Old Mac Gang

Apple spread its fall Mac and iPad launch across the week: an OLED iPad mini, an M6 iMac, a 14-inch M6 MacBook Pro, and a "Pro and Tell" event in Los Angeles. Instead of quoting benchmarks, we ask which of it fits our budgets, our habits, and our patience for something new.

ARTICLES WE READ

Everything Apple Announced This Week So Far: New iPad and MacBooks (Engadget)

https://www.engadget.com/2298220/everything-apple-announced-ipad-macbook-pro-and-tell-event/

Apple Announces New iPad Mini With 8.5-Inch OLED Display, A20 Pro Chip, and More (MacRumors)

https://www.macrumors.com/2026/10/26/apple-announces-ipad-mini-with-oled-display/

Apple event LIVE: MacBook Pro M6 and iMac M6 just announced ahead of 'Pro and Tell' (Tom's Guide)

https://www.tomsguide.com/news/live/apple-oled-macbook-pro-pro-ipad-mini-8-pro-and-tell-event-live-updates

MacBook ProLed (Apple Newsroom)

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/10/apple-unveils-groundbreaking-macbook-pro-with-proled-xdr-display/

New MacBook Pro (MacRumors)

https://www.macrumors.com/2026/10/28/apple-new-macbook-pro/

QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS

1. What was your first reaction to a week of Apple announcements? What caught your eye, and what did you ignore?

2. What are you using today, and does anything this week make you want to replace it?

3. Is the all-in-one iMac still the right Mac for our generation?

4. Is a $699 iPad mini worth it, and who is it for?

5. Do we want to touch our Mac screen?

FIND US

YouTube: youtube.com/@OldMacGang

Substack: www.Substack.com/@ThePodTalkNetwork

Website: ThePodTalk.Net

Email: [email protected]

The Old Mac Gang discusses Apple’s “Welcome Home” announcements, what smart home devices are worth buying, and whether they can make everyday life and aging in place easier.

Articles

Welcome Home: Everything Apple Announced on October 13

https://www.macrumors.com/2026/10/13/apple-october-13-recap/

Apple’s “Welcome Home” Event

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/2026/10/13/apple-launch-event-october-2026/

Apple “Welcome home” Event: Three New Products Are Coming Tomorrow

https://9to5mac.com/2026/10/12/apple-welcome-home-event-three-new-products/

Apple Newsroom

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/

Questions We Asked

What was your first reaction to the Welcome Home announcements?

What do you have in your home today that is “smart,” and what do you actually use?

Of the three new devices, which would you buy or recommend to someone our age, and which would you skip?

Do we need a screen on the counter or wall, or is the iPhone already that screen?

Are we comfortable talking to the house, and with devices that recognize who is in it?

Who is this for: us, our kids, or our parents, and does it make aging in place easier?

Connect with the Gang

Peter: @ppetto on Instagram, Facebook, X, Tumblr, Bluesky, and Mastodon

Charlie: [email protected]; CyberchuckTX across social platforms

Chris: ChrisWesselmanPhotography.com | Bluesky and Flickr: @ChrisW47-az | Threads and Instagram: @chris.wesselman

Bob: TMUG.com, ThinkBob.com, DangerousBobPhotography.com | Bluesky: @ThinkBob

Marty Jencius: @jencius on Bluesky and Mastodon | ThePodTalk.Net

Show Contact Information

YouTube: youtube.com/@OldMacGang

Substack: Substack.com/@ThePodTalkNetwork

Website: ThePodTalk.Net

Email: [email protected]

Apple's fall lineup is a guessing game again: an OLED iPad mini, M6 iMac, new Apple TV, HomePod mini, maybe a touchscreen MacBook. Rather than predict, each of us brings one question about what matters to us.

