MacStories Unwind

This week, a surprise apology for rain, an update on our annual OS reviews and what we plan to do with our free time once they're finished, and a TV pick.

Links and Show Notes

• Italy apologizes for the weather
• 3BMeteo chiede scusa: "Abbiamo sbagliato troppo. Tanti errori, previsioni talora inaffidabili. Miglioreremo". I commenti: "Poverini, qualcuno li abbracci"
• Weather On The Way
• Apps for Your Next Road Trip
• Federico and John are nearing the OS review finish line and have some feelings
• John: Good, but frustrated and tired
• Federico: Feeling great
• Saved media for after review season:
• Federico
• Balatro+ coming to Apple Arcade September 26, 2024
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• Games to finish:
• Dragon's Quest XI
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Dragon's Dogma
• Hades II
• 1,000x Resist
• Minishoot Adventures
• Steamworld Heist II
• Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo
• Another Crab's Treasure
• Unicorn Overlord
• Editor's Note: Yes, Federico is planning to play all the games of 2024 this fall
• John
• Lady in the Lake on Apple TV+
• The Plucky Squire
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• Ace Attorney Investigations Collection
• Also mentioned:
• Sofa
• Sequel
• TV Forecast
• James Turner
• Rebecca Stone
• Home Screen: Rebecca Stone
• CRKD Nitro Deck+
• Mobapad M6HD
• Sunny on Apple TV+

Picks

• Federico's Pick:
• Only Murders in the Building, Season 4 on Disney+/Hulu
• Trailer
• Steve Martin to retire soon

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This week, John researches a local dive bar, as you do, before recommending gadgets that aren't computers or videogame consoles and chatting about Loot, Season 2.

Links and Show Notes

Too Dive-y

• It doesn't get much divier than .

Favorite Gadgets That Aren't Computers or Videogame Consoles

• John's Picks
• LG C2 55" OLED TV
• Breville Precision Brewer Drip Coffee Machine

Federico

• DeLonghi EC9355M La Specialista Prestigio Espresso Machine

Picks

• John's Pick:
• Loot, Season 2 on Apple TV+

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This week, John and Federico discuss peanut butter, the limits of testing gadgets in public, and Federico's latest Spotify experiment before turning to a movie and two music recommendations.

This episode is sponsored by:

• FastMinder – The popular app designed for tracking intermittent fasting, created by Funn Media, the developers behind other successful health & fitness apps like WaterMinder, Calory or FitnessView.

Links and Show Notes

Peanut Butter Sandwiches

The Limits of Public Gadget Testing

• Insta360 X4
• Insta360 Chest Strap

Revisiting Spotify

• Spotify

Picks

• John's Pick:
• Furiosa
• Streaming on Max
• For purchase or rent
• Federico's Picks:
• F–1 Trillion by Post Malone
• Forever by Charly Bliss

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This week, Federico and John discuss alligator races and distraction free E-Ink thermostats for writers, plus a TV show pick and three videogame recommendations.

Links and Show Notes

Alligator and E-Ink Follow-Up

• How to survive an alligator attack – or better yet, avoid one entirely

Here are some more survival tips from various wildlife departments and other experts:

If you can escape on land, run away in a straight line. Experts debunk the advice to zig-zag. Gators can move really fast on land, but only in short bursts and distances before they tire out.

• BYOK

Picks

• John's Pick:
• Presumed Innocent on ATV
• Federico's Picks:
• 1000x Resist
• Steamworld Heist II
• Minishoot Adventures

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This week, John and Federico return to the animal kingdom and share their E-ink device hot takes, along with a movie pick.

Snakes, Alligators, and Bears, Oh My!

• Alligator found on dark road north of Charlotte, far from its known range, NC cops say

E-Ink Readers

• Boox Tab Ultra
• Boox Palma
• Boox Go Color 7

Picks

• John's Pick:
• Civil War

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This week, John is joined by Devon Dundee to talk about media tracking strategies and share three TV series picks.

