Your Apple TV Is Getting a BIG Upgrade

Most years, Apple TV doesn’t get a lot of feature enhancements when software update season rolls around, but tvOS 17 coming this Fall is a different story.

The stand-out feature this year is Continuity Camera coming to Apple TV. Meaning you’ll be able to use your iPhone (or any iPhone or iPad on the same Wi-Fi network) as a camera and mic for a FaceTime call. Plus, apps like Zoom and WebEx will be creating Apple TV versions to also utilize this feature.

While this will be fun for families FaceTime-ing grandparents, and you can even use Continuity Camera to overlay yourself on lyrics when using Apple Music Sing (karaoke), this will truly shine in all those conference rooms that don’t have a proper video calling setup.

I’ve been in many meetings where someone tries to mirror their MacBook display, or iPad, onto a big screen and it’s always a bad experience. Audio comes out of the TV speakers, but the iPhone doesn’t noise-cancel, so there’s feedback. Plus, one’s looking at the camera in the room which is usually on a table, so there’s a big visual disconnect.

With this update, businesses can get an iPhone mount to permanently affix to the TV, and whenever they want to do a video call, it’s just a few simple steps away. Just make sure if it’s your iPhone getting used, enable Do Not Disturb 😏 

Many other big features are coming too, like a redesigned Control Center, Find My Apple TV remote, and more. Watch the video above or click here for the full rundown.

Apple is Working on a Chat-Bot, and Rabbits are Furry

Mark Gurman, a reporter at Bloomberg who often has the most accurate leaks and rumors leading up to Apple product launches, wrote a piece this week revealing that Apple is working on its own ChatGPT-like tool and it’s already being used inside the company. The most shocking part of the news is its codename, “Apple GPT.”

Incredible.

That was sarcasm by the way. This should not be shocking to anyone, as Apple already held an internal summit on AI earlier this year. And Apple has many things in development not yet announced to the public, so this seems par for the course.

The story continues that Apple is investigating consumer-facing use cases for the tool and it may be released next year.

One minute after that Bloomberg story was published, Apple’s stock jumped, and Microsoft, which has already partnered with OpenAI, took a small hit to their stock.

Is any of this interesting?

Well, I made a whole video on the possibilities of Apple incorporating LLM (large-language model) type chatbots into their apps and services, you can watch here. And Apple already uses lots of machine learning across their apps and services, which are very much like AI features.

So when the actual “news” seems rather small, it’s peculiar how “big” the story seems. Enter Bloomberg Terminal. I won’t belabor the whole explanation and connection, but I highly recommend you read John Gruber’s piece on the matter, and why Bloomberg reporting may skew a certain direction.

Of Course Apple Has an LLM AI Chatbot in the Works, and of Course the Bloomberg Report Revealing Its Code Name Mentions How the Story Moved the Company’s Stock Price

daringfireball.net/2023/07/apple_gpt_bloomberg

You can also listen to the AppleInsider podcast this week, where I attempt to explain the connection even further. Listen here:

Apple's ChatGPT Competitor, How to Kill an Apple TV, People Finally Like Apple Maps on Apple Podcasts

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/appleinsider-podcast/id963144241?i=1000621795723

Top 10 Home Automations

I’ve been meaning to make this video for a while! Smart home devices are fun all by themselves, but trying to communicate their value to someone who has never used HomeKit products can be a challenge.

In my latest video, I show off my ten favorite home automations all running in Apple Home. From temperature triggers that turn on patio fans, motion sensors, accessory groupings, and lots of HomeKit buttons, I hope you enjoy the tour!

Facebook Did Something Right

If your eyeballs saw the internet today, you probably saw the word Threads all over the place. And for good reason! Meta (the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp owned and operated by Mark Zuckerberg) launched their new app just two days ago. And Threads already has over 70 million users 😳

Those aren’t just Instagram users that were tricked into tapping a pop-up either. Users had to download a completely new app and login with their Instagram account to start using Threads. And 70 million people did it within 72 hours. Crazy.

Meta is going head-to-head with Twitter, which has been struggling and hemorrhaging users ever since Elon Musk took over. Twitter users have been trying to find a new home while the service continues to be hostile to its own user base, but Mastodon and Blue Sky, niche social networks that no average person has used, failed.

Enter Threads, which despite missing many big features of a modern social app, like direct messages, a feed of accounts you’re following, and native GIF support, is blowing up. I break down why it’s so successful, and why I believe Twitter may have already lost this battle, in the latest video on the channel!

iOS 17 and Personal Voice

Besides all the Threads news, iOS 17 beta 3 was released earlier this week and added some cool features. The Home app now displays a running list of activities from locks, contact sensors, and garage doors, although you still can’t create an automation that alerts you when a door has been open for X minutes. I use the Aqara app for that.

But another big feature is personal voice. When setting up, you speak 150 phrases into your iPhone and a Personal Voice is generated 24 hours later (provided you keep your iPhone screen off and plugged in). Mainly for accessibility, this allows a user to type something and have “their own voice” speak it out loud.

Spoiler: it sounded…pretty bad. At least in my testing. But you can hear it for yourself on the latest AppleInsider podcast where I demo it live!

‎iOS 17 and Personal Voice, iPhone 15 Battery Boost, Instagram's New Threads App on Apple Podcasts

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/appleinsider-podcast/id963144241?i=1000619734260

Why You Need a Clipboard Manager

While we usually refer to it as simply copy / paste on our devices, you can actually supercharge the clipboard on your Mac with great apps like Pastebot and Paste! I walk through why you should use one in this video:

Just for Fun

While I stick to techy stuff on here, usually, the latest episode of my movies podcast with friend Nate Baranowski is really good. You should listen and follow 😏 

Movies on the Side | A Trinity of Trilogies, Melty Faces, and Raiders of the Lost Ark Review!

A podcast about movies, mayonnaise on hot dogs, and everything else on the side. Hosted by Nate Baranowski and Stephen Robles. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter to send us your bad movie suggestions! @moviesontheside

www.moviesontheside.com/s6/213

One Week Later…

It’s been a full week since Apple’s WWDC Keynote and I still find it hard to believe they actually announced a mixed-reality headset coming “early next year.” I’m still formulating my thoughts on Apple Vision Pro, and considering I won’t be able to actually try one for many months, I’ll refer you to some of my favorite takes:

• John Gruber on Apple Vision Pro

• Jason Snell’s Impressions

• Jason Aten’s Impressions

Overall, the technology of Apple Vision Pro looks incredible, and I would sure love to try watching a movie on a massive virtual screen floating over a lake. But the real story will be what developers and game makers build for this new platform of Spatial Computing. Rest assured, you will be hearing a lot about Apple Vision Pro over the next year.

iOS 17 and Updates to iPad

While Apple Vision Pro has stolen much of the limelight, Apple also announced significant updates to their iPhone, iPad, and macOS operating systems. Some of my favorite new features include:

• Contact Posters and NameDrop

• Interactive widgest, including HomeKit

• Widgets on the Desktop for macOS

• Apple Podcasts app updates

• Many Messages updates

• Webcam support on iPad (!)

Check out my video on the iPhone updates here:

And the suprisingly more popular iPadOS 17 update video:

Summer Movies Outside

If you have WWDC fatigue, or just looking for new ways to have fun this summer, might I encourage an outdoor movie! When we moved into our new house, one of the fun evening activities was to setup a screen by the pool and project a movie, while AirPlaying sound to the Sonos patio speakers.

This summer I got to upgrade that experience with two projector review units: the Formovie Dice projector, and XGIMI Halo+. Both are battery-powered projectors that have decent built-in speakers, plus Android TV so you don’t need any other device to stream a movie (besides the screen of course).

Check out my review here, and links to my screen and projector stands are in the description as well:

Sent from Tel Aviv…

This newsletter was sent to you across the globe from Tel Aviv! I’m here for a week on a work trip, and I have to say, sunsets on the Mediterranean hit different.

