[SPEAKER_03]: a factual day to creation facility production.
[SPEAKER_02]: Welcome to the OFN Tea Podcast.
[SPEAKER_02]: A show mainly about tech and other topics and how their influence effects are host.
[SPEAKER_02]: Now, here he is, Jim Schafer.
[SPEAKER_01]: Welcome to the OFNT podcast episode 3-11, which I'm calling, Apple's week of Tech Press Domination.
[SPEAKER_01]: This past week so I'll get most of the Tech Press's attention by releasing a bunch of new and or upgraded products.
[SPEAKER_01]: Will I be interested in purchasing any of them?
[SPEAKER_03]: No.
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, at least not at this time, but maybe in the future, I do have six grand sums that are getting older at a seemingly rapid pace, but for now, I'm okay.
[SPEAKER_01]: Now, let us begin.
[SPEAKER_01]: But before I begin, upon waking up this morning I was greeted with a warning from my Aura Smart Rings app, which advised me that my body was showing major signs of strain.
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh no, why?
[SPEAKER_01]: I must admit, I'm feeling a little woozy today.
[SPEAKER_01]: So if I sound a little off during this episode, well, that's the reason for it.
[SPEAKER_01]: Tech News.
[SPEAKER_01]: It was Apple's week-in.
[SPEAKER_01]: I covered all of the new products announced within the overflow episode, which was released last Wednesday evening.
[SPEAKER_01]: I actually early Thursday morning.
[SPEAKER_01]: I had some domestic issues which messed with my timeline.
[SPEAKER_01]: There were other Apple announcements also that didn't mirror the video of their own.
[SPEAKER_01]: The basic band for the Apple Watch have been
[SPEAKER_01]: to include three new colors.
[SPEAKER_01]: Soft pink, Clementine, I guess that's what the giant food company calls the color light orange and bright guava, which is a light shade of red.
[SPEAKER_01]: These watchbands will cost $49.
[SPEAKER_01]: Apple Watch sports loop bands also got the bright guava color along with blue mist, which is described as being grey with blue accents, and cantaloupe, I'm getting hungry.
[SPEAKER_01]: The scribe is a light orange with 10 accents, these also go for 49 bucks.
[SPEAKER_01]: If you're a well-situated financially or consider yourself financially irresponsible, for $499, well you can equip your Apple Watch with an Ermaze and Maristrap in various colors.
[SPEAKER_01]: Now, if you feel that $499 isn't a big enough flex for you, you can always purchase a Ermaze scuba diving band for the unreasonable price of $549.
[SPEAKER_01]: If money is a bit tight view at the moment, size that being alone in that, you can buy yourself a Irmaese Kielim single tour strap or Neo Trichhot strap for the ePaltry sum of $349.
[SPEAKER_01]: Now, I must warn you, your friends at the Country Club may notice that you have opted for the cheapest strap, and will probably make fun of you while talking behind your back, as they usually do.
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes!
[SPEAKER_01]: I've got to ask, who the heck is buying these Ermae straps?
[SPEAKER_01]: Some of them cost more than the Apple Watch Model I wear.
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, now back to some less costly accessories.
[SPEAKER_01]: Have you just bought yourself a new iPhone 17e and planned to put a case on it?
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, Apple has you covered.
[SPEAKER_01]: The $49 Cupertino will sell you either a silicone clear mags-save case, or a one that
[SPEAKER_01]: If that dollar amount is too much for you, Apple will sell you a BEATS branded non-MAG safe case for $45.
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, you can always do better on Amazon, but that's just my opinion.
[SPEAKER_01]: If you're a fan of that iPhone crossbody strap that I've never come across anyone using, you can now buy a silicone one in the colors soft wava or soft pink.
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, Apple branded case is required for that strap.
[SPEAKER_01]: Now here's a money saving tip for those getting an iPhone 17E.
[SPEAKER_01]: Apple Insider.com, reports that existing cases for the iPhone 16E will fit just fine on your new phone.
[SPEAKER_01]: If you have an iPhone 16E, but want the newer Apple cases.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure they'll fit your phone too.
[SPEAKER_01]: The 16e doesn't have Magsafe built in, so one of those new Magsafe cases for the 17e will solve that problem for you.
[SPEAKER_01]: Being that Magsafe has already built into the 17e, using one of the older 16e cases won't have any effect on that, and we'll also save you 10 bucks.
[SPEAKER_01]: Just saying.
