In this episode, we cover the latest Apple news including hands on thoughts with the new blush MacBook Neo. We also discuss why the AirPods Max 2 feel like a disappointing upgrade. Then we dive into the current state of AI in note taking apps. We compare Obsidian, Notion AI, and Apple Notes to find the best productivity workflow. Plus, we discuss the tech community's growing frustration with AI products that fail to deliver real consumer value.

Here is a breakdown of what we talk about this week:

- We discuss The Verge's critical coverage of the AI bubble. I share why regular consumers are not adopting these expensive new tools.

- I detail my ongoing 30 day experiment using Obsidian with Claude Code. We also cover the headaches of relying on community plugins and unreliable sync.

- We review why the new AirPods Max 2 missed the mark. Apple kept the same heavy design and controversial charging case.

- I give my first impressions of the highly anticipated MacBook Neo in blush. We talk about its compact footprint and the return to a traditional clicking trackpad.

- We look at rumors surrounding a new premium MacBook. I also explain my internal debate about consolidating my Mac Studio and MacBook Pro into one expensive machine.

- We cover what to expect in the iOS 26.4 release. This includes crucial keyboard fixes and testing for end to end encryption for RCS messages.

- I highlight recent app updates from Notion like custom AI skills and dashboard views. We also take a quick look at Craft's new focus on performance and reliability.

If you want more context and extra articles, you can find my weekly newsletter on Substack at billmclean.substack.com.

You can also find the link in the video description.

Chapters

00:00 - Start

00:32 - The Verge Hates Tech?

07:17 - Obsidian (again)

15:53 - Airpods Max 2 - more of the same

17:38 - Macbook Neo

20:24 - My nex Mac is…

22:34 - A Gemini Mac App(finally)

23:00 - iOS26.4

24:20 - PKM App

UpdatesThe Essential Apple Notes Guidehttps://billmclean.gumroad.com/l/wdsjz

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