This week, Federico and John consider whether Apple made the case for running local LLMs and gaming on the M5 iPad Pro and discusss who should consider buying it.

On AppStories+, we explain how Claude Skills work and why they are one of Anthropic’s most exciting features in a while.

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AppStories Episode 458 - The Potential and Limits of the M5 iPad Pro

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33:32

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This week, Federico and John discuss what might be next for Apple Intelligence and how it fits into the broader AI market.

On AppStories+, Federico and John cover the fallout from the Sora app and why AI can’t replace human creativity.

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AppStories Episode 457 - Apple’s Intelligence Quest: Beyond Smart Siri

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36:30

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This episode is sponsored by:

• Claude: Get 50% off Claude Pro, including access to Claude Code.

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This week, with rumors of more products in the pipeline, Federico and John share what they want most from Apple before the end of the year.

On AppStories+, Federico experiments with lightning fast inference and iteration using Cerebras for scripting.

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AppStories Episode 456 - What Else Do We Want from Apple in 2025?

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31:07

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This week, Federico and John demystify Model Context Protocol (MCP), covering how it works, where it’s heading, and practical examples of what it can do.

On AppStories+, Federico and John experiment with whether AI can make sense of the information firehose.

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AppStories Episode 455 - Making Sense of MCP: The Standard Connecting AI to Apps

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38:12

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This week, Federico and John follow up after a week with new Apple hardware and dig into watchOS and visionOS 26.

On AppStories+, John is mixing up his link and data organization systems - again.

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AppStories Episode 454 - AirPods Pro 3, iPhone Air, and a Cable Quest

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37:12

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• Claude – Get 50% off Claude Pro, including access to Claude Code.

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This week, Federico and John shared their first impressions of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and AirPods Pro 3.

On AppStories+, Federico asks John about his plans to unwind now that his macOS review is out.

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AppStories Episode 453 - Fall Hardware: First Impressions

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30:47

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• Things – A fresh new look for OS 26

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This week, Federico and John discuss their annual OS reviews. Federico digs into the details of iOS and iPadOS 26, while John considers what macOS 26 Tahoe means for users.

On AppStories+, John updates listeners on what he bought after last week’s Apple event and why.

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AppStories Episode 452 - iOS, iPadOS, and macOS 26: The MacStories Reviews

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52:54

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This episode is sponsored by:

• Widgetsmith: Make your phone your own with custom widgets and wallpapers. Ready for Liquid Glass in iOS 26. Use our link for a free month of Widgetsmith Premium.
• Steamclock: We make great apps. Design and development, from demos to details.

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This week, Federico and John do their annual pre-Apple event “vibe check,” discussing what they expect and hope to see at the upcoming September Apple event. They explore the rumored iPhone 17 lineup, AirPods Pro 3, and debate the Apple Watch Ultra. Plus, they share thoughts on the prospect of an Apple TV with Apple Intelligence capabilities, HomePods, and updates to AirTags.

On AppStories+, John and Federico explore the divisiveness surrounding the Liquid Glass update coming to macOS Tahoe.

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AppStories Episode 451 - Apple Event Vibe Check

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41:40

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AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps

This episode is sponsored by:

• Claude – Get 50% off Claude Pro, including access to Claude Code.
• Factor – Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code appstories50off

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This week, AppStories returns with details on the projects Federico and John worked on during their breaks.

On AppStories+, the importance of breaks and finding ways to unwind.

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AppStories Episode 450 - Back From Break: Automation, AI, and IKEA

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47:48

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AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps

This episode is sponsored by:

• Steamclock – We make great apps. Design and development, from demos to details.
• Xsolla – ? Launch a high-performing branded Web Shop in minutes—or build a fully custom storefront without the hassle. Xsolla’s modular solution reduces platform fees, supports 1,000+ global payment methods, and ships with built-in LiveOps and customization tools—so every purchase puts more revenue back in your studio’s pocket.

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