MobileViews.com Podcast

MobileViews 594: Color e-ink tablets deep dive with Frank McPherson & Sven Johannsen

I sat down for MobileViews Podcast 594 with my longtime friends Sven Johannsen and Frank McPherson. Our usual co-host, Jon Westfall, was away, but we had plenty to cover, ranging from the bite-sized future of entertainment to a massive deep dive into the world of color E-ink tablets.

We kicked things off by discussing a fascinating trend in East Asia: micro dramas. Specifically, a TikTok subsidiary called Pine Drama is producing miniseries with episodes lasting only 30 to 90 seconds. These "video comic strips" are designed to be highly addictive, and while I have a short attention span, I’m curious to see if this ultra-short format translates well to global audiences.

On a more serious note, we touched on a security vulnerability called Whisper Pair. This bug affects several major Bluetooth headset brands—including Sony, Google, JBL, and Jabra—allowing for potential location tracking if an attacker is within 14 meters. If you use earbuds from these brands, I recommend checking the specific lists online to see if your hardware is vulnerable.

I’ve been testing Google Gemini’s personal intelligence features lately, which are surprisingly good at "buttering you up" by knowing your interests in Star Trek or Star Wars. This led to a broader discussion about the AI Divide. With subscriptions like Gemini Pro or Copilot Pro costing around $20 a month, we are quickly moving toward a society of "haves and have-nots" regarding high-level tech tools. We also noted how this digital divide manifests in the real world.

The heart of our conversation was a deep dive into color E-ink tablets, led by Frank, who has become a true connoisseur of the medium. We compared several major players in the market:

Frank emphasized that for him, writing is about memory and engagement during meetings. While an iPad has more utility, E-ink offers reflective technology that is easier on the eyes and provides a battery life that lasts for days rather than hours.

After hearing Frank's breakdown, I’m strongly leaning toward the Boox Note Air 5C. It’s available on Amazon for about $530 and includes a stylus that uses Wacom EMR technology, meaning I won't even need to charge the pen.

MobileViews 593: CES 2026 wrap-up with guest panelist Frank McPherson

For this podcast,  Jon Westfall and I are joined by guest panelist Frank McPherson to discuss the highlights and "worst of" picks from CES 2026. I shared my recent experience with the new Alexa.com browser interface, which showed impressive "vertical integration" when the AI automatically offered to recreate sunset triggers for my new Amazon Smart Switch. This was a necessary upgrade because Belkin is bricking my old WeMo device at the end of the month, a frustrating trend of "cloud-killing" hardware we've also seen from companies like Google and Nest. We also explored LEGO's "Smart Play" announcement, specifically the Smart Bricks featuring motion sensors and sound synthesizers coming to Star Wars kits in March. While Frank expressed concern that these pre-set sounds might stifle a child's imagination, Jon argued that such immersion helps LEGO stay relevant against competitors like Funwhole.

In the second half of our conversation, we looked at the evolution of e-ink, including the TCL "NextPaper" tablet, which uses 120Hz LCD technology to mimic a paper-like display. Frank explained that he prefers writing by hand on these devices for memory retention, while we debated whether the $2,000 Samsung Trifold is too bulky to be practical. I speculated that the thinness of the iPhone Air could be the precursor to a future Apple foldable. We were also quite interested in mobile accessories from Clicks, specifically the Power Keyboard with an integrated battery that Jon pre-ordered and the Communicator, a purpose-built Android device that restores the physical keyboard and SD card slot. To wrap up, we touched on the return of the Pebble Round 2 with its two-week battery life and Claude AI integration, the stair-climbing Roborock Saros vacuum, and the Rocket Smart Glasses which feature built-in diopter adjustments.

MobileViews 592: Hello 2026. Build vs. buy?

In this podcast Jon Westfall and I discuss our recent experiences with artificial intelligence and consumer technology (as usual these days). We share insights on using Google NotebookLM and ChatGPT to automate content creation, noting that while the tools are becoming more intuitive, interoperability between different ecosystems remains a challenge. We also discuss the "build vs. buy" dilemma in home automation, highlighting how AI-assisted coding makes DIY hardware projects more accessible than ever. We briefly preview the upcoming CES conference, expressing a mix of hope and skepticism regarding whether the event will debut a truly revolutionary product category.

MobileViews Podcast 590: Simplifying Tech Stacks, AI News, and Apple Updates

In this episode, Todd and Jon discuss the latest AI agreements, updates to the Apple ecosystem (OS 26.2), and the history of PowerShell. The core discussion focuses on the "overcomplication issue" facing tech enthusiasts and offers hardware and software tips to simplify daily workflows.

AI & Industry News

• Disney & OpenAI: The Walt Disney Company has reached an agreement to license characters to OpenAI’s Sora.
• Google Labs: Todd joined the waitlist for "Google Disco," a tool that uses "GenTabs" to create interactive web apps and complete tasks using natural language without coding.
• Visual Podcasting: Todd discussed using "Nano Banana Pro" and Gemini to create visual whiteboard summaries for podcast notes.

