Podcast Rewind: What’s Next for Apple Intelligence, Budget Android Handhelds, and an Interview with Joe Rosensteel

By Devon Dundee

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

AppStories

This week, Federico and John discuss what might be next for Apple Intelligence and how it fits into the broader AI market.

On AppStories+, Federico and John cover the fallout from the Sora app and why AI can’t replace human creativity.

This episode is sponsored by:

Claude: Get 50% off Claude Pro, including access to Claude Code.

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, Steam Deck, Switch 2, and Vision Pro accessory follow-up, Thunderbolt 5 eGPUs, Android handhelds break into the budget category, and the ROG Xbox Ally X is a bust.

On NPC XL, Apple’s M5 chip promise gaming advances on the iPad, but can it deliver?

First, Last, Everything

On this episode, we’re joined by Joe Rosensteel. Joe is a VFX artist who’s worked on big-name Hollywood productions as well as smaller commercial projects. He’s a writer on his own blog and for the Six Colors website, and he also has a podcast with Dan Sturm called Defocused.

Podcast Rewind: Bricking Your Phone and Robot Dreams

By Devon Dundee

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

Comfort Zone

With Matt on Safari, Chris brings a brick, Niléane does an AMA, and the two have a listening party with some groovy tunes.

In the Cozy Zone, Matt and Chris quiz Niléane on U.S. geography.

MacStories Unwind

This week, weekend outings and the chores we wish robots could do for us, plus Federico shares an anti-pick, and John is hooked on a gritty crime drama.

Apple Reveals the M5 Apple Vision Pro

By Devon Dundee

Today, Apple announced the first revision to the Vision Pro, the company’s mixed reality headset. The updated device sports an M5 chip and the new Dual Knit Band for improved comfort.

The M5 chip is making its debut in the Vision Pro alongside the new MacBook Pro and iPad Pro. It features a 10-core CPU, a 16-core Neural Engine that’s up to 50% faster than the M2, and a 10-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading. The M5 allows the Vision Pro to render 10 percent more pixels on its micro-OLED displays, resulting in a clearer image, an increased refresh rate up to 120Hz, and a smoother Mac Virtual Display experience. It also increases the device’s battery life to 2.5 hours of regular use and 3 hours of video playback. The M5 processor works alongside the R1 co-processor and the device’s built-in cameras and sensors to render the user’s surroundings in real time.

The biggest visible difference this generation is the new Dual Knit Band. Made of two 3D-knitted straps that look similar to the original Solo Knit Band, the Dual Knit Band incorporates a second strap that runs across the top of the user’s head and a counterweight in the lower strap to better distribute weight, increase comfort, and create a more stable fit. The strap is backwards compatible with the first-generation Vision Pro and available to purchase for $99.

Owners of either the M2 or M5 Vision Pro can pair the device with spatial accessories. The Sony PlayStation VR2 Sense Controller, which enables VR games like Elu Legend, Pickle Pro, Ping Pong Club, and Spatial Rifts and can be used to navigate visionOS in lieu of hand tracking, will cost $249.95 and be available November 11. The Logitech Muse digital pencil for drawing and collaboration costs $129.95; it can be pre-ordered directly from Apple now and will be released alongside the M5 Vision Pro.

The Vision Pro itself, meanwhile, maintains its starting price of $3,499 with 256 GB of built-in storage. The storage can optionally be configured to 512 GB for $3,699 or 1 TB for $3,899. The M5 Vision Pro is available for pre-order now with deliveries and in-store availability starting Wednesday, October 22.

Podcast Rewind: What We’d Like to See from Apple the Rest of the Year, the AYN Thor, and an Interview with Robin Kanatzar

By Devon Dundee

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

AppStories

This week, with rumors of more products in the pipeline, Federico and John share what they want most from Apple before the end of the year.

On AppStories+, Federico experiments with lightning fast inference and iteration using Cerebras for scripting.

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, we wonder who the Lenovo Legion Go 2 is for, get excited about the AYN Thor reviews, discuss Digital Foundry’s iPhone 17 Pro gaming discoveries, and check in on mini PCs, then Brendon bails on Bazzite.

On NPC XL, John experiments with the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s thermals, and Federico revisits Sunshine and Moonlight.

First, Last, Everything

Robin Kanatzar is this episode’s guest. Robin is a former industrial engineer who has been developing apps for iOS and Android since 2016, focusing on accessibility. She also gives talks on the subject, educating developers on how to make their apps more accessible, as well as publishing a weekly newsletter on the subject, titled ‘Appt News’.

Podcast Rewind: A Podcast Within a Podcast and a Visit to Florence

By Devon Dundee

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

Comfort Zone

Chris tries to sell us some new Logitech gear, Matt tries to sell some old challenges, and both of them try to sell Niléane on something from IKEA.

In the Cozy Zone, the gang review their charging habits. And let’s just say, one dad likes to over-engineer everything, while the other dad is in desperate need of a new USB-C cable.

MacStories Unwind

This week, John stumbles upon a restaurant with a thing for the Italian navy, Federico explores the Final Fantasy Tactics remake, and John has a movie pick.

