Basic AF: a (mostly) tech podcast

A Budget MacBook, iPad Updates & Going Analog with Field Notes


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Apple's dropping a wave of new products this week — and Tom and Jeff break down everything that's expected: a budget MacBook starting around $600, an iPhone 16E follow-up, iPad updates for the non-Pro models, and possible MacBook Pro upgrades with M5 Pro and Max chips. It's a preview packed with speculation, opinions, and the occasional tangent about fingerprints on laptop screens.

Then things get analog. Tom just joined Jeff in the Field Notes notebook club, and they talk about why a pocket-sized paper notebook has become a surprisingly useful tool alongside all the digital gear. They also cover two weather apps worth knowing about — Acme Weather (from the Dark Sky team) and what's new in Carrot Weather 6.4.

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Links from the show:

  • Field Notes notebooks & subscription: https://fieldnotesbrand.com
  • Acme Weather app: https://acmeweather.com
  • Carrot Weather: https://www.meetcarrot.com/weather/
  • Is Apple Notes Holding You Back? (Press Pause with Bill McLean, featuring Tom)
  • GoFundMe for Aliyah (Jeff's bartender friend who lost everything in an apartment fire)

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Contact Us

  • Drop us a line at [email protected]
  • You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
  • Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
  • Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
  • Tom has a new YouTube channel
  • Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design


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Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.

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Basic AF: a (mostly) tech podcastBy Tom Anderson & Jeff Battersby