Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

AppStories

This week, Federico and I begin our annual look at what we’d like to see Apple announce at WWDC 2025, starting with iOS and iPadOS 19.

On AppStories+, which was released as a free sample for all listeners, I explain why the recent contempt order entered against Apple is a bigger deal than most people realize, on multiple levels.

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week on NPC, Federico, Brendon, and I chart which handheld makers are still shipping to the U.S. in the wake of steep tariffs, then explore how speedrunners are stress‑testing Breath of the Wild at Nintendo’s Switch 2 hands‑on events. Plus, we update listeners on Nintendo’s release of version 20 of the original Switch’s firmware, how a contempt order against Apple could unlock new business models for developers, the surprising arrival of JIT on the App Store, Nothing’s launch of the CMF Phone 2 Pro, and how Anbernic and Ayaneo are defying economic uncertainty by releasing new handhelds.

This week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon and I explain how we find time for gaming, where they play, and how they balance work, family, and their videogame hobbies. Federico and Brendon wrap the episode up with some advice for me on improving my Xbox streaming setup.

AppStories, Episode 434, ‘iOS and iPadOS 19 Wish Lists’ Show Notes

Links and Show Notes

Claude Follow-Up

• Federico explains his approach to LLMs and private data and he and John talk about adapting Claude projects to Gemini Gems and ChatGPT Projects, as well as where NotebookLM fits in.
  • More on NotebookLM: Examining Where AI Fits Into Research

Our 2025 iOS and iPadOS WWDC Wishes

• A Social Media Conclave
• Listener Feedback About Claude
• Our iOS and iPadOS 19 Wishes
• iOS Multitasking
• A Clipboard Manager
• An Always-Available Dock
• Launcher Utilities with System Level Access
• Omnipresent Spotlight Search
• Siri as a Chatbot
• A Better Multitasking System on iPadOS
• More Control Center Flexibility
• Shortcuts Vibe Coding
• A Better Files App
• Journal App on iPad
• Any Sign of Life from Apple Intelligence
• More Love for Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro on iPad
• Bridging the Gap of Shortcuts on the Mac and iPad and a Terminal App on the iPad
• Redesign the iPhone Tab Bar
  • Related: Contabulation
• More Theme-able UI

AppStories+ Post-Show

• A Breach of Trust Apple Held in Contempt Over App Store Rules
• Developers and Platforms React as App Store Rules Change in the U.S. - MacStories

Subscribe here.

On AppStories+, I explain why the recent contempt order entered against Apple is a bigger deal than most people realize, on multiple levels.

We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.

To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.

NPC, Episode 31, ‘Anbernic and Ayaneo Keep Launching and a JIT Twist on iOS’ Show Notes

Links and Show Notes

The Latest Portable Gaming News

• Tariffs: Good News and Bad
  • Retroid Updates Shipping Policy for U.S. Customers
  • Powkiddy stopping U.S. shipments
  • 8BitDo suspends US shipments from Chinese warehouse due to tariffs
• Switch 2 News
  • Speedrunner Beats The Legend Of Zelda Breath Of The Wild Switch 2 Edition At Preview Event
  • Switch update 20.0.0 adds Virtual Game Cards, GameShare, Switch 2 transfer
• • iOS Gaming
  • StikDebug brings JIT to the iPhone
    • JIT enabler lands on App Store, likely unlocking Wii and Switch emulation on iOS
    • An ‘official’ Flappy Bird game is back, but it has nothing to do with the original creator.
• Handhelds
  • Anbernic RG34XX SP May Drop Next Month
  • AYANEO Pocket ACE hits Indiegogo (retro handheld with a 4.5 inch display and Snapdragon G3x Gen 2)
• Other hardware
  • Nothing’s CMF Phone 2 Pro is an affordable phone with a unique modular ecosystem

Topics

• A Retroid Pocket Flip 2 Update

Subscribe to NPC XL

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.

Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes.

You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole

MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.

If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.