MobileViews.com Podcast

MobileViews 568: Everything is AI Now: - Slop, Speech, & Subscriptions

In this podcast, Jon Westfall and I discuss:

• How ChatGPT & other LLMs are influencing the academics' word choices
• Microsoft changing the Blue Screen of Death to the Black Screen of Death
• AI Slop
• Subscription fatigue
• More on the AI divide: Advanced AI features behind paywalls
• Device AI divide: You need the "right" kind of consumer computers for many AI features
• Brief audio switching/comparison between the Comica Ejoy mic (what Todd uses for most podcasts), the Tongveo 4K webcam mic, and the M4 Apple Macbook Air built-in microphone

MobileViews Podcast 567: Trying out a new 4K conference cam

In "Mobile Views 567," Todd Ogasawara and Jon Westfall discuss various tech topics, starting with Ogasawara's review of a new 4K webcam with stereo speakers and AI-powered digital zoom and voice tracking, which he is very pleased with.  They then delve into a "rant" about the ongoing debate regarding tablets, specifically the sentiment that iPads should be more like Macs.  Both speakers express their disagreement with this idea, with Westfall highlighting that many people, including himself, have valid use cases for tablets that differ from laptops or phones.  They liken this to past skepticism surrounding smartwatches and the need for a monthly calendar view in older versions of Windows Mobile, suggesting a fundamental misunderstanding of diverse user needs by some tech enthusiasts and developers. 

The conversation also covers Ogasawara's experience with Adobe Project Indigo, a free photography app for iPhone that shoots in raw format, and the release of Android 16.  Todd cautions against purchasing unbranded budget Android tablets due to a lack of OS and security updates.  Finally, they brainstorm ideas for future "bionic devices" and "smart jewelry," expressing a desire for more innovative wearables beyond current fitness trackers.  These concepts include a Vision Pro with an integrated battery, AR smart glasses with built-in vision correction and recording, and advanced bone-conducting headphones.

MobileViews 566: WWDC 2025 & Father's Day

In this podcast, Jon Westfall and Todd Ogasawara discussed Apple's latest Worldwide Developers Conference announcements, noting a significant "tone shift" towards developers. While consumer-oriented features for iPhones, iPads, and macOS devices were unveiled, the speakers highlighted Apple's clear targeting of developers. A key takeaway for developers was the ability to integrate Apple's on-device Large Language Model (LLM) into their applications without incurring API fees or requiring a data connection. Jon Westfall, who is developing an app that creates tours from tagged photos, plans to leverage this LLM to generate descriptive text and titles for locations and images.

The podcast also delved into several new features. iPadOS is receiving a substantial update with improvements to multitasking, including Stage Manager 2.0 for better window management and the introduction of a menu bar. The Journal app, currently on iPhone, will be coming to iPad. A more Mac-like Files app is also expected, though concerns were raised about its integration with third-party cloud services and local storage schemes. Other anticipated features include a Preview app for iPadOS, local audio capture for video conferencing, studio-quality audio recording for AirPods Pro 2 and possibly AirPods 4, a phone app for macOS, and wrist flick gestures for managing calls on watchOS. The speakers also touched upon "liquid glass" visual effects, the "workout buddy" feature in Apple Fitness, the continued lack of significant updates for Siri, and the potential for background tasks to slow down iPads.

MobileViews 565: Pre-WWDC; Windows to Linux; OpenAI Codex in ChatGPT

In this podcast, Jon Westfall and Todd Ogasawara discuss a range of tech topics, starting with Todd's ongoing struggles to update his 2019 HP Envy 360 laptop to Windows 11 or Google FlexOS due to processor incompatibility, leading him back to Linux. He notes the quirks of Linux, like his Bluetooth mouse not working with Linux Mint but functioning fine with Ubuntu. The conversation then shifts to the recent ability to use Apple Find My in South Korea as of June 1st, 2025, dispelling previous assumptions about privacy laws preventing its use there. Jon shares amusing anecdotes about using AirTags for unexpected insights, such as detecting activity near his office over the weekend.

The duo also delves into rumors about upcoming AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 features, including camera control, sleep detection, and new head gestures for answering calls and dismissing notifications. Jon observes that many people, especially younger generations, wear AirPods constantly, even when not listening to anything, which could drive the development of these features. They express both excitement and skepticism about the rumored iPadOS 26 menu bar and hope for significant improvements to Stage Manager, citing issues with external monitor usage. Finally, they touch upon the evolving landscape of AI in coding, with Jon sharing his experiences using OpenAI's Codex for debugging and code explanation, likening the AI's persistent "help" to a "code therapist". They ponder the increasing integration of AI into everyday tech and humorously speculate about a future where AI becomes so prevalent it might "leave" humanity behind.

MobileViews 564: Google I/O & Microsoft Build? Looking forward to Apple WWDC

In this podcast, Jon Westfall and I discussed:

A significant portion of our conversation centered on the continuing proliferation of AI in consumer products. We noted an increasing sense of "AI fatigue"—the saturation of artificial intelligence in nearly every product and announcement. Although I am personally intrigued by developments in AI-generated video and imaging, especially from Google and Meta, I also find the AI trend overwhelming at times. I am even considering subscribing to Google One’s AI Premium offering to further explore these capabilities, particularly for personal creative projects.

We also speculated on potential announcements from Apple’s upcoming WWDC, especially regarding artificial intelligence and whether Apple will finally deliver tangible AI features, following a less-than-smooth rollout of “Apple Intelligence.” I expressed hope for hardware updates, such as a refreshed Apple Watch Ultra or a more affordable version of the Vision Pro headset—rumored to be called the Vision Air.

