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We start with the very sad news that Tim Roberton, founder of MyMac, podcasting pioneer, and mentor and enabler to many, many novices to podcasting has passed away, peacefully at home with his family after a short illness. I am sure you will all join myself and Nick in sending our deepest sympathies to all of his family and friends everywhere. After that Simon and Nick take their usual circuitous route through the “silly season” news they considered interesting enough and, as ever, some other stuff as well… Sound is back to normal btw… don't really know what fixed it, I just fiddled a bit and tested and the problem was gone (thankfully!) After the sad death of Tim Robertson, please consider making a donation, no matter how small, to the GoFundMe to help support Tim's wife and four children at this difficult time. Recorded 20th July 2025 On this week's show NICK RILEY Spligosh in the Slack Sutton Park Circuit church worship on YouTube Nick's church stream videos on You Tube TIM ROBERSTON Tim's Obituary TidBITS Tribute Tim's Memorial Service Guy Serle and David Cohen discuss Tim and the future of MyMac GoFundMe for Tim's family APPLE 25 years later, Apples most infamous Mac can teach some valuable lessons – Macworld iOS 26s Liquid Glass design brings big changes to your iPhone – Tom's Guide Apple Releases Third iOS 18.6 and macOS Sequoia 15.6 Public Betas – MacRumors New Apple Watch Gesture in watchOS 26 Limited to Newer Models – MacRumors Other Apple executives to take on retiring Jeff Williams' duties – Apple Insider Meta just poached two more AI researchers from Apple – 9to5Mac Apple has now fully paid $16.5B to Ireland in back taxes – 9to5Mac Apple chipmaker TSMC might finish building its next U.S. plants early – BGR New Apple video comedically says: be careful what you remove from photos – 9to5Mac SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Anode-free battert tech – Battery Tech Online SECURITY & PRIVACY Swiss tax probe sparks battle over Apple account records – Apple Insider WORTH A CHIRP / ESSENTIAL TIPS Mac Preferences/Settings through the ages – Aresluna Simon discovers Temu.com Essential Apple Recommended Services: All Things Secured – Online security made simple by Josh Summers. Pixel Privacy – a fabulous resource full of excellent articles and advice on how to protect yourself online. Doug.ee Blog for Andy J's security tips. Ghostery – protect yourself from trackers, scripts and ads while browsing. Simple Login – Email anonymisation and disposable emails for login/registering with 33mail.com – Never give out your real email address online again. AnonAddy – Disposable email addresses Sudo – get up to 9 “avatars” with email addresses, phone numbers and more to mask your online identity. Free for the first year and priced from $0.99 US / £2.50 UK per month thereafter... You get to keep 2 free avatars though. ProtonMail – end to end encrypted, open source, based in Switzerland. Prices start from FREE... what more can you ask? ProtonVPN – a VPN to go with it perhaps? Prices also starting from nothing! Comparitech DNS Leak Test – simple to use and understand VPN leak test. Fake Name Generator – so much more than names! Create whole identities (for free) with all the information you could ever need. Wire and on the App Stores – free for personal use, open source and end to end encryted messenger and VoIP. Pinecast – a fabulous podcast hosting service with costs that start from nothing. Essential Apple is not affiliated with or paid to promote any of these services... We recommend services that we use ourselves and feel are either unique or outstanding in their field, or in some cases are just the best value for money in our opinion. Social Media and Slack You can follow us on: Twitter / Slack / EssentialApple.com / Soundcloud / Spotify / Facebook / Pinecast Also a big SHOUT OUT to the members of the Slack room without whom we wouldn't have half the stories we actually do – we thank you all for your contributions and engagement. You can always help us out with a few pennies by using our Amazon Affiliate Link so we get a tiny kickback on anything you buy after using it. If you really like the show that much and would like to make a regular donation then please consider joining our Patreon or using the Pinecast Tips Jar (which accepts one off or regular donations) And a HUGE thank you to the patrons who already do. Support The Essential Apple Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/essential-apple-show This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
About a month and a half before WWDC and what will Apple bring to the table? Naturally Apple isn't saying anything, but that hasn't stopped everyone from talking about it including the GMen
What is with these breaks the GMen keep taking? It's like they've gotten old or something. Also, while we would all LOVE to brag about how great our Macs are, not everything is so rosy in AppleLand these days.
