MobileViews.com Podcast

MobileViews Podcast 536: Fall Back! New Macs, ChatGPT Search, Apple bought Pixelmator

For this podcast, Jon Westfall and I are joined by frequent guest panelist Sven Johannsen. We discuss:

• Testing iOS 18.1 iPhone Call Recording in MobileViews mini-podcast 47
• iPadOS trade-in wiping weirdness. Todd had to use the MacOS Apple Configurator to prepare an iPad mini 5 for trade-in
• ChatGPT Search
• Apple bought the Pixelmator photo editor app team
• Microsoft Windows Calculator
• Todd's mini-rant: Personal info persistence during customer support calls and an Eero/Echo Dot mesh network issue
• Jon's mini-rant: Nomatic Packable Tote hidden bag secrets
• Apple's October M4-based Mac announcements. Who's buying what and why?

MobileViews 535: Discussion with Jared Kuroiwa - AR/VR glasses; ARM PCs; keyboards

For this in-person lunch in a restaurant recorded podcast, I'm joined by Jared Kuroiwa. We discuss AR/VR glasses, ARM PCs, and some recent keyboards (Logitech in both our cases) we've been using. Note that there is a complete separate discussion and video recorded demonstration of Jared's Brilliant Labs Frames and Xreal Air 2 Ultra AR glasses. This discussion is available on YouTube and linked on the MobileViews blog.

MobileViews Podcast 533: Android OS 15 impressions from Pixel 9/9Pro users; iPad mini 7; 1 year until Windows 10 EOLs

Jon Westfall and I are joined by frequent guest panelists Sven Johannsen and Don Sorcinelli for this podcast.

• I note that Windows 10 is one year away from its End Of Life data (Oct. 14, 2025). My plan is to convert my un-upgradeable Windows 10 laptop (a 2019 HP Envy with an AMD Ryzen processor) to ChromeOS Flex
• Logitech's apparent environmental influenced design choice to build keyboards using non-rechargeable batteries (alkaline or lithium)
• Don and Sven's initial Android OS 15 impressions on their new Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro (respectively) phones
• The recently announced, and soon to be available, iPad mini A17 Pro (which we refer to as the iPad mini 7)

MobileViews Podcast 532: APL in 2024; Linux VM for Android?; Apple Vitals illness detection

In this podcast Jon Westfall and I discuss:

• GNU APL
• J901 for iPad: Inspired by APL. APL & J both created by Ken Iverson
• Google is developing tools to let you run Debian in a VM on android
• Finger mouse vs. vertical mouse vs. conventional mouse
• Apple Watch Vitals is detecting illnesses before they appear. Oura ring has done this for a number of years now. Is it useful to know that you’re about to get sick?
• Heart rate monitor
• Blood Pressure needs to be taken properly: 
• Finger mouse vs. vertical mouse vs. conventional mouse
• Android OS 15
• Mac mini M4, iPad mini 7?

MobileViews Podcast 531: Comica wireless mic; Copilot doesn't know weather/news; iPadOS 18.0.1 text messages

In this podcast I misspoke and introduced it as podcast 532. It is really podcast 531... Jon Westfall and I discuss:

• Trying out/reviewing the Comica EJoy Uni Pro Wireless & USB microphone
• Microsoft Copilot can now carry out persistent discussions. However, it does not have information about weather or news. Google Gemini, on the other hand, can answer questions related to weather and news.
• CNN.com trying a subscription plan again.
• iOS/iPadOS 18.1 with more Apple Intelligence features said to be set for release on October 28.
• After iPadOS 18.0.1., I can send/receive SMS/RCS text messages to Android phone users
• iPhone 15 & 16 Action Button super shortcuts in reddit.com/r/shortcuts

MobileViews Podcast 530: NotebookLM YouTube summaries; 23andMe data?; Fitbit.com shutting down & more

In this podcast, Jon Westfall and I discuss:

• MobileViews YouTube captions generated by Microsoft Clipchamp SRT files
• iOS/iPadOS 18.1 public beta 2: Where's the AI? (still)
• Google shutting down Fitbit.com website. Exporting data using Google Takeout
• What happens to 23andMe data if the company collapses?
• Google NotebookLM can create summary notes from a YouTube video's audio track
• ExplainPaper.com: The fastest ay to read research papers
• National Coffee Day
• Misbehaving iOT (iHome SP5)
• Groupon still exists and Jon found a deal today
• Do you need a smartphone to brush your teeth? Philips Sonicare Prestige 9900 mini-review
• Nemonic thermal printer
• Notifications: Are yours out of control? What should we do about them?

MobileViews Podcast 529: Surface Pro 11 & iPad Pro M4 mini-rants; iPhone 16 Pro initial impressions; & more

In this podcast Jon Westfall and I discuss:

• iOS/iPadOS 18.1 public beta. Where's the Apple Intelligence?
• Boblov W1 Mini/Body Cam initial impressions
• Todd's mini-rants: Surface Pro 11 Flex Keyboard flakiness; USB-C/HDMI out flakiness; M4 iPad Pro & Apple Pencil Pro battery drain
• Jon's iPhone 16 Pro initial impressions
• Jon: Using a $30 projector stand as an end table for gadgets

MobileViews Podcast 526: What won't be announced during the Apple 9/9/ event?

In this podcast, Jon Westfall and I discuss:

• New video calling features coming to Google Meet (Android/iOS)
• OpenStax partners with Google’s Gemini Apps
• Apple Podcasts available on the web
• Google ImageFX powered by Imagen 3
• Guru Maps
• What Apple is NOT going to announce during its 9/9 event?
• How important are product (including non-technology) ecosystems/branding to you?

 

MobileViews Podcast 525: Apple Sept. 10 event? Jon's quasi-annual travel/Disney tech report

In this podcast, Jon Westfall and I catch-up after a few podcasts with guest hosts/panelists. We discuss:

• Thanking guest hosts/panelists: Paul Lawler, Steve Hughes, Al Bonilla, Mark Savage, Sven Johannsen, Frank McPherson, and Don Sorcinelli.
• Impressed by photos taken by Steve's Rayban Meta smart glasses
• Surprised at how well a USB-C conference mic work to record a three person podcast in a restaurant
• Apple Sept. 10 (possible) event?
• After months of failed attempts, the Surface Pro 11 Copilot + PC can now print to a printer
• Chrome for desktop now has Google Lens search
• Jon's quasi-annual travel/Disney tech report! Cordless world, mobile ordering, still need a laptop for a few things, Disney MagicBand+, Disney Fuel Rod, security flagging a plastic glasses case, new animatronics tech, what does a nearby hurricane shut down, drone show, 

MobileViews Podcast 523: Made by Google discussion w/Sven Johannsen, Frank McPherson, & Don Sorcinelli

For this podcast, I'm joined by Sven Johannsen, Frank McPherson, & Don Sorcinelli. We discussed:

• MobileViews 522 carpool techie-oke podcast recorded using wireless lavalier microphones
• Insta360 Studio gained AI reframing/editing feature (see sample here)
• WordStar 7.0 rereleased (free) by author Robert J. Sawyer
• Google deprecating Manifest V2 for Google Chrome. Impact on ad-blockers
• Made by Google 2024 product announcements