Apple Event This October? These 7 New Products Expected Next Month (MacRumors, Sept. 22)

https://www.macrumors.com/2026/09/22/apple-event-october-2026-what-to-expect/

Fall 2026 Apple Product Rumors (Cult of Mac, Sept. 14)

https://cultofmac.com/news/apple-products-fall-2026-rumors

When Is Apple's Next Event? (Macworld, Oct. 1)

https://www.macworld.com/article/672537/when-is-apples-next-event.html

Apple Newsroom (Apple)

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/

• YouTube: youtube.com/@OldMacGang

• Substack: www.Substack.com/@ThePodTalkNetwork

• Website: ThePodTalk.Net

• Email: [email protected]

The Gang weighs Apple's $699 MacBook Neo against a new M5 Air, an Apple refurb, and the perennial used M1 bargain to help you buy a Mac that lasts five or six years without paying for power you'll never use.

Section 1 — Meet the MacBook Neo: What $699 Buys

• MacBook Neo (Apple)
  https://www.apple.com/macbook-neo/
• MacBook Neo: Should You Buy? Reviews and More (MacRumors)
  https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/macbook-neo/
• Apple MacBook Neo Review: Surprisingly good and capable for $599, with one big flaw (Notebookcheck)
  https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-MacBook-Neo-Review-Surprisingly-good-and-capable-laptop-for-599-with-one-big-flaw.1247679.0.html
• MacBook Neo Review — 6 Months Later
  https://6monthslater.net/2026/09/macbook-neo-review/

Section 2 — The M-Series Case, Including That M1 in the Closet

• First MacBook Neo Benchmarks Are In: How It Compares to the M1 MacBook Air (MacRumors)
  https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/05/macbook-neo-first-benchmarks/
• Is the MacBook Air M1 Still Worth Buying in 2026? (BGR)
  https://www.bgr.com/2215378/is-macbook-air-m1-still-worth-buying-in-2026/
• Buying a Used M1 MacBook Air in 2026: Still a Steal or a Security Risk? (The Mac Observer)
  https://www.macobserver.com/tips/round-ups/buying-a-used-m1-macbook-air-in-2026-still-a-steal-or-a-security-risk/
• Are Older MacBooks Still Worth Buying in 2026? (Engadget)
  https://www.engadget.com/2255893/older-macbook-still-worth-buying-2026/

Section 3 — The Fine Print That Actually Decides It

• Best MacBook for 2026: Air vs Pro vs Neo Compared (Macworld)
  https://www.macworld.com/article/667144/best-macbook-air-vs-pro-neo-compared.html
• Which MacBook Should You Buy in 2026? Five Best Apple Laptops Ranked (Tom's Guide)
  https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/macbooks/i-review-laptops-for-a-living-and-this-is-now-the-macbook-i-recommend-to-most-people
• Get Started with Accessibility Features on Mac (Apple Support)
  https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/get-started-with-accessibility-features-mh35884/mac

Section 4 — Where and How to Buy It

• Certified Refurbished Mac (Apple)
  https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac

Where to Find the Gang

• Charlie — [email protected] | "CyberchuckTX" in many places
• Chris — ChrisWesselmanPhotography.com | Bluesky and Flickr: @ChrisW47-az | Threads/Instagram: @chris.wesselman
• Bob — TMUG.com | ThinkBob.com | DangerousBobPhotography.com | Bluesky: @ThinkBob
• Marty Jencius — @jencius on Bluesky and Mastodon | ThePodTalk.Net

Contact the Show

• YouTube: youtube.com/@OldMacGang
• Substack: www.Substack.com/@ThePodTalkNetwork
• Website: ThePodTalk.Net
• Email: [email protected]

The Gang runs four rounds of favorites from Apple’s September 14 releases—macOS 27 Golden Gate, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and watchOS 27—naming the headline and hidden features worth trying yourself.