[SPEAKER_01]: Regarding the main products announced in our release by Apple this past week, the two main ones were the iPhone 17E and the MacBook Neo.
[SPEAKER_01]: These two particular products signal that, for the first time in their history, Apple is attempting to go all in with breaking into the lower end of the market.
[SPEAKER_01]: The MacBook Neo is the latest piece in the puzzle.
[SPEAKER_01]: It joins the bass iPad and the E-Series iPhones.
[SPEAKER_01]: For 600 bucks, the Neo, which does support running an external monitor, provides a solid and affordable entry into the Apple-based computing ecosystem for the masses.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think the big losers here will be the iPad Air and to a lesser extent the base my life had.
[SPEAKER_01]: If you were to purchase a 13-inch iPad Air, along with an Apple keyboard case, well, you'd be paying more than you would for a MacBook Neo.
[SPEAKER_01]: The Neo has an extra USB-C port, and is built more sturdily than the iPad Air.
[SPEAKER_01]: You are giving up the touchscreen and the ability to use the Apple Pencil, but if you're into graphics, you'd be getting an iPad Air or Pro anyway.
[SPEAKER_01]: As I stated in the last overflow episode, the Neo is basically a 13-inch iPad Air display, sans touchscreen capability, permanently made it to a non-removable iPad Air keyboard case.
[SPEAKER_01]: The keys of the Neo's keyboards look like they came directly from the iPad Air's keyboard
[SPEAKER_01]: Both are not backlit.
[SPEAKER_01]: For a little over $1,500 you can buy the Neo-based iPad in an iPhone 17e.
[SPEAKER_01]: If you must have an Apple Pencil, won't just add 40 bucks.
[SPEAKER_01]: If you need more storage for your MacBook Neo, that'll cost you another $100.
[SPEAKER_01]: That's still a complete basic computing solution for under $2,000.
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, you could certainly go the Android route for less.
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, she could.
[SPEAKER_01]: But how long would that Android gear receive software updates?
[SPEAKER_01]: How long would that hardware last?
[SPEAKER_01]: I'd wager not as long as the Apple devices.
[SPEAKER_01]: Throw in the basic AirPods, which retail for $130, and you're still under $2,000 for this setup.
[SPEAKER_01]: Perhaps in the future Apple will introduce a low-cost Apple TV streaming stick, and new home pods many capable of earning the new and improved Siri when it finally comes out.
[SPEAKER_01]: If or when these are introduced, this setup's total price would still be well under $2,500.
[SPEAKER_01]: There's the Apple Watch SE for $250 that would put the total cost at still under $3,000.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm seeing Apple's strategy here, and I think it's a good one.
[SPEAKER_01]: What we didn't see amongst all the Apple product announcements this past week were an updated base model iPad, an Apple TV streaming box, or HomePod Mini's.
[SPEAKER_01]: The only device on that list that surprises me is the basic iPad.
[SPEAKER_01]: I thought for sure that Apple would at least have thrown an 18 pro trip into it in Call it a day.
[SPEAKER_01]: Perhaps Apple's bread and butter iPad model is currently getting a redesign.
[SPEAKER_01]: I remember when my wife got her 10th generation base model iPad.
[SPEAKER_01]: At the time I had an M2 chip 11 inch iPad Pro.
[SPEAKER_01]: And that was kinda jealous because her iPad had the front camera mounted on the long edge of the display.
[SPEAKER_01]: While my pros still had it for camera mounted on the short side, being did I had the keyboard case, this made video calling sort of awkward.
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe the 12th generation iPad will be used to introduce another feature before the higher-end models get it.
[SPEAKER_01]: As for the HomePod Mini's and the Apple TV box, while I do have a pair of the original Mini's, I'm not using them at the moment, and I don't think that they sell very well.
[SPEAKER_01]: The Apple TV's trimming box is still the best streamer on the market and I feel that Apple is waiting to get their home automation software in order before releasing an updated model.
[SPEAKER_01]: The Apple TV will become the hub of that new home automation system.
[SPEAKER_01]: At the moment, I'm not interested in having a smart home.
[SPEAKER_01]: Despite my age, I can still stand up and walk to turn on lights, dishwashers, and the like.
[SPEAKER_00]: Blicker, Mark German, excuse me, but I believe you've emitted part of his name.
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, thanks for pointed that out.
[SPEAKER_01]: Let me start over.
