As part of the MacVoices Live! holiday party, Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Jeff Gamet, Ben Roethig, Jim Rea, and Brittany Smith discuss the Apple Watch situation. Apple's rare acknowledgment sparks speculation on sales strategy and complicates those looking to purchase the device for the holidays. The panel also reviews the developments in the messaging encryption controversy, condemning misinformation from politicians and media. Doubting significant regulatory changes, the conversation highlights the importance of factual media coverage. 

 

This edition of MacVoices is supported by the MacVoices Holiday Gift Guides. Holiday conversations and great gear picks by our panelists. Check them out: http://MacVoices.com/HolidayGiftGuides

Show Notes:

Chapters:

0:00:35 MacVoices Live Holiday Party Begins 0:03:19 Holiday Decorations and Red Shirts 0:07:22 Speculation on Software Alterations and Apple Watch Sales 0:09:10 Implications of the Court Case on Apple Watch Sales Worldwide 0:09:52 Apple's Late Announcement and Implications of Biden Administration 0:13:05 Request for Recall and Hardware Changes for Apple Watches 0:13:20 The Apple Watch Debate: Can Apple Brick Purchased Watches? 0:15:57 Biden's Potential Veto and Massimo CEO's Power Struggle 0:16:16 Stalled Negotiations with Massimo 0:18:00 Apple's Unwillingness to Reach a Fair Deal 0:19:26 Apple Watch Controversy and Urgency to Purchase 0:21:47 Keeping an Eye on the Topic 0:22:01 Frustration with the Overplayed Beeper Topic 0:23:32 Mainstream Media's Lack of Knowledge and Nonsense Reporting 0:26:19 Potential Support for Enacting DMA-like Laws in the US 0:29:01 Concerns about Apple's Monopoly and Antitrust Subcommittee's involvement 0:30:58 Apple Haters and Publicity Stunts in Congress 0:33:17 The Mainstream Media's Role in Ignoring Facts and Glossing Over Details

Links:

Apple to halt Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 sales in the US this week  https://9to5mac.com/2023/12/18/apple-halting-apple-watch-series-9-and-apple-watch-ultra-2-sales/ Apple could avoid US Apple Watch ban with software update https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/12/19/apple-could-avoid-us-apple-watch-ban-with-software-update

Masimo CEO on Looming Apple Watch Ban: 'These Guys Have Been Caught With Their Hands in the Cookie Jar’  https://www.macrumors.com/2023/12/19/masimo-ceo-on-apple-watch-ban/

The slow death of Beeper continues, and more senators want to get involved  https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/12/18/the-slow-death-of-beeper-continues-and-more-senators-want-to-get-involved

"Beeper Mini" app lets Android users send texts to iPhones with blue iMessage bubbles  https://youtu.be/BeJs0XOvFrw?si=HwVFnPoA0TaIJ3Xh

Guests:

Brian Flanigan-Arthurs is an educator with a passion for providing results-driven, innovative learning strategies for all students, but particularly those who are at-risk. He is also a tech enthusiast who has a particular affinity for Apple since he first used the Apple IIGS as a student. You can contact Brian on twitter as @brian8944. He also recently opened a Mastodon account at @[email protected].

Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer’s Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @[email protected] on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet.

David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @[email protected]

Jim Rea built his own computer from scratch in 1975, started programming in 1977, and has been an independent Mac developer continuously since 1984. He is the founder of ProVUE Development, and the author of Panorama X, ProVUE's ultra fast RAM based database software for the macOS platform. He’s been a speaker at MacTech, MacWorld Expo and other industry conferences. Follow Jim at provue.com and via @[email protected] on Mastodon.

Ben Roethig has been in the Apple Ecosystem since the System 7 Days. He is the a former Associate Editor with Geek Beat, Co-Founder of The Tech Hangout and Deconstruct and currently shares his thoughts on RoethigTech. Contact him on  Twitter and Mastodon.

Brittany Smith is a trained cognitive neuroscientist who provides ADD/ADHD, technology, and productivity coaching through her business, Devise and Conquer, along with companion video courses for folks with ADHD. She’s also the cofounder of The ADHD Guild, a community for nerdy folks with ADHD. She, herself, is a self-designated “well-rounded geek”. She can be found on Twitter as @addliberator, on Mastodon as @[email protected], and on YouTube with tech tips.

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00:00:34 MacVoices Live Holiday Party Begins 00:03:18 Holiday Decorations and Red Shirts 00:07:22 Speculation on Software Alterations and Apple Watch Sales 00:09:10 Implications of the Court Case on Apple Watch Sales Worldwide 00:09:52 Apple's Late Announcement and Implications of Biden Administration 00:13:04 Request for Recall and Hardware Changes for Apple Watches 00:13:20 The Apple Watch Debate: Can Apple Brick Purchased Watches? 00:15:56 Biden's Potential Veto and Massimo CEO's Power Struggle 00:16:15 Stalled Negotiations with Massimo 00:17:59 Apple's Unwillingness to Reach a Fair Deal 00:19:25 Apple Watch Controversy and Urgency to Purchase 00:21:46 Keeping an Eye on the Topic 00:22:00 Frustration with the Overplayed Beeper Topic 00:23:32 Mainstream Media's Lack of Knowledge and Nonsense Reporting 00:26:19 Potential Support for Enacting DMA-like Laws in the US 00:29:00 Concerns about Apple's Monopoly and Antitrust Subcommittee's involvement 00:30:57 Apple Haters and Publicity Stunts in Congress 00:33:16 The Mainstream Media's Role in Ignoring Facts and Glossing Over Details