Side note: iPhone 14 Pro takes great photos

Apple’s Biggest Event in Years

Monday, June 5th at 1 pm ET, Apple will hold its annual WWDC Keynote, and it’s going to be a big one. Not only has it been over nine months since the last Apple event, the iPhone 14 launch, but all signs point to a few massive announcements.

Every year at WWDC, Apple shows off all the next versions of iOS, macOS, and any new software features across their platforms. But sometimes, Apple uses its massive platform to announce some major new hardware. This year, it looks to be Apple’s first foray into the VR headset market.

AppleInsider’s VR Headset Mockup

Any images and renders you see today are speculation based on rumors, but multiple reliable sources, and long-time Apple pundits, are all expecting a headset announcement. The reason it would happen at WWDC is the hardware device will come paired with developer tools to build apps, games, and VR experiences for the headset likely available late this year.

Watch the Keynote Live at apple.com/events

Info from the Inside

I’m no leaker, but I do know a few people attending WWDC in person next week, and they’ve received invites for a lengthy briefing. When Apple announces new hardware, select press and event attendees will be invited to behind-closed-doors briefings, which often translate to new product demos.

Next week, those briefings will be over an hour long. Longer than necessary for simple software announcements or a spec upgrade for new Macs. While these briefings may also include the long-anticipated and promised, Apple Silicon Mac Pro, even that wouldn’t require over an hour to brief.

Another piece of data that points to a new, and very different, product announcement.

I will be publishing a recap podcast immediately after the event ends, so if you want all the info boiled down to 10-15 minutes, follow the AppleInsider podcast and look for that episode Monday afternoon! I will also be live-tweeting (and Mastadon-ing) the event if you prefer short text snippets of all the news. After all that, I’ll be posting videos showing off the newly announced iOS 17 features on YouTube!

• @stephenrobles on Twitter

• @stephenrobles on mastodon.social

• @beardfm on YouTube

Other Rumored Features

Aside from the VR headset, new Mac Pro, 15-inch MacBook Air, and updated Mac Studio, we’ve also heard about possible updates coming to the iPhone. Most of these were reported by Mark Gurman from Bloomberg who tends to be fairly accurate in leaks. They include:

• Lock Screen updates

• AirPlay improvements

• iPhone Smart Display

  • The lock screen could display widgets when charging

• Updates to the Wallet App

• Journaling / Health App

• Updated Control Center Design

Of course, Apple has the tendency to surprise with many other features left un-leaked, but if you’d like to hear my comprehensive wishlist for iOS 17, HomeKit, macOS, and iPad, you can listen to the most recent AppleInsider podcast!

‎WWDC 2023 Preview, M2 Macs in Testing, iOS 17, Meta Quest 3 Announced on Apple Podcasts

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/appleinsider-podcast/id963144241?i=1000615336815

One More Sonos Video

I had one more video on the Sonos Era 300 speakers in me, this one specifically geared toward home theater setups! You can watch my review on how they perform as rear surrounds in this video:

On an Emotional Note

Apple usually makes early developer betas available for iOS 17 on the day of its WWDC Keynote. I wanted to make some videos on the new features as soon as they become available, but installing early-release beta software on an iPhone is a risky proposition. It means your battery life nosedives, apps freeze, glitch, and the device can become unusable in some situations.

I contemplated buying a used iPhone for the express purpose of beta software, but that seemed unnecessary. Instead, I’ll be using my Dad’s iPhone 14.

My Dad passed away last November, and it still hits hard from time to time. Holding his iPhone (which he only had a month or so before passing), and scrolling through his apps is an emotional experience.

I created a new Lock Screen and Home Screen to use for filming and backed up the device to iCloud and to my Mac locally just to be careful during the beta cycle.

On one hand, it feels like he gets to be a part of my videos over the summer. On the other hand, it’s still pretty hard to think about for too long.

But in case you wonder what iPhone is in my iOS 17 videos, it’s my Dad’s.

Thanks, Dad.

Final Cut for iPad…is OK

The much-anticipated arrival of Final Cut Pro for iPad is here, but if you’re like me and heavily use Final Cut on Mac, it’s a little weird.

It’s clear to me now that Final Cut on iPad is more iMovie Pro than Final Cut Lite. There are new tools and features that make it a really compelling app, like its Auto Crop feature for making vertical videos, Live Drawing can add animated text on video with Pencil, and it even includes true Multicam editing.

But moving my Final Cut workflow from Mac to iPad is a non-starter. Keyboard shortcuts are not mapped the same, you can’t edit footage that’s stored on external drives (you must copy every video clip to your iPad’s local storage), and the Pencil fulfilled little potential as an editing tool.

I edit 3-4 podcasts every week, and despite having Logic Pro X and Adobe Audition, I still prefer to edit them in Ferrite on iPad. Ferrite may not be as powerful as Logic or Audition, but one aspect tips everything in its favor: Pencil editing.

Ferrite offers several options to personalize how Pencil behaves when editing. For instance, I have it set where scrolling with my meat finger scrolls across the timeline, while dragging across a section of audio with Pencil deletes the audio and gives me the option to close the gap in an instant. This one control paradigm gives me the ability to edit podcasts 5x-10x faster on iPad than on Mac.

Final Cut Pro offers no such customizations. Using the Pencil is basically a finer pointed meat finger. You gain no additional editing controls, there are no options for Pencil behavior, and overall it feels like a waste.

I hope Apple adds some customizations in the future because I could see myself using Final Cut Pro when traveling and for quick edits. Not being able to edit off external drives is certainly a pain, but if I spring for the 2TB version next iPad Pro cycle, I may be able to leave the MacBook Pro at home on future trips.

For those who haven’t used Final Cut Pro on the Mac, but want to step up their game from iMovie, Final Cut on iPad is a great option. And at $5 / month, it makes a powerful video editing app accessible to a wider audience.

Robot Vacuum Showdown

Our first robot vacuum was an inexpensive Roomba, and it felt like it required more effort to maintain than if we had just cleaned the floors ourselves. Fast forward ten or so years and the latest crop of robot vacuums and mops are incredible machines.

After building our house a year ago, one of the investments I knew I wanted to make in our smart home was the best robot vacuum and mop combo unit. At that time it was the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra. A word salad of branding, but a few uses later it was clear: this thing changed our lives.

Not only is the maintenance minimal, but it actually cleans super well! After a year of use, it was clearly an excellent investment. New brands and models are coming all the time, and one such robot is the Deebot X1 Omni.

In the video above, I put the Deebot head-to-head with my year-old Roborock. From vacuum and mopping ability, dock design, app experience, and more, in the end, you’ll know which robot vacuum would be the best for you!

Apple’s Headset is Coming

Apple’s big WWDC conference is just a week away, with their keynote happening Monday, June 5th at 1 pm ET. During the event, Apple will share new features coming to iOS 17, macOS, possibly announce a new 15-inch MacBook Air, and all rumors point to the reveal of Apple’s own VR headset.

Apple VR Headset Render

Honestly, it still feels like a very un-Applely product to me. All VR headsets look goofy right now, haven’t offered a solid use case for the general public, and are fairly expensive. But that was the case for smartwatches before the Apple Watch and tablets before iPad.

If you’d like to hear my thoughts on what it could be, and what it could mean for Apple, check out the latest AppleInsider podcast!

Final Cut for iPad Review, Apple Headset at WWDC, iOS 17 Home Display on Apple Podcasts

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/appleinsider-podcast/id963144241?i=1000614497546

iPad Finally Goes Pro

It actually happened, Apple has finally created a version of Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro X for iPad and they’re launching May 23rd! While there are no hands-on or early reviews just yet, Apple’s landing page appears to show off a feature-dense app. While it may not be “full Final Cut on iPad,” it’s going to serve the needs of many. Watch my video diving into some details here.