I noted that I recently began revisiting older episodes of this podcast, some dating back to 2008. I’ve started re-editing and publishing select episodes as audiograms. One of these featured an interview with the developers of Google Earth for iPhone, recorded in early 2009—just six months after the App Store’s debut. It was particularly meaningful to hear the voice of my late friend Mike Morton, one of the app’s original developers.

We also touched on some of my ongoing technology experiments. I’ve been attempting to repurpose a 2019 AMD laptop that no longer supports Windows 11. My initial plan to install ChromeOS Flex was thwarted by hardware incompatibility, so I’ve shifted my attention to Linux Mint. Although I encountered issues related to UEFI preventing boot from a USB drive, I plan to revisit this project soon

Jon offered a compelling perspective on the evolving role of AI in higher education. He discussed how he and other faculty are adapting to student use of AI tools such as ChatGPT, emphasizing the importance of transparency, responsible use, and pedagogical innovation. Jon’s work in this area demonstrates a balanced, practical approach that integrates emerging technology while preserving academic integrity.

We concluded the episode with a broader reflection on the societal implications of AI, particularly the concern that up to 50% of entry-level jobs may be impacted in the coming years. As someone no longer in the workforce, I observe these shifts with a mix of concern and curiosity, especially regarding how younger generations will navigate such disruptions. We acknowledged the historical cycles of technological change—from calculators and word processors to broadband and mobile computing—and how each brought both fear and opportunity.

MobileViews 563: w/Jared Kuroiwa - Google Android XR, Headsets, and AI Integration

In episode 563 of the MobileViews Podcast, I'm joined by guest co-host Jared Kuroiwa to a few of the announcements from Google I/O 2025, with a strong focus on Android XR and the new generation of mixed and extended reality headsets.

Key highlights:

• Android XR Headsets: Google showcased XR devices from partners like Samsung (Project Muhan) and Xreal (Project Aura). These headsets vary in design—from immersive goggles to stylish glasses—and rely on connected Android smartphones for processing.
  
  
• Three-Part Requirement: To fully use these devices, users will need (1) a compatible Android phone, (2) XR glasses, and (3) a Gemini AI subscription, adding cost and complexity.
  
  
• Design & Use Cases: Devices like Xreal’s Aura and Samsung’s headset aim to combine AR displays with real-world usability, offering features like translation, contextual info, and AI assistance—akin to Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses.
  
  
• Local vs. Cloud AI: Jared shares insights into running local LLMs on mini PCs and the promise of lightweight, on-device AI, comparing it to cloud-based tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini.
  
  

Other Tools Discussed: Google Whisk for generative video, the future of XR optics, device compatibility issues, and the role of design in public acceptance of smart eyewear.

MobileViews 562: Using PLAUD NotePin to record and analyze this podcast; Python dev tools; anticipating Google I/O

For this podcast, Jon Westfall recorded our discussion in parallel and had it create a detailed summary and a kind of mind map. I fed PLAUD's detailed summary into Google NotebookLM and had it create the condensed summary below:

They discuss various technological tools and their applications, beginning with their experiences using a wearable transcription device, the Plaud NotePin, for capturing ideas during meetings. The discussion expands to the potential benefits and privacy considerations of recording interactions, touching on the limitations of inexpensive body cams and the potential of smartphones for video evidence. The hosts then explore how AI-powered transcription and summarization services can enhance content consumption and creation, citing examples of using these tools with podcasts and historical audio. They anticipate future AI advancements, particularly in video editing with tools like Google Flow and potential new extended reality (XR) glasses announced at Google I/O. The conversation also covers practical Python scripting for tasks like downloading YouTube transcripts, using development tools, and navigating file-sharing challenges, as well as integrating calendars with an Outlook plugin. Finally, they touch on the capabilities of AI assistants like Microsoft Copilot Vision and the intersection of AI with media and entertainment, referencing the Apple TV+ "Murder Bot" TV series.

MobileViews 561: Why did we stop using WIndows Mobile/Phone w/guest Frank McPherson

In this podcast Todd Ogasawara and Jon Westfall are joined by frequent guest panelist Frank McPherson. They discuss:

• Todd sorting out his Google AI Mode usage problem
• Google NotebookLM's new information source discovery feature
• LegoGPT
• We can finally buy ebooks in the iOS Audible app
• Todd's Surface Pro 11 rant
• Is Microsoft's Windows 11 hardware requirements going to alienate Windows 10 users the way Windows Phone did to Windows Mobile users?
• Jon's initial impressions of the Plaud NotePin

MobileViews 560: Windows Mobile 25th anniversary discussion w/guest co-host Frank McPherson

I'm joined by guest co-host Frank McPherson for this May the 4th Be With You podcast. We discuss:

• The new Orb continuous Internet measurement sensor created by the founders of Ookla (Speedtest & Downdetector)
• The Fing networking monitoring solution that Frank has used for years
• Google's new publicly available AI Mode Search
• Google Gemini's new image editing feature
• Reminiscing about Windows Mobile with Frank McPherson  

MobileViews 559: AI welfare? LOOI Robot; Windows Mobile 25 anniversary - Guests: Sven Johannsen & Don Sorcinelli

Jon Westfall and I are joined by Sven Johannsen and Don Sorcinelli for this podcast. We discuss:

• Anthropic's AI model welfare study? Has an AI already achieved sentience?
• Microsoft Recall rolling out to Copilot + PCs (not mine though)
• The LOOI Robot
• 25 years of WIndows Mobile/29 years of WIndows CE