Federico Viticci

10804 posts on MacStories since April 2009

Federico is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of MacStories, where he writes about Apple with a focus on apps, developers, iPad, and iOS productivity. He founded MacStories in April 2009 and has been writing about Apple since. Federico is also the co-host of AppStories, a weekly podcast exploring the world of apps, Unwind, a fun exploration of media and more, and NPC: Next Portable Console, a show about portable gaming and the handheld revolution.

AppStories, Episode 5: App Subscriptions

On this week’s episode of AppStories, John and I covered how app subscriptions work, the pros and cons for consumers and developers, and examples of apps using creative subscription models. After some research, we discovered more indie apps that have added subscriptions over the past year than we initially imagined.

You can listen to the episode below, or jump directly to the app examples (and download them from the show notes) using this Overcast link.

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https://staging.macstories.net/podcasts/appstories/episodes/5/embed/

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App Subscriptions

AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps

AppStories Episode 5 - App Subscriptions

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34:47

AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps

How app subscriptions work, the pros and cons for consumers and developers, and examples of apps using creative subscription models.

Read more




Connected, Episode 141: The Espresso Debacle

The band is back together just in time to talk about Federico’s new iPhone case, the Echo Show, Phil Schiller’s comments on App Store upgrade pricing and more.

We’re all back on Connected this week with a variety of topics, including Amazon’s latest addition to the Echo family. You can listen here.

Sponsored by:

  • Incapsula: Secure and accelerate your website. Connected listeners get one month free.
  • Away: Travel smarter with the suitcase that charges your phone. Get $20 off with the code ‘connected’.
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iShows Adds ‘Watch Now’ Feature to Stream Episodes in Other Video Apps

A few days ago, I asked on Twitter for a TV show tracker that could sync with Trakt.tv and show where each episode could be legally streamed. I’ve been using Trakt.tv to organize my TV show library and keep track of new episodes for a couple of years now, but I couldn’t find a Trakt-compatible app that also supported showing streaming sources for episodes – like Apple’s TV app does, for instance. In the few weeks I spent using the TV app, I thought that was one of its best options.

Today, iShows – a longtime MacStories favorite – has added this feature, which is called Watch Now. After selecting the country you want to use for streaming (useful, for instance, if you live in Europe but use a VPN for American streaming services like HBO Now), iShows will display where each episode can be streamed or, alternatively, purchased or rented.

I tested Watch Now with the dozen of TV shows I’m tracking in iShows/Trakt, and it works as advertised; with one tap, iShows will open the link for an episode’s streaming source, which thanks to Universal Links on iOS will deep-link directly into the associated video app (if installed). It couldn’t be easier, and I appreciate that I don’t have to look up each show’s information on the web to learn where it can be streamed.

While there are a number of great Trakt-compatible apps at this point (some favorites of mine include Couchy and Television Time), iShows has regained a spot on my devices because of the addition of Watch Now.

You can get iShows 2.9 from the App Store.


Workflow Update Restores Google Chrome and Pocket Actions, Extends Apple Music Integration

In the first update following Apple’s acquisition in late March – and despite rumors that claimed the app would no longer be supported – Workflow has today restored some of the features that were removed in version 1.7.3 of the app (which was released when Apple confirmed the acquisition) and has brought a variety of changes and improvements, including new Apple Music actions.

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AppStories, Episode 4: App Discovery and the iTunes Affiliate Program with AfterPad’s Kevin MacLeod

On this week’s episode of AppStories, we talked about the iTunes Affiliate Program and its importance for app discovery and independent curation with Kevin MacLeod of AfterPad. The episode was recorded before Apple’s clarification of changes to the program.

Sponsored by:

  • SQLPro Studio – A simple, powerful database manager for macOS. Download a 7-day free trial and use promo code APPSTORIES at checkout for 20% off.
  • CardioBot – use heart rate data captured by your Apple Watch to improve your health.

You can listen to the episode below.

https://staging.macstories.net/podcasts/appstories/episodes/4/embed/

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Interview: App Discovery and the iTunes Affiliate Program with AfterPad’s Kevin MacLeod

AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps

AppStories Episode 4 - Interview: App Discovery and the iTunes Affiliate Program with AfterPad’s Kevin MacLeod

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31:55

AppStories+ Deeper into the world of apps

Federico and John talk about the iTunes Affiliate Program and its importance for app discovery and independent curation with Kevin MacLeod of AfterPad. The episode was recorded before Apple’s clarification of changes to the program.

Read more