A long time ago, Guy made an iWeb site called MacParrot.com. He got the domain name and custom built it, not just from the templates that iWeb gave you, but in a way that made it look nothing like an iWeb site. iWeb is now long gone and Guy let his ownership of the domain lapse some 10-15 years ago. His struggle to get it back and use it again is the subject of today's centre section.
We have made fun of folded phones ever since they came out. Super expensive and not long after purchase, a visible seam would appear across the screen. It's been a couple of years since then and technology as always has improved. There are now whispers across the internets that Apple might dip a toe into folded space. Will they do it better? Will it still be more expensive than similar non folded gizmos? Will the GMen not be giant hypocrites and make fun of Apple's try as well?
Coming up in macOS 16, BIG changes are coming to the eutectics of the macOS. Based on past BIG changes, what do we think the changes will be and could we come up with something better?.
With Gaz away riding snowshoes or something in Spain, Guy talked the multi-talented Jeff Gamet to join him. THIS was a podcast that went all over the place and was really fun to do.
Isn't anticipation wonderful? You get yourself all revved up for some new thing or place to go and once you're there it's a bit of a let down. It's how I feel about the non-event event Apple had on February 19th when they released the iPhone 16e. I sat there thinking, “and? And? AND?” But alas, there was no and.
Tim and David talk about dropping Dropbox due to customer service and bad software, updates at MyMac, arcade monitor problems, hunting for a hard drive, and HP makes a stupid decision.
Apple is unveiling a new member of the family on February 19th that has a lot of people buzzing with excitement. I'm not one of them really since most of the potential items aren't things I want or already have the last generation of, but we won't let that stop us from speculating about it later on. Who knows, if it really is something exciting maybe it'll make me regret recent purchases because what's life without huge amounts of regret? If you listen long enough, you'll find out there's a BIG difference between Father Tim and Father Brown on the BBC
To make up for not being on the show last time, we're going to do another episode of EVERYONE'S favourite game show, “What are the Odds?” There's also not one, but TWO Mr. Cheezed Off segments because apparently he's REALLY cheesed off. You're welcome!
Tim and David look at some MyMac.com history, stolen videos, and the current state of Apple products.
This week Guy has swanned off somewhere and can't be bothered to come and do a show, so we have a welcome guest on yes you've guessed it Mr Karl Madden, we thought we'd discuss a couple of topics and see where we go with with them.
Everyone loves to save money and the promise of the browser extension ‘Honey' was to get you the best price and discounts on stuff you were planning on buying. It turns out though that Honey allegedly also was doing some shady stuff in the background. Including possibly colluding with some resellers so that you didn't get the biggest discount you might have gotten. Link to the video showing the allegations below.
Sort of a second part of the MyMac Podcast show 1000 celebration as I interviewed 3 other people instrumental in helping get this show off the ground.
Against the better judgement of most of the civilized world, the MyMac podcast has been afflicted…wait…no, endured beyond anyone's reasonable expectations. ANYONE'S expectations, but never mind that, Guy and Gaz are still here to deliver the hard hitting and intelligent Apple analysis…sis…sigh that we do nearly every week since 2010 and we hope you'll join us on our countdown to show TWO thousand!
Tired of constantly having to update software on your internal drive? Worried that missing an update might mean delays in new features or corrupted data? Well I've got good news for you! Software as a service is here to save the day. All you have to agree on in annual service charges, having all your data on a computer you don't own, and the possibility that the service goes down or away leaving you with nothing.
No, not from the MyMac crew but in the upcoming point release of MacOS 15.2 Sequoia. Most are already out in iOS which tells you a lot about Apple's priorities these days. Also BTW, the final score of the first “What are the Odds” was Gaz +100, Guy -270. So pretty close
macOS 15.2, also known as macOS Sequoia 15.2, focuses on enhancing user experience and productivity through new features and improvements across various apps. And lots of other buzz words meant to confuse you long enough to not see what's missing or the bits that don't work exactly as planned. Also deipnosophist is a word that best describes Guy and stay tuned for the...Hat of Intelligence
October was a terrific month for Mac hardware updates! November? Not so much, but we do have potentially, maybe, perhaps, but no guarantees that March of 2025 could be when some but not all of the rest of the line will definitely get an update. if the gods so smile down upon us.
