608: Boot to Toot

Key takeaways

iOS 18 introduces features like vehicle motion cues that aim to reduce motion sickness when using a phone in a moving vehicle.
The PlayStation 5 Pro's specifications offer improved gaming experiences, with John emphasizing the value of Microsoft's multi-console approach.
The future of smartphones may increasingly incorporate AI technologies, but it remains unclear what that will mean in terms of hardware design and user experience.
Transitioning to passkeys promises improved security, but users should be cautious about how they are implemented across different platforms.
The Epic vs. Google case highlights mounting legal scrutiny around app store practices, which could have far-reaching consequences for major tech companies.

Summary

New Technologies and Features in iOS 18

The podcast discusses some new technologies and features introduced in iOS 18, specifically focusing on the use of adaptive transparency and vehicle motion cues. The hosts express differing opinions on their functionality, with some finding the features useful while others consider them distracting. They also mention that the motion cues are intended to help mitigate motion sickness by aligning visual stimuli with the motion felt by the inner ear, but the jury is still out on how effective this is for different users.

Gaming Hardware Conversations

John shares his experiences with the purchase of the new PlayStation 5 Pro, highlighting the technological upgrades and specifications that distinguish it from the previous versions. The discussion includes a deeper look into the issues surrounding gaming laptops, particularly a situation involving John's son's Razer gaming laptop, which had a swollen battery. This leads to broader conversations about gaming hardware, its potential issues, and solutions.

AI Integration and Future Phones

The podcast touches on Apple's strategy and hardware design choices related to AI technologies. A discussion focuses on what it means for an iPhone to be built from the ground up for AI, with the hosts speculating on possible indicators of such a design. They express skepticism about whether the phones currently being developed can truly be defined in this way and what a future phone specifically designed for AI might entail.

Passkeys and Password Management

The hosts discuss the transition towards using passkeys instead of traditional passwords, exploring the convenience and security benefits. They acknowledge their limited personal experience with passkeys and share recommendations on how listeners can slowly transition their password management to include passkeys. The conversation highlights Ricky Mondello's article on best practices for adopting this new technology.

Epic vs. Google: Legal and Market Implications

A considerable portion of the podcast is dedicated to the ramifications of the Epic Games vs. Google ruling wherein the court orders Google to open its markets to third-party app stores. The discussion centers on how this ruling might lead to increased market competition and consumer options, potentially impacting Apple's strategies and app distribution practices in the future.

Show notes

Follow-up:
- NotebookLM podcast
- Camera Control button material
- iPhone case suggestions
  - Spigen Ultra Hybrid T MagFit
  - Arc Pulse
  - Leather backs
    - Suti
    - Nomad
    - Atom Studios
- Sleep-tagging app suggestions
- Windows anti-malware app suggestions
- Adaptive Transparency report
- Wireless phone recovery
  - 9to5Mac screenshot
- End ↔ end encryption coming for iPhone ↔ Android RCS messages
- More tweaks to screen recording prompts
  - Jason’s toot
- Hotkey registration in Sequoia
  - Response from Apple frameworks engineer
- Liquid detection in Sequoia
Epic gets a win against Google
Apple nopes out of OpenAI investment
Ask ATP:
- Will John buy the new $700 Playstation Pro?
- Have the Vehicle Motion Cues helped John’s motion sickness? (via Justin Waring)
- When will the first true “built from the ground up for AI” phone be? (via Neil McGregor)
- Is it time to move to Passkeys?
  - Ricky’s post
Post-show: Adam’s gaming PC adventures
Members-only ATP Overtime: AI moats & trade secrets
- OpenAI doesn’t want anyone to know what o1 is “thinking”