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Mozilla Is Shutting Down Pocket

Today, Mozilla announced in a support document that it will soon end development of Pocket, its read-later app that’s been around since the early days of the App Store:

We’ve made the difficult decision to shut down Pocket on July 8, 2025. Thank you for being part of our journey over the years—we’re proud of the impact Pocket has had for our users and communities.

I never like to see an app that people rely on go, but I’m not surprised that Mozilla has pulled its support for Pocket either. The app evolved rapidly in the early days when it was called Read It Later and competing fiercely with Instapaper. But that rivalry burned itself out years ago, and after Mozilla purchased Pocket, it seemed adrift.

My Pocket queue is a read-later time capsule.

My Pocket queue is a read-later time capsule.

Recently, Mozilla laid off 30% of its workforce and Pocket faced new competition from the likes of Matter and Readwise Reader, which entered the fray with new ideas about what a read-later app could be. As I wrote in my first review of Matter:

Apps like Instapaper and Read It Later, which became Pocket, pioneered saving web articles for later. The original iPhone ran on AT&T’s EDGE mobile network in the U.S. and coverage was spotty. Read-later apps saved stripped-down versions of articles from the web that could be downloaded quickly and read offline when EDGE was unavailable. The need to save content offline because of slow and unreliable mobile networks is far less pressing today, but collecting links and time-shifting reading remains popular.

Today, read-later apps like Readwise are more focused on research, integrating with note-taking systems, and leveraging AI. There’s still a place for simpler solutions such as GoodLinks, which is one of my personal favorites, but given the existential threat Mozilla currently faces, ending Pocket was probably the right choice.

Podcast Rewind: Handheld Rumors and Airbnb Executives on the App’s Redesign

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

AppStories

This week, Federico and John interview Airbnb Vice President of Product Marketing, Jud Coplan, and Vice President of Design, Teo Connor.

On AppStories+, Federico explores running LLMs locally on an M3 Ultra Mac Studio.

This episode is sponsored by:

  • Inoreader – Boost Productivity and Gain Insights with AI-Powered Intelligence Tools
  • TRMNL – Clarity, at a glance. Get $15 off for 1 week only.

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, Federico and John round up the many new Switch 2 details that have emerged as launch day draws near. Plus, they share two new and interesting handheld rumors from Anbernic and Miyoo and more.

This episode is sponsored by:

  • Inoreader – Boost Productivity and Gain Insights with AI-Powered Intelligence Tools

On NPC XL, Federico shares tablet gaming recommendations with John, reevaluates whether he’s hung up on specs, and looks at what Lenovo is doing to integrate its tablets with two all-new controllers.

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Hands-On with Sound Therapy on Apple Music

I’ve always been envious of people who can listen to music while they work. For whatever reason, music-listening activates a part of my brain that pulls me away from the task at hand. My mind really wants to focus on the lyrics, the style, the mix – all distractions from whatever it is I’m currently trying to do. It just doesn’t work for me.

But under the right circumstances and with the right kind of music, you can create an environment that is conducive to focus. At least, that’s the idea behind Apple’s recent collaboration with Universal Music Group. It’s called Sound Therapy, a research-based collection of songs meant to promote not only focus, but also relaxation and even healthy sleep.

The effort comes out of UMG’s Sollos venture, a group of scientists and music professionals focused on the relationship between music and wellness. Founded in 2023, the London-based incubator has used its findings to put together a library of music that, as Apple says, “harnesses the power of sound waves, psychoacoustics, and cognitive science to help listeners relax or focus the mind.”

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Google Brings Its NotebookLM Research Tool to iPhone and iPad

Google’s AI research tool NotebookLM dropped on the App Store for iOS and iPadOS a day earlier than expected. If you haven’t used NotebookLM before, it’s Google’s AI research tool. You feed it source materials like PDFs, text files, MP3s, and more. Once your sources are uploaded, you can use Google’s AI to query the sources, asking questions and creating materials that draw on your sources.

