Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

Comfort Zone

Chris is back in his element in the iPadOS 26 world, Matt just wants to play some games, and Niléane oversees the hardest challenge in ages.

This episode is sponsored by:

• Ecamm Live – Broadcast Better with Ecamm Live. Coupon code MACSTORIES gives 1 month free of Ecamm Live to new customers.

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MacStories Unwind

This week, John installs macOS Tahoe, he and Federico each recommend a recent crime drama, and we have a Daredevil Unwind deal.

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Magic Rays of Light

Sigmund and Devon highlight the return of The Buccaneers, explore how haptics and other metadata could enhance media experiences on Apple’s platforms, and recap the first season of Your Friends & Neighbors.

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Comfort Zone, Episode 54, ‘Better Stickies’ Show Notes

Let us know your favorite thing!

Main Topics

• iPadOS 26
• Switch 2

Our Last Played iPhone Games

• Balatro
• Mini Metro
• Holedown

Follow the Hosts

• Chris on YouTube
• Matt on Birchtree
• Niléane on Mastodon
• Comfort Zone on Mastodon
• Comfort Zone on Bluesky

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MacStories Unwind, ‘Beta Season and Crime Dramas’ Show Notes

Unplugged Segment

• macOS Tahoe
  • macOS Tahoe Press Release
  • macOS Tahoe: The MacStories Overview
• Apple’s upcoming transcription API
  • Hands-On: How Apple’s New Speech APIs Outpace Whisper for Lightning-Fast Transcription
  • Yap

Picks

• Federico’s Pick:
  • Your Friends and Neighbors on Apple TV+
• John’s Pick:
  • Department Q on Netflix

Unwind Deal

Daredevil, Seasons 1–3 – lowest price ever on Apple TV for $34.99

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.

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Magic Rays of Light, Episode 173, ‘The Buccaneers, Enhanced Media Experiences, and Your Friends & Neighbors’ Show Notes

Highlight

• The Buccaneers

Enhanced Media Experiences

• Haptic Trailer for F1

Trailer Talk

• Foundation — Season 3

Releases

• Easy Money: The Charles Ponzi Story

Extras

• F1 The Movie World Premiere Red Carpet Live Stream
• Government Cheese — Behind Paul Hunter’s Creative Vision
• Murderbot — Get Your Own SecUnit Today!
• Bono: Stories of Surrender, U2 & Rock Music | Zane Lowe Interview
• Ben Stiller: Severance, The Knicks & Meet the Parents 4 | Zane Lowe Interview
• Severance — The Ballad of Burt & Irving
• Long Way Home — Guess the Bike with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman
• Apple Maps Guide: Tour Europe with Long Way Home
• Chief of War — Casting King Kamehameha
• The Cast of Slow Horses on The Late Show
• Tim Cook Reveals Apple’s Vision for Movies and TV: Why Spending Millions on Blockbusters Like ‘F1’ Is About More Than Selling iPhones | Variety

Recap

• Your Friends & Neighbors

TV App Highlights

• Final Destination Bloodlines
• Friendship
• Sally

Up Next

• A Minecraft Movie
• 28 Years Later

Contact

• We want to hear from you! Contact us via our feedback form.
• Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to [email protected].
• Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube and follow us on Mastodon and Bluesky.
• Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on Mastodon or Bluesky
• Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Bluesky

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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.

If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.