Apple OS 26.2 Updates

• watchOS 26.2: Features updates to Sleep Scores, which Jon notes can feel "judgmental" regarding sleep quality.
• iPadOS 26.2: Reintroduces multitasking features like slide over and enables "Auto Chapters" for podcasts.
• macOS 26.2: Introduces "Edge Light" (a virtual ring light for video calls) and "low latency clusters" for local AI development on M5 Macs.

Tech History

• PowerShell Origins: Jeffrey Snover, creator of PowerShell, revealed in a blog post that "cmdlets" were originally named "Function Units" (FUs), reflecting the "Unix smart-ass culture" of the era.

Discussion: Simplifying the Tech Stack

The hosts discuss the tendency to overcomplicate setups, such as using Docker for RSS feeds or complex SSO for home use. They recommend the following simplifications:

Hardware

• KableCARD: A credit-card-sized kit containing multiple adapters, a light, and a phone stand to replace carrying multiple cables.
• Presentation Remotes: Use a simple dedicated remote ($20–$30) or repurpose a Surface Pen via Bluetooth instead of relying on complex software solutions.

Software

• Pythonista (iOS/macOS): Run simple local scripts (e.g., GPA calculators) rather than paying for dedicated subscription apps.
• Homebridge: A lighter-weight alternative to Home Assistant for connecting IoT devices (like Sonos) to Apple HomeKit.

Troubleshooting Tip

• Pixel Tablet YouTube Glitch: If the YouTube app on the Pixel Tablet displays unusable, giant thumbnails, the fix is to clear both the app's cache and storage/memory.

MobileViews 589: Apple & Google best of 2025 apps; fav 2025 gadgets; guest Sven Johannsen

In this episode, Jon Westfall and I are joined by frequent guest panelist Sven Johannsen. We dive into the end-of-year wrap-ups: We discuss Apple’s 2025 App Store Awards, with Jon noting that he uses award-winner Strava—though primarily on the Apple Watch rather than its main platform. The conversation also covers Google Play’s Best of 2025 (spanning apps, books, and games) and the latest YouTube End-of-Year Recap.

On the hardware front, the rumor mill is spinning regarding an Apple HomePod with a screen (potentially the "HomePod Touch"), with speculation pointing toward an 11-inch display. The hosts compare smart display pricing, weighing the Echo Show 11” ($194-$219) against the Pixel Tablet and Dock bundle ($250 + $129).

Sven's new accessories are also highlighted, including the DJI Mic Mini at a competitive $80 and the new clip and card versions of Pebblebee Trackers.

Todd’s Segment features the Goovis G3 Max headset, praised for its individual diopter adjustment that allows eyeglass wearers to use the device without custom prescription lenses. The show wraps up with a mention of the Google Pixel 10 Pro and its headline feature: 100x ProRes zoom.

MobileViews 586: Boya Magic Wireless Mics; Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE; low cost Macbook in 2026? Open Broadcast Studio

Jon and I are back after a brief hiatus, and we had a lot to catch up on, starting with our ever-evolving audio gear! I tested out a new budget microphone, the Boya Measureless, which I’m using in a shotgun mode on a tripod. Jon is actually using the same mic in lavalier format. It’s a pretty advanced 4-in-1 mic that even comes with its own charging case and windscreens. I'm glad it’s working out for both of us! Shifting gears, I needed some help rationalizing a recent purchase: the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE. It was a good bundle from Costco, including the S Pen (which uses Wacom EMR technology) and a nice magnetic keyboard case, all for around $500. I was looking for a replacement for my Pixel tablet, which Google is apparently not going to continue developing. I like that the S10 FE is IP68 water and dustproof, has a micro SD slot (I added a 256GB card for 384GB total storage!), and supports both Face ID and fingerprint login. I'm even learning how to use Samsung's additional windowing system on top of the standard Android UI.

We discussed the rumor of a budget MacBook (codenamed J700) possibly coming out in 2026 with the iPhone's A18 Pro processor. I think it would be fantastic in the $499 range, especially for schools and people new to desktop operating systems. We also touched on the mind-blowing news that an AI-written song hit number one on the Billboard country music chart. I remember being wowed by the first all-CGI movie, The Last Starfighter, back in the '80s, and it feels like AI music is on a similar path to becoming normal. Jon then walked me through a cool, old trick for Google Sheets: using the Google Visualization API with a SQL query embedded in a URL to fetch specific data, which he uses for his weekly jokes. Finally, Jon demoed Open Broadcast Studio (OBS), which is a free, versatile tool for broadcasting and recording, offering commercial-level features for mixing audio and video sources.

MobileViews 585: 17 years of this podcast! Free Affinity creative suite. Azure DNS outage. Jon's Discord bot

In this week's episode, Jon Westfall and I kicked things off by discussing "falling back" for Daylight Saving Time and reminiscing about dealing with dark mornings. We then moved on to some podcast milestones. I realized that MobileViews is about to turn 18, with the first episode dating back to November 26, 2008 . We also noted that Jon's 12th anniversary on the show is coming up in December. This got us talking about the early days of podcasting. I recalled listening to pioneers like Adam Curry (the "Podfather") and Adam Christiansen ("The Mac Cast") , and how I was amazed they could produce so much content solo . We contrasted that with today's landscape, which seems dominated by celebrity-hosted shows, and I made sure to thank Jon, as I'm certain the podcast would have ended years ago without him.