Of all the AI tools I’ve tried, NotebookLM’s web app is one of the best I’ve used, which is why I was excited to try it on the iPhone and iPad. I’ve only played with it for a short time, but so far, I like it a lot.

Just like the web app, you can create, edit and delete notebooks, add new sources using the native file picker, view existing sources, chat with your sources, create summaries, timelines, and use the Studio tab to generate a faux podcast of the materials you’ve added to the app. Notebooks can also be filtered and sorted by Recent, Shared, Title, and Downloaded. Unlike the web app, you won’t see predefined prompts for things like a study guide, a briefing document, or FAQs, but you can still generate those materials by asking for them from the Chat tab.

NotebookLM’s native iOS and iPadOS app is primarily focused on audio. The app lets you generate audio overviews from the Chats tab and ‘deep dive’ podcast-style conversations that draw from your sources. Also, the audio generated can be downloaded locally, allowing you to listen later whether or not you have an Internet connection. Playback controls are basic and include buttons to play and pause, skip forward and back by 10 seconds at a time, control playback speed, and share the audio with others.

Generating an audio overview of sources.

Generating an audio overview of sources.

What you won’t find is any integration with features tied to App Intents. That means notebooks don’t show up in Spotlight Search, and there are no widgets, Control Center controls, or Shortcuts actions. Still, for a 1.0, NotebookLM is an excellent addition to Google’s AI tools for the iPhone and iPad.

NotebookLM is available to download from the App Store for free. Some NotebookLM features are free, while others require a subscription that can be purchased as an In-App Purchase in the App Store or from Google directly. You can learn more about the differences between the free and paid versions of NotebookLM on Google’s blog.

Podcast Rewind: Folding Phones, Window Management, Unwind Goes Hollywood, Murderbot, and Movie Tariffs

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

Comfort Zone

Matt’s phone is folding more than usual, Niléane has blown up her window management system again, and the whole gang learns about themselves in the challenge.

MacStories Unwind

This week, Federico quizzes John about Airbnb’s media event and how it compares to an Apple event, and John shares a superhero TV show and TV deal.

Magic Rays of Light

Sigmund and Devon highlight the premiere of sci-fi series Murderbot, discuss the potential impact of U.S. tariffs on international film productions, and catch up on tons of Apple Original trailers.

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After Years in the Lab, CarPlay Ultra Emerges

Image: Apple.

Image: Apple.

Almost three years ago, Apple offered a sneak peek at an elaborate new version of CarPlay that spread beyond the rectangle of most car infotainment systems to occupy the instrument cluster space in front of front seat passengers. As I said at the time:

It will be interesting to see how widespread the adoption of the features Apple demoed will be. The company listed 14 automakers like Land Rover, Mercedes, Porsche, Nissan, Volvo, Honda, and Ford that they are working with, but it remains to be seen which models will adopt the new CarPlay and how quickly.

Originally set to launch in 2024, Apple announced today that what is now called CarPlay Ultra is available for new Aston Martin orders in the U.S. and Canada and soon as a software update to Aston Martins with the carmaker’s “next-generation infotainment system.” Apple says Aston Martin support in other countries will follow over the next 12 months.

Image: Apple.

Image: Apple.

The difference between standard CarPlay and the Ultra flavor is that the new version takes over a driver’s entire dashboard and extends beyond traditional CarPlay features to vehicle-specific data and controls. As Apple describes it:

CarPlay Ultra provides content for all the driver’s screens, including the instrument cluster, with dynamic and beautiful options for the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, and more, bringing a consistent look and feel to the entire driving experience. Drivers can choose to show information from their iPhone, like maps and media, along with information that comes from the car, such as advanced driver assistance systems and tire pressure, right in the instrument cluster.

Drivers can also use onscreen controls, physical buttons, or Siri to manage both standard vehicle functions like the car’s radio and climate, as well as advanced, vehicle-specific features and controls like audio system configurations or performance settings, right from CarPlay, giving them a more fluid and seamless experience. CarPlay Ultra also introduces widgets powered by iPhone that perfectly fit the car’s screen or gauge cluster to provide information at a glance.

