Photo by Alejandro Mendoza on Unsplash

Andy, Michael and Michael start off this episode with Apple’s new sky blue AirPods Max and Fitness+ service.  The power of effectively combining hardware and services is quite evident in Apple’s recent offerings.  The discussion turns to a possible future where Fitness+ becomes an app store for fitness services, much like the music learning services that enabled on GarageBand from artists such as John Legend and Ben Folds, but even more so because of how the iPhone could help determine proper positioning and form with the cameras and LiDAR.

The conversation then turns to Grinch Bots, and the various defenses against them.  The Cnet article describes such bots as those that buy up the available supply of the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S gaming consoles as soon as they are available on retailer websites.  Identifying which square has a stoplight or a crosswalk is not enough of a defense against these bots, and different retailers are trying other actions to thwart them.  There is even legislation being considered in the UK on this subject.

Speaking of games & gaming platforms, you can play version of Doom using the Pico-8 emulator, or stretch your mind even more with a quantum version of chess that makes use of superposition and entanglement of pieces.  Have a look at the show notes below to learn more.

Michael, Michael and Andy touch on the upcoming Dungeons and Dragons movie, and that conversation led to a point about Rona Jaffe’s novel Mazes and Monsters.  As it turned out, there was actual a made for television film based on Mazes and Monsters in 1982.

AR examples in this episode include a restaurant in China, and bringing Grougu to your desktop courtesy of Google.  

What are your favorite holiday movies?  Drop the Games at Work team a line on Twitter to @gamesatwork_biz and share!

Selected Links

AirPods Max – Sky Blue — https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-airpods/airpods-max/sky-blue 

iMore article: There’s an Apple Watch hidden in your AirPods Max and it’s very Apple — https://www.imore.com/theres-apple-watch-hidden-your-airpods-max-and-its-very-apple 

The Verge article: Apple Fitness Plus is now available — https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/14/22174574/apple-fitness-plus-watch-iphone-release-date-price 

Apple Fitness+ — https://www.apple.com/apple-fitness-plus/ 

Apple Support article: GarageBand Learn to Play — https://www.apple.com/shop/help/downloadable_software#Learn 

Cnet article: Walmart doesn’t want bots to snag your new PS5 or Xbox Series X — https://www.cnet.com/news/walmart-doesnt-want-bots-to-snag-your-new-ps5-or-xbox-series-x/ 

Metro article: UK politicians suggest new law to stop PS5 and Xbox Series X scalpers —