MobileViews.com Podcast

n their latest "MobileViews 574" podcast, hosts Todd Ogasawara and Dr. Jon Westfall navigated through significant tech news and offered practical advice. A notable development discussed was the discontinuation of AOL's dial-up internet access on September 30, 2025, marking the end of an era for the once-pioneering service. The conversation also touched upon Microsoft's decision to retire its Microsoft Lens app from iOS and Android devices, effective September 15, 2025, with full support ending November 15. Todd, who uses Lens to de-skew photos of doodles and whiteboards, is now seeking alternatives, with suggestions including Microsoft 365 Copilot app, OSS Document Scanner, Genius Scan, and Google Lens. This led to a humorous digression about the differing "personalities" of AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini.

 

Shifting to essential tips, Dr. Westfall provided a comprehensive "back-to-school tech roundup" for students. Key recommendations included USB drives with encrypted partitions for secure and compatible file transfer, and small thermal printers such as the Phomemo M04AS for quick, inexpensive prints like QR codes or notes. A Belkin 2-in-1 MagSafe Wireless Charging Dock was suggested for convenience, supporting iPhone's StandBy mode. For car-owning students, a portable jump starter (like the NOCO Boost GB40) and a mobile tire inflator (such as the DENVIX Tire Inflator) were highlighted as essential safety tools that also function as power banks and lights. Practical, inexpensive items like a packable rain hat (e.g., Soxbang Waterproof Bucket Rain Hat) and a towel were also recommended for unexpected weather. Finally, both hosts emphasized the critical need for a backup plan for all critical technology, leveraging cloud storage and considering extended warranties, along with the "three-day rule" for assignments to mitigate stress. This last point was underscored by observations about some students' reluctance to even use two-factor authentication for campus email due to perceived inconvenience.

Todd Ogasawara and Jon Westfall covered a range of interesting topics, from real-world natural disasters to the cutting edge of AI development and personal tech. Todd shared his recent experience during a statewide tsunami alert in Hawaii, triggered by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia. While initial information was well-managed, he highlighted significant issues with traffic chaos during evacuation and a concerning lack of information post-wave impact. On the technology front, Todd discussed Google Notebook LM, praising its ability to create succinct summaries and slideshows with voiceovers from source material. He also introduced Google Opal, a new experimental tool from Google Labs that allows users to build and share powerful AI mini-apps using natural language and visual editing, describing it as a "step beyond Visual Basic" for accelerating AI prototyping and workflows.

Jon Westfall also shared his recent tech purchases and an exciting new project. He acquired an 8Bitdo Micro Bluetooth Gamepad, a pocket-sized mini-controller weighing just 24.8 grams with 16 buttons. Its versatility allows it to function as a game controller for Switch, Android, and Raspberry Pi, or as a keyboard mode device for various applications, including as a remote for his new Kobo Libra Colour eReader. The Kobo Libra Colour features a 7" E Ink Kaleido™ 3 color display and Kobo Stylus 2 compatibility for colorful mark-ups and note-taking, with notebooks backed up to Kobo Cloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive. Jon also unveiled his open-source project, Uncle John's Bank, a self-hostable banking system for parents and kids designed to teach financial literacy, notably incorporating daily compounding interest and Certificates of Deposit (CDs). This sophisticated project was developed remarkably fast (75 hours) thanks to extensive use of OpenAI Codex, which integrated directly with his GitHub repository, even writing developer documentation. However, Jon noted a peculiar issue where GitHub Copilot (AI) reviewing Codex (AI)-generated code sometimes caused new problems, suggesting limitations in AI-to-AI code interaction. Finally, Jon shared intriguing results from asking various AIs (Google Gemini, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Anthropic Claude) for investment advice, observing their diverse recommendations and risk appetites.