Features that I’m excited to try and may persuade me to spend time editing on my M2 iPad Pro:

• Multicam clips

• Pencil with hover editing

• Live drawing with auto-animation

• Auto crop for vertical video

That last one is a big deal. With the rise of TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts, Apple has yet to offer a compelling tool to quickly generate that kind of content. Instead, you can see many creators using apps like CapCut, or just creating content in the social apps directly.

Auto Crop on Final Cut for iPad

Auto Crop is the first Apple-built tool with vertical video as the focus, and I imaging I’ll be using it a lot. Ideally this should make taking my long-form videos on YouTube and creating 30 second clips much faster. With Live Drawing, background scene removal, and third-party motion effects (which Apple says is coming soon), Final Cut Pro on iPad may be the ultimate short-form creation tool. It is a separate cost from Final Cut on Mac though: $5 / month subscription of $50 / year.

Google Goes All-In on AI

When it comes to big tech events, Google’s developer conference, named I/O, garners little attention from the mass public. But after watching their keynote in its entirety, I think anyone who publishes content on the internet needs to take notice. Here’s the 2 hour keynote boiled down to 10 minutes:

The official count was well over 100, but Google said the word “AI" many, many times. And with good reason. They are building AI features into every aspect of their business, from magic photo editing to developer tools, but most importantly, to search.

Take a look at this image of what Google search results will look like very soon:

Notice anything missing? Plain old search results. Soon, asking a detailed question via Google search will trigger their AI to generate content on the spot attempting to answer your question, pulling from all the knowledge of the internet.

If this new type of search performs well, it may help the average user find the information they’re looking for, faster. But I see a major ramification. Businesses that profit from page views and display ads (probably 90% or more of the internet), there’s a good chance these kinds of results will obfuscate the need to ever visit an actual website.

You may argue there will need to be some kind of content creators for Google AI search to pull data from, but Google could very easily generate it’s own articles and re-write them enough to avoid plagiarism.

The internet was built on the back of advertisements on webpages, and this new kind of search could very well disrupt the business model of thousands of companies.

Also consider the individual creator, like myself. My content is largely dependent on platforms like YouTube (owned by Google) or social media networks for discovery and monetization. Will Google continue to be incentivized to promote my content for views and clicks if it can auto-generate content that’s close-enough?

This may be a little worse-case-scenario, but it does seem like the wave of AI currently hitting companies like Google and Microsoft will have a significant impact on the internet economy. And we have yet to see what Apple chooses to do with AI…

Speaking of Apple

Apple’s World-Wide Developer Conference (or WWDC) is happening on June 5th. I will be creating videos and podcasts covering all the news, so stay tuned for that.

Considering WWDC is mainly for Apple to introduce new software features and developer tools, the fact they pre-announced Final Cut and Logic in a press release weeks beforehand probably means there are even bigger things coming.

All the rumors up until this point have been that Apple’s VR headset will be the big news at WWDC. Honestly, after seeing the wild AI features Google announced, a VR headset feels like it would be lackluster.

I’m convinced that Apple won’t say the word “AI” even once during the Keynote. Frankly, AI is a misnomer, but it’s a buzzword in this moment so it’s overused. All the places you see “AI” used on the internet today, it really means “large-language models,” “machine learning,” and at the very core, “a bunch of powerful computers working really fast.” Not, The Terminator.

I think Apple has huge potential in utilizing AI tools across its apps, but whether they execute on it this year or wait until 2024 remains to be seen. As quickly as AI is progressing, it feels like waiting a year to release anything of the sort would mean they fall significantly behind the curve.

Clockwise #502: Cirque-du-Soleil-Style Verbal Gymnastics - Relay FM

Apple's WWDC and the mention of artificial intelligence.

www.relay.fm/clockwise/502

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to be a guest on MacBreak Weekly and Clockwise podcasts. On Clockwise, I mentioned several ideas for Apple integrating AI into their app suite, such as:

• Generative language in Pages

• Select text and ask Keynote to generate slides

• Select a table and ask Numbers to generate a pie chart

• Developers could ask Siri for assistance in XCode

• Steps in Shortcuts that include text generation or summaries

The list goes on. I do think the Auto Crop and Background Removal tools in Final Cut for iPad are moving that direction, but Apple could do much more. I’ll be watching closely for how many times Apple says Machine Learning in their Keynote.

Website Are Back

The last few episodes of the Decoder Podcast with Nilay Patel have been particularly interesting, especially in the context of Google I/O and AI. First, take a listen to this episode with the previous editor of Buzzfeed.

‎The social media age for news is over

‎Former BuzzFeed News editor Ben Smith on what’s next - May 2, 2023

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-media-age-for-news-is-over-former-buzzfeed/id1011668648?i=1000611420618

If you hadn’t heard, Buzzfeed is shutting down. You know, that seemingly massive site that posted articles like “which Disney princess are you”? This episode goes in-depth on the changes across social media networks and the importance of building an actual brand people want to hear from directly.

I can't make products just for 41 year old tech founders," Airbnb CEO

‎Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky on taking it back to the basics - May 9, 2023

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/decoder-with-nilay-patel/id1011668648?i=1000612357015

This second episode is with Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. Hearing how Chesky has re-invented the company, quickly pivoting when required, and is bringing the team into a new era is fascinating. Highly recommend this one as well.

Where to Find Me

In light of all the Google AI news and hearing those two episodes of Decoder, I’ve decided to renew efforts in keeping my own online presence up-to-date.

So, my website will now be updated regularly and all the videos, podcasts, and articles I produce will appear right at the top! You can visit my website at: beard.fm

Stephen Robles | Bearded Teacher

All the latest videos, podcasts and more!

beard.fm

And I also reviewed my new favorite iPad stand which you can watch here:

Finally, if you’d like to keep an eye out for my guest appearances on other podcasts (hoping there will be more to come), you can visit this page:

Guest Appearances — Stephen Robles

beard.fm/blog/category/Guest+Appearances

I Have CarPlay, Finally

Apple launched CarPlay nine years ago, its first-party UI experience for automobiles. I’ve never been one to buy new cars, so the chance of getting CarPlay in my vehicle was slim to none.

Today, there are numerous brands making standalone screens and devices that run Apple CarPlay and Android Auto you can use in any car! One such brand is Carpuride, a funny name, but they sent me a new 9-inch touchscreen device that connects to your car’s audio via direct aux cable or FM transmitter, and it’s pretty great. You can watch the full review here.

Depending on your tolerance for loose cables in your car, using a separate touchscreen has been a great solution for upgrading my driving experience. You need to connect the Carpuride screen to power via the lighter adapter, but that’s it! It uses wireless CarPlay (unlike many car manufacturer versions which require a connected cable to your iPhone) and it’s pretty responsive.

Using Carpuride is not as fluid as just navigating your iPhone, so you’ll experience a slight lag in scrolling, but it’s such an upgrade to my 2011 Kia Soul I don’t mind.

By the way, if you’re looking for ways to increase the number of car chargers with a single adapter check out this Anker device I mention in the video:

Podcasts Now in YouTube Music

If you create podcasts, YouTube is the place to be right now. Not only have they been highlighting podcasts on a bespoke landing page at youtube.com/podcasts but they’ve now integrated podcasts into the popular YouTube Music app.

Right now, the only way to get your show appearing in the app is to have a video version uploaded to your channel, and add those episodes to a playlist marked as Podcast. It’s a simple process, but the benefits of discovery and monetization are well worth it.

I explain how to get your podcast in YouTube Music, and why it’s a good idea in this Riverside video:

Would You Tip at an Apple Store?

Several Apple Stores in the U.S. have attempted to unionize, with one store in Maryland succeeding. In addition to negotiations around pay and vacation, some employees are pushing for the ability to tip Apple Store employees.

There’s a great article by Vox on the whole tipping culture in America, check it out here:

Everyone wants a tip now. Do you have to give them one?

