Podcast Rewind: Reconsidering the iPad and Reviewing Retro Videogame Stores

This week, Federico and John reflect on where the iPad fits within their workflows after the announcement of iPadOS 26.

Then, on AppStories+, they explore the potential for an Apple automation renaissance built on the features announced at WWDC.

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, we have RG Slide pricing and penguins, along with new AYANEO news and a cool aluminum TrimUI Brick.

On NPC XL, Brendon’s on a mission to find the best retro videogame store in Japan and takes the rest of us with him.

AppStories, Episode 442, ‘An iPad Pickle’ Show Notes

Rethinking Where the iPad Fits After iPadOS 26

Interview: Craig Federighi Opens Up About iPadOS, Its Multitasking Journey, and the iPad’s Essence

Sabrent Thunderbolt 4 KVM Switch

ProtoArc EM11 NL Bluetooth Ergonomic Vertical Mouse

Nuphy Air75 Wireless & Low Profile Keyboard

Shure MV7+ USB and XLR Microphone

AppStories+ Post-Show

Hands-On: How Apple’s New Speech APIs Outpace Whisper for Lightning-Fast Transcription

NPC, Episode 38, ‘What’s That Smell? The RG Slide’ Show Notes

The Latest Portable Gaming News

Switch 2 Pro Controller issues?

dbrand Killswitch for the Nintendo Switch 2

RG Slide First Impressions, Pricing, and Penguins

Anbernic RG Slide First Impressions: Go Bold

MIG Flash Triggers Nintendo Banwave on Switch 2

Switch 2’s non-Nintendo games are flopping for so many reasons

Crowdsourced Emulation Compatibility Tracker EmuReady.com Launches

AYANEO AG01 Starship Graphics Dock Review

TrimUI Brick Hammer

✨ Metal Reimagined: The TrimUI Brick Now in a Full-Metal Shell! Mechdiy

TrimUI Levels Up the Brick with the All-Metal Brick Hammer

AYANEO Releases the Pocket S2 and Announces a Surprise

NPC XL: Retro Videogame Stores

Reviewing Every Retro Game Store in Tokyo

Reviewing every retro game store in Tokyo starting with Retro Game Camp

Retro Game Camp

Super Potato Akihabara

BOOKOFF

Rare Item Studio

2nd & Charles

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.

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, 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.