The Mac Observer's Daily Observations

The Mac Observer's Daily Observations episodes:

• 03.31.2023

  But Before We Go...

  The current incarnation of The Daily Observations Podcast is coming to an end. But there is still a show to do! TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk about rumors that Apple’s mixed reality headset is being delayed....

  
• 03.30.2023

  Anticipating WWDC 2023

  Apple has announced dates and details for WWDC 2023. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk over the remoteness of the conference and what the world can expect. Plus – Glitches with Apple Pay and (maybe) Apple Podcasts....

  
• 03.29.2023

  Changes for Developer Betas and Indie Podcasts

  Apple’s making it harder for non-developers to get developer betas of its latest software. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken with the story. Plus – Ken is worried that changes in Apple Podcasts are reducing independent podcast discoverability. He mixes...

  
• 03.28.2023

  Cook, China, and the Latest Round of Updates

  Travelin’ Tim’s taking his time in China. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk over a meeting between China’s commerce minister and Apple’s CEO. Also, Jeff has a look at the lates OS updates from Apple.

  
• 03.27.2023

  Mixed Feelings on Apple's MR Headset

  Both the New York Times and Bloomberg say there are certain misgivings around Apple’s mixed reality headset inside Apple. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk over the latest chatter. Plus China, the Steve Jobs audio chatbot, and...

  
• 03.24.2023

  Spring OS Updates Without a Product Event?

  Word is Apple is getting serious about having people back in the office three days a week. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken puzzle over the report. Plus – Jeff thinks Apple will release its next OS updates next...

  
• 03.23.2023

  Making Apple TV+ a Superstation?

  Changes to “Friday Night Baseball” on Apple TV make Ken wonder whether Apple is trying to turn Apple TV+ into a superstation. He and TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts bat the idea around. Plus – They talk over the random...

  
• 03.22.2023

  iPhone 14 Plus Fails at Failing

  Since its introduction, most in the tech press have deemed iPhone 14 Plus a failure. New numbers indicate otherwise, leaving most in the tech press to question how Apple got it so wrong? No. That doesn’t make sense. TMO writer...

  
• 03.21.2023

  Counting and Ditching iPhones

  Counterpoint Research has some staggering data on premium smartphones and iPhone. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken work those numbers. Plus – Is “iPhone” the generic name for “smartphone” in Russia?

  
• 03.20.2023

  Ted Lasso Goes to Washington

  Most of the cast of “Ted Lasso” is headed to the White House to talk mental health. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk about some of the great stories on Apple TV+. Plus – the “Steve Jobs” auction...

  
• 03.17.2023

  Sobering Thoughts from TSMC's Founder

  The founder of Apple’s chipmaking partner TSMC struck a worrying note this week when assessing US/Taiwanese relations. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk about that. Plus – Adventures in Sleep in the Apple Health app.

  
• 03.16.2023

  realityOS and Qualcomm's Smart Car Plans

  If it’s Thursday, it must be realityOS. Signs of Apple’s mixed reality moves turn up on GitHub. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to kick that around. Then, Qualcomm seems to be setting the smart car bar pretty high....

  
• 03.15.2023

  A Cold Front in Apple HR

  In a familiar sounding story, Bloomberg says Apple has slowed hiring considerably and rescheduled bonuses in an attempt to control costs. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken to discuss that. Plus – An email on Apple TV+ and the first...

  
• 03.14.2023

  Working Longer and Sleeping Better

  Apple and Foxconn are seeing better conditions for manufacturing in India. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk over the changes and consider worker issues. Plus – Our Apple Watches tell us we’re not getting enough sleep. We’ll look...

  
• 03.13.2023

  A Mixed-Reality and Mailbag Monday

  The Financial Times says Apple’s mixed-reality headset will be Tim Cook’s legacy. But rumor says not everyone at Apple thinks it’s the best idea. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to address the headset. Plus – Apple Music Classical,...

  
• 03.10.2023

  Playing the Really Oldies

  Apple Music Classical finally has a release date. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to go over that announcement. Plus – A rumor has iPad Pro seeing a huge price jump in 2024.

  
• 03.09.2023

  Making India Its Own Thing

  Secret so-and-sos say, internally, Apple is viewing India as its own sales region. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken to talk that over. Plus – secret sources say Apple has an opt-out clause on its ten-year MLS contract. Ken talks...

