Mac Power Users

Jason Snell, veteran Apple-focused tech journalist and Six Colors editor, chats about why dedicated e-readers still win for distraction-free reading. He compares Kindle and Kobo ecosystems, explores libraries and Libby, and digs into color e-ink, tiny readers, and multifunction e-ink devices. He also outlines his ebook acquisition workflow and how e-readers fit into travel and nightly routines.

A practical tour of where AI is genuinely earning its keep. They explore voice dictation that finally works, smarter search and browser assistants, app-connected workflows, synthetic voices, and Apple’s quieter AI moves. Real projects include inbox triage, Obsidian-based email systems, customer-service bots, video editing, and quick website automation.

A quick detour into Apple’s future sets up a lively look at where Apple Watch stands in 2026. They compare Ultra and Series models, favorite faces and complications, everyday apps, band collecting, and clever action button workflows. The conversation also touches on health alerts, fitness and safety features, and what still needs improvement.

Patrick Rhone, a writer and minimalist tech thinker, joins a lively chat on making technology more intentional. They dig into how Apple Silicon changed upgrade habits, why refurbished Macs can be smarter buys, and the case for keeping older devices longer. There is also plenty on phones, notifications, family tech boundaries, school bans, calendars, and using AI sparingly.

A lively tour of Apple smart homes in 2026, from Matter and Thread to cameras, doorbells, locks, garage doors, and robot vacuums. There’s plenty on sensors, scenes, and automations that quietly tame everyday annoyances. It also explores why smart switches often beat bulbs, plus fun extras like synced lighting and programmable buttons.

Brett Terpstra, Mac developer and automation expert, and Christopher Gamblée-Wallendjack, Apple consultant and Bear & Glass co-founder, dive into human-focused Mac automation. They chat about all-keyboard workflows, Hyper key setups, search-driven clicking, hidden macOS key bindings, and tools like Marked, BlogBook, Bloom, and HandBrake.

Listener feedback sparks lively chats about iCloud security, lighter Dropbox replacements, and AI tools that can control your computer. There’s also clever automation for downloads, translation, screenshots, and publishing. Plus, a fun debate over Stream Decks, launchers, backups, and the dream of finally getting fiber internet.

A custom AI robot assistant takes center stage, handling file organization, email logging, invoicing, publishing workflows, and even podcast production. There’s also a look at why managed AI agents feel different now, with better memory, safer app access, and sandboxed automation. The conversation explores tiny-task automation, browser-driven work, and a possible new interface for personal computing.

They explore powerful Finder workflows, from quick actions and toolbar tricks to Automator and AppleScript integrations. Hazel automations and Shortcuts get attention for downloads, cleanups, and remote triggers. Alfred, Raycast, Spotlight and other launcher tradeoffs are compared. File storage choices, tagging versus folders, and backup strategies round out the conversation.

David Pogue, author and Emmy-winning tech columnist, discusses his new book on Apple history. He focuses on product decisions, design stories like touchscreen keyboards, and how Jobs and Cook shaped the company. The conversation also covers Apple’s AI approach, Project Titan, Vision Pro limits, manufacturing risks in China, and Pogue’s personal tech and writing tools.