October was a terrific month for Mac hardware updates! November? Not so much, but we do have potentially, maybe, perhaps, but no guarantees that March of 2025 could be when some but not all of the rest of the line will definitely get an update. if the gods so smile down upon us.
Unsure of where you are? Need someone else to tell you where to go? Constantly misplace your Apple stuff or feel the need to MAYBE be tracked everywhere you go? Boy do I have an application and service for you! Also dropping nearly all my social media sites except for Twitter/X and Bluesky
Not one, not two, but three days of new Macs and it still feels a little disappointing. Yeah we got a newly designed Mac mini that's the smallest and fastest ever, an iMac with enough power for many Pro users, and an M4 MacBook Pro with a Maximum of power. Fantastic, but no M4 Mac Studio? No M4 Mac Pro? It's like the best chocolate cake ever that you forgot to put frosting on the top. Guest host Karl Madden joins in for one of the longest MyMac Podcasts in some while
So we had a COMPLETELY different show planned but Apple dropped the new iMac and Mac mini and it looks great but we still have some issues. Now we don't have all the facts yet but we'll talk about it anyway. You can pre-order now but it's for sale on 11-8.
As hard as it may be to believe now, but once upon a time the rivalry was so embittered between Mac and Windows users that entire articles were written singing the praises of one or the other. Such foolishness is mostly behind us now and people typically choose what OS they run based on need. Certainly preferences are part of that but… just imagine that some people…some people mind you, may want to switch to one or the other. Obviously not going from the Mac to Windows since the Mac is most assuredly the better platform…what? Huh, maybe that rivalry hasn't completely gone away.
We are so addicted to our smart phones that we carry them every and just assume that we'll always have a way to communicate with our loved ones. Many have recently discovered however that you can't always count on that, so what's the alternative? Apple's Satellite communication services to the rescue…well for some people anyway.
iCloud can be a great way to create and collaborate with selected friends and family. You can do much of the same on other platforms too, as long as you're willing to trust them as much as you may trust Apple.
Looking into our imaginary Crystal Ball, Apple still has some big hardware items to update and we might take a guess when they'll released using nothing but numbers pulled right.
What if Apple had an event and neither of the GMen spent any money? Once you stop laughing, we'll tell you what if anything we bought and why.
The wait is almost over for the next round of significant Apple OS updates and while we could spend hours talking about, we're not going to since you'll know what they are by the time you hear this. Instead, we're going to play a game I'm calling, “What are the Odds?”.
MacOS has been compared to other operating systems for like, forever. Why is it that Mac users stay with the platform when it's without a doubt more expensive? With not as much choice for either desktop or laptop solutions? MUCH less software or gaming applications, and less capable of upgrades, especially now since the M-series of processors have arrived? We're going to explore that topic for a bit this week
Somehow Gaz has managed to put up with me for 700 or so shows. Sure we've both missed a week or two and doesn't Gaz deserve a break from me once in a while? Long walks in the fresh air sounds just like the way to go unless you're some rando cheesy dude in Duval. Also there's rumors of a newly redesigned Mac mini because the current one was just not small enough I guess.
Apple's 3rd quarter results are in and to no one's surprise, Apple made a lot of money. Maybe the surprise is where they made it as much as how they made it. Also, we haven't talked about it much, but our 700th show is just 1 show away. Anything you want us to talk about? Let us know or we'll just drone on as usual. And of course thank you Karl for stepping in over the past couple of shows.
Guy is away and Gaz has to Pod on his Jack Jones, or does he, of course not no one would want that, so Karl kindly stepped in to assist Gaz on this weeks show. They have a short chat about Apple's HomeKit and Home Automation.
Apple Intelligence is the biggest feature of the next versions of nearly all of Apple's operating systems. Except so far other than some slick WWDC demos that didn't feel like demos but market-speak, there's been very little concrete evidence any of it is real. Weird power shennanigans are going on this week as well.
Have you ever been to the MacStock Conference and Expo? You're really missing out if you haven't because it's great! Guy is there, but Gaz is not (sad face). However let's do the next best thing that's not really the next best thing and do a podcast there with terrible wifi.
