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

We cover Apple's financials for their fiscal first quarter, where they reported record sales and revenue, but just barely. For this quarter, they are projecting lower sales. Just what headwinds is Apple facing, and can they resume the pace of torrid sales growth? Were Apple's 2015 product introductions, especially the Apple Watch and fourth-generation Apple TV, not compelling enough? We'll also cover a proposal from the FCC to open up the cable set-top box market, so you can pick the devices you want to watch programing instead of being forced to buy or rent theirs. If the proposal is approved, and it will be considered on February 18 of this year, would that open up new markets for Apple, Google, Samsung and other companies? Our guests include Josh Centers, Managing Editor for TidBITS, and author of "Take Control of Apple TV" and other titles, and Jeff Gamet, Managing Editor for The Mac Observer.

We present commentator and talk show host Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy." He describes a system in use in UK supermarkets — it's not in the U.S. — where customers can use their own hand-held scanners to tally purchases. The discussion turns to the planned phaseout of the free version of iTunes Radio, the possibilities for a sales slowdown of Apple gear, and Apple's excessive prices for Mac RAM and drive upgrades. Since only a few Macs can be upgraded by customers, this has become an annoying problem. You'll also hear from Bryan Chaffin, co-founder and co-publisher of The Mac Observer. A major portion of the episode will focus on bills introduced in both the California and New York legislatures that would ban the sale of encrypted smartphones that don't have backdoors that would make it possible for governments to have access to the contents. Such tech companies as Apple and Google have come under fire by authorities, including FBI Director James Comey, for using industrial strength encryption. During the interview, Bryan will explain why he feels this backdoor would also make encrypted smartphones vulnerable to hacking by criminals, hackers, and other governments.

We present commentator John Martellaro, Senior Editor, Analysis & Reviews for The Mac Observer, who talks about the future of the Mac Pro, how Apple, denied leadership in 4K TV, is hoping to gain traction with an electric car. You'll also hear a brief debate about whether Apple will really attempt to acquire Time Warner and how that move might restart moribund plans to establish a subscription TV service. John will also talk about how children can learn how to program on an iPad. He'll also tell you why he loves his Mac Pro. We also present a CES wrap with columnist Rob Pegoraro, of USA Today and Yahoo Tech. The main focus will be on 4K TV. Are customers finally ready to flock to the new high resolution TV format? Rob will talk about the latest enhancements that include Ultra HD Premium, which will deliver better color and a wider contrast that will really make the picture pop. And what about the possibility of affordable OLED TVs, and plans to release a new HD tuner system to allow 4K shows to be broadcast by TV stations? Why will the new TV tuners eventually mean the end of existing HD broadcasting? You'll also hear Rob's opinions about the prospects for an Apple car.

We observe the 15th anniversary of Apple's iTunes with commentator Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy." He focus first on the history of Apple's original jukebox app, and how it's changed and expanded over the years. Kirk and Gene also talk about the need for Apple to overhaul the way movie and TV content is handled. As it is, movie rentals may suddenly disappear, while the option to buy a movie remains. Does Apple solve this by launching a TV subscription service — and will the entertainment companies accept a simpler buying/renting scheme? You'll also hear from columnist Nancy Gravley, of The Mac Observer. The discussion will focus on her ongoing efforts to help senior citizens become competent with Macs, iPhones and iPads. So if you have someone in your family who is uncomfortable with technology, you'll want to hear Nancy give you some quick hints and tips about what's confusing about even the personal computer "for the rest of us," the personal computer that is supposed to "just work."

We present a 2015 teardown roundup with Kyle Wiens of of iFixit. He discuss the products that were easiest to repair, and the ones most difficult. He'll also answer the Night Owl's hypothetical question, whether adding upgrade capability to more Macs would seriously degrade the thin and light design. In short, is Jonathan Ive and/or Apple marketing going just a little too far with their "thin fetish"? You'll also hear from commentator/author Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy." On the agenda during the opening pop culture segment is his reaction to "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Does it really fulfill the hype, and justify the amazing box office receipts? Kirk will also talk about Apple's agreement to pay $350 million in back taxes to Italy, and the possible consequence in the action in the rest of the European Union. Kirk also talks about his ongoing concerns with Apple Music, its inability to learn about his musical tastes, and what he'd like Apple to do in order to overhaul iTunes.