Todd Ogasawara and Don Sorcinelli delved into several recent developments in personal technology, starting with Apple's new offerings. They discussed AppleCare One, a simplified coverage plan launched on July 23, 2025, which allows customers to protect up to three Apple products for $19.99 per month, with options to add more devices. This plan bundles all AppleCare+ benefits, including unlimited accidental damage repairs, 24/7 expert support, battery coverage, and extends theft and loss protection to iPad and Apple Watch. Don highlighted this as a "win-win" for both Apple and consumers, offering both simplicity and potential cost savings over individual plans. The conversation then shifted to Todd's experience with the iPadOS 26 public beta. He noted significant improvements in the new windowing system, which provides desktop-like functionalities such as closing, minimizing, resizing, and tiling app windows. New apps like Journal and Phone are now available on iPad, and a macOS-style menu bar has been introduced. Todd also explored the Local Capture feature, enabling native audio and video recording on iPadOS/iOS 26 devices, which, while useful for content creation, only records the user's side of the conversation in a call.

 

Beyond Apple, the discussion covered crucial software updates and market observations. Todd highlighted a new feature in Adobe Podcast Studio that allows users to edit video by simply editing its transcribed text, significantly simplifying the process of cutting and rearranging video segments. They clarified a common misunderstanding about Microsoft Authenticator: while its password manager functionality is being removed by August 1, 2025, the multi-factor authentication (MFA) feature will remain active, with a push towards passkeys as a more secure login method. From an enterprise IT perspective, Don shared insights into the marked improvements in Microsoft Intune's support for Mac OS management, a development that streamlines device administration for companies striving for a "single pane of glass" solution across diverse operating systems. Finally, they observed the landscape of the US Android phone market, noting its overwhelming dominance by Samsung and Google Pixel, with other brands like Motorola having a very limited presence, largely influenced by carrier offerings and marketing strategies

For MobileViews Podcast 571, I'm joined by guest co-hosts Sven Johannsen and Don Sorcinelli. We discuss:

Matson, Hawaii’s largest ocean cargo carrier, has ceased accepting electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles for transport to and from the islands due to mounting safety concerns over lithium-ion battery fires at sea, a move expected to severely impact Hawaii's car market. In a brighter tech development, RapidRAW, a new open-source RAW image editor, was introduced as a high-performance, lightweight alternative to Adobe Lightroom®, impressively developed by an 18-year-old with Google's Gemini AI models and boasting GPU-accelerated processing and AI masking. Meanwhile, Google’s NotebookLM, an AI-powered personalized research assistant, was praised as a "game-changer for productivity" due to its source-grounded nature that minimizes "hallucinations"; it proves valuable for streamlining tasks, managing finances, and facilitating passive learning via "Audio Overviews" generated from user-fed sources. Its enhanced NotebookLM Plus offers higher limits and a 50% student discount, complemented by new curated "featured notebooks" on expert topics like Shakespeare. Beyond specific applications, broader shifts in operating systems include Google’s potential merger of Chrome OS and Android into a unified platform, and advancements in tablet interfaces like Apple’s iPadOS 26 developer beta with its touch-first windowing capabilities, alongside the anticipated Android desktop mode (similar to Samsung's Dex) for lightweight travel setups, though consistent user concerns about effective file management across these diverse platforms persist. Finally, the Oura Ring was highlighted as a screen-less fitness tracker alternative, capable of monitoring parameters like pulse and oxygen, and suitable for restricted environments due to its lack of Wi-Fi/cellular/microphones/cameras.

Todd Ogasawara is joined by guest co-hosts Sven Johannsen, and Don Sorcinelli. They explore the upcoming iPadOS 26 public beta and the evolving utility of tablets, debating their role in productivity versus laptops. The also discuss new tech accessories, such as a Logitech Flip Folio and a portable Sodi keyboard with a touchpad, alongside practical uses for location-tracking devices like AirTags and Pebble's alternatives. Furthermore, the Todd expressed his disappointment with Google's Chromebook update policies. Don highlights the critical importance of third-party application security updates, recommending tools like Home Updater and Action1 for managing them. Finally, they discuss the strained partnership between OpenAI and Microsoft, a novel e-ink display for touchpads, and Sven notes the limitations with Apple's Continuity Camera and Sidecar features.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.