330 - New Macs Which Will We Buy? iOS 18.1 Features

The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by guest Chuck Joiner,, Marty Jencius, Jeff Gamet. We start by analyzing Apple’s quarterly earnings, revealing a $95 billion revenue with a significant tax charge, prompting a discussion on the company's financial health. We then transition to the technological advancements in Apple's Vision Pro and its upcoming features. Our conversation also covers the beta release of iOS 18.2, highlighting new tools like Playground and Genmoji while addressing beta testing experiences. Furthermore, we discuss the introduction of new Macs powered by the M4 chip and their impact on the market, before concluding with reflections on iOS 18.1.

The show notes are at InTouchwithiOS.com


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Recorded on Halloween evening, the camaraderie is palpable as we light-heartedly reflect on spooky holiday traditions before diving into a jam-packed agenda that includes Apple’s recent earnings report and the introduction of new products.

We kick off our conversation by unpacking Apple’s quarterly earnings call, which revealed a revenue of $95 billion—a 6% annual increase. However, a notable twist was the one-time charge of $14.8 billion linked to a European tax case, significantly impacting our discussion on Apple’s financial health. We explore the implications of these numbers, considering shifts in iPhone and Mac sales alongside the steady growth of Apple’s services sector. Each of us shares insights and reactions, highlighting analyst questions and the predictably guarded responses from Apple’s executives.

Transitioning from financials to technology advancements, we delve into the recent developments in Apple's Vision Pro. The release of Vision Pro 2.1 and its compatibility with Apple’s software updates starts the discussion regarding the headset's features and the expected influence of Mac virtual display capabilities. Chuck and Marty reflect on their experiences and expectations for future enhancements in this space.

As the conversation shifts to the beta release of iOS 18.2 later in the show, we cover new features around Apple Intelligence. This includes the introduction of tools like Playground and Genmoji, which allow for creative image manipulation and enhanced user interaction. With so many users eager to explore these new capabilities, Marty sheds light on some of the hurdles he has faced while waiting for access, igniting a candid dialogue about user experience and beta testing frustrations.

The excitement continues with discussions about the newly announced Macs. The introduction of the latest iMac and Mac Mini—equipped with the M4 chip—sparks a passionate exchange about their specifications and value as entry-level computers. Chuck expresses his enthusiasm for the Mac Mini's portable design, while Marty shares plans to acquire one for himself. As we reflect on Apple’s approach to product announcements, we also touch on how this segmented rollout provides focused attention on individual devices.

Additionally, the new MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips are unveiled, leading to reflections on their enhanced performance metrics and prolonged battery life. The emphasis shifts to the versatility for both professional and casual users, generating a lively debate about current needs versus future-proofing investments.Lastly, we explore the realm of iOS with the rollout of iOS 18.1, discussing Apple Intelligence enhancements, user interface changes, and how they aim to improve user experience significantly. Jeff and Marty share personal anecdotes about their interactions with the enhancements, including improved Siri capabilities and photo functionalities.

In closing, our dialogue encapsulates a wealth of information and insight on Apple developments across hardware and software. With new products to explore and updates to navigate, this episode is a treasure trove of insights for Apple enthusiasts and everyday users alike. We invite listeners to join us next week as we continue our exploration into the ever-evolving Apple landscape.

In Touch With Vision Pro this week. 

Apple Releases visionOS 2.1 

Apple Announces Vision Pro Launching in Two More Countries Next Month - MacRumors

Proton VPN Launches Native Apple TV App, Adds Vision Pro Support - MacRumors

Beta this week. iOS 18.2 Beta 1 continues

Everything New in iOS 18.2 Beta 1 - MacRumors

10 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.2 - MacRumors

iOS 18.2 will arrive in December — with ChatGPT, Visual Intelligence and more | Tom's Guide

Apple Earnings Call. 

Apple’s Q424 results: $95B revenue–with a twist

Apple's Q4 2024 Earnings Call Takeaways

In touch with Macs this week. We discussed all the Mac announcements.

All Announcements

Apple Announcements Recap: M4 iMac, Mac Mini, and MacBook Pro

Specs discovered

M4 vs. M4 Pro vs. M4 Max Chip Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?

PSA: Update your Mac before buying a USB-C Magic Mouse, Trackpad, or Keyboard

Unlike iPhone 16 Models, Apple's M4 Macs Lack Wi-Fi 7 Support 

 Hands-On Photos and Videos of the Much Smaller Mac Mini and More

New MacBook Pros and iMac Feature Upgraded Cameras With 'Center Stage' and 'Desk View' Support

New MacBook Pros Feature Brighter Displays Outdoors, Also Even Dimmer in Low Light

Entire Mac Lineup Now Starts With at Least 16GB RAM, Ending 8GB Era

MacBook Pro Now Features Up to 24 Hours Battery Life—Longest Ever in a Mac

MacBook Pro Now Available With Nano-Texture Display for First Time

Apple Announces MacBook Air Now Starts With Increased 16GB of RAM With No Price Increase

Apple Announces M4 Max Chip: Up to 16-Core CPU, Up to 40-Core GPU, Up to 128GB of RAM, and More

Mac Mini vs. Mac Studio Buyer's Guide: 25+ Differences Compared

Announcement Videos

MacBook Pro Announcement - October 30

Mac mini Announcement - October 29

iMac Announcement - October 28

iOS 18.1

iOS 18.1: Here are Apple's full release notes on what's new

iOS 18.1 makes Apple Photos better in three key ways, here’s what’s new

Tim Cook: iPhone users adopting iOS 18.1 twice as fast as iOS 17.1

iPhone Users Updating to iOS 18.1 Twice as Fast as iOS 17.1 Following Apple Intelligence Launch

News

Parallels Desktop brings Apple Intelligence Writing Tools to Windows apps

HomePod ​​Controller for HomeKit 7.2 introduces a host of new features for iOS 18

Vision Pro Pins Vision Pro – Glitchbits

Announcements

Macstock 8 wrapped up for 2024. But you can purchase the digital pass and still see the great talks we had including Dave talking about Apple Services and more. Content is now available! .  Click here for more information: Digital Pass | Macstock Conference & Expo with discounts on previous events. 

Our Host

Dave Ginsburg is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users and shares his wealth of knowledge of iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and related technologies. Visit the YouTube channel https://youtube.com/intouchwithios follow him on Mastadon @daveg65, and the show @intouchwithios

 

Our Regular Contributors

Jeff Gamet is a podcaster, technology blogger, artist, and author. Previously, he was The Mac Observer’s managing editor, and Smile’s TextExpander Evangelist. You can find him on Mastadon @jgamet as well as Twitter and Instagram as @jgamet  His YouTube channel https://youtube.com/jgamet

Marty Jencius, Ph.D., is a professor of counselor education at Kent State University, where he researches, writes, and trains about using technology in teaching and mental health practice. His podcasts include Vision Pro Files, The Tech Savvy Professor and Circular Firing Squad Podcast. Find him at [email protected]  https://thepodtalk.net 

About our Guest

Chuck Joiner is the host of MacVoices and hosts video podcasts with influential members of the Apple community. Make sure to visit macvoices.com and subscribe to his podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @chuckjoiner and join his MacVoices Facebook group.