Podcast Rewind: The Ideal AI App and Nintendo’s Pricing Changes

This week, Federico and John pick and choose their favorite AI app features to imagine a better AI app future, critiquing the leading LLM apps along the way. And as a bonus, John explains why read-later apps should support Shortcuts and other automation schemes.

On AppStories+, the critique continues with a look at how Todoist could be improved.

This episode is sponsored by:

Factor – Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code appstories50off

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, Brendon and John mind the show while Federico is on vacation, covering Nintendo’s pricing changes, the latest on Retroid’s second screen accessory, the TrinketOS Android front end, Manic EMU for iOS, and more.

Then, for Patreon members, John and Brendon share what they’d like to see from a Steam Deck 2 and consider the intersection of No Phone Summer and retro handhelds.

AppStories, Episode 449, ‘Building a Better AI App’ Show Notes

Building a Better AI App

Federico and John take a close look at what works and what doesn’t with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, NotebookLM and other AI apps.

Read-later apps could learn a thing or two from GoodLinks.

Mentioned:

Folio

Readwise Reader

GoodLinks

NPC, Episode 45, ‘Nintendo Faces Tariffs, But Keeps Switch 2 Pricing Steady’ Show Notes

The Latest Portable Gaming News

Wavelengths 2.0: A Podcast and a Patreon

Switch and Switch 2: Tariffs and Pricing

Nintendo’s Switch 2 doubles first-month sales of the original – The Verge

Nintendo raises the Switch 1 price from $299 to $339 – The Verge

Antank has an updated dock.

Retroid 2nd Screen

Retroid Reveals Real-World Photos of Upcoming Dual Screen Add-On - Retro Handhelds

Retroid Adjusts Shipping for Dual Screen Accessory, Offers Coupon - Retro Handhelds

Android and iOS Emulation

TrinketOS is an extremely weird and cool new Android frontend

Manic EMU for iOS

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.