We present an important security update with Dr. Timothy C. Summers, President of Summers & Company, a cyber strategy and organizational design consulting firm. We discuss the ongoing debate over whether Apple, Google and other tech companies should allow back doors to governments to retrieve and decode encrypted information from smartphones and other gear. The discussion also covers fake emails that purport to come from your bank, fake emails that purport to come from your family and friends, why you should be skeptical of emails from people who claim to know you and request financial assistance, and how to stop leaving digital breadcrumbs. We also present a special year-end wrap-up from tech commentator and columnist Peter Cohen, whose writings are found at iMore, Macworld and Tom's Guide. On this visit, Peter will talk about Tim Cook's increasing social activism in contrast to his predecessor, the usability of the iPad Pro, the prospects for an Apple Car, Apple chief designer Jonathan Ive's unfortunate "thin fetish," and whether it makes sense for Apple to move the Mac platform from Intel to Apple's own A-series chips. Yes, there are potential downsides.

We present Jeff Gamet, Managing Editor for The Mac Observer, who focuses on the New York Attorney General's probe into broadband Internet speeds, and whether customers are getting the performance for which they're paying. He'll also cover the concerns over bandwidth caps, and Samsung's appeal of Apple's patent win against them to the U.S. Supreme Court. You'll also hear Jeff's opinion about the iPad Pro and the joys of the Apple Pencil for creating illustrations. You'll also hear from author and columnist Kirk McElhearn, Macworld's "iTunes Guy." As a classical music aficionado, he praises the improvements in Apple Music by offering a richer display of information about classical. He also discusses the touchy subject of iTunes and faulty metadata and how it messes up your playlists. The discussion turns to whether Apple is releasing operating systems prematurely, thus resulting in numerous defects.

On this week's all-star episode, we present author and columnist Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus. On the agenda is Gene and Bob's choices for broadcast mics, some of the key events in the Apple universe in 2015 and a few predictions for 2016. Bob will also present his opinions about the iPad Pro and the Smart Keyboard, and his ongoing impressions of the Apple Watch. Has the quality of Apple software nosedived? Bob will talk about that too. You'll also hear from commentator Bryan Chaffin, co-founder and co-publisher of The Mac Observer. His bill of fare includes reports that Apple has suspended its efforts to set up a TV subscription service. You'll also hear Bryan's views on why large cable bundles, despite increasing cost, may be good for you. His logic is that, with more channels being offered, TV broadcasters have created a rich selection of great programing. With several dealers discounting the Apple Watch, Gene and Bryan speculate on why, whether it indicates lower-than-expected sales, or an effort to work with dealers to boost volume. Bryan will explain why he likes, but doesn't love, his Apple Watch and why he'd only buy an iPad Pro to provide more thorough coverage of the product.

We present Josh Centers, editor for TidBITS, and author of "Take Control of Apple TV" and other titles, who discusses his new 4K TV, a 49-inch Vizio M-Series LCD, and we discuss the practical limitations of the Ultra HD format, particularly the lack of 4K programming. The discussion moves to Apple TV, his ongoing experiences with the Apple Watch, and an update his conclusion about whether he would buy one if he didn't need it for his job. There's also a brief discussion on the prospects for an Apple Car. You'll also hear from John Martellaro, Senior Editor, Analysis & Reviews for The Mac Observer, who talks about the iPad Pro, and why Apple is doing something that could "accidentally torpedo" the product. He also focuses on the difficulties in finding the right keyboard — he doesn't like Apple's Smart Keyboard — and his initial experiences. The discussion turns to the "do as you're told" approach to using an iPhone, and beating Apple at its "game of relentless change." John is also asked about the ongoing prospects for an Apple Car.

We present columnist Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy." He returns this week to discuss Black Friday sales, and how he recently had his Internet connection upgraded so he finally receives speeds that are appropriate to the power user (36 megabits downloads, 9 megabits uploads). He also talks about the possible failure of the Mac Pro that received a major upgrade in late 2013 and hasn't been upgraded since. Kirk has moved on to a 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina display. There will also be a brief discussion of the ongoing VW emissions scandal. You'll also hear from Jeff Carlson, Senior Editor for TidBITS, who will offer a lengthy discussion about Apple Watch, partly in response to one tech pundit's claim, in a major newspaper, that this gadget was a turkey. Jeff will explain why he disagrees. He'll also talk about the use case of the new iPad Pro, about Tim Cook's claims that this, and an iPhone, are his only computers. Jeff also responds to the question of whether he'd buy an Apple Car, assuming one appears and the price is reasonably affordable.