630: Time to Spiral

Key takeaways

Cash management can be tricky, as illustrated by Marco's humorous banking mistakes.
Apple continues to expand its Vision Pro offerings, which include enriching immersive content.
There is an ongoing discussion about the design and color options of Apple products and how they appeal to consumers.
Users are facing limitations with iPad apps due to portrait-only restrictions, leading to discussions around app usability.
The community is apprehensive about Apple's upcoming OS redesigns, fearing that they may not lead to significant improvements.
John's new Kanto Aura 4 speakers deliver better sound quality compared to his older speakers, illustrating the importance of investing in audio equipment.

Summary

Pre-show Mishaps

The episode opens with a light-hearted recount of Marco's amusing blunders at the bank while trying to manage cash for a restaurant. This sets a playful tone as the hosts banter about bank experiences and the struggles with cash transactions.

Vision Pro Corner

The discussion transitions into updates regarding Apple's Vision Pro, highlighting the release of a new episode in the adventure series called 'Deep Water Solo.' The episode features a rock climber and showcases the immersive capabilities of VisionOS. Additionally, there's a mention of the upcoming Metallica immersive special, showcasing Apple’s efforts to expand their content offerings.

iPad Air Updates and Discussions

The conversation shifts to the new features and rumors surrounding the iPad Air. There’s a discussion on the 2x bass feature being a false alarm and commentary on the appeal of color options in Apple products. Listeners are reminded of new developments in the iPad Air hardware offerings and color availability.

Portrait-only iPad Apps

The hosts discuss the limitation of running portrait-only apps side-by-side on the iPad and share an example video illustrating a workaround using Stage Manager. This segues into a broader conversation about developers' frustrations with app interfaces and the challenges of app usability.

Apple Product Design and Rumors

The podcast delves into the rumored redesigns for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, speculating on the potential aesthetic and functional changes. The hosts express skepticism regarding the effectiveness and necessity of these overhauls, reflecting on past redesigns that were not well-received.

Speaker Update

In the post-show segment, John discusses his experience with purchasing new speakers after his old ones failed. He shares feedback received from listeners about various speakers, ultimately deciding on the Kanto Aura 4s due to their appearance and sound quality. John also touches upon the challenges of getting used to these speakers and adjusting settings for an optimal listening experience.

Show notes

Pre-show: Marco went to the bank wrong
Follow-up:
- Vision Pro Corner
  - New Adventure episode: Deep Water Solo
  - Spatial Gallery
  - Metallica immersive special is coming
    - Virginia Tech 🤝🏻 Enter Sandman
- iPad Air corner
  - “2× bass” false alarm
    - 404
  - Appeal
    - Affordable big screen (notes John Spurlock)
    - 🗣️ ARE YOU LISTENING APPLE PEOPLE LIKE COLOR 🗣️ (via Ryan Manly)
- Portrait-only iPad apps (via Matt Rippetoe)
  - Example video from Fabian
- More on colors (via Yossi Kanner)
- MacBook Air’s keyboard has new mute iconography
- Regarding the “Hidra”
  - ATP #562: Do You Have a Dragon?
    - Interview with Srouji (timestamp link)
  - Lernaean Hydra
- Gurman on the M4 Ultra & Hidra
- Early M3 Ultra benchmarks from Geekbench 6
  - GPU: M3 Ultra Metal: 259,668
    - 10% faster than M2 Ultra Mac Studio’s best at 231,757
    - 20% faster than M2 Ultra Mac Studio’s average at 209,003
  - CPU:
    - M3 Ultra single core: 3,144
      - ~10% faster than M2 Ultra Mac Studio’s best at 2,813
      - ~20% slower than M4 Max MacBook Pro’s average at 3,921
    - M3 Ultra multi-core: 28,119
      - ~25% faster than M2 Ultra Mac Studio’s average at 21,373
      - ~10% faster than M4 Max MacBook Pro’s average at 25,647
  - More from Ars Technica
- Apple is working on a larger iMac? (AKA John tries to save face)
  - ATP #473: Fanboats and Coattails (Overcast link to 1:31:16)
- Threads timeline setting update
  - ATP #616: I Have No Grippers
  - The Verge’s article (25 November 2024)
- Thoughts on Feedback
Apple is allegedly “dramatically” redesigning the UI for its next OSes
Post-show: John’s speaker update
Members-only ATP Overtime: Some Volkswagen news
- VW’s ID.Every1 Concept
- Physical buttons are coming back! 🥹