The discussion with Jeff Gamet on a recent edition of The Mac Show on The British Tech Network finishes off thoughts on the smart assistants we use before turning to why one of us uses Clipboard Managers extensively and one hasn’t found a reason to do so, in spite of the fact that he has one installed.
In a one-on-one conversation from a recent edition of The Mac Show on The British Tech Network, Jeff Gamet and Chuck Joiner talked about smart assistants. The differences in purposes, capabilities, and responsiveness are discussed, along with notification abuse and which devices they each use. (Part 1)
A bonus-sized MacVoices discussion resulted from a virtual visit to the Long Island Macintosh User Group. As with most user group discussions, we start out in one direction and then let the questions and conversation dictate what we cover. The starting point this time was the iPhone 16 and things went from there.
The Internet Archive, its importance, and a recent DDoS attack on it start off a MacVoices Live! discussion with Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Marty Jencius, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Web Bixby, Jim Rea, Jeff Gamet, and Eric Bolden. The panel also gets a chuckle over the UK adopting a USB-C charging standard, and cover some of the little-knowing LLMs that are more specialized than the ones you might be familiar with.
MacVoices Live! covers several recent shifts in major tech platforms, starting with the mass migration of users from X to Blue Sky and its implications for social media competition. The panel of Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Martty Jencius, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Web Bixby, Jim Rea, Jeff Gamet, and Eric Bolden discuss the challenges Sonos faces regarding device connectivity and user experience as well as Squarespace’s $7.2 billion acquisition, the internal turmoil within WordPress under Automatic, and the possible effect on the web site building industry.
Chuck Joiner, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, David Ginsburg, Ben Roethig, Marty Jencius, Eric Bolden, Jim Rea, Jeff Gamet, and Web Bixby turn their attention to the newly announced M4 iPad. Who will be buying it, the secondary monitor support, and how it will change as Apple Intelligence rolls out are all considered. The panel also looks at a new Apple Card promotion and whether Apple or Goldman Sachs is funding it, as well as the roll that Apple TV+ seems to be on.
During a week of Apple announcements, the MacVoice Live! panel took a look at the first two Mac upgrades. Chuck Joiner, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, David Ginsburg, Ben Roethig, Marty Jencius, Eric Bolden, Jim Rea, Jeff Gamet, and Web Bixby look at the new Mac Mini with the M4 and M4 Pro chips, and the performance boost they offer in a new, compact form factor. Design quirks, multiple monitor support, and Thunderbolt 5 are part of the discussion, as is the question over whether this should be considered a “prosumer” machine.
Our multi-part conversation with Take Control author Glenn Fleishman concludes with discussions of Take Control of Securing Your Apple Devices, Take Control of Find My and AirTags, and Take Control of FaceTime and Messages. Glenn points out some lesser-known features such as Lockdown Mode and Private Wi-Fi Address, talks about using GateKeeper effectively, and explains some new features in FaceTime and Messages that improve the user experience. (Part 3)
Glenn Fleishman goes in depth on the title subject of his Keep Safe Using Mobile Tech. We talk about how to secure Apple devices amid all the changes and updates to operating systems, along with features such as car crash detection, fall detection, emergency SOS, and the Check-In function, Glenn emphasizes the need for individuals to understand and customize their device settings for optimal protection from both misadventure as well as theft. (Part 2)
In the first part of a wide-ranging conversation with author Glenn Fleishman, we touch on his participation in the Shift Happens book project, his latest project, How Comics Were Made, and his Take Control of Your Apple Account. Along the way we looked back at the surprising origins of a peripheral we all use, the challenges of the early printing industry, and got some thoughts on what you can and can’t do in your account interactions with Apple.
Two topics dominate this MacVoices Live! discussion. Chuck Joiner, Marty Jencius, Eric Bolden, Jim Reat, and Mark Fuccio look at the ongoing soap opera that is the Wordpress/WP Engine feud that now has some employees heading for less combative pastures. Then, the panel consider the latest efforts by Sonos to gain back their customers trust…and why it is an uphill climb.
Our conversation with Diane Hamilton, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Binary Formations continues with how they are implementing machine learning integration in Under My Roof, particularly object recognition, and the support resources available for users. Diane also shares insights on the transition to a subscription model, data ownership and privacy through iCloud integration. (Part 2)
Diane Hamilton, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Binary Formations, discusses the evolution of Under My Roof. Originally designed for home inventories, the app has transformed into a comprehensive tool for managing all aspects of homeownership, including maintenance schedules and household supplies. Useful for both day-to-day activities as well as in times of disaster, Under My Roof uses iCloud for secure storage of your data. Diane explains user-friendly mechanisms like receipt uploads and strong syncing capabilities across devices as part of the initial implementation. (Part 1)
Microsoft wants to provide “AI emotional support?” Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Marty Jencius, Eric Bolden, Jim Rea, Jeff Gamet, and Mark Fuccio look at their plans for user experience and approach, as well as the decision to kill off their headset without a replacement product announced.
Subscribe to the MacVoices Dispatch email newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest Apple and technology news. Get exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox and be part of our tech enthusiast community.
Check out the MacVoices blog for the latest news and catch up on Chuck's guest appearances on other podcasts.
Discover MacVoices through our exclusive Flipboard magazine! Delve into the realm of innovation and stay up-to-date with the latest trends in Apple technology. Join us on Flipboard today.