Podcast Rewind: Steam Controllers on a Boat, Life with the MacBook Neo, North Carolina BBQ, and an Interview with Nate Parrott

AppStories

This week, we draw from Federico’s experience creating the Apple Frames 4 shortcut and CLI to discuss the multiplier effect that AI agents can have in the hands of someone with deep domain expertise.

On AppStories+, we share our AI agent mishaps and horror stories along with additional details on a John’s ongoing HomeKit makeover project.

NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, TrimUI’s slow drip of details on the Brick Pro continues, shipping manifests suggest the Steam Controller may beat the Steam Machine to market, and OnePlus makes a strong bid for weirdest handheld announcement of 2026.

Then on NPC XL, Federico reports on his trip to Romics and the trading card takeover of Italian comic-cons, plus how not to sell a “pristine” Nintendo DS.

First, Last, Everything

Jonathan is joined by Nate Parrott, a designer and coder known for his work as a founding designer at The Browser Company, working on Arc. He also creates playful software and apps that blend utility with whimsy.

Comfort Zone

Chris and Matt are on their own this week and do a deeper dive into the MacBook Neo after a month using it. Do they still love it? Hate it? Probably somewhere in the middle, huh?

On Cozy Zone, the gang tier lists macOS default wallpapers, and you just know someone’s going to have some very wrong opinions.

MacStories Unwind

This week, John schools Federico on the differences between Eastern and Western North Carolina BBQ before they both share several TV show and album picks for the weekend.

AppStories, Episode 481, ‘Apple Frames 4 and the AI Multiplier’ Show Notes

This episode is sponsored by:

Mercury Weather – Forecasts, beautifully done. Download now for free.

Apple Frames 4 and the Multiplier Effect

Introducing Apple Frames 4: A Revamped Shortcut, Support for Frame Colors, Proportional Scaling, and the Apple Frames CLI for Developers

AppStories+ Post-Show

Agent mishaps and horror stories

Subscribe to AppStories+

Visit AppStories.net to learn more about the extended, high bitrate audio version of AppStories that is delivered early each week and subscribe.

NPC, Episode 77, ‘Forty Thousand Steam Controllers’ Show Notes

The Latest Portable Gaming News

The TrimUI Brick Pro nears official release with packaging revealed.

ONEXPLAYER teases X2 Mini handheld with Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and 8.8-inch OLED.

Shipping manifest leak suggests Steam Controller launch is imminent.

Lenovo teasing larger Legion Tab gaming tablet.

OnePlus reportedly developing an Android gaming handheld targeting FPS games with purple faux leather grips.

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.

First, Last, Everything, Season 2, Episode 6, ‘Nate Parrott - Developer, Designer’ Show Notes

This Episode’s Links

Arc browser

Ball app (Nate’s app)

Sous app (Nate’s app)

Feed (Nate’s app)

Flashlight (Nate’s app)

Easel (feature in Arc)

Arc Boosts (feature in Arc)

Dia browser

Blender

Dots iPhone game

HyperCard

Nate’s Picks

Nate’s ‘First’: Lego Studio Movie Maker

Nate’s ‘Last’: Claude in the Cloud

Nate’s ‘Everything’: Microworlds

‘Something’

Microsoft Bob

Follow Nate

Website (The best!)

Mastodon

Bluesky

Comfort Zone, Episode 97, ‘Just Break the Laws of Physics’ Show Notes

Things Discussed

Adding thermal pads to the Neo

Formula Fanatics F1 desk calendar

Chris’s home screen

Matt’s home screen

Cozy Zone

For even more from the Comfort Zone crew, you can subscribe to Cozy Zone. Cozy Zone is a weekly bonus episode of Comfort Zone where Matt, Niléane, and Chris invite listeners to join them in the Cozy Zone where they’ll cover extra topics, invent wilder challenges and games, and share all their great (and not so great) takes on tech. You can subscribe to Cozy Zone for $5 per month here or $50 per year here.

MacStories Unwind, ‘Smoked Meats and Weekend Watches’ Show Notes

BBQ School

Eastern versus Western, NC BBQ

Lexington BBQ in Lexington, NC

Picks

John’s Picks:

Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Nick Offerman at the show’s premiere

Joy Next Door by The Maine

Federico’s Picks:

The Pitt, Season 1

Hacks, Season 5

Lose Your Self by Enter Shikari

Unwind Deal

A movie ahead of its time, Idiocracy is on sale in the TV app for $9.99.