Thanks to touchscreens and the pandemic, tipflation is everywhere — and it’s hard to say no.

www.vox.com/recode/2022/10/7/23389885/square-toast-tipping-retail-tipflation-guilt

But adding the practice to Apple Stores would be a degradation in customer experience. Aside from the already awkward pressure of higher and higher tip percentages at coffee shops and deliveries, Apple already sells premium-priced products with rather high margins.

If you’d like to hear more thoughts on the subject, and what may be coming in the latest version of watchOS 10 at WWDC, you can listen to the latest episode of the AppleInsider podcast right here!

‎watchOS 10 at WWDC, Google Launches Passkey Support, Apple Store Tipping on Apple Podcasts

AppleInsider Podcast

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/appleinsider-podcast/id963144241?i=1000611759380

Up Next

Over the next month the Apple news will be pretty slow, as all efforts are aimed at WWDC on June 5th. But I have some video ideas and would love to know what you’re most interested in! Check out the poll below to vote:

✏️ Unlocking Creativity with Ed Catmull

Did I need to start yet another podcast? Definitely not. Have I? Maybe.

Over a year ago I cold-emailed Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar and author of Creativity, Inc., my favorite book. To my surprise, he replied and agreed to an interview for a podcast that didn’t exist yet!

During the interview, we discuss his 30-day silent retreat, how to foster creativity in the workplace, the importance of candor and trust, and I ask which is his favorite Pixar movie. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!

Unlocking Creativity with Pixar's Ed Catmull

How to Learn is a podcast series that delves into the minds of experts across diverse fields like creativity, physics, photography, communication, and more!

podcast.beard.fm/s1/1

And just for newsletter subscribers, we actually recorded video of the entire conversation! If you’d like to watch my interview with Ed Catmull, you can do it here. Plus, I cut out a question in the audio version, so you get a little extended version on YouTube:

Top Find My Devices of 2023

Rumored to receive a significant update with iOS 17, the Find My app on your iPhone reveals the location of iCloud Family members, AirTags, and can track many other third-party devices.

The app itself can be a little clunky, showing some devices as Items and others as Devices. But I’ve found the app to be very useful, even if only to have my AirPods Pro 2 case make a sound when it’s lost in the hamper.

In my latest video I round up all the Find My devices I actually use in 2023, and a little hack for Apple TV remotes so you can never lose it in the couch cushions again:

🚙 I Finally Have CarPlay!

One of the corners of the Apple ecosystem where I have almost zero experience is CarPlay, the bespoke Apple UI for using your iPhone with a car’s touchscreen entertainment system.

I’ve always driven cars ten years old or more, so CarPlay wouldn’t be a built-in option for years to come. But the good people at Carpuride sent me their 9-inch touchscreen, after-market CarPlay device that I can use in my 2011 Kia Soul!

Look for a full video review on the channel next week, but as you would expect, CarPlay is better than any other car-manufacturer entertainment system UI, ever.

Carpuride screen mounted by CD player

Sneak Peek Standing Desk Review

One more exclusive for newsletter readers only, I had the opportunity to review a motorized standing desk! FlexiSpot sent me their E7 Pro Plus desk and I spent a Friday completely dismantling my studio and rebuilding around the E7.

FlexiSpot asked I not publish the video until May 5th, but for you all? You can watch it right now:

5 Years of Movies on the Side

While my content is very tech-focused, I do have other hobbies! One of them is a little movies podcast I started with my good friend Nate Baranowski over five years ago! We’ve now begun season six and we’re changing things up.

You can listen to our special anniversary episode here:

90's Nostalgia Tour, MOTS 5th Anniversary, and Tetris (2023) Review

Hosted by Nate Baranowski and Stephen Robles. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter to send us your bad movie suggestions! @moviesontheside

www.moviesontheside.com/s6/210

And watch us on YouTube!

Smart Home for the Backyard

One of the biggest videos on the channel is still my full smart home tour, so I decided to expand that walkthrough to my backyard! In this video, I share my favorite devices for the outdoors, including floodlight cameras, motion sensors, and how to automate your garden hose! Watch it here.

Apple Opens a Savings Account

Earlier this week, Apple officially launched a Savings account available to all Apple Card users. If you haven’t already, you can get approved and start using an Apple credit card today in the Wallet app on your iPhone, with one of the main benefits being Daily Cash back.

When you use Apple Card, you can get 3% back on all Apple purchases (devices, app purchases, subscriptions, etc.) and participating retailers like Panera. 2% cash back for any purchase made via Apple Pay, and 1% on everything else. You can use that cash back to pay off your balance, transfer to your bank as literal cash, and now with the Savings account, you can have all your daily cash automatically deposited into a 4.15% APY savings account from Apple!

While you may be able to find higher savings account interest rates at small regional banks, any larger bank doesn’t even come close to that APY. And since you can automatically have your Daily Cash sent straight to savings, it’s a pretty great deal.

I’ve already set it up and have Daily Cash going into the Savings Account. Plus you can deposit money directly from any bank account you have set up to transfer Apple Cash or make payments on Apple Card. You can learn more and hear my personal experience on this week’s AppleInsider podcast!

Yes, sorry, it’s U.S. only still…

Apple Savings Account Launches, First Apple Store in India Opens, App Suite for Mixed-Reality Headset

Listen to the latest episode in Apple Podcasts!

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/appleinsider-podcast/id963144241?i=1000609737290

Mac Studio 1 Year Review

I waited many years for the perfect Mac desktop, and one year later I can honestly say the Mac Studio has met and exceeded all expectations! While it’s geared toward prosumer-and-above-level users, the Mac Studio is an incredibly versatile and powerful machine that would serve the needs of video editors, graphic designers, audio engineers, and more.

If you’re looking for the next Mac to run ProPresenter for years to come, Mac Studio is it. Here’s my 1 year review video:

The Future is Here

I don’t know about you, but I was getting some AI-fatigue. It felt like you couldn’t go three minutes on the internet without seeing ChatGPT, hearing about Google Bard, or reading a tweet-thread about AI.

I’ll admit, the whole AI revolution seems to be moving at a break-neck pace, and that can be a little scary. Not knowing where it’s headed and if it will continue progressing this fast, there’s a natural aversion to AI. But then, Shortcuts guru Federico Viticci built an incredible ChatGPT integrated Shortcut for Apple devices, and now it’s got me excited.

I walk through setting up the Shortcut, and how I’ve already integrated it into my podcast creation workflow in this video. I was going for a Thor look in the thumbnail, whether or not I achieved it, I’ll let you decide 😂

If you’re still hesitant about AI or unsure how to use it, think about the times you wish you could get a quick summary of a long article. ChatGPT can do that! Need ideas for titling your blog, video, or podcast episode? Tell ChatGPT what it’s about and it will give you as many suggestions as you need. It can even take a few bullet points you have on a topic and write a full-length article.

In my video I demonstrate how I use it to generate podcast episode titles and descriptions based on the headlines of articles I saved during the week. It’s pretty cool, and until AI turns 100% Skynet, I’m going to utilize it wherever I can.

Definitive Guide to Sonos

After publishing my review of the Sonos Era 300 speakers, I wasn’t completely satisfied with my conclusion. Going forward, I want to be more decisive in my recommendations at the end of videos, so I made a part II of my Era 300 review, but included every Sonos speaker you can buy right now.

There are many combinations of Sonos speakers, and my recommendations change depending on room size and purpose, are you just wanting a great music experience or home theater too? I go from large to medium to small size rooms in the video, and give my choice for each. Enjoy!

Sneak Peek

Coming soon on the channel, I’m reviewing a motorized standing desk! I spent the better part of last Friday moving everything from the old desk to the new one, hence this newsletter coming out now instead of last week. But I went all out on cable management and optimizing everything about the setup. Here’s what the studio desk looks like now:

🎶 Apple Music Classical…Rocks!

