John Voorhees

5773 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

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Sundar Pichai Testifies That He Hopes Gemini Will Be Integrated into iPhones This Fall→

Ever since Apple announced its deal to integrate ChatGPT into Siri, there have been hints that the company wanted to make deals with other AI providers, too. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has added fuel to the rumors with testimony given today in the remedy phase of the search antitrust case brought against it by the U.S. Department of Justice.

In response to questions by a DOJ prosecutor, Pichai testified that he hoped Google Gemini would be added to iPhones this year. According to a Bloomberg story co-authored by Mark Gurman, Davey Alba, and Leah Nylen:

Pichai said he held a series of conversations with Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook across 2024 and he hopes to have a deal done by the middle of this year.

This news isn’t surprising, but it is welcome. Despite Google’s early stumbles with Bard, its successor, Gemini, has improved by leaps and bounds in recent months and has the advantage of being integrated with many of Google’s other products that have a huge user base. What will be interesting to see is whether Gemini is integrated as an alternative fallback for Siri requests or whether Apple and Google ink a broader deal that integrates Gemini into other aspects of iOS.

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Podcast Rewind: Tracking Apps, Switch 2 Pre-Order Chaos, and Setting Up a New Mac

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

AppStories

This week, Federico and I tackle tracking apps. From database apps to media trackers, we consider what makes a good tracking app no matter what you’re tracking.

This episode is sponsored by:

  • WaterMinder – The Best Water Tracker App for Your Hydration Needs!

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, looming tariffs cause more handheld makers to pause shipments to the U.S., demand for the Switch 2 outstrips supply, I explain what the U.S. pre-order process was like, and we marvel at the restoration of a vintage Game Boy kiosk.

This week on NPC XL, Brendon shares his brief time with the Retroid Pocket Flip 2 and all three hosts compare videogame streaming notes from GeForce NOW on handhelds to Game Pass on an LG TV.

Ruminate

I have a hot headphone tip, then we discuss the Slate EV truck, and finally how we go about setting up new Macs.

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How Does This Keep Happening?→

Today, Blue Prince, a critically acclaimed videogame appeared on Apple’s App Store. The trouble was, it wasn’t offered for sale by its developer, Dogubomb, or its publisher, Raw Fury. The real Blue Prince is only available on the Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.

What appeared on the App Store, and has since been removed, was an opportunistic scam as Jay Peters explained for The Verge:

Before it was removed, I easily found one iOS copy of the game just by searching Blue Prince on the App Store – it was the first search result. The icon looked like it would be the icon for a hypothetical mobile version of the game, the listing had screenshots that looked like they were indeed from Blue Prince, and the description for the game matched the description on Steam.

The port was available long enough for Blue Prince’s developer and publisher to post about it on Bluesky and, according to Peters, for the fake to reach #8 in the App Store Entertainment category. I feel for anyone who bought the game assuming it was legit given Peters’ experience:

I also quickly ran into a major bug: when I tried to walk through one of the doors from the Entrance Hall, I fell through the floor.

This isn’t the first time this sort of thing has happened. As Peters points out it happened to Palworld and Wordle too. Other popular games that have appeared on the App Store as janky scam ports include Cuphead, a version of Balatro that appeared before its official release on iOS, and Unpacking.

This seems like the sort of thing that could be fixed through automation. Scammers want users to find these games, so they can make a quick buck. As a result, the name of the game is often identical to what you’d find on the Steam, Xbox, or PlayStation stores. It strikes me that a combination of automated searching for the top games on each store, combined with an analysis of how quickly a game is moving up the charts would catch a lot of this sort of thing, flagging it for reviewers who could take a closer look.

By the way, if you haven’t tried Blue Prince, you should. It’s an amazing game and early contender for game of the year. You can learn more about the game and find links to where to buy it here. Also, Brendon Bigley, my NPC co-host, has an excellent written and video review of Blue Prince on Wavelengths.

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AppStories - Ep. 433 - 35 minutes

Tackling Trackers

FedericoJohn

This week, Federico and John tackle tracking apps. From database apps to media trackers, they consider what makes a good tracking app no matter what you’re tracking.

On AppStories+, Federico quizzes John about what’s on his desk, the tech he’d be happy to have a burgler steal, and more.

[Subscribe here.](https://www.macstories.net/podcasts/appstories/plans)

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AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps

AppStories Episode 433 - Tackling Trackers

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35:23

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AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps

This episode is sponsored by:

  • WaterMinder – The Best Water Tracker App for Your Hydration Needs!

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App Debuts

John

Xbox For the first time, you can now purchase games inside Microsoft’s Xbox app from an iPhone or iPad. The latest update also adds options to sign up for an Xbox Game Pass subscription and redeem perks. Given how large games can be, the ability to buy them and send them to your Xbox...

Interesting Links

John

Xbox For the first time, you can now purchase games inside Microsoft’s Xbox app from an iPhone or iPad. The latest update also adds options to sign up for an Xbox Game Pass subscription and redeem perks. Given how large games can be, the ability to buy them and send them to your Xbox...

Forklift

Most weeks, I produce two audio versions of AppStories, MacStories Unwind, and NPC. I also edit the video for AppStories, Unwind, and sometimes NPC. Add my writing and the production of the Club newsletters to that, and it’s a lot of files. Finder has always worked well for me, but with the addition of video...

Podcast Rewind: The Action Button, Fixing Finder, Vision Pro Antics, Crypto, and the Siri Remote

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

Comfort Zone

Matt finally found a new use for the action button, Niléane is here to fix your Finder, and Chris raises the bar in the challenge in a way no one saw coming.

MacStories Unwind

This week, Federico gets silly with the Vision Pro, and John learns about crypto – typical Unwind stuff.

Magic Rays of Light

Sigmund and Devon share their hopes for the next Siri Remote and recap Apple Original medical drama Berlin ER.

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Podcast Rewind: Practical Uses for AI and Summertime Handheld Gaming Fun

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

AppStories

This week, Federico and I revisit the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence to describe how we use a variety of AI tools in our everyday workflows.

This episode is sponsored by:

  • Notion – Try the powerful, easy-to-use Notion AI today.

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, Federico and I hold down the fort without Brendon, discussing U.S. Switch 2 pre-orders, Super Mario Kart World, upcoming hardware from Epilogue, Playdate’s Season 2, Razer Remote Play, and more.

NPC XL

This week on NPC XL, Federico and I flip out over the Retroid Pocket Flip 2, sharing their first 24-hours with the clamshell handheld.

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