[SPEAKER_01]: Apple Leeker, Bloomberg's Mark German, that's better.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's predicting that Apple will easily touch screen MacBook Pro in the near future.
[SPEAKER_03]: What?
[SPEAKER_01]: That's something Steve Jobs said would never happen.
[SPEAKER_01]: However, this future touchscreen MacBook Pro will be more touch-friendly and not touch-a-first.
[SPEAKER_01]: What does that even mean?
[SPEAKER_01]: It means that this MacBook will not function like an iPad.
[SPEAKER_01]: Instead, it would allow you to tap or click certain on-screen elements in order to access a larger set of controls that are optimized for touch.
[SPEAKER_01]: It will not support things like pinch gestures or fast scrolling.
[SPEAKER_01]: That's according to German.
[SPEAKER_01]: He goes on to pause it that this touch-friendly MacBook could be released as soon as later this year for a MacBook Pro equipped with the M6 chip and an OLED display.
[SPEAKER_01]: And that these new OLED display MacBooks will ditch the notch and instead feature a whole punch-style camera at the top of the display, along with a dynamic island.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm all in on a MacBook display with a dynamic island, but not on a MacBook Pro.
[SPEAKER_01]: And I don't know about this touch-friendly stuff.
[SPEAKER_01]: What do you think?
[SPEAKER_01]: Wrapping up the Apple news for this week, if you're running an older version of iOS on your phone, you may have 23 phone or abilities that can be exploited by hacking tools.
[SPEAKER_01]: Which many experts claim they've been stolen from the US government?
[SPEAKER_01]: These hacking tools are floating around a dark web as I speak.
[SPEAKER_01]: This is all from Google's Threat Intelligence Group.
[SPEAKER_01]: If you're running iOS 13 through iOS 17.2.1, then your phone is vulnerable.
[SPEAKER_01]: There's always the possibility that Apple could release a security patch or patches, but I think it would depend on what iPhone model you have.
[SPEAKER_01]: I wonder if this applies to iPad OS also.
[SPEAKER_01]: My son currently uses my second-generation iPad Pro.
[SPEAKER_01]: He has gotten a security patch or two fairly recently, but I don't know if they applied to this of vulnerability.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm old enough to remember when the annual Mobile World Congress better known as EMWC was a big deal.
[SPEAKER_01]: That was back when Nokia ruled supreme.
[SPEAKER_01]: All the major smartphone brands of the day would make major announcements during EMWC.
[SPEAKER_01]: Since a downfall of brands like Nokia and HTC, it seems that the MWC has devolved into something along the lines of the consumer's electronic show, also known as CES.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's become an event for its staff as Chinese brands to show off their wares, and bizarre products from startups that are never released to consumers.
[SPEAKER_01]: If it weren't for a few stray items appearing on my news feeds, I wouldn't even know
[SPEAKER_01]: Apples and announcements have almost completely overshadowed this year's MWC.
[SPEAKER_01]: The best breakdown of new and interesting products announced at this year's MWC was from the Androidauthority.com website.
[SPEAKER_01]: The list is dominated by the aforementioned Chinese-based manufacturers like Xiaomi, Honor, TCL, Lenovo, ZTE, and Vivo.
[SPEAKER_01]: The usual suspects as the cool kids
[SPEAKER_01]: The only non-Chinese company on the list was Qualcomm, who introduced its new Snapdragon Wear Elite, which brings on-device AI to your wrist.
[SPEAKER_01]: Not even Samsung bothers with the MWC these days.
[SPEAKER_01]: In the recent past, old Sammy had always announced something at the event.
[SPEAKER_01]: Perhaps these large trade shows have become past A.
[SPEAKER_01]: Or it's just that I've become jaded.
[SPEAKER_00]: Bloomberg?
[SPEAKER_00]: Are you positive that it wasn't Bloomberg's Mark German?
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm totally sure that it wasn't.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think the word has been passed on to the tech-pressed when certain Bloombergs in front of Mr. German's name while referring to Apple.
[SPEAKER_01]: So if the article originated from Bloomberg, that's all there is to it.
[SPEAKER_01]: Anyway, just Bloomberg without the aid of Mark German is reporting that my smart ring company of choice, or a…
[SPEAKER_01]: has just acquired a start-up to specializes in gesture recognition, fellow Finnish-based start-up, a double point is a name of the company bought by Aura.