Forgive the pun, but Apple’s dedicated app for classical music launched earlier this week and it delivers a great experience for long-time fans of the genre, and those classical-curious.

As someone who already has some favorite works, the search functionality and library organization in the app has been intentionally designed. Composers, works, and recordings all get their separate areas in the app, and finding that one “concerto by Rachmanoniv” is much easier than in the stock music app.

For newcomers to classical music, I highly recommend the “Story of Classical” 9-part audio documentary in the app. It does an excellent job of making classical music accessible and deftly explains the nuance between Romantic, Baroque, and other musical time periods.

Watch my full review (in a tux no less!) right here:

🔊 Reviewing Sonos Era 300 Speakers

Since building out multiple home theater setups in our new home, I’ve had the opportunity to try many audio products in the last year. After seeing the response to my HomePod 2 review video (over 100k views!) I wanted to take the opportunity and review two new Sonos speaker products: the Era 100 and Era 300.

You can watch the full review here, but immediately after posting, I had doubts:

Reviewing an audio product is inherently fraught. What we hear is subjective on multiple levels, variations in our physical hearing, the rooms where someone will place a speaker, and our own personal preferences all come into play. The factors that contribute to someone saying, “I like how this sounds,” varies widely from person-to-person.

The Era 300 speaker from Sonos is a $450 piece of gear. Not cheap, and $150 more than Apple’s HomePod. Sonos has done quite the publicity sprint to make sure everyone thinks of these speakers as the new de-facto, professional home audio experience.

All the information on the surface points to the idea that these speakers are the best you can get in their price range and are bringing in a “new Era of sound.” Sonos’ words, not mine 😏

And it’s true, they’re incredible! I set up a pair of Sonos Era 300s in my studio, tried them in a larger bedroom, and they produce an amazing sound. The biggest selling feature is how they’re built to create an immersive Spatial Audio experience.

In simple terms, it should sound like there’s music all around you. Producers can “place” a guitar or glockenspiel in 3D space when editing an album, and as you listen on your home speaker, it should sound like that instrument is above, behind, or somewhere in a specific part of the room thanks to Spatial Audio. You can tell which albums or tracks have been mixed for this experience by looking for the Dolby Atmos tag in Apple Music or Amazon HD. Spotify has yet to release this kind of feature.

This video from Sonos gets into the actual construction of the Era 300 to achieve this 3D audio effect:

When I tested a pair of Era 300 speakers, it was the first time I genuinely felt the Spatial Audio experience was worth it. It feels like music and instruments are happening all around you, not just coming out of the speakers sitting on a shelf.

And when I set up the Era 300 speakers as home theater rear channels, which you can do if you have a Sonos Beam or Arc, it is one of the most immersive movie and music experiences you can achieve without 18+ speakers in your ceiling. It’s wild.

But, as I listened side-by-side with HomePod 2, which I’ve had in my studio for several months, I found the HomePod still holds up to these behemoth speakers! Yes, the Era 300s do a better simulation of Spatial Audio, but there are some aspects of the HomePod I still prefer: bass being one of them.

Listening to a pop track on both the HomePod 2 and Era 300s, one right after another, I actually found I preferred the HomePod 2’s bass performance. This seems crazy, since the Era 300 is much larger, has 2 woofer cones instead of 1, and costs $450, but that’s what I heard 🤷🏼‍♂️

I debated even including that comment in my video review, but if I say I’m doing an in-depth review, I should include every aspect of my experience.

Before personally reviewing the speakers, I avoided watching other reviews so they didn’t persuade my thoughts. But since publishing mine, I found this review from Audio Advice:

That link will jump to the end of their review where they explain the Sonos 5 has more bass than the Era 300s. Vindication! It’s as I suspected. The Era 300s are made for Spatial Audio, and they excel at it, even over a pair of HomePod 2s, but the bass is another story.

If you were to pair the Era 300s with a Sonos Sub Mini or Sub Gen3 (I have both and they’re amazing), I believe the music and movie experience would beat out the HomePods hands down. But just comparing a $900 pair of Era 300s to a $600 pair of HomePods, because of the better bass, I actually prefer the pair of HomePods.

Again, since audio is extremely subjective, you may prefer the opposite! It’s all based on our listening preferences. You can crank the bass EQ in the Sonos app for the Era 300s and get it close to the HomePod bass experience, but it never really achieves the “punch” I feel on the HomePod.

All that to say, I stand by my review. The Era 300s are incredible speakers, and depending on your use case and room, they may be the perfect speakers. But for my 9’ x 8’ studio, and being deeply entrenched in the Apple ecosystem, I’m staying with my HomePods.

iOS 16.4 is Coming Next Week

Tuesday, March 28 will be a day of new devices and software releases! Not only is the new Sonos Era 300 speaker launching (watch for a special review comparing to HomePod 2), Apple Music Classical will be available to download, and iOS 16.4 should be out for all Apple devices.

You better believe next week’s newsletter will be all Apple Music Classical, but there are other notable features coming to iOS 16.4. Apple’s Home architecture update for your smart home is coming, updates to the Apple Podcasts app, and most importantly, new emoji 😏

Secret iPhone Gestures

In the following video, I cover 10 hidden gestures for navigating your iPhone. Quickly select items in a list with a two-finger drag, undo without violently shaking your iPhone, and a few more! Viewers left some suggestions in the comments as well:

My Top 4 iPad Apps

While there is no shortage of “best iPad app” videos and articles, I wanted to finally put my official choices on video. I often hear Apple (especially Mac-first enthusiasts) proclaim they still don’t know what an iPad is for. It seems everything an iPad can do, a Mac can do better 🤷‍♂️

In this video, I highlight three unique use cases where I find no other device can match the functionality of iPad: digital sheet music, podcast editing with Pencil, and, boringly, marking up documents. The fourth is an app I don’t use personally, but I know many video creators swear by: LumaFusion. You can watch the full video here:

The First Battery-Powered HSV Doorbell

If you’re not familiar with HSV, you’re not alone. It stands for HomeKit Secure Video, Apple’s term for the cloud storage option HomeKit devices can utilize for recording video clips. There is a strict list of prerequisites a smart home camera must meet in order to access HSV, so there are only a precious few to choose from. But if you already pay for iCloud storage or one of the Apple One services bundles, you can get smart home camera recordings for free!

When it came to building our smart home, I knew I wanted to go all-in on Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem, and that included finding a doorbell camera that works with HSV. At the time, there were exactly two options: the Logitech Circle View Doorbell and Belkin Wemo Doorbell. I tried both, didn’t care for the Wemo, and went with the Logitech option. It’s great, and you can see it in action in my Smart Home Tour video.

Not only were these the only two options that supported HSV, but both were hardwired doorbells. No battery-powered, wireless option existed that worked with HSV. For friends and family that required a completely wireless doorbell camera, I would recommend the Arlo Video Doorbell. It’s a great option, my Mom uses it! (Hey Mom ☺️)

But now there is a brand new option for those who want an Apple Home doorbell camera that’s completely wireless, and that’s the Aqara G4 Video Doorbell. You guessed it, I did a full video review and compared it with my current Logitech Circle View. Watch it here!

AirPods on a Plane

And finally, I brought both the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Max on my recent flight to Las Vegas in order to settle once and for all the debate: which is better with noise cancellation. Spoiler: I preferred the AirPods Pro 2, and here’s why:

In the never-ending debate of which is better: Apple Maps or Google Maps, my son and I ventured to settle the question! We strapped two iPhones (actually used a couple MagSafe mounts) to the car and drove around central Florida! We tested turn-by-turn directions, voice navigation, adding a stop, and more.

Which maps app do you prefer and why? Watch the full video and leave your comment here:

Las Vegas Podcast Conference

Last week I had the opportunity to speak at my first podcast conference: Podcast Movement Evolutions! I spoke on how to automate your podcast workflow, including auto-post new episodes, using Shortcuts for creating social graphics, and why you should use Riverside to record.

