420 - MacBook Neo Is Hot, Apple AI Grows, and is Vision Pro doomed or Not
Release Date: 05/03/2026
In Touch with iOS
The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Jill McKinley, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Vision Pro sparks debate with real-world medical breakthroughs and Hollywood use cases while critics call it “doomed.” Meanwhile, MacBook Neo demand surges, Apple expands AI and iCloud features, and MacStock 2026 heats up with major announcements. 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 become a Patreon member Summary In Episode 420, Dave...
info_outlineIn Touch with iOS
The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Jill McKinley, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Guy Serle, Ben Roethig. Apple enters a new era as Tim Cook transitions to Executive Chairman and John Ternus steps in as CEO. The panel breaks down what this means for Apple’s future, alongside iOS 26.5 beta updates, Vision Pro developments, AI expansion, CarPlay upgrades, and a major phishing scam targeting Apple users. 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_outlineIn Touch with iOS
The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Jill McKinley, Jeff Gamet, Marty Jencius. Apple Vision Pro updates continue with visionOS 26.5, enterprise support expands, and a $30K immersive camera sparks debate. We break down MacBook Neo demand surges, Microsoft price hikes, Google’s Gemini Mac app, router ban confusion, and more. Plus Macstock updates and a standout new app. 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 become a Patreon member ...
info_outlineIn Touch with iOS
In this special episode 417 of In Touch With iOS, host Dave Ginsburg sits down with tech journalist and author David Pogue to discuss his book Apple: The First 50 Years. Joined by Jeff Gamet and Marty Jencius, the panel explores Apple’s history, iconic products, Vision Pro, and the future of the iPhone and iPad in an engaging deep-dive conversation. 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 become a Patreon member Summary This...
info_outlineIn Touch with iOS
The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Jill McKinley, Jeff Gamet, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius. Episode 416 covers the Vision Pro launch and training debate, Steam Link gaming on Vision Pro, iOS and macOS updates, the runaway success of the MacBook Neo, the Insta360 Snap accessory, Mint Mobile’s $45 bundle, AI-powered security from Anthropic, and Overcast’s new transcripts feature. Plus, Macstock preview and a fun discussion about tech, AI, and the Apple ecosystem. The show notes are at Links to our Show Give us a review on Apple Podcasts! we would really...
info_outlineIn 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, Guy Serle. This week on In Touch With iOS, the panel dives into visionOS 26.5 beta and new immersive Vision Pro experiences including concerts and NASA content. We discuss a rare iOS security update for older devices, iOS 26.5 beta features like Maps suggestions and RCS encryption, and macOS Tahoe beta updates. The show celebrates Apple’s 50th anniversary with Apple history and memories, plus updates to the Apple Sports app, AirTag firmware, Gmail changes, and...
info_outlineIn 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. Dave and the panel dive into Apple’s massive round of OS updates including iOS 26.4, macOS Tahoe 26.4, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS, and HomePod updates. The team discusses Apple Music’s new AI Playlist Playground, major security fixes you should install immediately, and Apple Podcasts adding video podcasting support. Plus, Apple kills the Mac Pro, celebrates 25 years of Mac OS, introduces a new Apple Business platform, and the panel reacts to Netflix price hikes and the...
info_outlineIn 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, Guy Serle. Apple scores a major legal win for the Apple Watch, Vision Pro gets a gaming boost with NVIDIA, and the MacBook Neo continues to impress the panel. Plus, iOS 26.4 improves Family Sharing, AirPods Max 2 arrives, and Final Cut Pro gets a major upgrade with Apple’s Motion VFX acquisition. 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_outlineIn 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, Guy Serle.This week the panel focuses on two major hands-on topics. Marty Jencius and Eric Bolden share their first impressions of Apple’s new MacBook Neo, including real-world testing, performance surprises, and how it could disrupt the entry-level laptop market. Dave also gives his hands-on impressions of the new iPhone 17e, discussing MagSafe’s return, display improvements, and why it could be a strong entry-level iPhone. The group also touches on the latest...
info_outlineIn Touch with iOS
Dave Ginsburg is joined by Mike Potter, Chuck Joiner, Marty Jencius, Jill McKinley, and Eric Bolden to break down a big week of Apple news. The panel discusses visionOS 26.4 beta updates, iOS 26.4 beta, the new iPhone 17e, M4 iPad Air, and refreshed MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models with M5 chips. The biggest debate centers around Apple’s brand-new MacBook Neo, a $599 MacBook designed to compete with Chromebooks in education. Is it a smart gateway device for new users or an underpowered compromise? The panel shares strong opinions while also discussing Apple’s strategy for expanding the...
info_outlineThe latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Jill McKinley, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Vision Pro sparks debate with real-world medical breakthroughs and Hollywood use cases while critics call it “doomed.” Meanwhile, MacBook Neo demand surges, Apple expands AI and iCloud features, and MacStock 2026 heats up with major announcements.