Petapixel and Tyler Stalman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYH9RPdRfGs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yozFyE8Mb5o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6avuE41-VA (videographers)

Section 1: macOS 27Golden Gate

•      macOS27 Golden Gate: New features, release date, beta, compatible Macs (Macworld)https://www.macworld.com/article/3139330/macos-27-mac-features-siri-apple-intelligence-release-date-compatibility.html

•      macOS 27 Golden Gate now available, here is everything new (9to5Mac)https://9to5mac.com/2026/09/14/macos-27-golden-gate-now-available-here-is-everything-new/

•      What's new in the updates for macOS 27 Golden Gate (Apple Support)https://support.apple.com/en-us/127257

•      macOS 27 Golden Gate New Features: 7 to Try Today (Gadget Hacks)https://apple.gadgethacks.com/news/macos-27-golden-gate-new-features-7-to-try-today/

•      macOS 27 Golden Gate Update: The Best New Features (Geeky Gadgets)https://www.geeky-gadgets.com/macos-27-golden-gate-features-2026/

Section 2: iOS 27

•      iOS 27 Now Available: 10 Features to Try First (MacRumors)https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-27-features-to-try-first/

•      50 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27 (MacRumors)https://www.macrumors.com/2026/09/15/50-new-things-iphone-can-do-ios-27/

•      iOS 27 now available: New features, compatible iPhones, and more (9to5Mac)https://9to5mac.com/2026/09/14/ios-27-now-available-features-compatible-iphones/

Section 3: iPadOS 27

•      About iPadOS 27 Updates (Apple Support)https://support.apple.com/en-us/149075

•      iPadOS 27 (Apple)https://www.apple.com/os/ipados/

•      iPadOS 27 Released: Top New Non-AI Features (Android Headlines)https://www.androidheadlines.com/2026/09/ipados-27-new-features-siri-ai.html

•      Apple releases iPadOS 27, here's what's new for iPad (9to5Mac)https://9to5mac.com/2026/09/14/apple-releases-ipados-27-heres-whats-new-for-ipad/

Section 4: watchOS 27

•      Apple Releases watchOS 27 With Siri AI, New Watch Face, Smart Stack Improvements andMore (MacRumors)      https://www.macrumors.com/2026/09/14/apple-releases-watchos-27/

•      watchOS 27 is live: 7 new features to try first on your Apple Watch (Tom's Guide)https://www.tomsguide.com/wellness/smartwatches/watchos-27-is-live-7-new-features-to-try-first-on-your-apple-watch

•      watchOS 27: Here are Apple's full release notes (9to5Mac)https://9to5mac.com/2026/09/10/watchos-27-here-are-apples-full-release-notes-for-new-update/

•      watchOS 27: Everything We Know (MacRumors)https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/watchos-27/

Contact the Show

Web: ThePodTalk.Net

Email: [email protected]

Apple held its annual fall event -- "Surprise and Shine" -- on September 9, 2026. The Old Mac Gang gathers to react to what Apple unveiled, how it compared to the pre-show predictions and leaks, and what it all means for Mac users and the Apple ecosystem.

·  New Apple CEO unveils latest iPhone lineup,including a foldable model called Duo
https://apnews.com/article/fd35312e6d894d5f3b055b3d62f22cd2

·  Live: Apple debuts iPhone Duo, its firstfoldable iPhone
https://www.axios.com/2026/09/09/apple-live-updates-foldable-iphone-duo-18

·  Everything Apple announced at its fall iPhoneevent, from the foldable iPhone Duo to an always-listening Apple Watch
https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/09/everything-apple-announced-at-its-fall-iphone-event-from-the-foldable-iphone-duo-to-an-always-listening-apple-watch/

·  Everything Apple Announced: iPhone Duo,iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch, AirPods 5
https://www.wired.com/story/everything-apple-announced-september-2026/

·  Everything Apple announced at its Surpriseand Shine event
https://www.macworld.com/article/3228054/surprise-and-shine-apple-event-live-blog-iphone-18-pro-folding-duo-airpods.html

·  Apple unveils iPhone Duo
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/09/apple-unveils-iphone-duo/