I was told the recording will be available in April and will share it when ready! For now, here’s a little photo recap of the trip:

More photos on Instagram!

Instagram post

Stay tuned later this week as I have some special follow-up regarding AirPods Pro vs. AirPods Max on a plane…

Short newsletter this week because my wife and I are headed to Las Vegas for Podcast Movement! I’ve been chosen to speak on automating your podcast workflow, and it’s pretty exciting being my first opportunity at one of these events.

Each session is being recorded and I’ll do my best to get a link in the weeks after the conference. If you’d like a preview of what I plan to cover, here’s one of my videos on the Riverside channel on how to automate your podcast:

Apple Watch Ultra 6-Month Review

Last September Apple released the adventurer-focused Apple Watch Ultra, including scuba diving features, waypoint locations for hikers, and extra-long battery life for when you’re out in the wilderness.

The most adventure I see is the grocery store, but I really enjoy the Ultra nonetheless. Here’s my long-term review from a non-adventurer perspective:

Top Secret Next Video

Really excited about my next video, just awaiting sponsor approval (which is also exciting to have a new sponsor)! Here’s a little preview of the camera rig used throughout:

6 Digits to Access Your Life

Whenever I help a certain relative with their iPhone, I cringe at the fact that they don’t have any passcode setup on their device. You just swipe up and have access to everything on that iPhone.

But not just what’s on that phone, hackers can access any website passwords you have saved to your device, like bank accounts and credit cards, your entire photo library, and thieves can lock you out of all your Apple devices in just a few minutes.

This article from Joanna Stern at the Wall Street Journal really encapsulates how quickly hackers can lock you out of all your Apple devices, take thousands of dollars, and remove access to your Photo library in the process.

A Basic iPhone Feature Helps Criminals Steal Your Entire Digital Life

The passcode that unlocks your phone can give thieves access to your money and data. “It’s like a treasure box.”

www.wsj.com/articles/apple-iphone-security-theft-passcode-data-privacya-basic-iphone-feature-helps-criminals-steal-your-digital-life-cbf14b1a

The bottom line is this: You must have a passcode protecting your device, and the longer, and more complicated your passcode is, the better. I have seen countless iPhone users enter their passcode in plain view of the people around them, and often it’s a single digit (777777).

Don’t do that.

As Joanna explains, once someone has memorized or guessed your passcode, it’s a 30-second process to go to your Settings > iCloud Account > change password, and you are now locked out of all iCloud services. The only piece of information a thief needs to change your iCloud password on-device is…guess what, your passcode.

Once your Apple ID password is changed, they can turn off Find My iPhone seconds later, remove your other Apple devices from the account (like iPads and Macs), and you’ve now lost all hope of gaining access to your Photos, website logins, or any data locked in your iCloud account.

From there, if you have saved bank account logins on your device with iCloud Keychain, they can access your money, move it around, and send it via Zelle or other services to their own accounts.

How can you be sure this doesn’t happen to you?

Make a Stronger Passcode

Well, step 1 is really to make sure you know where your iPhone is at all times. Many of the stories covered in the video are about people at bars who put their phone down for just a few seconds and then it’s gone.

Thieves are working in pairs, one to catch you putting in your passcode, and the other will swipe the phone at the first opportunity. Try to keep an eye on your devices in public places.

Second, use Face ID or Touch ID whenever possible. When you unlock using those methods, there’s no chance someone can see you inputting a passcode. On the flip side, also be sure to lock your screen often when in public. Or at least set your iPhone to lock after 30 seconds rather than 5 minutes 😬

If you must put in your passcode and you’re in a crowded area, be discreet. Make sure no one can see over your shoulder or glance at your screen as you enter the passcode. You may look paranoid in those few moments, but the alternative is losing thousands of dollars and all your iCloud data.

I’ll take looking a little paranoid.

Third, don’t use simple passcodes. Single digits repeating or patterns like 1-2-3-4-5-6 are easily guessed. Don’t risk it! And don’t use the 4-digit option either. Go full 6-digit passcode or alphanumeric (more on that in a sec). If you have trouble remembering 6-digits, write it down on a piece of paper and keep it safely at home.

The Strongest Passcode

You also have the option on iPhone to go with a full alphanumeric passcode, meaning letters, numbers, and/or special characters. Go to Settings > Face ID and Passcode and you’ll see the option there.

This is what I do. Not only are the chances of my passcode being guessed exponentially smaller, but getting a full keyboard on the screen means it’s more discreet visually. When your passcode is all numbers, those big round circles are easily seen by others.

Even if you still use all numbers for your passcode, having the full keyboard for entry rather than big numbers will make it harder to steal.

And parents, it’s not worth the risk of your kids knowing your passcode for ease of handing them a device. They will be even less careful when inputting the passcode and can also wreak havoc on your device accidentally. Use Guided Access whenever possible:

Hopefully, all this has encouraged you to take some precautions when it comes to passcodes and access to your devices. While the iPhone has made it exponentially easier to create secure website logins, save our entire history of Photos, and even pay for stuff with a tap, the trade-off is…our entire lives are on that device. You don’t need to worry, just use a strong passcode and be discreet when entering it in public.

This may be worth an entire video soon, so stay tuned.

On a Lighter Note

All that being said, I had a fun video go up on the channel showing how I organize my iPhone Home Screens and Focus Modes! You can check it out here:

Building a 100% Apple Smart Home

Over a year ago my family started building a new house in Central Florida from the ground up, which provided a unique opportunity for me to retrofit my ideal smart home! While there are still smart devices and features I haven’t gotten to yet (like a Level Lock+), our house has over 100 devices all running on Apple Home. Check out the full tour here:

If you’d like to see more of the process, even running ethernet and speaker wire through walls and ceilings, check out my first smart home video from a year ago where I go through the plan for internet and home theater. Thankfully, it all worked!

iOS 16.4 Features for Apple Podcasts

Not only have I been creating podcasts for 12+ years, I also love listening to podcasts. Everyone’s listening habits vary, but I am meticulous about the podcast episodes that would get slotted to play next, programming how many seconds to skip in the intro for my favorite shows, and other fine-tuned controls.

For that reason, I’ve used Pocket Casts as my default podcast player for a long time. It provides all those features, reliability syncs your listening progress across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and web apps, and its Watch companion app is also incredibly useful. If you want to see why I love it so much, check out this video:

This week Apple released its first developer beta of iOS 16.4, which will likely be available to the public sometime in March. Along with the remix of Apple’s HomeKit architecture upgrade (hopefully now fixed), the Apple Podcasts app is getting some much needed features, like better Up Next controls and more navigation options.

Apple Podcasts in iOS 16.4

You can read about all the changes on Apple’s website, but I hope to test the iOS 16.4 beta this week and really explore everything new. I’ve actually transitioned from using Pocket Casts, which I still love, to the stock Podcasts app full-time for my own listening. For the podcasts I produce, over 70% of listeners use the Apple Podcasts app, and knowing how they experience the episodes I produce is important to understand.

Plus, the Podcasts app has been slowly improving over time, and with these new features I may no longer gravitate to a third-party podcast player. With the ease of subscriptions built-in to the app for many shows, tighter Siri integration, and more options with Shortcuts, it may be time to take another look at the Podcasts app.

More Features in iOS 16.4

You can read this article on more of the changes coming to iOS 16.4, but a few that interest me are the ability to toggle Always-On Display for iPhone 14 Pro with a Focus Mode (very cool), and some great new Shortcuts actions. Those include:

• Silence Unkown Callers

• Set Stage Manager

• Set True Tone

• Set Announce Notifications

• Shut Down

• Lock Screen

• Set Always on Display

• Intercom

• Set VPN

• Set AirDrop Receiving

• Set Night Shift

iPhone 15 Pro Rumors

Shortly after I finished editing the weekly AppleInsider podcast 🫥 an exclusive from 9to5Mac claims to have knowledge of the forthcoming iPhone 15 Pro. The material could move to a brushed titanium, larger camera bump, smaller bezels, and notably, USB-C!

