397 - USB Drives Live On, Vision Pro Evolves, and Plex Locks Down
Release Date: 11/29/2025
397 - USB Drives Live On, Vision Pro Evolves, and Plex Locks Down
In Touch with iOS
The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Patrice Brend’amour, Jill McKinley, Jeff Gamet, Marty Jencius, Guy Serle. A post-Thanksgiving Apple tech roundtable: Vision Pro M5 vs M2, spatial video, iOS 26 beta updates, USB drives vs digital media, AirTag travel upgrades, Plex limitations, Spotify price hikes, the $149 iPhone pocket, Peanuts specials on Apple TV+, and plenty of laughs between the full panel. The show notes are at Links to our Show Give us a review on Apple Podcasts! we would really appreciate it! Another way to support the show is to...
info_outline
396 - Eric’s Vision Pro Roadshow: Free Demos, Confused Bystanders
In Touch with iOS
The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Jill McKinley, Chuck Joiner, Jeff Gamet, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius.In Episode 396, the panel covers a packed week of Apple updates including VisionOS 26.2 beta 3, iOS/iPadOS 26.2 features, and AirPods Pro firmware changes. Jill and Eric share their joint Vision Pro demo adventure, the team debates macOS Tahoe instability and Apple’s controversial liquid-glass icon redesign, everyone weighs in latest AI news from OpenAI (GPT-5.1) Google Gemini 3. We explore digital driver’s licenses arriving in Illinois, MLB’s new broadcast deals...
info_outline
395 - Apple Wallet Digital Passport, M5 Chip Talk, and Tesla Finally Adding CarPlay
In Touch with iOS
The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave is joined by Jill McKinley,Jeff Gamet, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Guy Serle. Episode 395 discusses VisionOS 26.2, Apple’s new immersive F-18 video, third-party VR content, iOS/macOS beta features, CarPlay tweaks, and frustrations with notifications. The team reviews five years of M-series chips, explores new satellite features, tests out the digital passport ID in Wallet, debates the bizarre iPhone Pocket, reacts to Tesla adopting CarPlay, and covers Apple TV’s plans to stream MLS for free in 2026. The show notes are at Links to our...
info_outline
394 - Turkey Vultures and Vision Pros: The iOS 26.1 Episode
In Touch with iOS
The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Jill McKinley, Jeff Gamet, Guy Serle, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius. We unpack Apple’s latest OS updates, new Vision Pro features, and the Ultra 3 Watch—with laughs about turkey vultures, DACs, and not testing fall detection by jumping off cliffs. Plus: Apple’s record-breaking quarter, new App Store web app, and Apple TV rebranding.Jeff reviews the Audioengine HXL DAC, calling it “tiny but mighty” for audiophiles, while Marty praises Apple’s new App Store web interface for making app discovery easier across all devices....
info_outline
393 - Apple Immersive Futures and Practical Updates
In Touch with iOS
The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Jill McKinley, Jeff Gamet, Chuck Joiner, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Ben Roethig. the panel covers the latest VisionOS 26.1 beta, Apple’s immersive media developer sessions, iOS/iPadOS 26.1 features, and usability tweaks like the liquid glass customization and app defaults in Files. The group also discusses Apple Maps ads, Spotify’s new Apple TV app, T-Mobile autopay restrictions, and the soon-to-arrive digital U.S. passport feature in Apple Wallet — all with humor, strong opinions, and relatable real-world Apple use...
info_outline
392 - Marty’s Vision Pro and Galaxy XR VR Emporium
In Touch with iOS
The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Jill McKinley, Guy Serle, Eric Bolden, Jeff Gamet, Marty Jencius, Ben Roethig. The panel compares Vision Pro vs Samsung Galaxy XR, reviews VisionOS Beta 4, reacts to Apple refusing Vision Pro trade-ins, discusses GM backing away from CarPlay, examines iPhone Air production concerns, and analyzes YouTube’s new AI likeness detection tool and its implications for creators. iPhone Air production and strategy concerns, tied to mid-tier pricing pressure. YouTube’s new AI deepfake likeness detection, and what it means for creators and...
info_outline
391 - M5 Everywhere: iPad Pro, Vision Pro, and the 14-inch MacBook Pro
In Touch with iOS
The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Jill McKinley, Jeff Gamet, Chuck Joiner, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Ben Roethig. covers Apple’s new Vision Pro M5, iPad Pro M5, and MacBook Pro M5, along with reactions to the Apple TV rebrand, AirPods Pro 3 inflight experiences, and iOS 26.1 beta updates. The panel debates upgrade value, trade-ins, and Apple’s AI direction—while delivering laughs about blood-test preorders, “no-good sons,” and iPads that go “womp-womp.” The show notes are at Links to our Show Give us a review on Apple Podcasts! we...
info_outline
390 - Immersive Vision Pro Films, AirPods Pro 3 on Flights, and iOS 26 Tips
In Touch with iOS
Summary In Episode 390 of In Touch With iOS, host Dave Ginsburg is joined by Jill McKinley, Marty Jencius, Jeff Gamet, Eric Bolden, and Ben Roethig to tackle Apple’s latest updates with a mix of analysis and humor. The panel begins with VisionOS 26.1 beta 2, highlighting improved game controller responsiveness and Apple’s new immersive films—from Hawaii’s volcanoes to Maine’s autumn colors. Marty jokes Apple just used the Photos app’s magic wand to turn summer into fall, while the group teases about running out of U.S. states to film. They also discuss the quirky ...