[SPEAKER_01]: According to Aura CEO Tom Hale, the intent is to fold gesture-based interaction into future wearables.
[SPEAKER_01]: Though he wasn't specific as to what role gestures were playing these devices.
[SPEAKER_01]: Do you recall something called the kiss principle?
[SPEAKER_01]: Will Kiss stands for Keep It Simple Stupid?
[SPEAKER_01]: This principle seems to have been discarded in these modern times, especially within the smart ring industry.
[SPEAKER_01]: I've been wearing an aura ring since 2018, and my observation is that the more features aura has added over the years, the less accurate concerning your health it has become.
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't need gestures or the ability to control other devices via my smart ring.
[SPEAKER_01]: I needed to track my sleep, heart rate, activity, and, most importantly, warmly of oncoming health problems before I'm even aware of them.
[SPEAKER_01]: Something he or her ring was outstanding at in the past, but isn't so good at now.
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, eventually the giant fruit company will decide that they need a new revenue stream, an entity smart ring market.
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe then, things will change for the better.
[SPEAKER_01]: Or not.
[SPEAKER_01]: Tekka, I'm using... Back to your Nehallide season, I made a decision to buy my lovely wife a shiny new 13-inch iPad Air.
[SPEAKER_01]: She'd been using a base model iPad, and I thought she'd appreciate the upgrade.
[SPEAKER_01]: Wrong!
[SPEAKER_03]: No, dear, that's wrong.
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, well, the thing with my wife is that she'd rather have another type of shiny thing.
[SPEAKER_01]: that would be jewelry.
[SPEAKER_01]: While Corgil upon opening this gift I could tell she was somewhat disappointed with my choice of item to give her.
[SPEAKER_01]: Now I'd been through this before.
[SPEAKER_01]: One time I gave her a pair of the then newly introduced Apple AirPods for Christmas.
[SPEAKER_01]: She was visibly upset at my choice, stating that after her trip to see her family, she would be giving me back those AirPods.
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, that never happened.
[SPEAKER_01]: She learned to appreciate those AirPods, and realizing she was one of the first kids on the block to support them, decided that keeping them for herself was the better decision.
[SPEAKER_01]: As for me, I sort of learned my lesson, and never attempted to give her tech again.
[SPEAKER_01]: That isn't till the new iPad Air.
[SPEAKER_01]: She hasn't had the time to use it much being that right after the
[SPEAKER_01]: Since she's been away, Valentine's Day and her birthday have passed, and our wedding anniversary will occur before she arrives back in this country.
[SPEAKER_01]: I've also learned that if I'm going to get her jewelry, well, she should be the one to pick it out.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll bet you learn that lesson the hard way, too.
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, I did.
[SPEAKER_01]: Over the years, I've spent more than a few of my precious hours exchanging the returning
[SPEAKER_01]: Valentine's Day is not really a holiday.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's a made-up occasion created in order to sell more greeting cards.
[SPEAKER_01]: So in her absence, I purchased a third-party keyboard case attachment for her new iPad Air, along with a matching Bluetooth mouse.
[SPEAKER_01]: The keyboard case is a direct copy of the older Apple case for the iPad Bros.
[SPEAKER_01]: It costs way less than half of what an Apple keyboard case would
[SPEAKER_01]: Is it as good as apples?
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, no.
[SPEAKER_01]: The construction quality isn't as good, but for her usage, it'll be fine.
[SPEAKER_01]: The question is, will she appreciate it?
[SPEAKER_01]: At first, well, maybe not.
[SPEAKER_01]: But like the AirPods before, I'm hoping that she will learn to appreciate it.
[SPEAKER_01]: But we'll just have to see about that.
[SPEAKER_01]: What I've assembled for her is a complete computing solution.
[SPEAKER_01]: Previously, she used an old until based MacBook Air.
[SPEAKER_01]: On receiving her second generation iPad Air, she placed that Mac into a case and put it away somewhere and never to be seen or used again.
[SPEAKER_01]: Since the latest iteration of iPad OS, the iPad has become a true alternative to a Mac.
[SPEAKER_01]: Once you use it for a while, I think I think she'll like it.
[SPEAKER_01]: What do you think?
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, I think you're in trouble.
[SPEAKER_01]: I guess I'll be finding out if that's true or not when she gets back.
[SPEAKER_01]: I still haven't cleaned up my desk, so I'm still using my Apple Magic Keyboard for my Mac Mini.
