MacVoices
Kirk McElhern discusses the latest edition of , covering what’s new—and what isn’t—in Music, TV, Podcasts, and Books. He critiques the “Liquid Glass” look, notes small updates like AutoMix and pinned items, and argues the apps have reached maturity. The conversation includes accessibility issues, managing personal video libraries, and why Spotify’s appeal isn’t just playlists. (Part 1) MacVoices is supported by The Antigravity A1. Get off the ground like never before with the Antigravity A1. You have to see the results to believe them. Find out everything you need to...
info_outlineMacVoices
A wide-ranging discussion examines the implications of leadership changes and talent loss within Apple’s AI organization following delays to promised Siri features. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Jeff Gamet, Marty Jencius, Eric Bolden, and Jim Rea debate whether Apple’s struggles reflect internal turmoil, unrealistic timelines, or a deliberate partnering with external AI options. Privacy, on-device capabilities, and regulatory pressure all factor into a candid assessment of Apple’s AI strategy and credibility. MacVoices is...
info_outlineMacVoices
In response to the inevitable shower of deals and special offers on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond, Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Jeff Gamet, Marty Jencius, Eric Bolden, and Jim Rea share some of their holiday acquisitions and why the made them. The panel also covers “fake” discounts, deal fatigue, and why loyal customers often miss out while still celebrating the fun of finding genuinely useful gear. MacVoices is supported by The Antigravity A1. Get off the ground like never before with the Antigravity A1. You have to...
info_outlineMacVoices
In the final segment of the 2025 Holiday Gift Guide, Kelly Guimont, Jim Rea, Chuck Joiner, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, and Kirk McElhearn out with bigger comfort and productivity picks: a portable lamp with battery power, a TSA-friendly Leatherman, along with a charging station, a long-running text utility, and a travel accessory for cramped flights. (Part 3) This edition of MacVoices is supported by , our free magazine on Flipboard. Updated daily with the best articles on the web to help you do more with your Apple gear and adjacent tech, access MacVoices Magazine content on , on the web,...
info_outlineMacVoices
The second part of our final 2025 MacVoices Holiday Gift Guide delivers a mix of low-tech problem solvers and smart power picks. Kelly Guimont, Jim Rea, Chuck Joiner, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, and Kirk McElhearn select an interior windshield cleaner, a MagSafe ring mount for comfortable caseless use at home, and suction-based phone chargers/stands to keep devices charged and easy to find. The picks also include a USB-C rechargeable numeric pad, experience gifts like concert tickets, a rechargeable electric candle lighter, and a fun gaming recommendation. (Part 2) This edition of MacVoices...
info_outlineMacVoices
Kelly Guimont, Jim Rea, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Kirk McElhearn and Chuck Joiner wrap up the 2025 MacVoices Holiday Gift Guides wraps up with “best of the rest” episodes, packed with practical picks and plenty of laughs. Highlights include keyboard travel cases, socks, portable power options, dictation software, a motorized TV mount, a light, and compact multi-port chargers. (Part 1) MacVoices is supported by The Antigravity A1. Get off the ground like never before with the Antigravity A1. You have to see the results to believe them. Find out everything you need to know to get...
info_outlineMacVoices
Charlotte Henry and Chuck Joiner wrap up 2025 with a look at Apple TV’s momentum, awards recognition, and strategy. They preview upcoming releases like F1 and returning series Hijack and Tehran, debate sports rights and bundles, and share favorite picks including Slow Horses, Prime Target, The Morning Show season 4, the finale of Mythic Quest, and Foundation—arguing 2025 may be the service’s strongest year yet. Show Notes: Chapters: 00:00 Year-end wrap and what’s ahead 01:03 F1 release and Hijack season return 01:53 AFI “best shows” list and Apple TV’s strategy 06:01...
