Join Kelly Guimont each weekday as she assembles a panel of TMO staffers and contributors to talk through the stories and news of the day. Quick, informative, and entertaining. Make Daily Observations a part of your day!
Rick Smolan made his name in photography. While that's not how he spends his time today, he's got thoughts on image generation through A.I. He sat with host Ken Ray for this week's show, talking 30+ years of Photoshop, publishing, making movies out of pictures out of nothing, Apple Intelligence, and what he's up to now.
Financial analyst, media personality, and Apple shareholder Rob Black joins host Ken Ray to talk investing angles on Apple. How's Apple Vision Pro doing? What should one make of Apple TV+? What – if anything – could Apple do to scare investors? Rob brings a wealth of insight to The Mac Observer Show.
GitHub Senior Developer Advocate and “Overtired” co-host Christina Warren joins host Ken Ray to talk about changes forced on Patreon by Apple. Is demanding commission the right move for Apple? What should Patreon do in response? And where do the changes leave Patreon creators? Christina shares her thoughts on the latest TMO Show.
Richard Gunther, co-host of The Smart Home Show and host of Home: On, joins TMO Show host Ken Ray to talk smart devices, home automation, and Apple's place in all of it. Does everything need to be a smart thing? Does the Matter platform matter? Does Apple's Home app do what it needs to? Richard shares his insight on this edition of the TMO Show.
Entertainment journalist, film critic, and avid content consumer Scott Mantz joins host Ken Ray for an in-depth discussion on video streaming today. Are production costs getting too high? Is Apple TV+ doing what Apple wants it to do? Can all of today's streaming services survive? And can one movie or TV show be a break out hit given all of the titles being produced? Plus – Scott and Ken talk Star Trek… because they cannot help themselves.
Reticle Research Founder and Principal Analyst Ross Rubin joins host Ken Ray to talk augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality from the hardware side. Has Apple Vision Pro been a failure? Has Apple Vision Pro helped the Meta Quest 3? Is there time for another big player to enter the headset space? And what is the end goal for players in mixed reality? Ross lends his insight on this edition of The Mac Observer Show.
JOhn Rokos is the Founder, CEO, and Product Architect at Enemy Tree… and he had an idea for an iPhone case. It doesn't take a lot to have an idea, but it takes quite a bit to turn that idea into an actual business selling actual things. On this episode he shares with us the time a business didn't work out, as well as the many people, steps, and tools that helped make OpenCase happen.
Robert Hurt is a visualization scientist working at IPAC, a science and data center for astrophysics at the California Institute of Technology. His work has been used by NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He also hosted the video podcast “The Hidden Universe” for NASA's Spitzer Science Center. He's developed for mixed reality, he's a fan of mixed reality – and he joins us today to compare and contrast the two biggest AR/VR/MR devices today – Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro.
Carolina Milanesi, analyst and President of Creative Strategies, joins host Ken Ray to talk A.I., Apple Intelligence, and various WWDC announcements. Topics include: Making the case for A.I. Rating Apple Intelligence Whether Apple is “late” to A.I. Whether Apple Intelligence will spur an iPhone “Supercycle” Other announcements of note from WWDC24
Michael Steeber, “Tabletops” publisher and developer of the app “Facades,” is probably the person with the most knowledge of Apple Retail today outside of Apple. This week, he joins host Ken Ray to discuss: His history with Apple Retail The short, sad tenure of Apple Retail exec John Browett Apple Vision Pro in Apple Stores Apple Retail – Post-Pandemic and Post-Angela Ahrendts The Apple Store Time Machine The Facades App Favorite Apple Retail Locations
Shelly Brisbin knows a lot about a lot, including accessibility and tech. She's a producer and reporter at Texas Standard, a contributor to Six Colors, and host of the podcast “Parallel.” Recorded pre-WWDC2024, Shelly joins us to talk about what everyone needs to know about accessibility in tech, her time with Apple Vision Pro, her thoughts on AI and Apple and AI, and the tech she wants more than any other.
