MacVoices #25116: Live! - Contact Identification Responsibility, An Apple Store Surge, The Meta Trial
Release Date: 04/21/2025
MacVoices
In the French Pavilion at CES in Las Vegas Thomas Pigneur, CEO of , discussed the Solver AI button, a programmable accessory for iPhones. It attaches magnetically and works with or without phone cases. Users can access up to 1,000 actions via top or bottom button presses, including sending texts with geolocation, controlling ChatGPT, managing smart home devices, and executing iOS shortcuts. Available in seven colors for customization or just fun, it features user profiles for different scenarios. Show Notes: Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon ...
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From Eureka Park at CES, is a Bluetooth tracker compatible with both Apple and Android Find My networks without requiring a separate app. It also integrates What3Words technology for precise tracking within a 3-meter radius. Aaron Pollack Co-Founder & CRO outlines the features that include a replaceable watch battery lasting up to 2 years, patented self-attachment design, and audio alerts through Find My. The device leverages cellular triangulation across both ecosystems for optimal accuracy. http://traffic.libsyn.com/maclevelten/MV26059.mp3 Show Notes: Support: ...
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The panel looks at Adobe’s past dominance, current challenges, and uncertain future as AI tools and lower-cost alternatives reshape the creative landscape. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Web Bixby, Jim Rea, and Jeff Gamet cover how generative AI, subscription fatigue, collaboration gaps, and competitors like Affinity, Canva, and Figma are changing who really needs Adobe services such as Creative Cloud, while reflecting on historical tech shifts and whether Adobe’s next chapter has already been written. A documentary recommendation wraps up this session. ...
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At CES 2026 Showstoppers, demonstrated their peer-to-peer file sharing system that eliminates cloud storage costs for video editors. CEO Michael Cioni explains how the platform connects cameras, hard drives, and laptops directly without uploading to cloud services, using variable bitrate encoding to stream ProRes files over any internet connection. Michael demoed the capabilities, including editing and playback, and detailed the price structure that includes a robust free option. Show Notes: Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon ...
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From CES 2026 and Showstoppers, Matthew Boyer, Global Sales Director for , demonstrated their immersive reality video player that works on standard devices without VR. The technology synchronizes multiple camera shots from 2 to 30 cameras, allowing viewers to swipe between perspectives during live events like sports, concerts, and education. Using iPhones or professional cameras streaming in 1080p or 4K, the system maintains high resolution without buffering. A revenue-sharing model requires no upfront costs for live events with 100+ viewers. Show Notes: Support: ...
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At Showstoppers at CES in Las Vegas demonstrated their new earbuds featuring advanced voice isolation technology. The earbuds filter out extreme background noise while capturing whispered speech, enabling clear calls in loud environments and accurate speech-to-text dictation. Co-Founders Savannah Cofer and Jackie Yang provided a very effective demo. Show Notes: Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with Connect: Web: ...
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From CES 2026 ShowStoppers in Las Vegas, showcases privacy-focused security cameras designed to keep data under user control. Ryne Hager talks about the features of the the W101 window camera, which records inside and outside with a physical privacy cover and local microSD storage, the upcoming W520 dual-lens camera with wide and telephoto views, spotlight tracking, and the optional local network storage without cloud subscriptions. Show Notes: Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon Enjoy this episode? Make a...
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From ShowStoppers at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, showed off their heads-up display glasses system designed for outdoor sport. Talia explains how the glasses project navigation, speed, distance, cadence, and heart rate directly into the user’s view, reducing the need to look down at a phone or watch. Safety alerts warn of approaching vehicles, and adaptive lenses adjust for day or night use, improving safety for sports such as cycling. Show Notes: Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time...
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From CES 2026 at ShowStoppers in Las Vegas, returns with major updates for smart birdwatching. Rhian Humphries, Senior PR Manager introduces Bird Buddy 2, featuring faster capture, an integrated solar panel, portrait or landscape viewing, expanded seed capacity, and AI recognition using both visuals and birdsong. For entry level users the new Bird Buddy 2 Mini brings the same core technology to a smaller, more affordable option. Show Notes: Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time...
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Wikipedia’s 25th anniversary sparked a discussion of its evolution as a research tool and how it compares with AI systems. The discussion by Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Web Bixby, Jim Rea, and Jeff Gamet explores academic attitudes toward Wikipedia, the need to teach responsible source verification, and how AI is reshaping classrooms and workplaces. The panel also debates whether AI truly boosts productivity and reacts to new ChatGPT subscription tiers that introduce ads. MacVoices is supported by Incogni. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Get...
info_outlineA mix of national security, tech glitches, and policy debates drives this discussion with Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, and Web Bixby, starting with a case where iPhone contact merging was blamed for a classified information leak. The group questions the logic behind that defense and dives into how apps like Signal and iOS handle contact data. Additional topics include Apple Store sales surges tied to tariff fears, the UK’s encryption fight with Apple, and Zuckerberg’s testimony in Meta’s antitrust trial.
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Show Notes:
Chapters:
00:06 Contact Confusion and iPhone Blame
08:02 Reply All Regrets
08:19 UK Encryption Battle Revealed
11:58 Apple Store Surge Amid Tariffs
13:55 Meta's Antitrust Trial Insights
Links:
How Data Detectors led to a security breach on Signal
https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/04/06/security-advisor-blames-iphone-for-revealing-war-plans
The UK can’t keep its encryption battle with Apple secret, court says - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2025/04/07/apple-uk-encryption-must-be-public/
Faced with bigly price hikes, America goes Apple shopping
https://www.applemust.com/faced-with-bigly-price-hikes-america-goes-apple-shopping/
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg takes the stand in historic antitrust trial
https://apnews.com/article/meta-ftc-antitrust-instagram-whatsapp-facebook-f602a09e86c9eb4538949572f72e8380
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.
Brian Flanigan-Arthurs is an educator with a passion for providing results-driven, innovative learning strategies for all students, but particularly those who are at-risk. He is also a tech enthusiast who has a particular affinity for Apple since he first used the Apple IIGS as a student. You can contact Brian on twitter as @brian8944. He also recently opened a Mastodon account at @brian8944@mastodon.cloud.
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).
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