info_outlineMacVoices
The 2025 MacVoices Holiday Gift Guide continues with Brittany Smith, Mike Potter, and Chuck Joiner making the picks. They include an affordable Bluetooth blood pressure monitor that syncs to Health, a whimsical LEGO gingerbread Star Wars piece, and a double recommendation of an Audible subscription and a book that covers Apple from a different angle. An app pick, a feline-oriented calendar, and a push to learn large language models responsibly finishes off this guide. (Part 2) MacVoices is supported by the 2025 MacVoices Holiday Gift Guides. Tech and more you want to give and get. Find...
info_outlineMacVoices
The 2025 MacVoices Holiday Gift Gide #7 kicks off with Brittany Smith, Mike Potter, and Chuck Joiner sharing practical and fun picks. Highlights include a fandom-themed backpack, a powerful multi-port charger, compact multi-purpose cables, an iPhone mini alternative, an AI-powered webcam, and a tool for repurposing old Macs. (Part 1) MacVoices is supported by The Antigravity A1. Get off the ground like never before with the Antigravity A1. You have to see the results to believe them. Find out everything you need to know to get off the ground with Antigravity A1 — the world’s first 8K 360...
info_outlineMacVoices
Jeff Carlson dives deeper into watchOS 26 changes as we continue our discussion about . From a redesigned Workout app and expanded customization to Workout Buddy’s friendly audio updates, Jeff covers some of the most interesting and important updates. He also points out new Control Center options, Smart Stack hints, Focus-based watch face switching, and Ultra 3 satellite support. (Part 2) MacVoices is supported by The Antigravity A1. Get off the ground like never before with the Antigravity A1. You have to see the results to believe them. Find out everything you need to know to get...
info_outlineThe MacVoices Panel provided their thoughts, opinions, and favorite features on Apple’s WWDC keynote announcements in a full-length session that saw panel members coming and going due to schedule commitments. From why we loved the opening skit to the positive reaction as indicated by the Apple stock price, operating system updates to the much anticipated AI (Apple Intelligence) announcements, the panel gave high marks to what some analysts felt would be the most important WWDC keynote in years (or ever). Panelists included Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Jim Rea, Marty Jencius, Ben Roethig, Jeff Gamet, Web Bixby, Mark Fuccio, Brittany Smith, Eric Bolden.
ExpressVPN:
MacVoices is supported by ExpressVPN, the VPN that just works. MacVoices viewers and listeners get 3 months free with a 12-month package at ExpressVPN.com/macvoices.
Show Notes:
Chapters:
01:14 Diving into the WWDC keynote
01:37 Jim Ray's experiences at WWDC
02:50 Social interactions at WWDC
05:29 Dinner conversations and socializing at WWDC
06:03 Panel members' experiences post-WWDC
0 8:17 Jeff Gamet's early departure plans
10:28 Discussing favorite WWDC announcements
12:49 Customizing iPhone and Mac features
14:41 Enhancing photos with spatial photography
15:59 Controlling iPhone from Mac
18:02 Exciting features for Apple Watch
19:24 Exciting customization options in iOS 18
21:14 Recognition of pro hardware makers by Vision Pro
22:51 Britt's commitment to leave
23:36 Evaluating Apple Mail announcements
26:00 Search for the ultimate mail client
26:15 Pinning mail for quick access
30:30 Apple TV Plus show lineup
38:14 Protecting online privacy with ExpressVPN
41:47 Introduction to the Apple intelligence system
45:39 Accessibility and usability of Apple's AI features
47:43 Catching Up
47:47 Speculations on Upgrades
48:00 iOS User Interface Changes
49:10 Apple Intelligence Expectations
50:11 Layers of Apple Intelligence Onion
51:08 ChatGPT Integration
51:44 Apple Intelligence Layers Discussion
51:53 Adding Functionality to System
52:21 Processing Capabilities
52:36 Large Language Models
53:31 Domain-Specific Knowledge
53:51 Tapbacks and Message Enhancements
54:27 Genmojis Thoughts
54:46 Compelling Genmojis
55:03 Handwriting Enhancements Excitement
58:35 Keyboard Visibility Improvements
59:58 Vision OS Discussion
1:00:53 Vision Pro Excitement
1:01:30 Confidence in Apple's Intelligence
1:02:06 Sharing Vision Pro
1:06:51 Spatial Photos Impressions
1:08:44 Improving Handwriting
1:13:35 Scheduling Messages Feature
1:14:21 Nod and Shake Controls
1:20:34 Voice Isolation Feature
1:22:34 Shopping List and Apple Credit Card Tip
1:25:50 Concerns about AI
1:32:26 Background Shenanigans
1:33:22 MacVoices Schedule and Chat Room Appreciation
Guests:
Web Bixby has been in the insurance business for 40 years and has been an Apple user for longer than that.You can catch up with him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him on Twitter, by email at embolden@mac.com, on Mastodon at @eabolden@techhub.social, on his blog, Trending At Work, and as co-host on The Vision ProFiles podcast.
