Most of the reviews in for the M1 Macs have been pretty positive except for those that are unhappy you can’t take a microprocessor apart to add more RAM.
In the same week as the announcement of M1-based Macs, Big Sur has also been released for the general public and it goes to 11! Well the new MacOS version does anyway and with that update comes general compatibility issues and major questions about if the M1 processor is all that and a bag of crisps (or chips depending on where you’re listening to this).
Dell S2721QS 27-inch IPS 4K monitor. About $400 though I got it at a local Microcenter for $300 on sale. 2 HDMI ports/ 1 DisplayPort, 3840 x 2160 resolution, 350 nits brightness (by comparison, my 2017 27-inch iMac has 500 nits).
Sigh…sure there just HAD to be another event this year to announce the new Apple Silicon-based Macs. Why? Because obviously they didn’t already have their plans made or designs locked down before LAST month’s only 1 hour pre-recorded event. No video last week because eCamm’s Call Recorder (which is getting harder and harder to use) can’t handle more than one person at a time.
There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who use HomeKit and those that just don’t understand it…like the GMen for example. Pssst! They’re in the “don’t understand it” camp. Fortunately Karl Madden from the Mac and Forth Podcast is here to explain so that even Guy MIGHT understand it…maybe.
My oh my how that little streaming serviced that a lot of people ragged on for not enough content (the GMen included) has grown up. After testing the waters with a big exclusive with Tom Hanks Greyhound World War 2 adventure, Apple and Netflix are rumored to be in the running for the latest (and reportedly last one with Daniel Craig) oft-delayed James Bond flick “No Time to Die”. Big news for sure, but is there more to it?
Not a single iPod sock or HiFi (sort of) was announced at the Apple Event much to Guy’s disappointment. However there was some more expected products to come to light, mainly the iPhone 12 in its various iterations and while the product wasn’t that surprising, the $99 price tag mostly was for the HomePod Mini
ANOTHER Apple Event scheduled for next week. Most people thinks it’s for the iPhone 12, but Guy has a sneaking suspicion it’s for a new iPod HiFi and updated iPod Socks. Also best wishes to all the friends and family of Eddie Van Halen who sadly passed away from cancer last week.
This weeks Apple stories got juicier as the week went by, but the real issue this week is what on earth is Gaz going to do with a dead mans Mac. Also Epic vs Apple is back in the news and the GMen give a bit a talk-about it.
Apple buys a startup called Scout FM which is meant to create Smart Stations of podcasts based on various topics chosen by the podcast creators. So if a podcast says its focus is on Technology, Business, or say, Sports, then Scout will build a playlist around those topics for you. Sounds like a topic
There was an Apple event where the main attraction was an evolutionary Apple Watch. They threw in iPads, mobile device OS updates, and service bundles, but the main pull was the watch. The GMen make a small change to the show, but it isn’t at all subtle and you’ll know it because they’ll tell you.
So by ring we really mean Apple services, because one service to rule them all would be a dumb title. And our titles are ALWAYS great! Except when they aren’t. Some video issues this time out so there won’t be a video podcast this week but Big Sur will straighten ALL that out…once the apps work that we use.
Guy’s Pick: EpochCam by Kinoni. You’ll need both the iOS App and the Mac driver for EpochCam from Kinoni (free). There’s also a viewer app called the EpochCam Webcam Viewer in the Mac App Store that lets you view it.
Buy the iOS app (it’s $8 bucks), install it and connect your iPhone to your computer over USB. You can also connect via WiFi, but it’s better over USB. Go to Kinoni’s website, scroll down a bit and you’ll find the Mac Driver. Install the Mac Driver and it should work. I’ve tried it with OBS, Streamyard, eCamm Live, Skype and Zoom and it works with each, though with Zoom it only will connect and show a picture while the app is running apparently. Which seems weird but it always worked for me.
Gaz’s Pick: One thing I am prepared to pay for, OS Maps
With everyone working from home and trying to get the equipment they need to do video conferencing, pricing has gone through the roof for webcams as availability have gone through the floor. Maybe, JUST maybe you don’t need that fancy webcam or expensive microphone (Guy is sobbing now quietly in the corner) to get the job done when you likely have everything you need already.
So no podcast last week (TOTALLY Gaz’s fault for not being able to do the show and believing that Guy had it covered…so yeah…Gaz’s fault) and the GMen make up for it with LOADS and OODLES of Gaz’s Snippets! So everyone should be caught up now OK?
Epic Games smash hit Fortnight is removed for violating Apple’s rules regarding in-app purchase for digital content. Epic did this deliberately to try and force a showdown with Apple (and Google) over their policies restricting in-app purchases to just through their payment systems (which takes a cut).
New iMacs are out and normally we’d be pretty excited about it especially with these specs, but it also feels sad knowing that this could be the very last Intel Mac Apple ever releases. Also fun with traffic, actually there’s NEVER fun with traffic.
Is a conference that no one can physically attend still a conference. As it turns out, yes it can be with the right planning. Mike Potter from the For Mac Eyes Only podcast and organizer since the beginning in 2015 of the Macstock Conference and Expo Joins the GMen as they discuss everything that went right (and the virtually zero things that went wrong) from Virtual Macstock 2020.
Weirdness all the way around on this show as Guy is challenged to record a podcast in a virtual room with lots of other people talking that has little to nothing to do with the podcast. So he does succeed…kinda, but there’s some echo and other bizarre happenings. Hey it was the Virtual Macstock Conference and Expo so why wouldn’t it be weird?
Guy’s Pick: Behringer SB 78A handheld condenser microphone. $45 with tax. Amazing sounding microphone for the money. Remember that it does use XLR as a connection so you’ll need a mixer or audio interface with USB or Thunderbolt that also supplies 48V phantom power to use it with your computer
Gaz’s Pick: iPhone 11 for taking pictures of pictures!
No Guy this week as he may (or may not) be moving furniture and heavy boxes for his son (also named Guy…because imagination and all that) but there is STILL a show as Gaz reaches deep into the depths of his soul for yes, Gaz’s Snippets. C’mon it’s right in the title for Zod’s sake.
After years of (some would say) neglect, the Mac is once again first and foremost in the minds of Apple! Well maybe not first, but no longer an afterthought
The thing Guy said would happen and then said wouldn’t happen happened catching no one (except Guy) by surprise. So Intel Macs are going out and Silicone Macs are coming in. Probably not the best time to buy a Mac…or that’s what Guy thinks and his track record is SPOTLESS! Meanwhile Gaz shakes his head in disbelief.
