Our annual @macstories.net Selects awards are coming back! This week, we've opened up submissions for the Readers' Choice award. Details and link to vote for members: club.macstories.net/posts/macsto...

the modern pain of feeling like Spotify is a despicable company with, however, a kick-ass algorithm that often makes me discover great people making music and their wholesome fan bases 😢 today, Bilmuri: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTIm... and this rabbit hole: www.reddit.com/r/poppunkers...

Some old-fashioned blogging in which I try to make sense of @markgurman.bsky.social's multiple Siri + Gemini reports and imagine what this Siri overhaul may look like. …I have questions: www.macstories.net/notes/trying...

Some old-fashioned blogging in which I try to make sense of @markgurman.bsky.social's multiple Siri + Gemini reports and imagine what this Siri overhaul may look like. …I have questions: www.macstories.net/notes/trying...

Then on XL for Patreon subscribers, Brendon is grilled by John and Federico about the MCON mobile phone controller that looks like a PSP Go. 🎧 www.patreon.com/posts/will-m... 📺 www.patreon.com/posts/will-m...

Big episode of @npc.macstories.net this week, for a simple reason: We talk about what is my current top runner for Handheld of the Year so far 👀 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq_0...

This week on @appstories.macstories.net, @viticci.macstories.net and I have thoughts on AI browsers. We ask whether they're any good, consider what you'd use them for and more from the big players to the upstarts. 🎧 apple.co/4okuuvt youtube.com/shorts/FI5Fk...

The 26.1 Apple OS updates are out! Here's our overview of what's new in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS 26.1: www.macstories.net/news/apple-r...

"I can’t believe Apple built a storefront but left out the commerce part" Our @johnvoorhees.macstories.net on the new App Store web experience: www.macstories.net/news/apple-r...

🌍 This week on @appstories.macstories.net: AI browsers hype VS reality. ⚡ In the post-show: using *really* fast AI models in TypingMind. Episode out tomorrow, or available today (and ad-free) for AppStories+ subscribers. 🎧 Listen: appstories.net/episodes/459

MiniMax M2 is another open-weights model out of China that feels (and behaves) like a version of Claude Sonnet 4.5…at 8% the cost. www.macstories.net/notes/on-min...

On MiniMax M2 and LLMs with Interleaved Thinking Steps https://www.macstories.net/notes/on-minimax-m2-and-llms-with-interleaved-thinking-steps/

This week on @unwind.macstories.net, @johnvoorhees.macstories.net explains why he's suddenly vibing with Notion, @viticci.macstories.net is digging into the latest Pokémon release, and John has an Apple TV pick and a couple of deals to share… 🎧 apple.co/47tqWA0 📺 youtu.be/fiPAj4frxNM

Apple Reports Q4 2025 Revenue of $102.5 Billion https://www.macstories.net/news/apple-reports-q4-2025-revenue-of-102-5-billion/

I've been playing around with Kimi K2 on @groq.com via TypingMind, and it's been an eye-opening experience to see just how much truly fast inference changes my perspective of LLMs for work. Make sure to watch the video: www.macstories.net/notes/ai-exp...

Let's see if this is actually better 🤔

🎮 Razer Kishi Ultra Phone Controller is deeply discounted on Amazon. John loves the Ultra for iPhone gaming, but it works with Android and tablets too. Affiliate link: amzn.to/3Jw5mCR

It's time for a new episode of @npc.macstories.net! This week: 🎮 We discuss Retroid's teasers 📱 The Miyoo Mini Flip is finally on sale ⚡ @johnvoorhees.macstories.net gets the Ayn Thor first 🕹️ Handheld gaming news and updates 📺 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ6n...

Our @bb.wavelengths.online got the highly-anticipated MCON controller for iPhone early and did an unboxing/first impressions video on the @npc.macstories.net channel last night: youtu.be/SpUswU_OChs

Claude for iOS got a redesigned '+' menu that integrates attachments, modes, and connectors. There is also a MUCH better way to toggle reasoning with just one tap.

This week on AppStories, @viticci.macstories.net and @johnvoorhees.macstories.net dig into his M5 iPad Pro review to discuss its incredible potential and pitfalls. For AppStories+ subscribers (appstories.plus), they explain Claude Skills. 🎧 apple.co/4quEpAe 📺 youtu.be/rJJ-Bu1kGhg

In today's issue of the newsletter, I shared my simple – and very effective – automation to transform reminders entered via Siri into Todoist tasks with the same due dates and properties: club.macstories.net/posts/automa...

Finding the Best Sleep Tracker https://www.macstories.net/linked/finding-the-best-sleep-tracker/

Not surprised by this at all. OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity are all doing some of what Sky did back in this @macstories.net preview: www.macstories.net/stories/sky-... Having a platform behind them should allow the Sky team to do more of what they envisioned for their app all along.

Sky, the most exciting app I tried in a long time from the original creators of Shortcuts has been acquired… …by OpenAI. What a miss for Apple here. This will be so interesting to watch. www.macstories.net/news/sky-acq...