The show notes are at InTouchwithiOS.com
Links to our Show
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In Touch with iOS Magazine on Flipboard
Summary
In Episode 420, Dave and the panel dive deep into the evolving Apple ecosystem, starting with the latest visionOS 26.5 beta and broader conversations around the future of Apple Vision Pro. Despite headlines suggesting Apple may be “giving up,” the panel pushes back—highlighting real-world use cases in healthcare and filmmaking that suggest the opposite.
A standout story includes Vision Pro being used in cataract surgery, enabling real-time collaboration and 3D visualization—showcasing its growing role in enterprise and medical environments. In parallel, Hollywood is embracing the device, with directors like Jon Favreau leveraging Vision Pro for immersive shot composition in virtual IMAX environments.
The conversation shifts to Apple’s broader ecosystem updates, including beta releases across iOS, macOS, and watchOS, which remain relatively quiet ahead of WWDC. Meanwhile, the MacBook Neo continues to generate buzz with strong demand and shipping delays, reinforcing its early success.
AI continues to dominate discussion with tools like Perplexity’s Comet browser, YouTube’s conversational search experiments, and Google Photos’ upcoming wardrobe AI feature. Apple also enhances iCloud with improved web-based search functionality—closing the gap with competitors.
Additional topics include Apple Pay transit expansion, App Store subscription changes, MagSafe’s uncertain future, and excitement around upcoming Apple TV+ content like Ted Lasso Season 4.
The episode wraps with a preview of MacStock X, featuring appearances from industry voices including David Pogue and a special Ecamm Creator Camp.
Topics and Links
In Touch With Vision Pro this week.
visionOS 26.5 Beta 4 Release Notes
Apple Has Given Up on the Vision Pro After M5 Refresh Flop
Apple Vision Pro Used in World-First Cataract Surgery
Latest 'Star Wars' movie cut unnecessary costs by using Apple Vision Pro
Apple wins Patent for Bridge Emitters & Sensors to Keep AR Glasses Aligned Over Time
Beta this week.
Apple Seeds Fourth iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 Betas to Developers
Apple Releases Fourth watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and visionOS 26.5 Betas
In Touch With Mac this week
Fourth macOS Tahoe 26.5 Beta Now Available for Developers
MacBook Neo Still Seeing Extended Delivery Estimates at Apple, But Amazon and Walmart Have Stock
Other Topics
Perplexity just gave its Comet AI browser an upgrade for iPad users with these features
YouTube Tests AI-Powered 'Ask YouTube' Conversational Search Feature
iOS 26.4 adds convenient new iCloud feature, here’s how to enable it
Google Photos to Get AI 'Wardrobe' Feature
Apple Introduces App Store Monthly Subscriptions With 12-Month Commitmenth
Apple May Reconsider MagSafe Future on Upcoming iPhones
News
Apple Shares 'Ted Lasso' Season Four Streaming Date and Teaser Trailer
Watch The Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix Live On Apple TV This Weekend
Apple Q2 2026 Earnings Call: Date, Time, and What Could Move the Stock
Apple Pay for Transit Now Works in These 12 U.S. Cities
Announcements
Macstock X is here celebrating its 10th anniversary ! Dave, Chuck, Jeff, Marty, and Jill are all speaking this year!. With Three Full Days of expert-led Presentations and Workshops, Macstock’s sessions are crammed full of productivity-enhancing content. NEW this year is a partnership with sponsor Ecamm. Ecamm Creator Camp: Mac Edition on July 9, 2026 there are only 100 tickets available for the bundle. There are 2 passes available: Macstock weekend pass July 10,11,12, 2026 or the Macstock Ecamm Bundle starting July 9 (only 100 tickets available) Come join us. Register HERE and use our offer code INTOUCH to save $50
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.
Guy Serle is one of the hosts of the new The Gmen Show along with GazMaz and email GMenshow@icloud.com @MacParrot and @VertShark on X Vertshark on YouTube, Google Voice +1 Area code 703-828-4677