This week, with rumors of more products in the pipeline, Federico and John share what they want most from Apple before the end of the year.

On AppStories+, Federico experiments with lightning fast inference and iteration using Cerebras for scripting.

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This week, Federico and John demystify Model Context Protocol (MCP), covering how it works, where it’s heading, and practical examples of what it can do.

On AppStories+, Federico and John experiment with whether AI can make sense of the information firehose.

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Links and Show Notes

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This week, Federico and John follow up after a week with new Apple hardware and dig into watchOS and visionOS 26.

On AppStories+, John is mixing up his link and data organization systems - again.

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• Claude – Get 50% off Claude Pro, including access to Claude Code.

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• watchOS 26: The MacStories Review

• Moving From the Apple Watch Ultra 1 to the 3

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This week, Federico and John shared their first impressions of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and AirPods Pro 3.

On AppStories+, Federico asks John about his plans to unwind now that his macOS review is out.

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• Things – A fresh new look for OS 26

• iPhone 17 Pro Max

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This week, Federico and John discuss their annual OS reviews. Federico digs into the details of iOS and iPadOS 26, while John considers what macOS 26 Tahoe means for users.

On AppStories+, John updates listeners on what he bought after last week’s Apple event and why.

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• Widgetsmith: Make your phone your own with custom widgets and wallpapers. Ready for Liquid Glass in iOS 26. Use our link for a free month of Widgetsmith Premium.

• iOS and iPadOS 26: The MacStories Review by Federico Viticci

• iOS and iPadOS 26 Review Extras eBooks, Drafts Actions, Apple Intelligence Shortcuts, and a Special Edition of MacStories Weekly

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This week, Federico and John do their annual pre-Apple event “vibe check,” discussing what they expect and hope to see at the upcoming September Apple event. They explore the rumored iPhone 17 lineup, AirPods Pro 3, and debate the Apple Watch Ultra. Plus, they share thoughts on the prospect of an Apple TV with Apple Intelligence capabilities, HomePods, and updates to AirTags.

On AppStories+, John and Federico explore the divisiveness surrounding the Liquid Glass update coming to macOS Tahoe.

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• Claude – Get 50% off Claude Pro, including access to Claude Code.

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This week, AppStories returns with details on the projects Federico and John worked on during their breaks.

On AppStories+, the importance of breaks and finding ways to unwind.

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• Steamclock – We make great apps. Design and development, from demos to details.

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• Set up a Notion database for his work.

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• Updated his audio setup with the MOTU M4 audio interface

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This week, Federico and John pick and choose their favorite AI app features to imagine a better AI app future, critiquing the leading LLM apps along the way. And, as a bonus, John explains why read-later apps should support Shortcuts and other automation schemes.

On AppStories+, the critique continues with a look at how Todoist could be improved.

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• Factor – Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code appstories50off

• Federico and John take a close look at what works and what doesn’t with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, NotebookLM and other AI apps.

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This week, Federico and John share their experiences with iPadOS and macOS 26, which are now available as part of Apple’s public beta program.

On AppStories+, Federico and John discuss the state of engagement bait posting about Apple and how it’s affecting the discourse about the company and its products.

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• Turbulence Forecast – Know before you go. Get detailed turbulence forecasts for your exact route, now available 5 days in advance. Learn more at turbulenceforecast.com.

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• Thoughts on iPadOS 26 Hello, It’s Good to Be Back

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This week, John is joined by Brendon Bigley to explore the wide world of videogame companion apps from media trackers to game specific companion apps.

On AppStories+, John and Brendon dig into 16 years of App Store history to compile a list of games that have defined gaming on the iPhone.

Also available on YouTube here.

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• Game Trackers

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• ACNH Travel Guide

• Sofa

• Ally Pro

• Brendon’s Animal Crossing video

• Wavelengths.online

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