I try new gadgets and gear all the time, some of which I never get around to writing about. So today, I thought I’d share five things I’ve been using that I haven’t written or talked about much yet. I may end up covering some of these things in greater depth on MacStories at some...
Gaming Sidekicks: Videogame Companion Apps with Brendon Bigley
Federico
JohnThis week, John is joined by Brendon Bigley to explore the wide world of videogame companion apps from media trackers to game specific companion apps.
On AppStories+, John and Brendon dig into 16 years of App Store history to compile a list of games that have defined gaming on the iPhone.
Also available on YouTube here.
](https://cdn.macstories.net/banneras-1629219199428.png)
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
AppStories Episode 447 - Gaming Sidekicks: Videogame Companion Apps with Brendon Bigley
0:00
43:13
43:13
Links and Show Notes
Gaming Companion Apps
- Game Trackers
- Game and Franchise Companion Apps
- General Media Trackers
- Other
- Also mentioned:
- Follow Brendon’s work at:
Leave Feedback for John and Federico
Follow us on Mastodon
Follow us on Bluesky
Interesting Links
[[John]] John Mills, one of the people behind Watch Duty whom Federico and I interviewed for AppStories during WWDC, was profiled in Wired by Boone Ashworth. With wildfires and extreme weather affecting more people every year, an app like Watch Duty becomes a crucial lifeline for people in the path of natural disasters. Mills even...
App Debuts
[[John]] Feedbin I’ve been using Feedbin to sync my RSS feeds for a couple of years now, and I love it. The service is reliable, handles email newsletters, and has a few unique features like its dedicated starred RSS feed that I’ve used for a bunch of automations. I don’t use Feedbin’s RSS reader, but...
Revisiting Camera Apps
When I worked in downtown Chicago and was figuring out what my next thing would be, I spent a lot of time wandering around the West Loop taking photos. The iPhone’s camera wasn’t nearly as good in those days, but the constraints forced me to experiment. I tried a lot of different camera and editing...
AppleCare One Unifies Device Coverage Into a Single Monthly Plan
Apple announced today that it is consolidating its AppleCare+ plans into one program dubbed AppleCare One that will be available starting tomorrow. The new program is $19.99/month which covers three products. Additional products can be added for $5.99/month for each device added.
Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, had this to say of the new plan:
At Apple, we’re focused on creating and delivering exceptional experiences. Built on the trusted foundation of AppleCare+, AppleCare One extends that same reliability and makes it easier than ever to protect the products you love and depend on like iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, combining simplicity and exceptional value.
Apple says that AppleCare One includes all of the features of AppleCare+ and expands the theft and loss protection from the iPhone to the iPad and Apple Watch. The company says that enrolling an iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch under the new program will save users up to $11/month compared to buying AppleCare+ for each device separately. Customers can also add existing devices to the new program that are up to four years old (or one year for headphones) if they are in good condition. That’s a big change from the usual 60 days from the date of purchase that customers have had to purchase AppleCare in the past.
If you’re someone juggling multiple AppleCare accounts for a variety of devices, AppleCare one certainly sounds like a simpler, more flexible approach, as well as an opportunity to cover older devices.
Reuters Reports that Apple’s New EU Developer Terms May Avoid Further Penalties→
Reuters reports that Apple is on the brink of satisfying EU regulators with the changes the company has made to its developer program in the EU:
Apple’s changes to its App Store rules and fees will likely secure the green light from EU antitrust regulators, people with direct knowledge of the matter said, a move that would stave off potentially hefty daily fines for the iPhone maker.
Reuters estimates that those fines, which would be on top of the 500 million euro fine already levied against Apple, could be as much as 50 million euros per day.
No deal is finished until it’s formally announced, but if Reuters’ sources are correct, we should see an announcement from the European Commission in the coming weeks.
A Secondary Device Check-In
This week, Federico and John explain how they use their secondary systems, which for John is the iPad and for Federico, the Mac.
On AppStories+, Federico asks whether technologies like web-based MCP render Apple’s native App Intents irrelevant?
Also available on YouTube here.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
AppStories Episode 446 - A Secondary Device Check-In
0:00
28:13
28:13
Links and Show Notes
Switching Sides: A Secondary Device Check-In
- John
- 11” iPad Pro
- Federico
- M3 Ultra Mac Studio and M4 Pro MacBook Pro
- Relacon Handheld Trackball, Wireless USB
Leave Feedback for John and Federico
Follow us on Mastodon
Follow us on Bluesky
Interesting Links
[[federico]] There’s been a flurry of Qi2.2 announcements this week. For starters, the Wireless Power Consortium has certified eight Qi2.2 products from different manufacturers, teasing the arrival of 25W wireless charging accessories including power banks, car mounts, and 3-in-1 stands from companies like Ugreen, Belkin, Anker, and AUKEY. Ugreen announced what it claims to be...