Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories
This week, Federico and John share their WWDC wishes for macOS and visionOS.
On AppStories+, John explores how Apple hardware and software got so out of sync when it comes to AI use cases.
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, Federico drops a big gaming surprise on John after the two of them cover the latest Switch 2, MSI, and Anbernic handheld news.
This week on NPC XL, a cautionary tale from Federico’s experience installing SteamOS on the Lenovo Legion Go. Plus, Federico wants to know which handhelds will John take with him to WWCC in June.
Ruminate
HMRC have a problem with poppadoms, Robb started a sticker shop, they talk about PS2 emulation, and finally Apple might like gaming again?
This episode is sponsored by:
Inoreader – Boost Productivity and Gain Insights with AI-Powered Intelligence Tools
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Comfort Zone
Chris brings some new apps, Matt defends himself for another hardware purchase, and Niléane’s no-dock challenge has brutal results. Then, Matt and Niléane really let Chris down with his end-of-show question. Like really, really let down.
This episode is sponsored by:
Inoreader – Boost Productivity and Gain Insights with AI-Powered Intelligence Tools
MacStories Unwind
This week, Federico and John share the news that they’ll be at WWDC together for the first time since 2023. Then, Federico recommends Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an RPG that has taken a lot of gamers by surprise, and John is into Duster, a new JJ Abrams TV show set in the ‘70s. All that, plus a Raiders of the Lost Ark deal.
This episode is sponsored by:
Inoreader – Boost Productivity and Gain Insights with AI-Powered Intelligence Tools
Magic Rays of Light
Sigmund and Devon highlight Apple Original film Fountain of Youth from Guy Ritchie, break down the new features of CarPlay Ultra, and revisit feature documentary Deaf President Now! upon its streaming release.
This episode is sponsored by:
Inoreader – Boost Productivity and Gain Insights with AI-Powered Intelligence Tools
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories
This week, Federico and John interview Airbnb Vice President of Product Marketing, Jud Coplan, and Vice President of Design, Teo Connor.
On AppStories+, Federico explores running LLMs locally on an M3 Ultra Mac Studio.
This episode is sponsored by:
Inoreader – Boost Productivity and Gain Insights with AI-Powered Intelligence Tools
TRMNL – Clarity, at a glance. Get $15 off for 1 week only.
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, Federico and John round up the many new Switch 2 details that have emerged as launch day draws near. Plus, they share two new and interesting handheld rumors from Anbernic and Miyoo and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
Inoreader – Boost Productivity and Gain Insights with AI-Powered Intelligence Tools
On NPC XL, Federico shares tablet gaming recommendations with John, reevaluates whether he’s hung up on specs, and looks at what Lenovo is doing to integrate its tablets with two all-new controllers.
Last week, I was in LA for Airbnb’s 2025 Summer Release. As part of the day’s events, Federico and I interviewed Jud Coplan, Airbnb’s Vice President of Product Marketing, and Teo Connor, Airbnb’s Vice President of Design, for AppStories to talk about the new features and app the company launched. It was a great conversation that you can watch on YouTube:
or listen to the episode here:
Last week’s launch was a big one for Airbnb. The company debuted Services and reimagined and expanded Experiences. Services are the sort of things hotels and resorts offer that you used to give up when booking an Airbnb stay. Now, however, you can book a chef, personal trainer, hair stylist, manicurist, photographer, and more. Better yet, you don’t have to book a stay with an Airbnb host to take advantage of services. You can schedule services in your hometown or wherever you happen to be.
Experiences aren’t entirely new to Airbnb, but have been expanded and integrated into the Airbnb app in a way that’s similar to Services. Services allow you to get the most out of a trip from locals who know their cities best, whether that’s a cultural tour, dining experience, outdoor adventure, or something else.
Chef Grace explaining how to serve sadza.
While I was in LA, I prepared a meal alongside several other media folks from around the world. Our instructor was Chef Kuda Grace from Zimbabwe at Flavors from Afar. We made sadza with peanut butter and mustard greens and then sat down together to compare notes from the day’s events, tell stories about our dining experiences, and get to know each other better.
The evening was a lot of fun, but what struck me most about it was something we touched upon in this week’s episode of AppStories. The goal of Airbnb’s redesigned app is to get you to leave it and go out into the world to try new things. It reduces the friction and anxiety of taking the plunge into something new and emphasizes social interactions in the real world instead of on a screen. In 2025, that’s unusual for an app from a big company, and it was fascinating to talk to Teo and Jud about how they and their teams set out to accomplish that goal.
I like Airbnb’s redesigned app a lot. It’s playful, welcoming and easy to use. What remains to be seen is whether Airbnb can pull off what it’s set out to accomplish. It isn’t the first company to try to pair customers with local services and experiences. Nor is it Airbnb’s first attempt at experiences. However, the app is a solid foundation, and if my experience at dinner in LA was any indication, I suspect Airbnb may be onto something with Services and Experiences.