·  Apple debuts iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 ProMax
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/09/apple-debuts-iphone-18-pro-and-iphone-18-pro-max/

·  Introducing Apple Watch Series 12, with theall-new Health Sensing System
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/09/introducing-apple-watch-series-12-with-the-all-new-health-sensing-system/

·  Apple unveils Apple Watch Ultra 4
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/09/apple-unveils-apple-watch-ultra-4/

·  Apple introduces AirPods 5, featuringbest-in-class open-ear Active Noise Cancellation
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/09/apple-introduces-airpods-5-with-best-in-class-open-ear-active-noise-cancellation/

Design for iPhone Duo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do3UqxfYc3I

Youtube.com/@Fade toChat
[email protected]

ThePodTalk.Net

The Gang takes an honest look at ebooks and audiobooks on the Apple gear you already own — making the type behave, borrowing free from your library, and listening the way you like it.

LINKS FROM TONIGHT'S SHOW

Read books in the Books app on iPhone (Apple Support)

https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/read-books-iphc1af7c57/ios

Read or listen to text in apps with Accessibility Reader on iPhone (Apple Support)

https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/read-listen-text-apps-accessibility-reader-iph406a46ab8/ios

Access books on other Apple devices in the Books app (Apple Support)

https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/access-books-on-other-apple-devices-iphb886e1752/ios

Getting started with Libby (Libby Help)

https://help.libbyapp.com/en-us/6103.htm

hoopla digital — Help and Getting Started

https://www.hoopladigital.com/help

Project Gutenberg — Free eBooks

https://www.gutenberg.org/

Standard Ebooks — Free and Liberated Ebooks

https://standardebooks.org/

Listen to audiobooks in the Books app on iPhone (Apple Support)

https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/listen-to-audiobooks-iphac1971248/ios

Libro.fm — Audiobooks That Support an Independent Bookstore

https://libro.fm/

Send PDF, EPUB and Other Files to Your Kindle (Amazon)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G5WYD9SAF7PGXRNA

Calibre — Ebook Management for the Mac

https://calibre-ebook.com/

Youtube.com/@OldMacGang

ThePodTalk.Net

[email protected]

The Old Mac Gang goes back to basics with the iPhone's most overlooked app — the Phone app itself — covering iOS 26's unified Calls list, Call Screening, Wi‑Fi Calling, and built-in call recording.

Mac Studio Gets Update to M5Max and M5 Ultra (AppleInsider)

https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/08/25/mac-studio-gets-update-to-m5-max-and-m5-ultra

New Mac Studio M5 Max and M5Ultra: Everything You Need to Know (Macworld)

https://www.macworld.com/article/2973459/2026-mac-studio-m5-release-date-specs-price-rumors.html

Apple Unveils New Mac Miniand Mac Studio With Updated Chips (Forbes Vetted)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/2026/08/25/apple-unveils-new-mac-mini-and-mac-studio-with-updated-chips/

Make a call on iPhone (AppleSupport)

https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/make-a-call-iph3c993cbc/ios

Ten Useful New Features iniOS 26's Phone App (Austin MacWorks)

https://austinmacworks.com/ten-useful-new-features-in-ios-26s-phone-app/

Set up Voicemail on iPhone(Apple Support)

https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/set-up-voicemail-iph3c99490e/ios

Screen and block calls oniPhone (Apple Support)

https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/screen-and-block-calls-iphe4b3f7823/ios

Manage unknown callers oniPhone (Apple Support)

https://support.apple.com/en-us/111106

iOS 26's new Phone app won meover with two excellent features (9to5Mac)

https://9to5mac.com/2026/05/01/ios-26s-new-phone-app-won-me-over-with-two-excellent-features/