You can check out their article, but it all seems fairly likely, and if this is the year iPhone finally goes USB-C (or hopefully Thunderbolt 4 on the Pro models!) I’m all for it.

Exclusive: This is iPhone 15 Pro: Thinner bezels, thicker 'curve' design, no Lightning port, more

Thanks to a trusted case maker, we now exclusively have the first renders of the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro, showing the addition of USB-C.

9to5mac.com/2023/02/16/exclusive-this-is-iphone-15-pro-thinner-bezels-thicker-curve-design-no-lightning-port-more

Weekend Fun

For those of you into tech AND movies, you should definitely listen to the latest Movies on the Side episode where Nate Baranowski and I review Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania! I’ll be honest, I had high hopes going in…that didn’t pan out so well.

But to lift your spirits, take a listen to our bonus episode this week where we reminisce about 1am college-days Taco Bell runs, when does a biscotti actually expire, sleeping-in as an adult, and more! You can listen with a 3-day free trial and access the entire back catalog of bonus episode directly in Apple Podcasts! Or support us on Patreon at: Patreon.com/moviesontheside

‎Movies on the Side on Apple Podcasts

‎TV & Film · 2023

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/movies-on-the-side/id1373518864

Viral HomePod Review

Earlier this week I published an in-depth review of Apple’s new HomePod, and the response has been incredible. One of my favorite Apple news sites, MacStories covered it here, the guys over at Accidental Tech Podcast recommended it, Jason Aten had me on his podcast, Undigital to discuss, and it currently sits close to 40,000 views on YouTube!

I imagine many of you reading this also watched the review, and I wanted to thank you again for your support 🙏 I’m learning that people appreciate and respond to in-depth, thoughtful coverage when it comes to tech.

For the past several months I had been trying to play the short-form game with a tip per day. I’m sure I’ll still create that kind of content in the future, but this HomePod review has shown me that taking the time to research, plan, and provide unique perspectives via long-form content is what I want to provide.

HomePod Follow-Up

After using my new pair of HomePods all week (post-review), I continue to enjoy the music-listening experience. While a Sonos Arc + Sub and other, more expensive products may produce better quality sound, the experience of using HomePod with my iPhone, Mac or just invoking Siri, plus the immersive sound quality, makes it my preferred system for music.

I’ve also shifted my smart home habits from triggering scenes via the Home app on my Mac Studio to just asking Siri. Previously, I had a single OG HomePod in the studio and it was getting too slow for smart home commands. Now the new pair of HomePods open my shades, set the scene for filming, and create reminders on the fly. By the way, if you missed my video on all the hidden features of HomePod and HomePod mini, check it out here!

The one aspect of my video review that I would amend is the HomePod-as-home theater speakers. One key piece of using HomePod for your entertainment viewing is an Apple TV box. The latest model is either $129 or $149 (you should buy the latter) and brings the total cost of a HomePod-powered home theater to $750.

That still comes under the price of a Sonos Beam + Sub mini at $850-ish but it’s worth mentioning. Any Sonos soundbar will work with your Smart TV, Fire TV, or most streaming hardware provided your TV has an ARC HDMI port. HomePod cannot be used in any home theater configuration unless they are connected to an Apple TV box.

But, as I mentioned on several podcasts this week if you already have an Apple TV box, and you use Apple Music by default, the value of a pair of HomePods is very high for $600 compared to most Sonos configurations.

If you have any questions about the new HomePod, reply to this! Or leave a comment on the YouTube video and I’d love to help.

iPhone 15 Ultra Concept

Next Killer iPhone Feature

On the latest AppleInsider podcast, my friend across the pond William Gallagher and I tried to brainstorm what killer feature may be coming in the next model iPhone. There are rumors from various sources that Apple may introduce a higher-cost, third-tier to the iPhone lineup. Making your choice this fall:

• iPhone 15

• iPhone 15 Pro

• iPhone 15 Ultra

Ultra has been a common naming scheme among Apple products lately, considering the Apple Watch Ultra and M1 Ultra chip found in the Mac Studio. And there have been years in the past when the Pro Max version of the iPhone had different features than the Pro. Usually, that came in the form of better camera systems and stabilization, so Ultra could be a clear differentiator for the iPhone with the biggest features and largest screen size.

Despite having slight FOMO when the larger iPhone gets unique features, I don’t prefer that larger screen size and typically stick with the Pro models. But what could be the killer feature that Apple uses to tout a new iPhone Ultra tier?

Tim Cook with the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America

Cameras can always be improved, and maybe a new model includes astrophotography for getting those moon close-ups. The Dynamic Island could disappear and the front-facing camera + Face ID sensors go under the screen for a truly all-screen design. Surely it will have a faster chip, maybe Apple Pencil support, but I honestly can’t imagine a killer feature that would bring me to purchase an even higher-priced iPhone.

Of course, the moment Apple announces whatever that feature is I’m sure I’ll desire it, but it’s rare for me to even think “I wish the hardware of my iPhone did this or that.” My wishlist for future iPhone updates is largely software: Better iCloud Keychain features, interactive widgets, more Screen Time controls and add them to Apple TV, multi-users on iPad, etc.

So I pose the question to you, what hardware-specific feature would motivate you to get an even more expensive iPhone? If you’d like to hear William and I pontificate on the questions, here’s the latest AppleInsider podcast:

What Comes Next?

But if you can’t think of anything for iPhone 15 Ultra, don’t worry, I have a more pressing poll for you. What should be my next long-form video?? I’ve wanted to close the loop on my Smart Home saga and do a full tour, so that’s an option. With all the great responses from the HomePod review and home theater setups, I could describe my own. Or I could do a blindfolded audio test to see whether my ears can pick out the difference between HomePod and HomePod 2 in a true A/B test.

Let me know what you’d like to see by voting in the poll below! And as always, thank you for watching, listening, and reading my work ❤️

HomePod is In-Hand!

As I write this I'm currently listening to Hans Zimmer's Interstellar soundtrack on a pair of new HomePods. Over the weekend I plan to test both music playback and home theater viewing compared to Sonos Beam, Sonos Arc, and my full 7.1 Dolby Atmos system.

First impressions? They sound great, of course. My first test is always Mozart's Requiem, Lacrimosa movement. If you can hear the first chord clearly played by the strings, you're off to a good start. And that's the case with these new HomePods. The Jupiter movement of Holst's planets is also a fun listen.

From the few movie scores and classical works I've listened to so far, they're super crisp and clear across the spectrum. Low end is strong but not overbearing. In general, a pair create quite the immersive and engaging atmosphere.

I'll be testing Siri on Home commands and responsiveness when compared to the old model as well, but rest assured it's just like the HomePod mini. Meaning, noticeably better than the old HomePod. 

If you'd like to keep track of the playlist I'll be using to review, you can listen on Apple Music here:

HomePod Review by Stephen Robles

Playlist · 27 Songs

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/homepod-review/pl.u-3DyEt0Brb3

And for the unboxing viewers, a little ASMR HomePod for you here:

Twitter tweet

One of my favorite HomePod reviews came from Digital Trends earlier this week that really went in-depth on the home theater aspect. Check that out here:

A full video review will be coming to the channel early next week. I thought about rushing it, but I'd like to really take some time and listen to various audio setups around the house and judge them at the $600 price point they are for a pair. Stay tuned and subscribe!

Apple Watch Ultra Side Note

While all the excitement is around HomePod at the moment, if you have an Apple Watch Ultra and love the solo loop bands like I do, take a look at my recent videos on how to judge your sizing. If you had solo loops from Series 7 or earlier, they're not going to fit like you expect:

Finally, one of the most popular Shorts from the past week is all about Guided Access. If you have kids, or hand your iPhone to kids often, this is a must watch:

Update All Your Devices!