Creative Strategies CEO Ben Bajarin joins us for the inaugural episode of “The Mac Observer Show.” Topics tackled include: Thoughts on Apple and robotics Why Apple would/will bring a foldable iPhone to market Why Apple crashed the car Early days for Apple Vision Pro Expectations and possibilities for Apple and AI
The Mac Observer Show is coming your way! Hosted by Ken Ray, it's a different thing than we've done before. Not day-to-day news this time. The Mac Observer Show looks at a range of topics with a range of guests. Silicon Valley insiders, experts in various parts of Apple's business, people knowledgable in other parts of tech… We're talking AI and foldable iPhones and accessibility and Apple Retail and Apple Vision Pro and so much more. The Mac Observer Show – every Friday on YouTube, wherever you get podcasts and of course – MacObserver.com.
The current incarnation of The Daily Observations Podcast is coming to an end. But there is still a show to do! TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk about rumors that Apple's mixed reality headset is being delayed. Plus – Needham analyst Laura Martin thinks Apple and Disney should merge. It's been fun.
Apple has announced dates and details for WWDC 2023. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk over the remoteness of the conference and what the world can expect. Plus – Glitches with Apple Pay and (maybe) Apple Podcasts. AND – Ken and Jeff give first impressions of Apple Music Classical.
Apple's making it harder for non-developers to get developer betas of its latest software. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken with the story. Plus – Ken is worried that changes in Apple Podcasts are reducing independent podcast discoverability. He mixes up the terms “network” and “channels,” though the questions are still sound.
Travelin' Tim's taking his time in China. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk over a meeting between China's commerce minister and Apple's CEO. Also, Jeff has a look at the lates OS updates from Apple.
Both the New York Times and Bloomberg say there are certain misgivings around Apple's mixed reality headset inside Apple. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk over the latest chatter. Plus China, the Steve Jobs audio chatbot, and soccer pour out of the mailbag.
Word is Apple is getting serious about having people back in the office three days a week. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken puzzle over the report. Plus – Jeff thinks Apple will release its next OS updates next week. So, no spring product thing then?
Changes to “Friday Night Baseball” on Apple TV make Ken wonder whether Apple is trying to turn Apple TV+ into a superstation. He and TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts bat the idea around. Plus – They talk over the random playlists that are turning up for some Apple Music users.
Since its introduction, most in the tech press have deemed iPhone 14 Plus a failure. New numbers indicate otherwise, leaving most in the tech press to question how Apple got it so wrong? No. That doesn't make sense. TMO writer Nick deCourville and Ken will discuss it. Plus – Google Bard goes bigger and a very convincing Steve Jobs chatbot.
Counterpoint Research has some staggering data on premium smartphones and iPhone. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken work those numbers. Plus – Is “iPhone” the generic name for “smartphone” in Russia?
Most of the cast of “Ted Lasso” is headed to the White House to talk mental health. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk about some of the great stories on Apple TV+. Plus – the “Steve Jobs” auction revisited, and a quick dip into Mailbag Monday.
The founder of Apple's chipmaking partner TSMC struck a worrying note this week when assessing US/Taiwanese relations. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk about that. Plus – Adventures in Sleep in the Apple Health app.
If it's Thursday, it must be realityOS. Signs of Apple's mixed reality moves turn up on GitHub. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to kick that around. Then, Qualcomm seems to be setting the smart car bar pretty high. Jeff tells us what's coming down the road.
In a familiar sounding story, Bloomberg says Apple has slowed hiring considerably and rescheduled bonuses in an attempt to control costs. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken to discuss that. Plus – An email on Apple TV+ and the first installment of Nick's Picks!
Apple and Foxconn are seeing better conditions for manufacturing in India. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk over the changes and consider worker issues. Plus – Our Apple Watches tell us we're not getting enough sleep. We'll look at how our Apple Watches can help.
The Financial Times says Apple's mixed-reality headset will be Tim Cook's legacy. But rumor says not everyone at Apple thinks it's the best idea. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to address the headset. Plus – Apple Music Classical, MLS, and high-priced iPad Pros are in for Mailbag Monday.
Apple Music Classical finally has a release date. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to go over that announcement. Plus – A rumor has iPad Pro seeing a huge price jump in 2024.
Secret so-and-sos say, internally, Apple is viewing India as its own sales region. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken to talk that over. Plus – secret sources say Apple has an opt-out clause on its ten-year MLS contract. Ken talks about why he thinks Apple's in for the long haul.