  
• 03.08.2023

  Announcements Inside the Yellow iPhone Announcement

  As had been rumored, Apple’s announced big yellow additions to the iPhone 14 line. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk over the Emergency SOS and Apple Pay announcements inside that announcement. Plus – Stay at the pub where...

  
• 03.07.2023

  Stories Financial Analysts Tell

  Goldman Sachs has traded an Apple bear for an Apple bull, and suddenly it’s a “Buy” with a $199 target. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk over tales told by financial analysts. Plus – “Ghosted” is ghosting the...

  
• 03.06.2023

  More iPhone Making for India and More Soccer for Everyone

  Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal have tales of more Apple manufacturing in India. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk those over. Plus a quick trip to the Apple Store and Apple’s soccer push continues.

  
• 03.03.2023

  Mailbag Monday! Now on Friday!

  TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken bring Mailbag Monday back for a second round. Email on China, AirDrop, and Passcodes. First though, the EC wants every messaging app to interoperate with every other messaging app. The TDO duo has...

  
• 03.02.2023

  Questioning the Apple Silicon Mac Pro and Apple’s China Exit

  Will there be an Apple Silicon Mac Pro? TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts wonders aloud about that. Plus – Ken wonders whether Apple actually wants a China exit, or just wants to know where the exit is.

  
• 03.01.2023

  The EC Goes EZ on App Store In-App Purchases

  Facebook has a plan to help fight CSAM and revenge porn. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken with more info. Plus – The European Commission drops its objection to Apple’s In-App Purchase requirements, but has a message on messaging.

  
• 02.28.2023

  iPhone Rumors and AirPods Max Attacks

  Having taken it off the table earlier this year, TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has put iPhone SE 4 back in play. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk about what Apple building its own 5G modem for...

  
• 02.27.2023

  Thieves, Soccer, and a Dopey Kid

  Thieves are stealing iPhones, punching in passcodes, and ruining people’s lives. Is it an iPhone problem or a person problem? TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to sift through it. Plus, the first weekend of MLS on Apple TV...

  
• 02.24.2023

  Idiosyncratic Tailwinds and Latch Hook Rugs

  Morgan Stanley is out with a list of “idiosyncratic tailwinds” for Apple shares in 2023. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk them over. Plus – RR Auctions has a lot of really cool tech related stuff up...

  
• 02.23.2023

  Apple, Bloomberg, and Blood Sugar

  Bloomberg has run a “secret sources” report saying Apple has hit a milestone on no-prick blood glucose monitoring. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts covers the tech in the story, while Ken asks questions about the story itself.

  
• 02.22.2023

  Insufferable ATMs and Planting Flags in the App Store

  The Financial Times seems torn between praise of Apple’s business acumen and disdain for some of its users. TMO writer Nick deCourville and Ken talk that over. Plus – Florida’s A.G. wants Apple to label apps with where they were...

  
• 02.21.2023

  Treating Apple TV+ Like TV

  Ken has a sudden obsession with whatever it is Apple is trying to turn Apple TV+ into. He drags TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts along for the ride. Plus – Mailbag Monday, the Tuesday Edition and taking up a collection...

  
• 02.20.2023

  Apple Thinks Mastodon Has Legs

  TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to discuss stories that may speak to sentiment around Apple, and social media’s plans to nickel and dime users for security. Plus — A vote of confidence for Mastodon from Apple.

  
• 02.17.2023

  Operating Systems, AI, and Apple's Neural Engine

  New iPadOS adoption numbers from Apple have piqued Ken’s interest. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to kicks those around. Plus – Jeff dives into AI and Apple’s Neural Engine.

  
• 02.16.2023

  A.R. You Ready for a Show?

  News we don’t want to talk about and not news that we do. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk about not talking about politics, and avoiding such news while also delivering it. The not news is a...

  
• 02.15.2023

  Accidentally Training Your A.I. Replacement

  Apple used narration from human readers to train its A.I. voices. The real readers did not know that, and weren’t too happy when they found out. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken to talk that over. Plus – an update...