Earlier this week, Apple released updates to every product across the lineup including iOS 16.3 which added physical security keys (more on that shortly), and HomePod 16.3 with lots of new features (what's the name of that software anyway?)

The new HomePod features are the most exciting, including the ability to ask the location of Family members (who already share that info with you), ambient sounds like ocean or rain, plus the dormant temperature and humidity sensors are now accessible!

I cover all the new features plus some of my favorite tips in the latest upload!

Security Keys for iCloud

Apple introduced Advanced Data Protection for iCloud with iOS 16.2. When enabled, your iCloud device backups, Photos, Keychain passwords, and more are all end-to-end encrypted where even Apple doesn't have the keys.

I've enabled it on my devices, and delegated my spouse as someone who can assist in unlocking if my devices are somehow all unavailable. For those who want a physical way to secure their iCloud information, iOS 16.3 allows you to program physical NFC or USB devices that must be scanned in order to unlock your iCloud data.

This is...not really necessary for most people. And it will make logging into iCloud fairly cumbersome if enabled. But for journalists or other occupations that carry very sensitive information on their devices, it may be useful.

Brandon Butch did an excellent demo of the physical security key feature in iOS 16.3, and you can watch it here:

Find Your iPhone Photos, Faster

Take a peek at my YouTube shorts and you'll find daily tips for iPhone. One of the popular videos this week was highlighting all the ways you can search for photos on your iPhone. Next time you're looking for that specific photo, try some of these strategies:

M2 Max MacBook Pro and M2 Mac mini

Early reviews of Apple's new M2 Max MacBook Pro and M2 Mac mini aired earlier this week. To learn more about the powerhouse laptops, check out iJustine's video:

And for an excellent breakdown of the surprisingly good Mac mini, here's MKBHD:

Finally, big shout out to Basic Apple Guy for getting his latest wallpaper featured in that MKBHD review! You can download it for free, and get many other spectacular wallpapers here:

Apple's on a Roll

Not even three weeks into the new year and Apple has released two new chips, updated their MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and resurrected the HomePod after a two-year hiatus.

If you bought one of the new MacBook Pro models from 2021 with an M1 Pro or M1 Max chip, you shouldn't feel any pressure to upgrade (I don't). The hardware design of the new Macbooks is the same with minor improvements to the HDMI port.

BUT if you're still holding on to an Intel MacBook Pro or need a powerful machine for video editing, development, or audio production, the new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips are incredibly powerful and will provide the best battery life of any laptop before it (depending on the workload of course).

An even more exciting story is the M2 and M2 Pro Mac mini. For families needing a new desktop computer, production environments that need a mid-powered machine running constantly as a server, or if you're needing to upgrade your ProPresenter machine, this is the one to get.

Pricing starts at $599 and is just $499 with an education discount. Getting the power of Apple's M2 chip at $499 is insane, but you can also spec it up with an M2 Pro chip which gets you 4 Thunderbolt ports. The new Mac mini is an incredibly versatile machine and I highly recommend you consider it for any server or desktop needs.

My Favorite Speaker Returns!

If you didn't know, I'm a musician at heart and love great audio. Finding good speakers for the home can be a cumbersome process, either you look for budget options that sound meh, or you realize you can spend thousands of dollars on tons of equipment and not even know what you're buying.

Sonos is a great middle-ground that offers high-end, excellent-sounding audio at reasonable prices. Sometimes they seem pretty steep, but after owning the Sonos Arc, Beam, both subwoofers, One SL, and Move, I can confidently say they sound their cost.

Apple has always had a special relationship with music, from having U2 and other artists perform at Keynotes, Steve Jobs pioneering the iPod, "1,000 songs in your pocket," and even buying companies like Beats.

When the original HomePod was made available in 2018 (wild to think that was five years ago), it was the first time Apple delved into high-end audio for the home since the iPod H-Fi (bonus points if you send me a photo of yours). And it lived up to the hype!

It sounded incredible and adjusted the sound based on the environment, a stereo pair sounded even better, and you could even use a pair for solid home theater audio with Dolby Atmos! But in March 2021, Apple said the original HomePod has been "discontinued" in favor of the smaller and admirable-sounding HomePod mini.

But I missed the larger, original HomePod. Mostly because I didn't have to think about it! I don't want to have another voice assistant in my home, and AirPlay, for all its wonderful features, can be weird sometimes with Sonos speakers. The big HomePod provided excellent audio quality with ease of use and 100% Apple's ecosystem.

Fast-forward two years and the "discontinued" product is resurrected! The new HomePod, at least according to initial reports, sounds incredible. Plus, Apple included modern smart home features like Thread, Matter, and new capabilities from Siri but still kept the price at $299.

I'm excited about it if you can't tell, and while I don't often do straight product reviews on the YouTube channel, expect to see a thorough review of the new HomePods in early February. You can also hear my thoughts on all the Apple announcements on the latest AppleInsider podcast here:

‎AppleInsider Podcast: HomePod is Back! M2 Pro and M2 Max MacBook Pro, and M2 Mac mini on Apple Podcasts

‎Show AppleInsider Podcast, Ep HomePod is Back! M2 Pro and M2 Max MacBook Pro, and M2 Mac mini - Jan 19, 2023

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/appleinsider-podcast/id963144241?i=1000595532987

Reminders Get an Upgrade

Speaking of the YouTube channel, a new video went up this week highlighting five tips to help you make the most of the iPhone reminders app. Check it out here!

Twitter Kills Third-Party Apps

You either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain.

Since the beginning, Twitter has been the awkward, unsure of itself social media network, but we all love it. Or love to hate it. Either way, Twitter became a staple in news reports, it's where world leaders would announce policy changes, and the tech circle of Twitter has been a lovely place for me to frequent.

One of the unique and powerful features of Twitter is the vibrant third-party app community. Unlike Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat, several excellent third-party apps often provided more features than Twitter itself.

Tweetbot, Twitterific, and others were used by a very small niche of Twitter's user base, but one key difference existed between the official Twitter app and third-party alternatives: ads.

If you peruse Twitter using a third-party app, you don't see any ads. Great for users, but not the best for Twitter's bottom line. And in the Elon Musk era, with profitability as a main focus, it seems everyone is required to see ads. Therefore, Twitter has removed the ability for third-party apps to access Twitter.

This is another cut amongst the 1,000 that have occurred since Musk took over. The service and app have gotten very buggy, verification and Twitter Blue are still a mess, and people are leaving on principal with no viable alternative really catching on. Mastodon was close, but it seems the initial spike in usage was only temporary.

It's the end of an era, it seems, with third-party Twitter apps removing themselves from the App Store and posting farewell blogs this week. It's sad and leaves the future of Twitter even more uncertain.

Ironically, as all the Apple news broke this week, there was exactly one place I went to share my thoughts and excitement: Twitter. There is no other real-time, lively, engaged platform that I can find (again, Mastodon isn't it), and so I keep crawling back to the bird that seems to be diving headfirst toward the ground.

Twitter won't die anytime soon, I don't think, but if it continues to drive its most loyal and enthusiastic user base away, it may be a slow road to wherever MySpace ended up.

Movie Podcast Fun

To end on a lighter note, you should listen to my movie podcast! My friend Nate and I review a movie every other week, and you should join us. We're now posting a video version on YouTube, plus the audio podcast is about to celebrate five years 🎉New episodes drop Friday afternoon, and the next one is coming today! We review the movie Amsterdam (2022), streaming now on HBO Max. And if you support the show on Patreon or Apple Podcasts, you get a bonus episode every other week. They're routinely going 30+ minutes now, and this week we discuss drive-thru etiquette and the demise of Subway.

If you've made it this far in the email, please enjoy this week's bonus episode on the house, and if you enjoy it, consider supporting the show!