Podcast Rewind: A Challenging Challenge, a Couple of Crime Dramas, and a Haptic Trailer

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.

MacStories Unwind

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

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.

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

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.

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

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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

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.