Disclosure: The trip to LA to conduct my half of this interview was paid for by Airbnb.
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Comfort Zone
Matt’s phone is folding more than usual, Niléane has blown up her window management system again, and the whole gang learns about themselves in the challenge.
MacStories Unwind
This week, Federico quizzes John about Airbnb’s media event and how it compares to an Apple event, and John shares a superhero TV show and TV deal.
Magic Rays of Light
Sigmund and Devon highlight the premiere of sci-fi series Murderbot, discuss the potential impact of U.S. tariffs on international film productions, and catch up on tons of Apple Original trailers.
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories
This week, Federico and John interview Apple’s VP of Developer Relations, Education, and Enterprise, Susan Prescott, along with Amy Key and Omar Firdaus, Distinguished Swift Student Challenge Winners. Then, they also share their 2025 wishes for watchOS and tvOS.
This episode is sponsored by:
Play – Save and Organize Videos to Watch Later. New subscribers can use the code MACSTORIES2025for 50% off their first year of Play Premium.
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, Nintendo is back to its litigous ways, Backbone has a new controller, the Anbernic RG34XXSP is real, and not one but two ASUS Rog Ally 2s leak in FCC filings.
This week on NPC XL, I update listeners on my Xbox streaming tests and experience with Nintendo Virtual Game Cards before Federico and I discuss the sale of Polygon and what it means for online media.
Ruminate
Robb had a family Ruminate moment, I have some new buttons, and we both talk about some upcoming games.
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Comfort Zone
The gang gets to work defending their Mac login items. Who has the most minimal startup? Who has the craziest apps? This episode has more new apps mentioned in any episode of Comfort Zone ever!
MacStories Unwind
This week, find out if we successfully podcasted our way to a new Pope. Learn just how poorly AI can spell Voorhees and Viticci. And, enjoy an audiobook pick, thoughts on Friends, and a Marvel movie bundle deal.
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories
This week, Federico and I begin our annual look at what we’d like to see Apple announce at WWDC 2025, starting with iOS and iPadOS 19.
On AppStories+, which was released as a free sample for all listeners, I explain why the recent contempt order entered against Apple is a bigger deal than most people realize, on multiple levels.
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week on NPC, Federico, Brendon, and I chart which handheld makers are still shipping to the U.S. in the wake of steep tariffs, then explore how speedrunners are stress‑testing Breath of the Wild at Nintendo’s Switch 2 hands‑on events. Plus, we update listeners on Nintendo’s release of version 20 of the original Switch’s firmware, how a contempt order against Apple could unlock new business models for developers, the surprising arrival of JIT on the App Store, Nothing’s launch of the CMF Phone 2 Pro, and how Anbernic and Ayaneo are defying economic uncertainty by releasing new handhelds.
This week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon and I explain how we find time for gaming, where they play, and how they balance work, family, and their videogame hobbies. Federico and Brendon wrap the episode up with some advice for me on improving my Xbox streaming setup.
Today we’re publishing the AppStories+ post-show for all AppStories listeners to enjoy for free.
This week’s subscriber-only post-show is all about the contempt order entered against Apple last week. In a world or tech litigation where Google and Meta are at risk of being broken up, the contempt order entered against Apple may seem inconsequential. However, the reality is much different.
In the post-show, I walk listeners through what this sort of high-stakes litigation is like and pinpoint the critical mistakes Apple made in complying with Judge Gonzalez Rodgers’ order. It’s a fascinating story of hubris, miscalculation, and the critical difference between assumptions and facts. It’s also a decision that will change the App Store in the U.S. and perhaps worldwide.
Today also marks the beginning of our annual OS wish list episodes of AppStories, which we kick off with our iOS and iPadOS 19 wishes. Each week until WWDC, Federico and I will be detailing what we’ll be looking for at Apple’s annual developer conference.
We hope AppStories listeners enjoy the extended bonus this week. As many readers and listeners are probably aware, the ad market for podcasts and websites is in an extended period of decline, and I don’t think it’s ever coming back to where it once was. As a result, we rely on listener support more than ever. AppStories has been around since 2017, and we want to continue producing the show long into the future.
AppStories+ is also available to Club Premier members. That’s the highest tier of a Club MacStories subscription that gets you everything the Club offers, including AppStories+. It’s the best deal of all if you want everything we do for Club MacStories members. You can learn more about Club Premier, which is $12/month or $120/year, here.
We work hard to make every episode of AppStories the best episode, but some are naturally better than others. This is one of the better ones. We hope you enjoy it.
Finally, thanks as always to everyone who supports what we do at MacStories, whether you subscribe to AppStories+, are a member of the Club, leave our shows a rating on Apple Podcasts, or recommend what we do to a friend. Every bit helps us continue to do what we love and try new things.
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