  
• 02.14.2023

  Fixes, a Break, and Not Talking About the NBA

  Apple hit with many mini updates on Monday. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk a few points raised by those. Plus – Why it is way too early to talk about Apple going for streaming rights to...

  
• 02.13.2023

  A.I. and Chief Design Plans Land in Mailbag Monday

  TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken reach into the Mailbag for thoughts on A.I. and Apple without a Chief Design Officer. Come for the talking, stay for the rest of the talking! And drop your thoughts in the mailbag: [email protected]

  
• 02.10.2023

  Big Tech's Big A.I. Push with Tom Merritt

  Daily Tech News Show’s Tom Merritt named generative A.I. the most important story of 2022. It is not slowing down in 2023. He joins Ken to talk about this week’s announcements from Microsoft and Google. Plus – what’s going on...

  
• 02.09.2023

  Apple's New People Person and Good Tech for Your Good Dog

  Apple has hired a new Chief of People. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts talk about who she is, and consider some of her roles. Plus – AirTag is not the best solution for keeping track of your dog. Jeff has...

  
• 02.08.2023

  Playing Games with the Mac

  Apple says the M-processors have set the company up for a place in the games space. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken to discuss the road from here to Apple being a true player on the gaming landscape.

  
• 02.07.2023

  Lower iPhone Prices? You know what THAT means...

  Lots of Monday headlines said that Apple had cut the price of iPhone 14 Pro in China. But did it? And if not, who did and why’d they do it? TMO managing editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk that...

  
• 02.06.2023

  Leading Design Without a Design Lead?

  TMO managing editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk over reactions to Apple’s Q1FY23 earnings call. Plus would/will the general consumer miss an industrial design lead at Apple if Apple ends up without one?

  
• 02.03.2023

  Listening In On Apple's Q1FY23 Call

  TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to kick through Apple’s December-quarter earnings, plus questions and answers between Apple execs and analysts.

  
• 02.02.2023

  Sideloading and Mixing Realities

  A federal agency is encouraging Congress to make Apple allow sideloading of apps and third-party app stores on the iPhone. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken for a conversation worthy of Groundhog Day. Plus – Samsung hints at an...

  
• 02.01.2023

  You A.R. What You Eat

  Apple has a new augmented reality idea for counting calories. But is it for an iPhone or a headset? TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken to talk that over. Plus a public service announcement from The Wall Street Journal that...

  
• 01.31.2023

  The Foldable iPad Fight

  TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says there will be a foldable iPad in 2024. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says there won’t. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken talk over the opposing sides. Plus a look at HomePod scarcity.

  
• 01.30.2023

  Virtual Assistant Issues and How/Why to Mastodon

  T.D.O.O.G. Jeff Gamet has a bone to pick with the likes of Siri and Alexa. Basically, he thinks they should be better. He joins Ken to talk about how and why. Plus – Ken has questions about Mastodon. Jeff has...

  
• 01.27.2023

  The State of Streaming with Charlotte Henry

  Friend of the show Charlotte Henry of The Addition (theaddition.substack.com) joins Ken to talk about streaming media. Is TV broken? Binge-TV or weekly viewing? Is Apple TV+ worth it? Hits, misses, and TV talk from both sides of the Atlantic.

  
• 01.26.2023

  Holding a Grudge and Loosening Restrictions

  Secret sources tell the Financial Times that Apple is trying to lessen its ties with Google over feelings of betrayal tied to Android. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken discuss why it’s a good article anyway. Plus – Rumor...

  
• 01.25.2023

  Movies and Mac Memory Lane

  It won’t be another CODA year at the Oscars, but Apple TV+ has been nominated for two Academy Awards. TMO writer Nick deCourville and Ken talk those over. Plus – the Mac was first shown off 39-years ago this week....

  
• 01.24.2023

  Examining Security Keys with Duane Waddle

  One of the biggest changes introduced in this week’s OS updates from Apple is the across the board option to use physical security keys for iPhone, iPad, and the Mac. Info-sec guy Duane Waddle joins Ken to talk about what...

  
• 01.23.2023

  Looking at the Big Tech Layoffs

  Thousands of layoffs across the tech sector in recent weeks prompt a discussion between TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken. That includes a sort of inspiring message from the head of Nintendo back in 2013, and wondering where Apple...