Not long ago, I spent some time trimming my Mac’s menu bar. Among the apps that I kept are three relatively recent additions that I wanted to share today. Mercury Weather I use Mercury Weather differently on my iPhone, iPad, and Mac. On the iPhone and iPad, I usually start by checking the app’s widget...
Previously, On MacStories
Stories Apple Announces New Immersive Video Content for the Vision Pro Chris Lawley’s In-Depth Interview About Smart Script and Math Notes Federico’s Updated Setup Is Designed for Modular Simplicity New Projects, New Setup My Top Amazon Prime Day Picks Overcast Celebrates Its Tenth Anniversary with a Redesigned Interface iOS 18 After One Month: Without AI,...
Interesting Links
FedericoI have no idea how actually useful this accessory that promises to turn the Apple Watch into an iPod will be (my understanding is that you’ll either have to disable passcode authentication on the Watch or enter your passcode every few minutes?), but, let’s be honest, did anyone think I could resist the temptation...
In This Issue
John shares three Mac menu bar apps that he likes and Jonathan canvases the entire lineup of (Not Boring) apps, plus the usual Links, App Debuts, the latest happenings in the Club MacStories+ Discord community, a recap of MacStories articles, and a preview of next week’s episodes of AppStories and Magic Rays of Light....
No MacStories Weekly Next Week
As we mentioned in last week’s issue, we won’t be publishing Weekly on July 26th. I’ll be traveling, so we figured it would be a good time for everyone to take a break and recharge. We’ll be back with the Monthly Log at the end of the month and a new issue of Weekly on...
The Latest from Magic Rays of Light, Comfort Zone, and MacStories Unwind
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week on Magic Rays of Light, Devon is joined by guest co-host Jonathan Reed to discuss Jonathan’s first impressions of Apple Vision Pro, new Apple Original documentary series Omnivore, 72 Emmy Awards nominations for Apple Originals, and Devon’s experience seeing Fly Me to the Moon in theaters.
This week, Chris can finally talk about iPadOS 18, Niléane goes on a quest for great dynamic wallpapers, and Matt brought a tea kettle for some reason. Then they all say nice things about new browsers and Chris has a “visionary” new challenge.
This week, John decides to take the iPad-only travel plunge, and Federico advises on which gaming handhelds to bring on a trip.
Apple Announces New Immersive Video Content for the Vision Pro
Beginning today, Apple says it will begin releasing a series of films, documentaries, music, sports, travel, and other video content for the Vision Pro.
First up is ‘Hot Air Balloons,’ which will be available beginning at 6 PM Pacific today, and is part of a series dubbed Boundless. That will be followed in August by a new installment of Wild Life, and a new travel series called Elevated in September. Later this year, Apple will release an immersive concert experience with The Weeknd, a scripted short film called Submerged by director Edward Berger, a behind-the-scenes and court-side look at the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, and Big-Wave Surfing, part of a new sports series with Red Bull.
According to Tor Myhren, Apple’s vice president of Marketing Communications:
Apple Immersive Video is a groundbreaking leap forward for storytelling, offering Apple Vision Pro users remarkable experiences with an unparalleled sense of realism and immersion. From soaring over volcanoes in Hawaii and surfing huge waves in Tahiti, to enjoying performances by the world’s biggest artists and athletes from all-new perspectives, Apple Immersive Video revolutionizes the way people experience places, stories, sports, and more by making viewers feel like they’re truly there. It’s the next generation of visual storytelling, and we’re excited to bring it to more people around the world.
I’m really looking forward to these new immersive videos. There’s been a real dearth of content produced for the Vision Pro since its release, but with the device available in more countries, it’s great to see new content available for the growing audience.
Chris Lawley’s In-Depth Interview About Smart Script and Math Notes→
Smart Script and Math Notes are two of the most notable features coming to iPadOS this fall. Both take advantage of the Apple Pencil and the iPad’s computer power to do a lot of complex work under the hood, which makes taking good-looking notes and working with numbers and equations feel natural.
Chris Lawley, co-host of Comfort Zone, sat down for an exclusive interview with Jenny Chen, an Apple engineering manager for input experiences, and Ty Jordan, an Apple system experiences product manager, to talk about both features in-depth for his YouTube channel. It’s an excellent interview full of little details you may have missed from the WWDC keynote:
When the new iPad Pros were released, I debated whether to buy an Apple Pencil Pro. I’ve never been a heavy user of the Apple Pencil, but I’m glad I bought one in the end. With features like Smart Script and Math Notes added to Quick Notes and the other Pencil features, my use has slowly crept up to the point where I’m now looking to find places where I can do even more with it.
The Latest from AppStories and NPC: Next Portable Console
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, Federico and John run down the highlights of the iOS and iPadOS 18 public betas that were released today.
On AppStories+, Federico and John compare earbud notes, covering recent models from Sennheiser, Technics, and Beats.
This episode is sponsored by:
- CleanMyMac X: Your Mac. As good as new. Get 15% off today with code APPSTORIES15.
- Setapp – the place to get apps. Use the code appstories20 at checkout for 20% off.
It was a busy news week in the world of portable gaming hardware, plus Federico’s quest for cable perfection continues, a return of the Steam Deck, and a look at mobile phone gaming, controllers, and more.