Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:

AppStories

This week, John and Federico kick off the app swap challenge, with each of them giving the other three apps to use. We’ll be checking in on how it’s going each week with a final roundup of the results of the experiment after WWDC.

On AppStories+, we each pick aspirational apps and OS features that we wish we used more but don’t.

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, mysterious Valve shipments are heading to the U.S., GameHub hits 6.0, one of us got multiple Steam Controllers, and plastic versus aluminum.

On NPC XL, Brendon, John, and Federico share apps and tips for Android gaming.

Comfort Zone

It’s just the boys today, as Chris has a slew of updates, while Matt has joined a new cult. They also try their darnedest to understand the appeal of mouse gestures in browsers.

On Cozy Zone, the gang roasts your (yes, your!) old Home Screens.

MacStories Unwind

This week, an Italian movie dubbing controversy, the role of tech in the first-ever sub-two hour marathon, John’s high-tech running shoes, and a jangle-pop EP for your listening pleasure.

AppStories, Episode 484, ‘An App Swap Challenge’ Show Notes

This episode is sponsored by:

• Steamclock: We make great apps. Design and development, from demos to details.

An App Swap Challenge: Pick Three Apps for Each Other to Try for a Month and Report Back

• John’s Picks for Federico
  • Dropzone 5
  • Zed
  • PastePal
• Federico’s Picks for John
  • Cora
  • Subscription Day
  • Habitify

AppStories+ Post-Show: Aspirational Apps and Features We’d Like to Use More

• John
  • Bend
  • Copilot Money
• Federico
  • Apple Journal
  • Home Screen widgets
  • iPhone’s StandBy mode

Subscribe to AppStories+

Visit AppStories.net to learn more about the extended, high bitrate audio version of AppStories that is delivered early each week and subscribe.

NPC, Episode 80, ‘Is the Steam Machine Just Around the Corner?’ Show Notes

Steam Controller Pre-Orders

• Steam Controller
• Steam Deck
• Steam Deck Docking Station

Valve Hardware Speculation

• Valve Imported 50 Tons of Game Consoles (The Verge)

Anbernic RG Rotate

• Anbernic RG Rotate
• Retro Game Corps First Impressions

Lenovo Legion Tab

• Lenovo Legion Tab (US, $849)

Game Native and Android PC Emulation

• Game Native (Android)
• AYN Odin 3
• AYN Thor
• AYN Odin 2 Mini
• Lossless Scaling
• LSFG VK (Vulkan Frame Generation)
• Lenovo Legion Go 2

Subscribe to NPC XL

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes. You can subscribe here.

Comfort Zone, Episode 100, ‘Don’t Let Tech Companies Electrocute You’ Show Notes

Things Discussed

• Garbage can!
• Razer BlackShark V3 Pro Wireless
• 3D Printed an ergo stand for Magic Trackpad
• Strava

Cozy Zone

For even more from the Comfort Zone crew, you can subscribe to Cozy Zone. Cozy Zone is a weekly bonus episode of Comfort Zone where Matt, Niléane, and Chris invite listeners to join them in the Cozy Zone where they’ll cover extra topics, invent wilder challenges and games, and share all their great (and not so great) takes on tech. You can subscribe to Cozy Zone for $5 per month here or $50 per year here.

MacStories Unwind, ‘Is It the Shoes?’ Show Notes

Links and Show Notes

• The Italian Dubbing of The Devil Wears Prada 2 Has Stirred Up a Surprising Controversy
• Cheerwine Festival
• Is It the Shoes?
• Nike Commercial
• Avelo running shoes

Picks

• John’s Pick: Every Good Story by Triples

Unwind Deal

• Parks and Recreation is down to $29.99 in the TV app.

MacStories Unwind+

We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free with high bitrate audio every week. To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.

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, Comfort Zone, NPC: Next Portable Console, and First, Last, Everything 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.