info_outline
389 - Electron Apps Ate My Mac and The Germaniacs Strike Again
In Touch with iOS
The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Jill McKinley, Chuck Joiner, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius. We cover Vision Pro leaks, iOS 26 fixes, and Apple’s smart glasses strategy. The panel also discusses Wallet delivery tracking, new ringtones, CarPlay Ultra pushback, privacy screens, and iPhone 17 market trends. Expect sharp insights and plenty of laughs—like Jill watching underwear ads on a plane, Marty’s Brick House ringtone fail, and the crew dubbing Apple rumor fans “The Germaniacs.” The show notes are at Links to our Show Give us a review on...
info_outline
388 - Selfies, Bears, and the iPhone 17 Camera
In Touch with iOS
The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Jill McKinley, Chuck Joiner, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Ben Roething. The panel covers VisionOS 26.1 immersive films, iOS/macOS/iPadOS updates, and the new digital passport in Wallet. The panel explores the Apple Watch Series 11 and SE3, the iPhone 17’s 18MP selfie camera, and AirPods Pro 3 fit quirks. They also touch on CarPlay bugs, NCAA coaches using iPads over Surface Pros, and the Disney Plus price hike. Expect both sharp insights and plenty of jokes—from hologram hosts to cable box passports. Apple ecosystem · VisionOS 26.1...
info_outlineThe latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Patrice Brend’amour, Jill McKinley, Jeff Gamet, Marty Jencius, Guy Serle. A post-Thanksgiving Apple tech roundtable: Vision Pro M5 vs M2, spatial video, iOS 26 beta updates, USB drives vs digital media, AirTag travel upgrades, Plex limitations, Spotify price hikes, the $149 iPhone pocket, Peanuts specials on Apple TV+, and plenty of laughs between the full panel.
The show notes are at InTouchwithiOS.com
Links to our Show
Give us a review on Apple Podcasts! CLICK HERE we would really appreciate it!
Click this link Buy me a Coffee to support the show we would really appreciate it. intouchwithios.com/coffee
Another way to support the show is to become a Patreon member patreon.com/intouchwithios
In Touch with iOS Magazine on Flipboard
Summary
In Episode 397 of In Touch With iOS, Dave is joined by Patrice Brend’amour, Jill McKinley, Marty Jencius, Jeff Gamet, and Guy Serle for a lively post-Thanksgiving discussion covering Vision Pro updates, iOS 26 developments, media format debates, travel tech improvements, and plenty of humor.
The panel begins with Apple Vision Pro, diving into the M5 vs. M2 comparison, app support concerns, frozen iPad-based apps, spatial vs. 3D video, and why personas remain one of the Vision Pro’s most underrated features. Several panelists challenge a recent critical article about Vision Pro, noting that the platform is still early and evolving.
Next, the group covers iOS 26 beta updates and Apple’s Invites app, leading to a comedic sidebar about who exactly uses the app — if anyone. This transitions into a deep (and funny) debate over USB thumb drives, CDs/DVDs, Blu-rays, and digital vs. physical media. From enterprise security to indie concert CDs, everyone shares stories illustrating why physical media is “dead”… or maybe not so dead.
More news includes AirTag upgrades that help airlines locate lost luggage, Spotify preparing another round of price increases, and Plex restricting free users from sharing library access — which sparked concerns among Plex users on Apple TV.
The crew also reacts to Apple’s limited-run $149 iPhone “pocket” accessory, Pocket Casts adding smart playlists, and Peanuts holiday specials becoming Apple TV+ exclusives. The episode wraps with chat room highlights and each panelist sharing where they can be found online.
Topics and Links
In Touch With Vision Pro this week.
Vision Pro M5 review: It’s time for Apple to make some tough choices
TRON Legacy is Finally in 3D on Disney+ for Apple Vision Pro! #applevisionpro #tron #disney
Beta this week.
iOS 26 Beta 3 continues this week.
iOS 26.2 adds convenient new feature designed for Apple’s Invites app
In Touch With Mac this week
4 storage types I think no longer make sense in 2025
Other Topics
AirTag’s newest feature could work even better now for many travelers
Pocket Casts app introduces smart playlists feature to organize your podcasts
Plex's crackdown on free remote streaming is starting with its Roku app
News
Apple News Loses CNN - MacRumors
Spotify planning price increase for US subscribers
iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide
Want to watch ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’? You’ll need an Apple TV subscription
Announcements
Macstock 9 has wrapped for 2025. Attendees will receive a link for the session recordings when they’re ready in 30-45 days. If you missed Macstock we missed you! Why not purchase a digital pass to relive all the amazing presentations? Click the link below to purchase the digital pass. Macstock X has already been announced July 10,11,12, 2026 hopeful you all can join us.
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 Mastodon @daveg65, , BlueSky @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 Pixelfed @jgamet@pixelfed.social and Bluesky @jgamet.bsky.social Podcasts The Context Machine Podcast Retro Rewatch Retro Rewatch 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 jencius@mastodon.social https://thepodtalk.net
Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him by email at eabolden@mac.com, on Mastodon at @eabolden@techhub.social, on his blog, Trending At Work, and as co-host on The Vision ProFiles podcast.
Jill McKinley works in enterprise software, server administration, and IT A lifelong tech enthusiast, she started her career with Windows but is now an avid Apple fan. Beyond technology, she shares her insights on nature, faith, and personal growth through her podcasts—Buzz Blossom & Squeak, Start with Small Steps, and The Bible in Small Steps. Watch her content on YouTube at @startwithsmallsteps and follow her on X @schmern. Find all her work at http://jillfromthenorthwoods.com
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.
Patrice Brend’amour loves to create podcasts, automations or software. She also enjoys working with diverse sets of people, leading them to success and making a tiny difference in the world. Which she does as VP of Development at a Healthcare Software provider. She can be found at https://the-patrice.com and her podcast Foodie Flashback at https://foodieflashback.com