Anthropic added a couple of great shortcuts to the Claude Mac app today. More on @macstories.net: www.macstories.net/news/claude-...

It's time for a new episode of @npc.macstories.net! This week: 🎮 Steam Deck, Switch 2, and Vision Pro accessory follow up ⚡ Thunderbolt 5 eGPUs ❌ The ROG Xbox Ally X is a bust 📺 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP3c...

Max Weinbach on the M5’s Neural Accelerators https://www.macstories.net/linked/max-weinbach-on-the-m5s-neural-accelerators/

Fun little Mac app that visualizes your Messages app database locally and gives you stats for iMessage over time, reviewed by @johnvoorhees.macstories.net. www.macstories.net/news/remess-...

M5 iPad Pro reviews: Small upgrades add up, especially with iPadOS 26

I reviewed the new M5 iPad Pro, with a particular focus on local LLM performance. Unfortunately, I could not get the same 3.5x AI improvements that Apple did. And…it's complicated. Here is my (very technical) story with lots of details and charts: www.macstories.net/stories/m5-i...

🤖 This week on @appstories.macstories.net: We try to imagine Apple Intelligence's future. 🎨 In the post-show: human creativity and rejecting AI slop. Episode out tomorrow, or available today (and ad-free) for AppStories+ subscribers. 🎧 Listen: appstories.net/episodes/457

Qi 2.2 is pretty great. I reviewed the Kuxiu X40 Turbo travel charger that charges the iPhone at 25W plus AirPods and an Apple Watch on @macstories.net: www.macstories.net/reviews/hand...

This week on MacStories Unwind... We dream of robots taking over household chores, @viticci.macstories.net shares an anti-pick, and @johnvoorhees.macstories.net has a gritty crime drama. That plus a movie Unwind Deal in the show notes. 🎧 apple.co/3Jk0twF 📺 youtu.be/5OOyTB0fYiA

Some notes on using @anthropic.com's new Haiku 4.5 – a smaller, but much faster model with Sonnet 4-level performance, but twice as fast. Possibly my new favorite for working with MCPs and apps: www.macstories.net/notes/anthro...

Apple Reveals the M5 Apple Vision Pro https://www.macstories.net/news/apple-reveals-the-m5-apple-vision-pro/

Nice, Claude for iOS has been updated with Liquid Glass.

LLMs As Conduits for Data Portability Between Apps www.macstories.net/notes/llms-f...

It's time for a new episode of @npc.macstories.net! This week: 🎮 AYN Thor early units are going out 🎯 Lenovo Legion Go 2 thoughts 💻 Mini PCs with Strix Halo 👋 @bb.wavelengths.online bails on Bazzite 📺 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm8s...

🍎 This week on @appstories.macstories.net: what else do we want from Apple in 2025? 🤖 In the post-show: I tested Cerebras for super-fast inference. 🎧 Listen: appstories.net/episodes/456 📺 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8YE...

What's going on with ChatGPT connectors? - In the EU (no VPN) and can see more connectors - Two Notion entries - The web app can work with the connector - The iOS app says it can't 🤔

It's the weekend, which means it's time to unwind with @unwind.macstories.net. This week, I stumble upon an Italian navy restaurant, @viticci.macstories.net gets some gaming time, plus a movie pick. Also, a timely double feature deal in the show notes. 🎧 apple.co/3KIcsod 📺 youtu.be/rTJXm97IJ4U

Well, here it is: On moving forward when you worry your best is behind you. On late-career albums and how we relate to music as we age. And more than anything just a giant round of flowers for Yellowcard and our music scene. chorus.fm/reviews/yell...

You know when you read a story so good, it makes you jealous you didn't write it? In a good way? This story by @jasontate.bsky.social is one of those. It's about a Yellowcard album, but it's also so much more. Hits close to home. Just read it. chorus.fm/reviews/yell...

Today for Club members, I shared tips on using Spotlight in macOS Tahoe and a grab bag of gadgets. Plus, @viticci.macstories.net and I shared an update on changes to macstories.net. club.macstories.net/posts/macos-... club.macstories.net/posts/gadget... You can join Club MacStories at plus.club

It's here – my deep dive into the 'Use Model' action in Shortcuts and how you can take advantage of Apple Intelligence and GPT-5 to add all kinds of new features to your favorite apps. Enjoy: club.macstories.net/posts/automa...

This week for the @macstories.net Weekly newsletter, I wrote about testing the new Spotify integration in ChatGPT. It was…buggy. club.macstories.net/posts/testin...

Got a lovely mention on @macstories.net in their OS 26 app roundup - alongside a dear friend @strasser.bsky.social and his beautiful Art of Fauna! 🧡 Thank you, @johnvoorhees.macstories.net and @viticci.macstories.net 🙏

THIS is the pod I’ve been waiting for for almost a year. Everything you need to know about MCP, right now.