Podcast Rewind: Understanding MCP, Computer Coasters, and an Interview with Andrew Fyfe

By Devon Dundee

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

AppStories

This week, Federico and John demystify Model Context Protocol (MCP), covering how it works, where it’s heading, and practical examples of what it can do.

On AppStories+, Federico and John experiment with whether AI can make sense of the information firehose.

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, John and Brendon get excited about the rumors of an Anbernic DS clone, dig into weird and interesting news from Xiaomi, debate the merits of computer coasters, and update listeners on more pricey Windows handhelds and Lego’s Game Boy set.

On NPC XL, John shares his first impressions of GeForce Now’s NVIDIA 5080 performance, and he and Brendon wonder what Microsoft is thinking with recent changes to Game Pass.

First, Last, Everything

Andrew Fyfe is a musician originating from Scotland. After starting out gigging in bands and crossing paths with the likes of Biffy Clyro and Lewis Capaldi, Andrew started learning about artificial intelligence. Now living in Japan, Andrew is the CTO and co-founder of Neutone, a company introducing AI to the music-making process, aiming to do so in a way that respects artists and doesn’t replace creativity.

Podcast Rewind: Listening to Music Like It’s 2004, Big Mike’s Shipping Shoppe, and Immersive MotoGP

By Devon Dundee

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

Comfort Zone

Matt wants to wrap up conversation on Liquid Glass, Niléane has a music app that feels like it’s from 2004 (and we mean that in a few good ways), and Chris judges everyone on how well they relaxed last week.

On Cozy Zone, the gang compares what they do with their old tech and packaging. Needless to say, there are some shocking revelations.

MacStories Unwind

This week, John visits Mike the shipping guy, Federico’s philosophy on hardware takes a turn, John declares Apple Watch charging in the shower a myth, and we share videogame and TV picks, plus a deal.

Magic Rays of Light

Sigmund and Devon break down CANAL+’s immersive documentary MotoGP: Tour De Force and say one last goodbye to Acapulco upon its series finale.

Podcast Rewind: New Hardware Impressions, the Return of the Virtual Boy, and an Interview with Futurama Co-Developer David X. Cohen

By Devon Dundee

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

AppStories

This week, Federico and John shared their first impressions of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and AirPods Pro 3.

On AppStories+, Federico asks John about his plans to unwind now that his macOS review is out.

This episode is sponsored by:

Things – A fresh new look for OS 26

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, gamers bring Xbox mode to the MSI Claw and other Windows handhelds, the DualSense controller gets multi-pairing, AYN shows off the Thor in action, and Nintendo gets even weirder with a Virtual Boy comeback, plus John reviews the Steam Deck Folio cover and the crew discusses the gaming updates to Apple’s Vision Pro.

This week on NPC XL, John gives Federico and Brendon a choice between three, and eventually four, gaming setups as a way of exploring where their handheld gaming priorities lie.

First, Last, Everything

This time, it’s the Emmy-award-winning writer David X. Cohen. David started writing on Beavis and Butthead in the early ‘90s before joining The Simpsons, where he was responsible for many well-known episodes like Lisa the Vegetarian, The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show, and Homer3. Then, in 1999, with Simpsons creator Matt Groening, David co-developed Futurama, which recently dropped its 13th season on Hulu and Disney+.

But David’s history is not just in television. He worked in the robotics lab while attending Harvard, studied theoretical computer science, and has a deep history with technology all the way back to the early days of home computers. As you can expect, there was a lot for us to talk about.

CANAL+ Releases Immersive Documentary MotoGP: Tour De Force

By Devon Dundee

Today, French entertainment company CANAL+ is releasing immersive documentary MotoGP: Tour De Force for Apple Vision Pro users. The 30-minute film follows French championship rider Johann Zarco during the French Grand Prix weekend this May, where he became the first French rider to win the race in over 70 years.

One of the first third-party partners to receive access to the technology behind Apple Immersive Video, CANAL+ captured the race and the behind-the-scenes action using four Blackmagic Design’s URSA Cine Immersive cameras on pedestals and Steadicams in combination with ambisonic microphones. The end result will be very familiar to fans of Apple Immersive Video, with its 8K resolution, 180-degree field of view, 3D, and Spatial Audio.

I got a chance to check out the film ahead of its release and found it to be thrilling and impactful. The subject is a perfect fit for Apple Immersive Video; I could hardly keep up with the motorbikes zooming by from the trackside view. But just as enjoyable was the story, where the film follows Johann Zarco through the emotional ups and downs of the weekend, culminating in the joy of victory in front of 300,000 fans.

If MotoGP: Tour De Force is an indication of what we can expect from future third-party Apple Immersive Videos (and I think it is), I’m excited. The immersive videos we’ve seen from Apple so far have taken us to far-off places to witness stories, sports, and experiences many of us would otherwise never have access to, and with the tools to make this kind of content now in the hands of many more creators, I think of the future of immersive video on Apple Vision Pro is bright.

MotoGP: Tour De Force is available to stream now on Apple Vision Pro. Users in France can stream the film in the CANAL+ app with an active subscription, while users in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, the U.A.E, the U.K., and the U.S. can stream the film for free in the Apple TV app. Alongside the announcement of MotoGP: Tour De Force, Apple also announced its upcoming slate of immersive videos, including new episodes of ongoing series and new entries from partners like Red Bull and CNN.