There was a time when it was hard to get through the day without topping off your iPhone’s battery at least once. Most days, I’d go to bed with barely any battery left, so I’d plug it in and let it charge all night, ensuring my phone had a full battery by the time I...
The Latest from AppStories and Ruminate
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories
This week, Federico and John look ahead to WWDC and beyond to consider how Apple Intelligence could be used to change the way we use our iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
On AppStories+, Federico has grievances about the lack of Apple software compatibility on Android.
Ruminate
I brings the snack, Robb tries the BuJo life, and they both discuss web apps.
BANG!CASE: Push-Button iPhone Automation
I’ve been intrigued by the BANG!CASE ever since it was introduced by Bitmo Lab as a Kickstarter campaign about a year ago. The case includes a programmable button that can be used to automate actions using your iPhone’s accessibility features. However, because I don’t normally use a case with my iPhone, I never followed through on buying the BANG!CASE.
Fast forward to early January at CES when I visited the booth for JSAUX, an affiliate of Bitmo Lab. In addition to JSAUX’s portable displays and gaming accessories, the company was showing off the BANG!CASE and GAMEBABY. (More on that on NPC soon.)
It just so happens that since the holidays, I’ve continued my quest to refine how I collect and process information throughout my day. That’s led me to test a dozen or so apps, build new shortcuts, and explore other new setups. As a result, I was primed to give the BANG!CASE a try when Bitmo offered me a review unit at their booth, and I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks.
The case has a couple of minor drawbacks that I’ll get to, but by and large, it’s the most unique and useful case I’ve ever put on an iPhone. After enjoying my iPhone without a case for nearly two years, I’ve found that the utility of the BANG!CASE is significant enough that I’ve decided to keep using it, which I didn’t expect. So today, I thought I’d lay out why I like the BANG!CASE so much and how I’m using it.
An Apple Intelligence Wish List
Federico
John
AppStories Episode 419 - An Apple Intelligence Wish List
0:00
30:46
30:46
This week, Federico and John look ahead to WWDC and beyond to consider how Apple Intelligence could be used to change the way we use our iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
Links and Show Notes
An Apple Intelligence Wish List
- A more conversational Siri
- Developer Tools
- Pixelmator Team to Join Apple
](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 the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
Follow us on Mastodon
Follow us on Threads
Follow us on Instagram
Interesting Links
[[John]] Antonio Di Benedetto’s story for The Verge about giant gaming handhelds has big NPC energy. Di Benedetto combined an ASUS Flow Z13 and GameSir G8 Plus controller into a ridiculously large gaming tablet. (Link) Kashmir Hill, writing for The New York Times, profiles a woman who spends over 20 hours per week in ChatGPT,...
The Latest from AppStories and NPC: Next Portable Console
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories
This week on AppStories, Federico and John predict what we’ll see from Apple in 2025. From agentic AI to App Intents and Siri, they explore what will shape the year ahead and the implications to users and developers.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Easy-to-Use Reliable Membership Software
NPC: Next Portable Console
In the first NPC episode of 2025, Brendon and John recap their CES experience with Federico, highlighting AMD’s new Z2 chips, the SteamOS-powered Legion Go S, and more. Together, they explore the technologies and trends poised to define the next generation of portable consoles.
This episode is sponsored by:
Pika – Sign up today to start telling your story and use code NPC20 for 20% off your first year of Pika Pro
Apple Prophecies and Predictions for 2025
AppStories Episode 418 - Apple Prophecies and Predictions for 2025
0:00
28:46
28:46
This week on AppStories, Federico and John predict what we’ll see from Apple in 2025. From agentic AI to App Intents and Siri, they explore what will shape the year ahead and the implications to users and developers.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Easy-to-Use Reliable Membership Software
Links and Show Notes
Apple 2025 Predictions and Prophecies
Federico:
- There will be more agentic AI than ever
- Even more Chromium browsers with AI features
- Apple will acquire a smaller AI company like Mistral
- More smart glasses will be released as will custom community firmware for the Meta Ray-Bans
- Vision Pro apps will come to Android XR
- Game streaming apps will come to the iPhone
- Someone will try to get a Sony PS4 emulator approved by Apple app reviewers
John:
- A shakeout of AI apps
- App Intents adoption will be slow
- The Apple Watch will gain new sensors and Apple and Massimo will settle their blood oxygen dispute
- AI will continue to slow development of other OS features
- We’ll see more innovative game controllers for the iPhone
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
Follow us on Mastodon
Follow us on Bluesky
Affiliate Linking Policy[Link](Apple Prophecies and Predictions for 2025)
Two Shortcuts for Saving Links in Unread
During the pre-show of the latest episode of AppStories, I covered how I got a head start on my holiday projects by refining the way I read and research on my Apple devices. Since then, I’ve been working on shortcuts to help move links I find from RSS to other apps, so today, I thought...
The Latest from AppStories and Comfort Zone
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories
This week, Federico and I round up the tech and productivity projects we have planned for our annual holiday break.
On AppStories+, I explain the refinements he’s made to my reading setup.
Comfort Zone
Chris has his own Mount Rushmore of iPad apps, Matt is trying to get to terms with Discord, and the gang figures out if they’re moving the group chat to WhatsApp.