Full Stack Creator

John Gruber joins Tyler and David to talk about Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook Pro, what touch and pen input could mean for creative work, and the display technology behind CMF 2026. They also get into photography, the character of the Ricoh GR, and Chromagraph Camera—the new iPhone app connected to filmmaker Rian Johnson and cinematographer Steve Yedlin.

Special Guest: John Gruber.

Tyler flew out to Apple's event in California and got hands-on time with the new MacBook Pro. Yes, it has an OLED touchscreen. We get into what Apple actually announced, why Steve Jobs said touchscreen Macs don't work, the Dynamic Island, the weight drop, and whether the roughly $400 upgrade is worth it. Plus the pro workflow demos from the event, a quick buyer's guide, the new Creator Studio updates for Final Cut Pro, and Tyler's iPhone Duo follow-up.

Hands on with the iPhone Duo

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Custom AI-built tools are starting to solve the everyday problems that off-the-shelf software leaves behind. A Final Cut copy-and-paste helper, a client production app, and a thumbnail mockup tool show what photographers, filmmakers, and small teams can build around their own workflows. ChatGPT and Claude offer different ways to get started, while AI-assisted Blender animation keeps cameras, lighting, and assets editable. There’s also a look at agents that manage email and create personal podcast feeds, where they still fall short, and why creative judgment matters as software gets easier to make.

Why add a variable aperture to the iPhone now? Apple’s camera team explains the thinking behind the iPhone 18 Pro, from manual focus and automatic ISO to film grain, halation, and Apple Reference Image. The conversation also covers the iPhone Duo and the creative possibilities of its folding design.

Tyler's presets and LUTs http://stalman.com/shop

A closer look at the iPhone 18 Pro cameras after the review: what variable aperture really changes, where Apple’s film styles fall short, and how the new Pro Controls feel in everyday use. Plus, viewer questions about AI reframing, lens flare, telephoto quality, and whether it’s worth upgrading.

What creatives got out of the iPhone 17 Pro and how they plan to use the Duo & 18 Pro

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Tyler went hands-on with Apple’s new iPhones at Apple Park. Now he joins David to unpack the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Duo, and what Apple’s announcements mean for photographers, filmmakers, and solo creators.

We explore the camera upgrades, variable aperture, photographic styles, folding design, and real-world shooting workflows—with footage from the event and Tyler’s own photo examples. Which features will actually help you create, and which iPhone makes sense for your work?

Tyler's presets and LUTs http://stalman.com/shop

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Apple’s surprise Mac Mini and Mac Studio updates arrive just before iPhone season, accompanied by a casual social-first launch video. The M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini options make a strong case for creators who want a compact desktop for video editing, while aftermarket SSD upgrades offer a way around Apple’s expensive storage tiers. The M5 Ultra Mac Studio pushes further into visual effects, AI-assisted photo and video editing, and private local AI, with high-memory configurations and the option to cluster machines for larger models. USB-C genlock adds a specialized but genuinely useful tool for frame-perfect sync in multi-camera shoots, screen recordings, and virtual production.

Tyler's presets and LUTs http://stalman.com/shop

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Now the initial hype has died down, here's what we really think of the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P

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Special Guest: Kai W.