Joe Kissel introduces Take Control Premium, a new membership program offering 50% discounts on all Take Control books for a year. He explains the challenges of online sales, taxes, and the reasoning behind replacing traditional sales with this model. The discussion covers pricing, customer psychology, and the value of quality tech information in a world of quick but often unreliable online answers.
The MacVoices Live! panel reflects on the G4 Cube’s design legacy, discusses Apple’s approach to AI privacy, and reviews ChatGPT’s new meeting transcription feature, which outpaces Microsoft Copilot in downloads. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Web Bixby, Mary Jencius, and Eric Bolden debate the value of on-device AI versus cloud services, examine DuckDuckGo’s AI image filter, and weigh the benefits and risks of AI-generated media in an era of deepfakes and data privacy concerns.
The MacVoices Live! panel discusses Apple’s lawsuit against a leaker over alleged iOS 26 leaks and the broader implications for media control, trade secrets, and leaker culture. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Web Bixby, Marty Jencius, and Eric Bolden examine the UK government’s retreat from demanding access to iCloud encryption and what that means for global privacy standards. Apple Intelligence’s privacy-centric design is contrasted with other AI models, with debate on whether Apple should license or acquire LLM technologies. The conversation also includes how panelists are using Apple Vision Pro for work.
The panel dives into the controversy over an app used to track ICE agents, debating First Amendment rights, privacy, and potential misuse. Chuck Joiner, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Ben Roethig, Marty Jencius, Eric Bolden, Jim Rea, Jeff Gamet, Mark Fuccio, David Ginsburg, and Web Bixby also explore TikTok’s possible Americanized version, Jack Dorsey’s new Bluetooth messaging app, and Napster’s surprising comeback with holographic avatars.
This July MacVoices Update recaps a MacStock-filled month, including highlights from the live panel and thoughts on tech insights gained at the event. Renewed blogging efforts featuring podcast recommendations and previews are kicking off this month, as well as a more regular cadence for upcoming shows. He also spotlights MacVoices Magazine and delivers the Support Report to thank Patreon supporters for their ongoing contributions.
AUKEY was showing off a table full of new products at Pepcom at CES in Las Vegas that ranged from a Find My-compatible credit card-size tracker that lasts up to six months on a charge to a variety of device charging options, including one that charge pretty much everything you have all at once. David Wu, David Wu, Vice President, Head of AUKEY BU, walks us through the feature sets and benefits of each.
Snology always seems to have something new coming for both the more and less technical users. At Pepcom and CES in Las Vegas, Christopher Michio Imanaka, Field & Alliance Marketing showed us the new C2 Cloud cameras that brings private, local video surveillance options to their line. Chris not only answers questions over the security of the video captured, but also introduces to a new Synology BeeStation with upgraded storage.
At Pepcom at CES in Las Vegas, Xebec was showing off the latest version of their mobile multi-panel productivity set-up. Zach Hamster, Head of Marketing and Growth, took us through the options that can add 2 screens to your laptop. Configurable in portrait or landscape orientation. Other options can include a phone holder as one of those screens or a light to improve your video conferencing. All that in a compact, portable package that is quick to set-up and easy to carry.
At CES in Las Vegas we first met Aleksander Alski, USA & Canada Country Manager for Vasco at a showcase, then caught up with him at Pepcom to give us an on-camera demo of their translation device that can not only do two-say translations, text and audio, but learns your voice so that what others hear is you, not an artificial voice. Alexander talks about how it accomplishes all that, and when and how you can benefit.
Another year at Pepcom and CES in Las Vegas, another year to see what new innovation Ohsnap has come up with. Founder and CEO Dale Backus shows off the MCON, a MagSafe portable game controller that attaches to your iPhone and converts it to a gaming device with a properly angled screen with fold-out grips, joysticks, and buttons that delivers a full-on gaming experience. Available as a Kickstarter project now and shipping later this year, it looks to be another great addition to the Ohsnap line.
At the Flic table at Pepcom at CES in Las Vegas, Laura Ruiz Asenjo demonstrated how their new Flic Duo smart button can not only control your home automation devices, but can also have accessibility and safety uses. Integrated with Apple HomeKit and Matter, and can soon be preordered at a discount.
At Pepcom at CES in Las Vegas, Una Besirevic, PR & Marketing Manager for Rolling Square, showed us both new and upgraded products that included new cables that have multiple connection options, upgraded Find My devices, and a new GaN charger. Then, Una introduces us to their sister company, Natura Umana, Their HumanPods earbuds are designed to interface with a host of “AI persons” and put them at your fingertips.
At Pepcom at CES in Las Vegas, we learning about the new and expanding products offered by Speck. Taylor Emberton show off their new iPhone cases that wrap the design around the edges, the latest addition to their ClickLock line of MagSafe securely-attached accessories, and the GEMTONES earbuds and GEMTONES Infinity speakers.
The MacVoices Live! panel looks briefly at the latest country getting into the “let’s fine big tech companies) game, and whether there is motive other than the stated one. Then, Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Jeff Butts, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Jeff Gamet, Marty Jencius, and Jim Rea consider the impact of the iPhone on its 18th birthday, how it has affected their lives and how it continues to impact our daily activities.
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