Episode 591: A Little More Wild West

Manton and Daniel talk a teensy bit more about the EU’s Digital Market’s Act, and Apple’s recent decision to offer web-based sideloading to certain developers. They talk about whether Manton would open an EU subsidiary if given the chance, and whether simply plunging in and doing something is the best way to find out what it’s worth.

Links:

  • Apple Announces Changes – Apple’s press release about new sideloading opportunities for some developers in the EU.
  • The Art of War – Free online version of Macchiavelli’s book.
  • Strata for Micro.blog – App store link to the Micro.blog-based notes app.
  • _David Smith – So-called “Underscore” David Smith, developer of WidgetSmith and other apps.
  • WidgetSmith – David Smith’s widget customization app.

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March 16, 2024 at 6:50 pm.

Episode 590: A Small Sliver of Truth

Daniel and Manton talk about Apple reinstating Epic’s developer account for the EU, and then banning it again. They compare it with Apple’s recent public reaction to Spotify and the EU’s $2B fine against the company. They wonder if Apple has become fixated on this as a fight of passion, to their detriment. Finally, a wish for Apple to put somebody new in charge of the App Store to help to fulfill its mission.

Links:

  • Catastrophic Response – The Verge’s 2020 report on Apple’s imminent termination of Epic’s developer account.
  • Fortnite Will Return – TechCrunch reports on Apple’s previous approval of an Epic subsidiary in Europe.
  • Terminated Again – TechCrunch reports on the latest termination of Epic’s European account.
  • Apple Statement – Apple responds to the EU’s decision to fine it nearly $2B.
  • Dithering – Paid podcast featuring Ben Thompson and John Gruber.
  • There’s an App for That – Manton’s response to a recent post on Ben Thompson’s Stratechery newsletter.
  • Epic’s Shared Emails – Epic writes about the ongoing saga and includes copies of emails between them and Apple.
  • The Long Arm of the EU – Tweet from EU commission “Under the DMA, there is no room for threats…”
  • Massive Decisions – Tweets from Epic CEO Tim Sweeney alleging that Apple has deviated from its own values.
  • A Car it Never Built – Bloomberg article about Apple’s canceled car project, featuring details about some of the prototype designs.
  • Apple Will Reinstate Developer Account – 9to5mac reports on the reinstatement by Apple of Epic’s European developer account.

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March 8, 2024 at 9:29 pm.

Episode 589: Breaking New Ground

Apple cancels their electric car project. Daniel and Manton discuss whether Apple should focus on what they do best: personal consumer electronics. Then they analyze Tim Cook’s claim that Apple will “break new ground” on generative AI this year, and how Apple’s emphasis on controlling the user experience and protecting their public image might affect what AI projects they work on.

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March 2, 2024 at 11:37 pm.

Episode 588: It’s Better Than Last Year

Daniel and Manton talk about Micro.blog new notes feature the companion iOS app Strata. They talk about sweetening the deal of Micro.blog with new features. Then they wrap up with how Daniel’s Black Ink release for iOS is going, and his choice to charge $99 for a lifetime unlock.

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Links:

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February 23, 2024 at 9:29 pm.

Episode 587: It’s a Lot of Money

Manton and Daniel talk about Daniel’s looming deadline for deciding whether or not to return his Apple Vision Pro. They speculate about whether a lot of people are returning them, and if so, is that worrying to Apple? What will the resale value of an Apple Vision Pro be in a year’s time? Finally, Daniel talks about showing the device to his kids, and shares his frustrations with the device’s lack of multi-user features.