Mark Fuccio is actively involved in high tech startup companies, both as a principle at piqsure.com, or as a marketing advisor through his consulting practice Tactics Sells High Tech, Inc. Mark was a proud investor in Microsoft from the mid-1990's selling in mid 2000, and hopes one day that MSFT will be again an attractive investment. You can contact Mark through Twitter, LinkedIn, or on Mastodon.
Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer’s Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @jgamet@mastodon.social on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet.
David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @daveg65@mastodon.cloud.
Dr. Marty Jencius has been an Associate Professor of Counseling at Kent State University since 2000. He has over 120 publications in books, chapters, journal articles, and others, along with 200 podcasts related to counseling, counselor education, and faculty life. His technology interest led him to develop the counseling profession ‘firsts,’ including listservs, a web-based peer-reviewed journal, The Journal of Technology in Counseling, teaching and conferencing in virtual worlds as the founder of Counselor Education in Second Life, and podcast founder/producer of CounselorAudioSource.net and ThePodTalk.net. Currently, he produces a podcast about counseling and life questions, the Circular Firing Squad, and digital video interviews with legacies capturing the history of the counseling field. This is also co-host of The Vision ProFiles podcast. Generally, Marty is chasing the newest tech trends, which explains his interest in A.I. for teaching, research, and productivity. Marty is an active presenter and past president of the NorthEast Ohio Apple Corp (NEOAC).
Jim Rea built his own computer from scratch in 1975, started programming in 1977, and has been an independent Mac developer continuously since 1984. He is the founder of ProVUE Development, and the author of Panorama X, ProVUE's ultra fast RAM based database software for the macOS platform. He’s been a speaker at MacTech, MacWorld Expo and other industry conferences. Follow Jim at provue.com and via @provuejim@techhub.social on Mastodon.
Ben Roethig has been in the Apple Ecosystem since the System 7 Days. He is the a former Associate Editor with Geek Beat, Co-Founder of The Tech Hangout and Deconstruct and currently shares his thoughts on RoethigTech. Contact him on Twitter and Mastodon.
Brittany Smith is a trained cognitive neuroscientist who provides ADD/ADHD, technology, and productivity coaching through her business, Devise and Conquer, along with companion video courses for folks with ADHD. She’s also the cofounder of The ADHD Guild, a community for nerdy folks with ADHD. She, herself, is a self-designated “well-rounded geek”. She can be found on Twitter as @addliberator, on Mastodon as @addliberator@pdx.social, and on YouTube with tech tips.
Support:
Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon
http://patreon.com/macvoices
Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal
Connect:
Web:
http://macvoices.com
Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner
http://www.twitter.com/macvoices
Mastodon:
https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner
MacVoices Page on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/
MacVoices Group on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/
Subscribe:
Audio in iTunes
Video in iTunes
Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:
Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss
Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss