The Tech Night Owl LIVE — Tech Radio with a Pop Culture Twist!

On this week's all-star episode, we feature outspoken columnist/podcaster Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy." This week Gene and Kirk talk briefly about the iTunes movie bundle sales, where you can buy 10 movies for $2 each, or individual movies for $5. Do those bundles provide top quality movies, or just a mixture of the good and the not-so-good? You'll also hear fearless predictions about what Apple may announce at the WWDC developer's conference. Will there be new Mac notebooks, a Siri speaker? What about a surprise product that nobody anticipated? Kirk also wonders why the pre-event chatter about what might be coming has been so light. A contrary opinion comes from tech journalist Bryan Chaffin, co-founder and co-publisher of The Mac Observer. Bryan feels a number of rumors have been published about Apple's plans ahead of the event, more than usual. Gene and Bryan cover the basics, such as the new operating systems, possible new notebook computers, a Siri speaker system. Is such a gadget even needed? What about the fact that the presumed main rival the Amazon Echo, hasn't sold in large numbers? Or does such a product represent a focal point for Apple's HomeKit, which allows for home automation? Gene offers an update to his ongoing customer support issues with AT&T that required, so far, talking to no less than 25 people without any positive results.

We feature outspoken commentator/podcaster Peter Cohen. During this segment, Gene will discuss his efforts to get decent support from AT&T wireless, which involved multiple phone calls, and frustrating encounters with more than 20 different reps. Did he finally succeed? Gene and Peter will also discuss the prospects for new Mac notebooks at Apple's 2017 WWDC developer event in June. And what about Apple's decision to deliver subpar gaming performance on the Mac? As a former Macworld gaming columnist, Peter explains what is going on, and what he believes to be Apple's reasons for not paying attention to the needs of avid gamers. You'll also hear from independent tech journalist Joe Wilcox, who writes for BetaNews. This wide-ranging discussion will include Joe's observations about the quality of the four major wireless carriers in the U.S., as he explains the surprising result of his efforts to switch from one company to another to get better download speeds. Were there any notable announcements at the 2017 Google I/O conference in Mountain View, CA? Was it all about photos? What about the voice assistant platforms from Amazon, Apple and Google? Should Apple respond to the Amazon Echo with its own version? Gene and Joe will also talk about the prospects for new Mac notebooks at the WWDC, and is there a possibility that Apple will pull the plug on one of its three notebook models?

We feature commentator/podcaster Jeff Gamet, Managing Editor for The Mac Observer. Gene and Jeff do a pop culture segment, anticipating the movie version of "Wonder Woman," the introduction of General Zod on the "Supergirl" TV show, and other movie and TV-related topics. The tech segment will cover expectations for Mac notebook upgrades at the 2017 WWDC in June, whether actor Jeff Goldblum might have become the voice of Siri, the Microsoft Surface Laptop, and whether you can trust the cloud. You'll also hear from ethical hacker Dr. Timothy Summers, President of Summers & Company, a cyber strategy and organizational design consulting firm. Tim will offer a comprehensive look at the recent WannaCry ransomware attack that targeted hundreds of thousands of institutions and businesses around the world using Windows XP. This attack targeted a Windows flaw that has been patched by Microsoft. You'll also learn more about the ongoing prospects of bitcoin, the controversial digital currency that is still regarded as a viable alternative payment method by some. The ransomware attack required bitcoin payments to free up compromised PCs.

On this week's all-star episode, we feature tech columnist Rob Griffiths. Rob will introduce you to the fascinating world of the "Hackintosh," the process of installing macOS on a generic home-built PC. He made the decision to build one because Apple isn't selling the Mac of his dreams, which in this case means a personal computer capable of stellar gaming performance. He goes through the process of selecting the parts he needed for the project, assembling them, and consulting a number of online resources on how to "induce" macOS to install on these computers, along with the lengthy process of troubleshooting glitches and somehow making things run reliably. Rob will also discuss the types of computers he hopes Apple will build in the coming months now that the company has made a renewed commitment to the Mac platform. You'll also hear from outspoken columnist/podcaster Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy." In his quest to replace his aging Mac mini, Kirk also opted to build a Hackintosh, and he explains the reasons for his choices, and the assembly process. You'll also hear about the Apple Watch and how it works as the hub of the company's fitness platform. What about reliably measuring your heartbeat to make sure everything is OK? How can it expand to better monitor your physical condition?

We feature Adam Engst, of TidBITS. He'll talk about the recent sale of Take Control Books to prolific author Joe Kissell. What does Adam and his wife Tanya do for an encore? He'll also talk about Apple's March 2017 quarterly sales, particularly the results of the iPhone and the Mac. You'll also hear comparisons with Microsoft's Surface, and the new Surface Laptop, which is designed to compete with Apple and Google in the educational market. And what about reports of growing Apple Watch sales? Has Apple been able to make it a gadget that you'll really love once you have a chance to use it? You'll also hear from outspoken commentator and podcaster Peter Cohen. In talking about Apple's financials, Peter will explain why the company "doesn't get the cloud." He'll cover ongoing problems with reliability and integration, and what Apple might do to resolve the problem. The discussion moves into backups, featuring Apple's Time Machine, which has been standard issue on Macs since 2008. Is it the ideal backup solution? What about clone backups and offside cloud storage? Peter will also explain why Time Machine must soon change because of the expected release of a final version of the Apple File System (APFS), perhaps with the next macOS. It's also available on iOS 10.3. He'll also talk about Microsoft's Surface Laptop and how it will fare against Google Chromebooks, which are becoming more popular at school systems in the U.S.

On this week's all-star episode, we feature author/editor Josh Centers, Managing Editor for TidBITS, and author of "Take Control of Apple TV" and other titles. After discussing the 27th anniversary of TidBITS, Gene and Josh talk about the controversial moves from ride-sharing giant Uber and the prospects for its main rival, Lyft. Gene provides personal experiences with both, but will Uber's plans to add self-driving vehicles someday put their human drivers out of work? What about Apple's promised commitment to professional users, with assurances that a new Mac Pro is being developed, and that they will continue to improve Final Cut Pro X and Logic Pro X? In an encore presentation, you'll take a romp through the world of social networks with Cella Lao Rousseau, a reporter with iMore. During this segment, Cella will talk about the Snapchat IPO, its impact, and how the network plans to leverage its large user base to earn money. The discussion moves to profiles of the most popular social networks and how they meet the needs of their members. Snapchat's unique slant is to allow you to send photos and videos that self-destruct shortly after they are viewed. The discussion includes Facebook, which Gene says has become too bloated for him except for the Messenger app, which he uses regularly because most of his contacts are on the service. Has Twitter outlived its usefulness despite becoming the medium of choice for high-profile people, such as the President of the United States, to make announcements? What about WhatsApp, Instagram, Mashable and Reddit? What happened to one of the original social networks, MySpace?On this week's all-star episode, we feature author/editor Josh Centers, Managing Editor for TidBITS, and author of "Take Control of Apple TV" and other titles. After discussing the 27th anniversary of TidBITS, Gene and Josh talk about the controversial moves from ride-sharing giant Uber and the prospects for its main rival, Lyft. Gene provides personal experiences with both, but will Uber's plans to add self-driving vehicles someday put their human drivers out of work? What about Apple's promised commitment to professional users, with assurances that a new Mac Pro is being developed, and that they will continue to improve Final Cut Pro X and Logic Pro X? In an encore presentation, you'll take a romp through the world of social networks with Cella Lao Rousseau, a reporter with iMore. During this segment, Cella will talk about the Snapchat IPO, its impact, and how the network plans to leverage its large user base to earn money. The discussion moves to profiles of the most popular social networks and how they meet the needs of their members. Snapchat's unique slant is to allow you to send photos and videos that self-destruct shortly after they are viewed. The discussion includes Facebook, which Gene says has become too bloated for him except for the Messenger app, which he uses regularly because most of his contacts are on the service. Has Twitter outlived its usefulness despite becoming the medium of choice for high-profile people, such as the President of the United States, to make announcements? What about WhatsApp, Instagram, Mashable and Reddit? What happened to one of the original social networks, MySpace?

We feature prolific author Joe Kissell, who will discuss the third edition of "Take Control of Your Online Privacy." You'll hear hints and tips on ongoing threats, including the fallout from the decision by the U.S. Congress, signed by the President, to allow ISPs to sell your online history to third-party providers. Are there ways to protect yourself against this and other invasions of your privacy? Joe will also discuss another of his books, "Are Your Bits Flipped? Overcoming Tech Misconceptions." He'll talk about a few common day-to-day mistakes some people make. You'll also hear a wide-ranging interview with prolific author Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus, who will discuss Apple's commitment to take heed of the needs of professional Mac users and build a new Mac Pro, offer an iMac with professional options, and perhaps a souped up Mac mini. In discussing the potential of self-driving vehicles, Bob mentions the safe driving features now available in many new cars, such as his Subaru Legacy. Bob will also talk about the steps he took to overcome his ADHD condition, and how he developed the advice he offers in his first self-published book, "Working Smarter for Mac Users," which will also soon be available in a Windows version. Gene and Bob will also briefly discuss old-time radio.

We feature outspoken commentator and podcaster Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy." Once again, Kirk expresses his ongoing concerns about Apple's lateness in admitting that the 2013 Mac Pro was a flawed design, and that they are working on something new, which will not be released this year. Kirk also explains why he's dissatisfied with current Mac designs, and is planning on building a customized macOS computer, a "Hackintosh," with off-the-shelf PC parts. You'll also hear from tech journalist Bryan Chaffin, co-founder and co-publisher of The Mac Observer. This week Bryan is in "cranky" mode and will explain why he's upset with Apple's lateness in announcing plans to update Macs. He'll discuss the form the promised "modular" Mac Pro might take, and about possible pro options for the iMac. In talking about the Samsung Galaxy S8 smartphone, Gene outlines the known flaws in the design of its fingerprint sensor, facial recognition and iris recognition features, and the decision not to launch the "Bixby" digital assistant -- designed by some of the people who brought you Siri -- when the S8 goes on sale. Samsung's well-known problems will also be outlined. There will also be a brief discussion as to whether Apple should buy Disney, a move recommended by a global investment banker.

On this week's all-star episode, we feature outspoken commentator John Martellaro, Senior Editor, Analysis & Reviews for The Mac Observer, who joins Gene in a fascinating discussion about Apple's promise of major updates for the Mac Pro and the iMac. And were there really seven reasons for Apple to discontinue the Mac Pro before they decided to move forward? What about the fate of the smallest iPad, the iPad mini, and have sales of that model been mostly cannibalized by such models as the iPhone 7 Plus? John also explains why you will be told what to think about Apple, and he will list the "very cool things" he loves about his Apple Watch. You'll also hear from columnist Rob Pegoraro, who writes for Yahoo Tech, USA Today and Wirecutter. He'll discuss expectations about the next Mac Pro, the next iMac and maybe even a forthcoming Mac mini refresh. And why is Rob thinking about replacing his aging MacBook Air with a Windows notebook? The discussion moves to Comcast's new wireless phone service and why it will only be available to people who use the company's broadband Internet. What about the lack of competition among Internet services in the U.S.? What about the fate of online privacy in light of a recent law passed by Congress? Is net neutrality next on the chopping block?

We feature the inimitable Peter Cohen, long-time blogger and podcaster. Peter will discuss the latest developments on the security front and how reports of hacked iCloud accounts might impact Apple. You'll also hear about a consumer's "right to repair," the subject of pending legislation in Nebraska, which would force such companies as Apple to sell parts and repair manuals to anyone who wants to buy them. Peter will also explain the ins and outs of the Apple File System (APFS), recently introduced in the iOS 10.3 update, and expected to arrive this fall as standard issue on the next macOS. If you're wondering what this is all about, Peter will explain how Apple customers will benefit from a more reliable storage system and improved security. You'll also hear from ethical hacker Dr. Timothy Summers, President of Summers & Company, a cyber strategy and organizational design consulting firm, who will talk about the recent public disclosure of CIA "trade craft," the methods they use to recover data from tech gear, which was posted on Wikileaks. Does this development put your personal data at risk? Dr. Summers will also describe ongoing risks of data disclosure in light of the claim of hacked iCloud accounts, and the possible security dangers in all those fancy "Internet of Things" devices. What steps should you take to keep yourself safe from Internet intruders, should you just keep your old appliances? Or just expect that your online behavior will be watched, and learn to live with it?