660: It’s All Chicken Salad

Key takeaways

Marco's spontaneous trip to Richmond highlighted the joy of attending concerts with friends.
Food experiences can significantly enrich friendships and shared memories.
The concert by Goose showcased their growth as a band and became a pivotal bonding experience between Marco and Casey.
Listener feedback enriches the discussion, showing how audience engagement influences podcast content.
Frustrations over Apple’s software direction reveal concerns over user experience and responsiveness to customer needs.
The political context around app removals underscores the ethical responsibilities of corporations in the face of governmental pressure.
Reflections on Tivo and AOL reveal how technology has transformed over time, impacting how we interact with media.

Summary

Marco's Vacation and Concert Experience

The episode opens with Marco discussing a recent trip to Richmond, Virginia, where the primary purpose was to attend a concert by his favorite band, Goose. He shares how he decided to visit a good friend, Casey, and book tickets to the concert, delighting in the premium seating arrangement. Casey enhanced the trip, serving as a wonderful host, taking Marco to a unique chicken salad restaurant, and overall making the experience memorable.

Food Adventures and Friendship

The talk continues around their culinary adventures, including experiences at Chicken Salad Chick, known for its variety of chicken salad flavors. Their meal selections become a topic of lighthearted debate, with both discussing their specific choices. The importance of these food experiences as a bonding mechanism is highlighted, showcasing their friendship.

The Concert Itself

The focus shifts to the concert where Goose performed brilliantly, with Marco praising their evolution as a band and Casey's positive reception to the music, which he hadn't appreciated before. The concert becomes a significant moment, emphasizing the joy of live music and the friends' shared experience. This part reflects their differing perspectives on jam bands, bridging gaps in their musical tastes.

Listener Engagement and Updates

The podcast continues with a segment addressing listener feedback, updates on previous discussions about AirPods and experiences with their new features, particularly looking at live translations with AirPods. The interaction captures both hosts advocating for listener engagement through feedback and experiences.

Apple Updates and Ongoing Issues

Later on, there's a discussion about Apple's various updates, particularly with iOS 26 and iPadOS 26.1. While they appreciate some slight user interface changes, they express frustrations over Apple’s overall direction, particularly how they removed the Slide Over feature and various other user experience issues. The changing landscape of Apple’s software becomes a deep topic, particularly with Tim Cook’s leadership.

Concerns Over Government Influence

Towards the end, there’s a significant conversation regarding Apple removing the Ice Block app, which had served as a tracking tool for ICE agents. The discussion revolves around the political implications and ethics of Apple's decisions in regards to government pressures, revealing strong feelings about corporate responsibility and accountability.

The End of Tivo and AOL Dial-Up Service

The episode closes with a nostalgic reflection on technology's evolution, specifically Tivo’s exit from the DVR market and AOL’s end of dial-up service. Both hosts recognize the significant changes these technologies brought to their lives and the broader cultural impact of their decline.

Show notes

Pre-show: Marco’s “Vacation” results
- Goose
  - Goose @ Richmond Allianz Ampitheater, 3 October 2025
- Allianz Ampitheater
- Chicken Salad Chick
- Nugs.net
- ZZQ
- Suggestions from Casey, in no particular order:
Follow-up:
- ATP in the wild
  - Original report form Richard Earney
    - Follow-up by Matt Smith
  - Follow-up on Mark Christian’s report by Santiago Hervella
- AirPods 3
  - Ear Lottery
    - Michael corroborates Marco’s experience
    - …but Franklin Delano Stallone offers hope
    - …and sometimes AirPods 3 are a marked improvement, reports Matthew Schaffer
  - Tony Dehnke does an ANC comparison
  - Live translation results
- David Schaub’s horror story about filling up your phone
- Mike Taffet does science on iPhone ↔ iPhone transfers
- Marco’s USB odyssey
  - Jack Wellborn had a similar experience
  - Syd Polk wonders if it’s a Sequoia thing
  - (Among others) Fabien theorizes its’ an alignment thing
    - Keith Heaton brought receipts
    - Tailgate Tub
  - Active vs. passive Thunderbolt cables
    - OWC
    - Informative Reddit comment by LaughingMan11
- Synology alternatives
  - Colin McKellar suggests QNAP
  - See also:
    - UGREEN
    - Unraid
    - FreeNAS/TrueNAS
    - …
  - 🎉 …may not be necessary anymore! 🎉
More more first impressions
- Quick AirPods Pro 3 update
- iPhone case updates
  - Omar Shahine performs surgery on the Nomad back
  - Torras clear case
  - Bullstrap open-bottom leather case
  - Peak Design Everyday Case (Charcoal color has the good fabric)
  - Still to test: Süti PhoneBack in black leather, if it ever ships
- iOS 16
- iPadOS 26: Now with slide-over!
Apple pulls ICEBlock from the App Store
Post-show: Pour one a Sprite out for a real one TiVo
- Channels
- AOL dialup service ends
Members-only ATP Overtime: The Meta Ray-Ban Display, and Apple’s response
- The Verge
- Gurman: Apple pivots