Make a call with Wi‑FiCalling (Apple Support)

https://support.apple.com/en-us/108066

Make and receive phone callson Mac, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro (Apple Support)

https://support.apple.com/en-us/102405

How to record and transcribea call on iPhone (Apple Support)

https://support.apple.com/en-us/121583

Peter — @ppetto most everywhere

Charlie —[email protected], and "CyberchuckTX" in many places

Chris — ChrisWesselmanPhotography.com (https://chriswesselmanphotography.com)| Bluesky and Flickr: @ChrisW47-az | Threads/Instagram: @chris.wesselman

Bob — TMUG.com (http://tmug.com), ThinkBob.com (http://thinkbob.com),DangerousBobPhotography.com (http://dangerousbobphotography.com)

Marty Jencius — @jencius on Bluesky and Mastodon | ThePodTalk.Net

YouTube: youtube.com/@OldMacGang

Website: ThePodTalk.Net

Email: [email protected]

The Old Mac Gang panel provides their favorite keyboard shortcuts and ways to integrate them into your workflow.

SECTION 1 --- The Essentials: Core macOS Shortcuts Everyone Should Know

1. Mac keyboard shortcuts (Apple Support)

https://support.apple.com/en-us/102650

2. Mac Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete Cheat Sheet (KeyShortcuts)

https://keyshortcuts.net/blog/mac-keyboard-shortcuts

3. 100+ Time Saving Mac Keyboard Shortcuts for 2026 (Tech by Davey)

https://techbydavey.com/mac-keyboard-shortcuts/

SECTION 2 --- Beyond Copy and Paste: Window Management, Screenshots, and Spotlight

1. 60 Mac Keyboard Shortcuts That'll Instantly Speed Up Your Workflow (Apple Headlines)

https://www.appleheadlines.com/how-to-use-keyboard-shortcuts-mac/

2. The Ultimate Guide to Mac Keyboard Shortcuts (MacHow2)

https://machow2.com/keyboard-shortcuts-for-mac/

3. macOS Keyboard Shortcuts 2026 | Complete Cheat Sheet (FastShortcuts)

https://fastshortcuts.com/shortcuts/mac/

SECTION 3 --- Making Shortcuts Your Own: Customizing and Third-Party Tools

1. Create keyboard shortcuts for apps on Mac (Apple Support)

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/create-keyboard-shortcuts-for-apps-mchlp2271/mac

2. Use macOS keyboard shortcuts (Apple Support)

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/keyboard-shortcuts-mchlp2262/mac

3. Best Mac Keyboard Shortcut Apps (TextExpander)

https://textexpander.com/blog/mac-keyboard-shortcut-app

Additional mention:

Dock Star app

www.dockstar.app

PANELIST CONTACT INFORMATION (Where can we find you?)

Peter --- @ppetto most everywhere

Chris --- ChrisWesselmanPhotography.com (https://chriswesselmanphotography.com)

Bluesky and Flickr: @ChrisW47-az

Threads/Instagram: @chris.wesselman

Bob --- TMUG.com (http://tmug.com), ThinkBob.com (http://thinkbob.com), DangerousBobPhotography.com (http://dangerousbobphotography.com)

Marty Jencius --- @jencius on Bluesky and Mastodon | ThePodTalk.Net

SHOW CONTACT INFORMATION

YouTube: youtube.com/@OldMacGang

Website: ThePodTalk.Net

Email: [email protected]

No topic tonight — just gear. All five panelists (Charlie, Chris, Marty, Peter, and Bob) bring one app they actually use, and the whole crew weighs in on every pick.

Apps covered:

1. The Brain — https://www.thebrain.com/ (Charlie's pick)
2. Time Machine Editor — https://tclementdev.com/timemachineeditor/ (Chris's pick)
3. Reading List — https://marc.io/readinglist (Marty's pick)
4. CleanShot X — https://cleanshot.com/ (Peter's pick)
5. SetApp — https://setapp.com (Bob's pick)

Find us:YouTube: youtube.com/@OldMacGangWebsite: ThePodTalk.NetEmail: [email protected]