Apple’s record stock performance leads into a discussion of Vision Pro and John Ternus’ explanation of its long-term potential. The MacVoices Live! panel considers spatial computing’s growing role in medicine, productivity, and professional workflows, along with whether the technology is ready for broader adoption. They also examine iPhone battery shipping limits, SoftRAID 9's support of RAID 6, and local versus cloud storage.

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A discussion of smart TV privacy examines reports of LG televisions collecting viewing data, whether TVs should ever be connected to the internet, and when firmware updates are worthwhile. The MacVoices Live! panel also considers hotel TV privacy, Microsoft’s increasingly pervasive Copilot strategy and organizational changes, and the enduring influence of Star Trek technology on real-world innovation.

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Does banning smartphones and AI in schools actually improves learning? Should educators should focus on teaching responsible, effective use of technology or rely on existing methods? The MacVoices Live! panel looks at those issues and also considers how screens affect everyday social interactions. The subject of smart home hubs is becoming a hot topic. A […]

It happens every time: Just before major OS releases, the tech web is flooded with how-to and tips articles. The MacVoices Live! panel looks at why and how you can benefit, including how that flood can offer guidance when new operating systems arrive. The discussion then turns to the Mac App Store allowing developers to […]

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The continuation of AI chatbots arriving in CarPlay, Apple’s opt-in approach to using customer data for AI training, and turmoil surrounding WordPress leadership are the topics for this MacVoices Live! discussion. The conversation also examines Bending Spoons’ latest billion-dollar acquisition, Apple’s international iCloud+ bundles, the potential for services to expand Apple’s global ecosystem, and Michael Dell’s support for new youth investment accounts.

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The MacVoices Live! panel  explores some of the useful new macOS Golden Gate features, including AI-assisted Shortcuts and improved iPhone Mirroring. They debate the emerging iPhone Duo and foldable-phone market and why one would prefer to give the new foldable a try. The value of AppleCare’s new family coverage plan is also reviewed for with households with many devices, and as an option for an individual. T-Mobile’s fee for iPhone Handoff, and GM’s decision to retain CarPlay in gas-powered vehicles wrap up this session. 

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Ted Lasso returns with a new focus on women’s football. Charlotte Henry and Chuck Joiner discuss the familiar characters in a fresh setting, and how the series has addresses issues such as team dynamics, injuries, finances, and the realities of the sport. Thoughts on the  series renewed appeal, a teaser about Silo Season 3, and […]

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The MacVoices Live! panel shares first impressions of iOS 27 and Apple’s latest operating system updates, covering stability, performance, interface changes, Apple Pay, Weather, Vision Pro, and upgrade strategies. The discussion then turns to the new Apple Watch Live Rewind feature that will be coming later this year. How the assistive feature will work, its privacy safeguards, and accessibility benefits spark a debate that touches on, recording concerns, social implications, and whether controversy could threaten the feature’s  future.

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Take Control Books Publisher Joe Kissell continues our discussion of the OS27 releases, exploring Apple’s next-generation Siri and Apple Intelligence. Joe touches on including conversational context, on-screen awareness, cross-device continuity, and deeper access to personal information. He also explains where Apple’s generative AI falls short at the moment, why Image Playground isn’t up to his standards,, what users should expect from the new operating systems, and how Take Control’s new books cover the changes. (Part 2)

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Joe Kissell discusses a new approach to Take Control Books’s coverage of Apple’s latest operating systems, including separate books for macOS Golden Gate, iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, plus a cross-platform guide to Siri AI and Apple Intelligence. Joe explains the challenges of documenting changing betas, evaluates Apple’s emphasis on polish and bug fixes, and examines Liquid Glass and lingering problems in Contacts. (Part 1) 

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Our discussion of Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event sparks discussion of the Apple Watch audio intelligence, privacy, health monitoring, battery life, and the Ultra’s outdoor appeal. The MacVoices Live! panel also examines AirPods upgrades, the iPhone Duo’s unusual form factor, Apple’s evolving AI strategy C2 modem differences, and the significance of John Ternus taking a lead role in Apple’s keynote presentation. (Part 2)

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Apple’s 'Surprise and Shine' event sparks a lively debate over the new iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro lineup. The panel weighs the Duo’s foldable design, large display, durability, price, and potential to replace an iPad against the Pro Max’s camera improvements. From immediate buying decisions to first-generation caution, everyone has a different take on Apple’s latest hardware.

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The MacVoices Live!  examines Apple’s transition from Tim Cook to John Ternus, weighing Cook’s legacy, Apple’s dramatic financial growth, Vision Pro, and criticism of his tenure. They consider what Ternus’ engineering background could mean for hardware and software, while discussing Phil Schiller, Eddie Cue, other executive changes, succession planning, and the importance of preserving institutional […]

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The discussion of communication communication technologies continues as the panel of Chuck Joiner, Jeff Gamet, and Marty Jencius make the jump  from telegraphs and long-distance calls to texting, smartwatches, satellite connectivity, and possible implanted devices. How science fiction anticipated so many of today’s modern communications questions such as convenience, safety, privacy, tracking, and social change wrap […]

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As we approach the release of the newest iPhones, Chuck Joiner, Marty Jencius and Chuck Joiner look at how science fiction and popular culture imagined modern communication long before the technology existed. From early video-phone concepts and Dick Tracy to Star Trek, Get Smart, Space: 1999, and more, the panel examine fictional devices that anticipated smartphones, wearables, Bluetooth earbuds, video calls, authentication, mobile computing, and maybe even foreshadow what’s coming next. (Part 1) 

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This MacVoices Briefing compares the Insta360 Snap Selfie Screen with Light and SmallRig Phone Vlog Selfie Monitor, two solutions for framing shots while using an iPhone’s best camera. Factors in choosing include MagSafe mounting, wired versus Wi-Fi connections, screen size, touch controls, lighting, battery life, compatibility, portability, pricing, and flexibility. Chuck talks about how to determine help which monitor is best for your different shooting needs, and  how he solved the choice question. 

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Adam Engst explains why AI software development should be approached as an evolution, starting with safe, verifiable data analysis, advancing to simple scripts, and eventually building applications. He distinguishes programming from development, arguing that non-programmers can act as product managers who direct AI, demand security checks, define requirements, and create software tailored to problems existing apps do not solve. (3) 

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Our conversation with Adam Engst continues with an exploration of  how AI can help non-programmers build sophisticated software by following professional development practices. Adam explains using specifications, architecture documents, and AI-guided decisions to create reliable apps, then examines the approach his app, SetShot, takes to macOS settings, privacy, security, user feedback, Cloudflare, GitHub, and minimizing sensitive data collection. 

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Adam Engst looks back at HyperCard as an early tool that democratized software creation, then connects its legacy to today’s AI-assisted development. He outlines how Claude helped turn an idea for tracking macOS setting changes into a working Mac app, SetShot. Adam discusses Xcode, GitHub, rapid iteration, and the value of visual feedback in his development process, and how AI lowers programming barriers without eliminating the need for thought, judgment, and effort. 

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In the August 2026 MacVoices Update, Chuck outlines how a little time off slowed down some projects, reviews new episode artwork designed to better communicate each show’s subject, discusses why feedback is so important to what you hear and see, and delivers the Support Report form the month.  http://traffic.libsyn.com/maclevelten/MV26245.mp3 Show Notes: Support: Become a MacVoices […]

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