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

Follow us on Mastodon

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Threads

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Instagram

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

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

Follow us on Mastodon

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Threads

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Instagram

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

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

Follow John and Federico on Mastodon

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow John and Federico on Threads

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow John and Federico on Instagram

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

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

Follow us on Mastodon

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Threads

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Instagram

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

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

Follow us on Mastodon

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Threads

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Instagram

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

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

Follow us on Mastodon

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Threads

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Instagram

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

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

Follow us on Mastodon

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Threads

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Instagram

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

This week, John and Federico explain how they unwind after WWDC and how they think about MacStories’ family of podcasts before recommending a comedy series, action movie, and album.

Links and Show Notes

Unplugged Segment

• Unwinding after WWDC
• Raleigh Retro Gamers Summer Expo 2024
• Limited Run Games
• Limited Run Games is opening an ’80s-themed physical game store
• A Feature Not a Product
• MacStories’ family of podcasts
• Sigmund Judge’s Apple TV Go story
• Related episode of Magic Rays of Light

Picks

• Federico’s Pick:
• The Neighborhood, Season 1 - 6
• Streaming on Paramount+, Amazon Prime, and CBS
• John’s Pick:
• Fast X
• The Sweater Club by Jelani Aryeh

Follow us on Mastodon

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Threads

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Instagram

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

This week, John is joined by Jonathan Reed and Sigmund Judge for an explanation of how John missed his first episode of AppStories in seven years this week, an update from Sigmund on what’s coming to tvOS and Apple TV+, plus a bunch of picks from everyone.

Links and Show Notes

Unplugged Segment

• You can enter Apple Park, but you may never leave
• WWDC 2024: Keynote First Impressions
• WWDC 2024: Intelligence Briefings
• tvOS and TV+ with Sigmund Judge
• tvOS 18: The MacStories Overview

Picks

• Jonathan’s Picks:
• Eels Time! by The Eels
• Hot Rod
• Sigmund’s Pick
• House of the Dragon, Season 1
• John’s Pick:
• Anbernic RG35XXSP
• Related:
• Next week’s episode of NPC: Next Portable Console

Follow us on Mastodon

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Threads

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Instagram

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

This week, John’s off to WWDC, our MacStories Unwind playlist gets updated, two new podcasts join the MacStories podcast family, and a sad story about the USPS and Anbernic’s RG35XXSP. Plus an immersive video pick for the Vision Pro and a music pick.

This episode is sponsored by:

• Listen Later – Listen to the Articles as Podcasts

Links and Show Notes

Unplugged

• Updates to the MacStories Unwind 2024 playlist on Apple Music
• Two New MacStories Podcasts
• [https://www.macstories.net/npc/](NPC: Next Portable Console)
• Comfort Zone
• A sad delivery story about the Anbernic RG35XXSP

Picks

• John’s Pick:
• Parkour on Apple TV
• Federico’s Pick:
• Post Human NeX Gen by Bring Me the Horizon
• Federico’s New Automated Music Discovery System:
• Automation Academy: How I Reimagined Apple Music Discovery and Recommendations with Marvis Pro’s Custom Sections
• Marvis Pro

Follow us on Mastodon

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Threads

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees

Follow us on Instagram

• MacStories
• Federico Viticci
• John Voorhees