbing failures with everyday human driving risks. Panelists share firsthand experiences with autonomous taxis, debate transparency and regulation, and question whether automation could ultimately make roads safer than distracted drivers ever could.
MacVoices #25326: The MacVoices Update – December 2025
The December 2025 Update shares a planned break the week of January 5 for CES in Las Vegas, explaining it’s one of the two annual conference pauses to gather interviews and content. Why you should pay extra attention to MacVoices Magazine at this time of year and s a last call to revisit the Holiday Gift Guide list and episodes is included. The Update ends with listener and viewer thanks, a Patreon tier roll-call.
MacVoices #25325: Live! – Age Verification, Social Media Disclosure, and Alan Dye’s Departure
Debates over predictive markets, age verification, and data privacy dominate this discussion, alongside concerns about social-media disclosures and government overreach. The panel also looks at what Alan Dye’s departure signals for Apple’s future design philosophy and whether long-standing interface issues may finally see change.
MacVoices #25324 – Live! – Mixed CarPlay Messages, Bending Spoons…Again
The panel digs into GM’s contradictory approach to CarPlay, allowing selective Apple features while rejecting full integration. Other topics include Vision Pro travel updates, safety warnings over recalled power banks, Apple Sports expanding into golf, and Bending Spoons’ acquisition of Eventbrite, with a deeper look at fees, data, and platform control.
MacVoices #25323: Kirk McElhearn Takes Control of Apple Media Apps (2)
A conversation with Kirk McElhern on the steady maturation of Apple’s media apps—Music, TV, Books, and Podcasts—and why major changes are now rare. They unpack Apple Music’s personalized stations and discovery, the “hits rise to the top” problem, and why many podcast pros still prefer Overcast despite Apple’s transcripts. Plus: how Apple’s services strategy nudges users toward subscriptions, and why managing your own library adds the real complexity.
MacVoices #25322: Kirk McElhearn Takes Control of Apple Media Apps (1)
Kirk McElhern returns to talk about the newest Take Control of Apple Media Apps and why Apple’s Music/TV/Podcasts/Books apps feel more “mature” than revolutionary. He breaks down the small-but-real updates, critiques the Liquid Glass interface and accessibility tradeoffs, and explains why the Mac still matters for metadata work. Plus: a practical workaround for messy personal video libraries—Plex—and thoughts on playlists, Spotify, and Apple Music personalization.
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Chuck Joiner
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