John Voorhees

5429 posts on MacStories since November 2015

John is MacStories' Managing Editor, has been writing about Apple and apps since joining the team in 2015, and today, runs the site alongside Federico. John also co-hosts four MacStories podcasts: AppStories, which covers the world of apps, MacStories Unwind, which explores the fun differences between American and Italian culture and recommends media to listeners, Ruminate, a show about the weird web and unusual snacks, and NPC: Next Portable Console, a show about the games we take with us.

MacStories Unwind, AV Club Edition: Super Mario Bros. Wonder

AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps
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AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps


This month for the AV Club edition of MacStories Unwind, Federico John, and Jonathan discuss their personal histories with the Mario franchise and share their thoughts on the latest installment, Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

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Super Mario Bros. Wonder

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Apple to Support RCS Messaging in 2024

In a surprising move, Apple announced today that it will adopt the RCS messaging standard. The company, which has been under pressure from government regulators around the world and competitors like Google and Samsung, told Chance Miller of 9to5Mac:

Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association. We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS. This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users.

RCS won’t replace iMessage, SMS, or MMS. Instead, RCS will run in parallel with iMessage on a user’s device for those situations where iMessage isn’t an option, and SMS and MMS will continue to serve as fallbacks in case iMessage and RCS aren’t available.

I don’t think many people saw this coming. I certainly didn’t. SMS and MMS are creaky, old technologies that don’t work over Wi-Fi, so it’s good to see them demoted to the options of last resort. RCS isn’t perfect, but it’s an improvement over those older technologies, and perhaps Apple’s support of the standard, along with the other companies that have already adopted it, will help it continue to improve.

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Apple Announces Close to 40 App Store Awards Finalists

Today, Apple announced the finalists for its App Store Awards, a selection of apps that the App Store Editorial team picks each fall to recognize “their excellence, inventiveness, and technical achievement” in ten categories.

Introducing award finalists is a departure for Apple from past years when the company only announced the winners. The change is carried over from the company’s annual Apple Design Awards that are revealed at WWDC every year and is one I like. Today’s finalists include nearly 40 apps and games that span a wide variety of categories and range from creations by solo developers to big companies. It’s an eclectic mix that captures the breadth of the App Store well.

Apple says it will reveal the winners of the App Store Awards later this month. If past announcements are any guide, the last week of November is a good bet on the timing. In the meantime, we have the complete list of finalist apps and games from Apple’s press release after the break.

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AppStories, Episode 359 – Getting Your Digital Life in Order

This week on AppStories, we tackle the struggle with staying organized in the face of the never-ending stream of files and other information.

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On AppStories+, The Chamberlain Group’s decision to cut off API support to its garage door controllers is an example of what happens when a company shifts from selling to customers to selling access to those customers.

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Coming Soon: The Sixth Annual MacStories Selects Awards, Readers’ Choice Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award

The sixth annual MacStories Selects Awards are just around the corner. The awards honor our favorite apps in a wide variety of categories. Winners will receive a physical MacStories Selects award designed by MacStories’ own Silvia Gatta. As with last year, awards will be selected in the following categories:

  • App of the Year
  • Best New App
  • Best App Update
  • Best New Feature
  • Best Design
  • Best Watch App
  • Best Mac App
  • Lifetime Achievement Award

We’ll also be conferring two special awards once again:

  • The Readers’ Choice Award
  • The Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2022, Club MacStories members picked CARROT Weather for the Readers’ Choice Award.

In 2022, Club MacStories members picked CARROT Weather for the Readers’ Choice Award.

The Readers’ Choice Award is nominated by Club MacStories members and chosen by Club MacStories+ and Club Premier members. A link to the nomination form and details about which apps are eligible for the award were published in Issue 393 of MacStories Weekly at the beginning of the issue. Nominations will be accepted until Noon Eastern US time this Tuesday, November 14th.

After nominations close, we’ll tally the submissions and open voting on the top nominees to Club MacStories+ and Club Premier members via our Discord community. Voting will conclude at Noon Eastern US time on Thursday, November 16th.

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2022's Lifetime Achievement Award went to Drafts by Greg Pierce's Agile Tortoise.

2022’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Drafts by Greg Pierce’s Agile Tortoise.

We’ll also be selecting a Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize an app that has had an important impact on the world of apps. We’ll be choosing an app beloved by users and inspiring to developers, which has left its mark on the App Store’s history.

Every year, we use hundreds of terrific apps. MacStories Selects is our way to call out a handful of our absolute favorites that are shining examples of the best apps on Apple’s platforms.

We look forward to sharing our selections and our Club members’ pick with you in December.


Getting Your Digital Life in Order

AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps

AppStories Episode 359 - Getting Your Digital Life in Order

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AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps

This week, Federico and John tackle the struggle with staying organized in the face of the never-ending stream of files and other information.

Read more