Lately I've been experimenting with Livecasting on YouTube with a new short form podcast and our guest Karl Madden actually came up with the name. It's called The Daily Apple Dispatch and it should be roughly 5 minutes long per episode. So when will it begin? What have I done so far with it and how did the setup go? What programs did I use and what issues have come up?
Karl Madden from the Mac and Forth podcast is in to keep Guy in line (good luck with that) while Gaz is away on a well deserved vacation from retirement! Also, General Motors is about to make a big mistake. They are said to be removing both CarPlay and Android Auto from their vehicles with their own Ultifi (no I didn't make that up) platform. This is just one in a series of decisions GM is making to bring more people into the showroom by totally pissing them off. Because nothing enhances the car buying experience like making it even more frustrating..
The keynote for WWDC has come and gone and holy frijoles was there lots of goodies to digest. Many of which we'll go over in the next section. The biggest surprise is the new features of Siri in which Apple is trying to improve it instead of taking their cues from the old Ford Model T in which you can ask it anything and receive the answer you want, as long as that answer is here are some weblinks.
Last show Guy contemplated getting another Mac mini. Well he didn't do that but instead took the advice that I and every other person with two brain cells to rub together told him to do when the M1 MacBook Pro he ALREADY had was thrown into the mix. Which was to use THAT as the dedicated podcast computer he thinks he needs. We'll talk a bit about how that project is going and what he's accomplished so far…which may be not much
After last show's debacle, Guy is seriously considering getting a dedicated computer for podcasting. Wouldn't have to be super fancy and would have minimal connections to cloud computing and phones (which is what set off the failure last week). Just software related to podcasting like DAWs and browser-based video/audio software and hardware like audio interfaces for microphones.
Some say it was going to be the longest Apple event EVER. Turns out it was just under 40 minutes, but probably closer to 35 if you take off the fancy intro. So what's the takeaway? Size matters, pencils gone pro, and iPads get first dibs on chips. Also the show went completely bananas as practically every audio program we were using blew up all at the same time.
It took a few weeks but Nintendo has slapped down a staggering 8535 DMCA take down orders against a bunch of Git Hub repositories hosting older games for the Yuzu Switch emulator. A good portion of these games will never be pushed toward future platforms but it's Nintendos (legal) bat and (legal) ball and they're going home.
Mark your calendars for May 7th which is the next Apple event. Nothing concrete on what they'll be releasing but having an Apple Pencil in the announcements graphic just MIGHT be a clue. David Ginsburg of In Touch with iOS Podcast fame joins Guy in a podcast that Guy had audio issues with, well for nearly the entire recording...sigh
Certain US Senators think that Apple needs to be broken up because of monopolistic behaviour, except what exactly is Apple a monopoly of? We're recording this show through EVMUX, it's similar to Streamyard but with a few custom features
So the rumormongers are talking about AI-infused M4 processors before Apple's even finished updating M2 Macs with M3s. It'll all be worth it though when those M4 AI-infused Man Minis, Studios, and Pros get out of Apple's labs to enslave humanity…I mean help us with Photoshop.
Gaz is off having a good time so Guy is kidnapping…requesting the presence of Karl Madden from the Mac and Forth podcast to talk about their favourite AI programs and using them while recording the show. What could POSSIBLY go wrong?
A lot of people are very satisfied with Siri and how it works. Many others are not so impressed with Apples tool. So let's take a look at Siri where it holds up and where it maybe doesn't so much. Oh, and CarPlay Bluetooth too these all from a listener question! Also why is Guy SO tired?
Karl Madden of the Mac and Forth podcast join the GMen to help answer a listener question asking about Power Adapters. This got us to thinking (and you know how hard that is), what kind of options are there to power our Apple gear away from wherever it is we call home. Not just that quick trip to Disneyland, but perhaps some far away land filled with wonder unlike anything we've experienced at home! Huh…,maybe we mean Disneyland after all.
What happens when you get two podcasters playing with AI images? Unexpected results and lots of laughs. Karl Madden and Guy spent some time this morning trying to create images with AI and some crazy results occurred. Since this is more visual than usual, Guy will create a version of the podcast on YouTube that will just have the AI image discussion so you don't have to go through the whole thing.