John Voorhees

5406 posts on MacStories since November 2015

John is MacStories' Managing Editor, has been writing about Apple and apps since joining the team in 2015, and today, runs the site alongside Federico. John also co-hosts four MacStories podcasts: AppStories, which covers the world of apps, MacStories Unwind, which explores the fun differences between American and Italian culture and recommends media to listeners, Ruminate, a show about the weird web and unusual snacks, and NPC: Next Portable Console, a show about the games we take with us.
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voorhees@macstories.net

AppStories, Episode 360 – Nerding Out for the Holidays (Part 1)→

This week on AppStories, we share our geeky holiday season tech projects.

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On AppStories+, Federico and I revisit artificial intelligence and discuss the sorts of tools we’ve been testing.

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Interesting Links

[[John]] TechCrunch reports on a fun web app that allows you to make concert poster-style artwork. The web app was all the rage a while back, but recently, support was added for generating its artwork using a playlist. (Link) The data AT&T has handled at Taylor Swift concerts is staggering. Don’t miss The Verge’s chart...

App Debuts

[[John]] Astro Jump Astro Jump is an ingenious use of Home Screen widgets. The app uses two separate widgets to create a classic retro-style platformer game where your character runs, jumps, and slides to avoid obstacles. The pixelated artwork is superb and reminiscent of classic Game Boy titles. However, what’s most unique about the game...

The Multi-Battery Lifestyle

I probably have too many batteries. Okay, I have way too many batteries, but I can explain. Maybe. It’s pretty simple. I’d rather plug a short cable into a nearby battery to keep whatever I’m using going than go hunting for a wall socket. I thought this was an obvious way to work until I...

Viewing Folder Size in Finder

Every now and then, I come across something while using my Mac, and I wonder if others know about it. I usually figure they do and move on. However, when something’s not the default behavior and is buried in a setting somewhere, it should probably be a tip. So, while this may seem obvious to...

MacStories Unwind, AV Club Edition: Super Mario Bros. Wonder

AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps
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AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps

This month for the AV Club edition of MacStories Unwind, Federico John, and Jonathan discuss their personal histories with the Mario franchise and share their thoughts on the latest installment, Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

  • Kolide – It ensures that if a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps.  It’s Device Trust for Okta. Watch the demo today!

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

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Apple to Support RCS Messaging in 2024→

In a surprising move, Apple announced today that it will adopt the RCS messaging standard. The company, which has been under pressure from government regulators around the world and competitors like Google and Samsung, told Chance Miller of 9to5Mac:

Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association. We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS. This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users.

RCS won’t replace iMessage, SMS, or MMS. Instead, RCS will run in parallel with iMessage on a user’s device for those situations where iMessage isn’t an option, and SMS and MMS will continue to serve as fallbacks in case iMessage and RCS aren’t available.

I don’t think many people saw this coming. I certainly didn’t. SMS and MMS are creaky, old technologies that don’t work over Wi-Fi, so it’s good to see them demoted to the options of last resort. RCS isn’t perfect, but it’s an improvement over those older technologies, and perhaps Apple’s support of the standard, along with the other companies that have already adopted it, will help it continue to improve.

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Apple Announces Close to 40 App Store Awards Finalists

Today, Apple announced the finalists for its App Store Awards, a selection of apps that the App Store Editorial team picks each fall to recognize “their excellence, inventiveness, and technical achievement” in ten categories.

Introducing award finalists is a departure for Apple from past years when the company only announced the winners. The change is carried over from the company’s annual Apple Design Awards that are revealed at WWDC every year and is one I like. Today’s finalists include nearly 40 apps and games that span a wide variety of categories and range from creations by solo developers to big companies. It’s an eclectic mix that captures the breadth of the App Store well.

Apple says it will reveal the winners of the App Store Awards later this month. If past announcements are any guide, the last week of November is a good bet on the timing. In the meantime, we have the complete list of finalist apps and games from Apple’s press release after the break.

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