We discussed the recently released free Affinity all-in-one creative suite for MacOS, which both Jon and I had previously purchased, becoming a free all-in-one app on the Mac following its acquisition by Canva. We also chatted about the recent Microsoft Azure outage , which briefly gave me trouble accessing a file on OneDrive , and shared a laugh about how "it's always DNS". On the AI front, I shared a song I generated with Suno AI called "DNS Blues" and we discussed the news of an AI artist, Xenia Monet, debuting on the Billboard charts. Jon shared his own impressive AI project: in about 30 minutes, he used ChatGPT to build a Python-based Discord bot that can serve up Disney trivia, psychology questions, or bad jokes pulled from his 12-year spreadsheet archive.

MobileViews 584: Microsoft Journal? ChatGPT Atlas browser. Apple M5 products. Copilot Groups

On this week's podcast, my co-host Jon Westfall and our buddy Sven Johannsen joined me. We started by discussing the recent trend of journaling apps, including the new Microsoft Journal , which Jon thinks looks like a stripped-down version of OneNote. Jon mentioned he still uses the dedicated Day One app but wished that "on this day" features came with trigger warnings. I also talked about my experience testing OpenAI's new ChatGPT Atlas Browser ; while it's fast , Jon was annoyed because it requires you to set it as the default browser to get extended limits. We also covered the new Samsung Galaxy XR headset , which, like the Vision Pro , is still far too expensive for me at around $1,800.

 

While Apple's new M5 products were announced, none of us are planning an upgrade. I noted that I'm still interested in the rumored future MacBook Pro if it includes a touch screen - something Sven thinks is unnecessary. We also shared our experience with the new Microsoft Copilot Groups ; we used it to prepare for the show, but when we returned the next day, our entire chat history had vanished. Sven showed off a very versatile and affordable Moft Dynamic Folio for his iPad , and Jon detailed his recent home automation upgrades, including a new LNDU smart lock that offers six different ways to unlock , such as an offline, time-based one-time-passcode feature. Finally, Jon about a dancing pickle that Sven saw at Hallmark, does actually sing "I'm sexy and I know it".

MobileViews 583: AI as a Platform? NotebookLM enhancements. Rumor-Touchscreen 2026 MacBook Pro

In this week's MobileViews Podcast 583, I was joined by Jon Westfall and Don Sorcinelli to discuss several current topics in personal technology. We began with a report that Apple may release a MacBook Pro with an OLED touch screen in 2026. While I am interested in the concept based on my positive experiences with Windows touch screen laptops, Jon and Don expressed some skepticism about the utility of a touch screen on a non-convertible device. We also covered Google's new "Recovery Contacts" feature, an account security option that allows you to designate a trusted person to help you regain access if you're locked out.

 

The second half of the show focused on the rapid evolution of AI. Jon shared how he has been using Google's NotebookLM in his college classes to create study guides and quizzes from open educational resources, effectively replacing publisher-provided supplements. I discussed how the new integration of the Nano Banana imaging model into NotebookLM significantly improves its ability to create narrated slideshows with relevant visual examples. This led to a broader conversation about the concept of "AI as a platform," prompted by Walmart's new partnership with OpenAI that allows users to make purchases from within the chat interface. We concluded by discussing the rush by all major tech companies to integrate AI into their products and the potential long-term implications of these new platform and business models. 

MobileViews 582: Farewell Windows 10 and iOS Mini-Rants. Guest panelist Don Sorcinelli

This week, Jon Westfall and I are joined by our good friend, Don Sorcinelli, for MobileViews 582, where we had a lot to cover, particularly about saying farewell to things. This includes the impending sunset of Windows 10, which I’m sad to see go, especially after I already decided to wipe one of my last Windows 10 devices and install Ubuntu Linux on it. As usual, I had a few “mini-rants,” chief among them being the stability issues I'm experiencing after the latest iOS and watchOS updates. I'm seeing really bad battery life on my phone and, worse, my AirPods Pro 3 and Powerbeats Pro 2 have become unstable, giving me static or losing audio entirely. I also finally figured out why my Raspberry Pis won’t power up with my nice Gan chargers—they only deliver 3 amps, but the Pi requires 5 amps, a specification I am disappointed I did not check years ago.

We wrapped up with our ongoing segment on favorite and least-favorite Windows CE and Windows Mobile devices. While Jon and I have our preferences, Don surprised us by naming the non-touch Windows Mobile smartphone, the HTC Excalibur (T-Mobile Dash), as his favorite, largely due to its pocketability and durability. I had to point out that the Dash was one of the few phones that fit perfectly in the notoriously tiny chest pockets of my aloha shirts back in the day. His least favorite was the Palm Treo, which he found heavy and clunky. The conversation naturally led us to Windows Phone, and I reiterated my belief that it ultimately failed because the essential daily tools didn't migrate from Windows Mobile 6 to Windows Phone 7, which was a "humongous problem" for developers and users alike.