Although CarPlay Ultra looks great, one car maker is a far cry from the 14 automakers listed on a slide at WWDC in 2022. That’s not surprising given pushback from automakers like GM, which announced in 2023 that it was ending CarPlay and Android Auto support for its EVs, and resistance from the likes of Tesla and Rivian to add CarPlay in the first place. However, Apple clearly oversold what would become CarPlay Ultra in 2022 in a way that in hindsight now feels a lot like Apple Intelligence’s enhanced Siri demo at last summer’s WWDC.

Still, I’m glad to see CarPlay Ultra emerge from the labs, even if it’s in a car that few people can afford. Auto tech inevitably trickles down to ordinary cars, and I’m sure CarPlay Ultra will, too, although I expect it will be quite a while until then.

Apple Maps Adds Dining and Hotel Picks, Plus F1 Features

Image: Apple.

Image: Apple.

Yesterday, Apple announced a couple of new features that are now available in the Maps app.

The first is a new label that’s been added to restaurants and hotels in the U.S., which have been awarded MICHELIN distinctions. According to Apple’s press release:

Users can now view and search for MICHELIN-starred, Green Star, and Bib Gourmand restaurants — along with MICHELIN Key hotels — starting in the U.S., with support for additional regions coming in the future.

The new MICHELIN integration also allows users to filter based on MICHELIN ratings and make restaurant reservations and book hotels through the MICHELIN Guide app. Apple says additional rankings and guides will be available soon from The Infatuation and Golf Digest, with more sources coming later. You’ll also be able to book tee times on golf courses using Supreme Golf.

Monaco.

Monaco.

For F1 fans, Apple has given Monaco the a special Detailed City Experience that’s designed for people attending Formula 1 TAG Heuer Grand Prix de Monaco 2025 as well as fans following along from home.

On its UK press site, Apple announced that:

The new Detailed City Experience features custom-designed 3D Monégasque landmarks of iconic locations, including Casino de Monte-Carlo, Fairmont Monte Carlo, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Yacht Club de Monaco, and the F1 Paddock Club. Dark mode gives users an evening view of Monaco in a moonlit glow that activates at dusk.

The Detailed City Experience also features amazing details for road markings, land cover, trees, and public transit routes, as well as helpful navigation details like turn lanes, medians, bus and bike lanes, and pedestrian crossings. It also features a windshield view for drivers, which shows a road-level view as a user approaches complex interchanges, making it easier to see upcoming traffic conditions or the best lane for an approaching exit.

Apple has also added a lot of race-specific details, highlighting the course, landmark turns, as well as 3D representations of stands, cars, and more. Famous F1 courses have been added as a Maps Guide to promote Apple’s upcoming F1 movie starring Brad Pitt, too.

I appreciate the growing catalog of original curated content accessible through Maps. Travel planning on the web is a messy process, but with guides and well-regarded editorial content embedded directly in Maps, it’s often much easier to find a restaurant, hotel, or activity that sifting through an endless list of Google Search links.

Podcast Rewind: watchOS and tvOS Wishes, Swift Student Challenge Interviews, the Ultimate iOS Controller, and Stream Deck Alternatives

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

AppStories

This week, Federico and John interview Apple’s VP of Developer Relations, Education, and Enterprise, Susan Prescott, along with Amy Key and Omar Firdaus, Distinguished Swift Student Challenge Winners. Then, they also share their 2025 wishes for watchOS and tvOS.

This episode is sponsored by:

Play – Save and Organize Videos to Watch Later. New subscribers can use the code MACSTORIES2025for 50% off their first year of Play Premium.

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, Nintendo is back to its litigous ways, Backbone has a new controller, the Anbernic RG34XXSP is real, and not one but two ASUS Rog Ally 2s leak in FCC filings.

This week on NPC XL, I update listeners on my Xbox streaming tests and experience with Nintendo Virtual Game Cards before Federico and I discuss the sale of Polygon and what it means for online media.

Ruminate

Robb had a family Ruminate moment, I have some new buttons, and we both talk about some upcoming games.

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