John Voorhees

5407 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.
@[email protected]
@johnvoorhees.macstories.net
voorhees@macstories.net

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.

Read more

AppStories, Episode 359 – Getting Your Digital Life in Order→

This week on AppStories, we tackle the struggle with staying organized in the face of the never-ending stream of files and other information.

Sponsored by:

  • Notion – Do your most efficient work with Notion AI. Try it free today.
[Subscribe here.](https://www.macstories.net/podcasts/appstories/plans)

Subscribe here.

On AppStories+, The Chamberlain Group’s decision to cut off API support to its garage door controllers is an example of what happens when a company shifts from selling to customers to selling access to those customers.

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.

Permalink

Coming Soon: The Sixth Annual MacStories Selects Awards, Readers’ Choice Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award

The sixth annual MacStories Selects Awards are just around the corner. The awards honor our favorite apps in a wide variety of categories. Winners will receive a physical MacStories Selects award designed by MacStories’ own Silvia Gatta. As with last year, awards will be selected in the following categories:

  • App of the Year
  • Best New App
  • Best App Update
  • Best New Feature
  • Best Design
  • Best Watch App
  • Best Mac App
  • Lifetime Achievement Award

We’ll also be conferring two special awards once again:

  • The Readers’ Choice Award
  • The Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2022, Club MacStories members picked CARROT Weather for the Readers’ Choice Award.

In 2022, Club MacStories members picked CARROT Weather for the Readers’ Choice Award.

The Readers’ Choice Award is nominated by Club MacStories members and chosen by Club MacStories+ and Club Premier members. A link to the nomination form and details about which apps are eligible for the award were published in Issue 393 of MacStories Weekly at the beginning of the issue. Nominations will be accepted until Noon Eastern US time this Tuesday, November 14th.

After nominations close, we’ll tally the submissions and open voting on the top nominees to Club MacStories+ and Club Premier members via our Discord community. Voting will conclude at Noon Eastern US time on Thursday, November 16th.

For more details on each Club MacStories membership and to join, please use the buttons below:

Club MacStories:

Club MacStories+:

Club Premier:

2022's Lifetime Achievement Award went to Drafts by Greg Pierce's Agile Tortoise.

2022’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Drafts by Greg Pierce’s Agile Tortoise.

We’ll also be selecting a Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize an app that has had an important impact on the world of apps. We’ll be choosing an app beloved by users and inspiring to developers, which has left its mark on the App Store’s history.

Every year, we use hundreds of terrific apps. MacStories Selects is our way to call out a handful of our absolute favorites that are shining examples of the best apps on Apple’s platforms.

We look forward to sharing our selections and our Club members’ pick with you in December.

AppStories - Ep. 359 - 26 minutes

Getting Your Digital Life in Order

FedericoJohn
AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps

AppStories Episode 359 - Getting Your Digital Life in Order

0:00
25:51

↓

AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps

This week, Federico and John tackle the struggle with staying organized in the face of the never-ending stream of files and other information.

Read more

Interesting Links

[[John]] LTA Research took the wraps off an enormous electric airship funded by Google founder Sergey Brin that can carry four tons of cargo. (Link) Announced back at CES, the Withings top-of-the-line Body-Scan smart scale is out, and TechCrunch reviews it, finding some software issues that Withings is still working out but giving it an...

Presence-Based Automations with the Aqara FP2

The Aqara FP2 is a presence sensor that uses millimeter-wave radar technology to determine if a room is occupied. It can detect multiple people, whether you’re standing up or lying down, and if you’ve fallen. On top of that, the FP2 can tell when a room is unoccupied, something motion sensors from companies like Philips...

App Debuts

Mochi Pets Mochi Pets by Club member Dillon Mok is a Tamagotchi-style app for the iPhone and iPad. You pick from a variety of cute pixelated pets that live on your Home Screen in widgets where you can care for them and play games with them throughout the day. The latest release of the app...

Crash Detection Saves Unconscious AppleInsider Writer→

The Apple Watch and iPhone’s crash detection has saved a lot of lives, and you probably think of it as something for when you’re driving your car. However, as AppleInsider’s Daniel Eran Dilger discovered, it works with scooters, too. Dilger was in a serious accident while riding a scooter. Lying on the ground at night, unconscious, and bleeding, he could have bled to death.

Fortunately, Dilger’s Apple Watch contacted emergency services, who found him, thanks to the feature, and took him to a hospital:

Even though I wasn’t driving a conventional vehicle, Crash Detection determined that I had been involved in a serious accident and that I wasn’t responding. Within 20 seconds, it called emergency services with my location. Within thirty minutes I was loaded in an ambulance and on the way to the emergency room.

When I came to, I had to ask what was happening. That’s the first I found out that I was getting my eyebrow stitched up and had various scrapes across the half of my face that I had apparently used to a break my fall. I couldn’t remember anything.

It’s a scary story that highlights just how important Crash Detection can be in circumstances like Dilger’s, where he was unable to call emergency services himself.

Dilger also reminds readers to update their emergency contacts on their devices. His were out of date, so they didn’t get a call about the accident. Fortunately, Find My Friends alerted Dilger’s partner of his location so they could call the hospital to check on him.

Permalink

MacStories Unwind: A Trip to Flavortown

AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps
0:00
26:19

AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps

This week on MacStories Unwind, I take Federico on a trip to Flavortown with Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, including Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burgers, Smoque BBQ, and Del Rhea’s Chicken Basket, three of my favorite Flavortown stops.

  • 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!

MacStories Unwind+

We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.

To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.