Links and Show Notes

Media Tracking Strategies

• Sequel
• Sofa
• GameTrack
• MusicHarbor
• TV Forecast
• Devon's Shortcut:Watch History Journal 2
• Also mentioned: Collections

Picks

• Devon's Picks:
• Lessons in Chemistry
• Trailer
• Mr. Robot
• Trailer
• John's Pick:
• Sunny
• Trailer

Follow Devon Dundee's Work

• Website: devondundee.com
• Podcast: Magic Rays of Light
• Mastodon: @devondundee
• Threads: @devondundee

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This week, John decides to take the iPad-only travel plunge, and Federico advises on which gaming handhelds to bring on a trip.

Links and Show Notes

Summer Travel and Tech

• John's Tavel Setup
• 11" iPad Pro
• Magic Keyboad Case
• EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter with GaN 75W Charger
• Airalo eSIMs (Use JOHN64205 for $3 off)
• Nintendo Switch OLED
• Miyoo Mini A30
• Federico's Travel Setup
• Waterfield City Slicker for the Steam Deck
• Plugable 5-in–1 Thunderbolt 4 Hub
• XREAL Air AR Glasses
• The latest update to the MacStories Setups page

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This week, John is joined by Jonathan Reed for some travel picks for John's upcoming trip to London, plus a movie, TV show, and Irish band.

Links and Show Notes

Jonathan's London Travel Picks

• Walk down the Southbank, from Greenwich to Westminster
• Introducing London: a walk along the South Bank
• Thames Clipper, from Greenwich to Westminster
• Official website
• The view from Primrose Hill
• Apple Maps location
• The Royal Parks: Primrose Hill
• Abbey Road
• Apple Maps location
• Wikipedia
• Tate Modern
• Apple Maps location
• Official website
• Four Quarters
• Official website
• The Barbican
• Apple Maps location
• Official Website
• Slough House - Spy Write
• Columbia Flower Market
• Apple Maps location
• Official website
• London Fields
• Apple Maps location
• Wikipedia
• Pophams Bakery – around the corner from the Hackney Empire
• Apple Maps location
• Official website
• John's Pick:
• Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
• Trailer
• Stream on Max
• Rent or buy on Apple TV
• Jonathan's Picks:
• We Are Lady Parts
• Trailer
• Fontaines D.C.
• On Apple Music

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This week, the Umarell return and a bay leaf mystery must be solved with technology. Plus, we have summertime movie and TV picks.

Links and Show Notes

Unplugged Segment

• The Umarell
• Eufy Cameras
• Home Base 3
• Eufy Cam 2C
• Eufy Cam 2C Pro
• Eufy Cam 2 Pro

Picks

• John's Pick:
• Trigger Warning on Netflix
• Trailer
• Federico's Pick:
• The Bear, Season 3 on Hulu
• Trailer

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This week, Federico and John look back at the first half of 2024 and pick their favorite TV shows, movies, videogames, music, and gadgets.

This episode is sponsored by:

• Sofa – Be More Intentional with Your Downtime

Best Mid-Year Picks

Our Mid-Year 2024 Top Media Picks

• TV
• John
• Fallout Season 1 on Amazon Prime
• Dark Matter on Apple TV+ - The Gentlemen
• Criminal Record
• Federico
• Young Sheldon, final season
• Games
• Federico
• Dragon's Dogma II
• Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• John
• Animal Well
• Hades II
• Balatro
• Pepper Grinder
• Movies
• John
• Godzilla Minus One
• Music
• Federico
• Howl Howl Gaff Gaff (Revisited) by Shout Out Louds
• POST HUMAN: NeX GEn by Bring Me the Horizon
• I Made You a Mixtape
• John
• The Sweater Club by Jelani Aryeh
• No Shame No Fame by Kindsight
• Gadget
• Federico
• Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses
• John
• 11" iPad Pro

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