Many thanks to our sponsor this week:

  • RevenueCat: In-app subscriptions made easy. Also check out the Sub Club Podcast!
  • Links:

    • Quest is Better – Mark Zuckerburg’s video comparison of Apple Vision Pro to Quest Pro.
    • The Honeymoon is Over – The Verge article on the purported prevalence of Apple Vision Pro returns.
    • Can’t Wait to Return – Twitter user @RjeyTech talks about returning the “mind blowing piece of tech.”
    • Apple Needs a Flop – Manton’s post in anticipation of Vision Pro about how Apple could benefit from failure.
    • Large Bloody Patch – The Verge’s Parker Ortolani attributes a subconjunctival hemorrhage to Vision Pro use.
    • Marked up on eBay – Reply from Neil Bruder about the guy Manton say buying 6 or 7 Vision Pros.
    • Notes in Micro.blog – Manton’s announcement of a major new Micro.blog feature.

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    February 16, 2024 at 9:14 pm.

    Episode 586: A Little Bit of the Future

    Daniel and Manton talk about their experiences so far with the Apple Vision Pro. They question whether it’s safe to wear “all day” and whether it might damage your eyes. They talk about the various means of justifying the purchase, while Daniel argues that “experiencing a taste of the future” is worth more than money. Finally, they contemplate the future of Apple Vision and whether Apple will release updates annually or less frequently.

    Links:

    • Apple Vision Pro – Official site for Apple’s new headset.
    • Briefly Considered – Manton contemplates whether he might never buy another iPhone.
    • Black Ink – Daniel’s long-time macOS-based, and now iOS-based crossword solving app.
    • UIKit for Spatial Computing – WWDC video explaining how to adapt UIKit apps to be native visionOS apps.
    • Be Careful and Go Slowly – Brent Simmons writes about his approach to (not yet) supporting visionOS for NetNewsWire.
    • Meta Quest – VR devices at the higher end of Meta’s product line.
    • Ray-Ban | Meta – VR devices at the lower end of Meta’s product line.

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    February 10, 2024 at 12:20 am.

    Episode 585: Manton Doesn’t Like It

    Daniel and Manton follow up on Core Technology Fee and how it affects marketplaces and small developers. Then, they celebrate Black Ink for iOS finally shipping, weighing the benefits of 7-day vs. 30-day trials. Finally, they discuss their purchase plans for the Vision Pro and Rabbit R1 devices, and what they expect from the cutting edge hardware. Is it okay to hide technology purchases from your kids?

    Download Audio (MP3, 49 minutes)

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    February 2, 2024 at 11:38 pm.

    Episode 584: Only In The EU

    Daniel and Manton talk about Apple’s announced App Store changes to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act. They discuss who can take advantage of the new rules, how they impact users and developers, and the limitations of new features both geographically and in terms of the financial status of a developer’s company.

    Download Audio (MP3, 36 minutes)

    Links:

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    January 25, 2024 at 10:57 pm.

    Episode 583: Nobody But Apple

    Manton and Daniel talk about Apple’s latest workaround for lawsuits demanding they support “outside sales” on the iPhone. They talk about what Apple’s balance of priorities with money-making vs. world-changing should be, and whether they are on the right track. Finally, they ask whether Apple is destined to gradually lose its soul over time, and they issue a challenge to current Apple employees to turn things around.

    Many thanks to our sponsor this week:

    Links:

    • Updated App Store Policies – The Verge summarizes Apple’s latest change to US policies, allowing
    • Dictator on Day One – Manton’s blog post about the morality of Apple’s App Store policies.
    • Epic – Creator of Fortnite and one of Apple’s chief legal antagonists.
    • Shifting Baseline Syndrome – The notion that humans suffer from a shifting conception of what is right or acceptable, based on gradual deterioration.

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    January 20, 2024 at 3:56 am.

    Episode 582: Leaving Things Behind

    Daniel and Manton talk about two hardware AI-focused products: Rabbit and Humane’s Ai Pin. They compare the features, the prices, and question whether the premise from each company is true: do people really hate their phones? Daniel argues that Apple Watch is the form factor that these devices should be pursuing, and they both reflect on how the phenomenal growth of AI in the tech industry is expanding out of software and into AI.

    Links:

    • Ai Pin – Humane’s flagship AI assistant.
    • Rabbit r1 – A cheaper and in some ways more compelling hardware AI assistant.

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    January 13, 2024 at 12:30 am.