As had been rumored, Apple's announced big yellow additions to the iPhone 14 line. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk over the Emergency SOS and Apple Pay announcements inside that announcement. Plus – Stay at the pub where Ted Lasso hangs out!
Goldman Sachs has traded an Apple bear for an Apple bull, and suddenly it's a “Buy” with a $199 target. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk over tales told by financial analysts. Plus – “Ghosted” is ghosting the cineplex and there may be a new yellow iPhone peeking over the horizon.
Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal have tales of more Apple manufacturing in India. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk those over. Plus a quick trip to the Apple Store and Apple's soccer push continues.
TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken bring Mailbag Monday back for a second round. Email on China, AirDrop, and Passcodes. First though, the EC wants every messaging app to interoperate with every other messaging app. The TDO duo has thoughts.
Will there be an Apple Silicon Mac Pro? TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts wonders aloud about that. Plus – Ken wonders whether Apple actually wants a China exit, or just wants to know where the exit is.
Facebook has a plan to help fight CSAM and revenge porn. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken with more info. Plus – The European Commission drops its objection to Apple's In-App Purchase requirements, but has a message on messaging.
Having taken it off the table earlier this year, TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has put iPhone SE 4 back in play. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk about what Apple building its own 5G modem for the SE could mean for other Apple gear. Plus – Bad guys are stealing AirPods Max off of people's heads in NYC. HOW COULD YOU NOT HEAR THEM CO… oh… yeah…
Thieves are stealing iPhones, punching in passcodes, and ruining people's lives. Is it an iPhone problem or a person problem? TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to sift through it. Plus, the first weekend of MLS on Apple TV and a kid AirDrops himself into jail.
Morgan Stanley is out with a list of “idiosyncratic tailwinds” for Apple shares in 2023. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk them over. Plus – RR Auctions has a lot of really cool tech related stuff up for bids. Let's go bidding!
Bloomberg has run a “secret sources” report saying Apple has hit a milestone on no-prick blood glucose monitoring. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts covers the tech in the story, while Ken asks questions about the story itself.
The Financial Times seems torn between praise of Apple's business acumen and disdain for some of its users. TMO writer Nick deCourville and Ken talk that over. Plus – Florida's A.G. wants Apple to label apps with where they were developed… for safety?
Ken has a sudden obsession with whatever it is Apple is trying to turn Apple TV+ into. He drags TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts along for the ride. Plus – Mailbag Monday, the Tuesday Edition and taking up a collection for a second Apple headset.
TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to discuss stories that may speak to sentiment around Apple, and social media's plans to nickel and dime users for security. Plus — A vote of confidence for Mastodon from Apple.
New iPadOS adoption numbers from Apple have piqued Ken's interest. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to kicks those around. Plus – Jeff dives into AI and Apple's Neural Engine.
News we don't want to talk about and not news that we do. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk about not talking about politics, and avoiding such news while also delivering it. The not news is a rumor – but it's about Apple's anticipated mixed-reality headset, so – Jeff and Ken were powerless against discussing it.
Apple used narration from human readers to train its A.I. voices. The real readers did not know that, and weren't too happy when they found out. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken to talk that over. Plus – an update on the Google Photos breakage, and some security advice for Apple Card holders.
Apple hit with many mini updates on Monday. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk a few points raised by those. Plus – Why it is way too early to talk about Apple going for streaming rights to the NBA.
TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken reach into the Mailbag for thoughts on A.I. and Apple without a Chief Design Officer. Come for the talking, stay for the rest of the talking! And drop your thoughts in the mailbag: observations@macobserver.com
Daily Tech News Show's Tom Merritt named generative A.I. the most important story of 2022. It is not slowing down in 2023. He joins Ken to talk about this week's announcements from Microsoft and Google. Plus – what's going on with Apple and A.I.?
Apple has hired a new Chief of People. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts talk about who she is, and consider some of her roles. Plus – AirTag is not the best solution for keeping track of your dog. Jeff has a few fit-for-purpose suggestions.
Apple says the M-processors have set the company up for a place in the games space. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken to discuss the road from here to Apple being a true player on the gaming landscape.
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