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I still missed the clickety-click of my Logic Tech and Capital Keyboard.
[SPEAKER_01]: I have come to appreciate or rather re-appreciate Apple's Keyboard.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's a leftover from my old iMac which I abandoned three years ago.
[SPEAKER_01]: What I like about Apple's magic keyboard is it's easier on my semi-arthritic hands.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's also quieter than the mechanical keyboard.
[SPEAKER_00]: Didn't you just say that you've missed the sound of the mechanical keyboard?
[SPEAKER_01]: I did and I do.
[SPEAKER_01]: I do appreciate the silence of the Apple keyboard while I'm recording, though.
[SPEAKER_01]: I also appreciate the smaller size of the Magic Keyboard.
[SPEAKER_01]: It takes up a lot less space than my logic tick MX does, that's for sure.
[SPEAKER_01]: However, once I do rearrange things on my desk, that will no longer be of any concern.
[SPEAKER_01]: The advantages of Apple's keyboard are outweighed by its faults, and what are they?
[SPEAKER_01]: While the keys are not backlit, which I prefer, the typing angle is not adjustable, which wears on my fingers during long typing sessions, and the battery life isn't what it used to be.
[SPEAKER_01]: But that may be because of its age.
[SPEAKER_01]: The logic tech MX keyboard needs a charging every month or so, while the Magic keyboard loses its charge after a couple of weeks.
[SPEAKER_01]: Sure, I can always leave it plugged in, but that defeats the purpose of it, doesn't it?
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes.
[SPEAKER_01]: So, I'm going to hold myself to rearranging my desk this coming week and, as result, I'll be switching back to the mechanical keyboard.
[SPEAKER_01]: I can't wait to hear that cracking noise again.
[SPEAKER_01]: Entertainment news, as you probably already know, Paramount has won the bidding war for the right to purchase Warner Bros.
[SPEAKER_01]: Discovery's assets.
[SPEAKER_00]: What I've been wondering, what will become of CNN?
[SPEAKER_01]: No.
[SPEAKER_01]: I could care less about what could happen to CNN.
[SPEAKER_01]: I've been wondering what would become of the HBO Max streaming service.
[SPEAKER_01]: When Amazon bought MGM instead of merging the MGM streaming service with Amazon Prime, they have kept the two separate.
[SPEAKER_01]: So in order to watch your original content on MGM+.
[SPEAKER_01]: I've had to maintain a separate description.
[SPEAKER_01]: I was concerned that Paramount would do the same with HBO Max.
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, the CEO of Paramount Mr. David Ellison has just eased my concerns.
[SPEAKER_01]: According to Alex Sherman of cable network CNBC, Ellison intends to merge HBO Max with Paramount Plus, and greatly increased the subscription price for it.
[SPEAKER_01]: That wasn't mentioned, but unfortunately yes, that's going to happen.
[SPEAKER_01]: On the bright side, at least I'll have more content in one place.
[SPEAKER_01]: Then again, you always pay for convenience.
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
[SPEAKER_01]: Paramount has previously combined HBO Max competitive showtime into Paramount Plus, and eventually did away with the Showtime brand completely.
[SPEAKER_01]: Though Mr. Ellison stated that HBO Max should be staying as HBO Max within the Paramount Streamy app.
[SPEAKER_01]: The same was said about Showtime when it first merged with the Paramount Plus.
[SPEAKER_01]: I predict that in a few years or maybe even less time than that, the HBO Max branding will also disappear.
[SPEAKER_01]: In the end, it doesn't really matter, but I can't help but feeling that another part of my misguided youth will be forever gone.
[SPEAKER_01]: Mr. Ellison also shared that Paramam plus might even be getting a different brand name.
[SPEAKER_01]: I've got a suggestion?
[SPEAKER_01]: How about Showtime Max?
[SPEAKER_01]: Hotcast news, of the last month or so, I've been experimenting with a condenser type microphones.
[SPEAKER_01]: I've purchased three of them and returned to.
[SPEAKER_01]: Condenser type mics are more sensitive than dynamic mics I've been using exclusively in the past.
[SPEAKER_01]: At to these tired old years, condenser microphones sound better.
[SPEAKER_01]: There are much more detailed and true to my actual voice.
[SPEAKER_01]: That's due to that sensitivity I just mentioned.
[SPEAKER_01]: However, that sensitivity comes at a price.
[SPEAKER_01]: Though my recording space is treated for noise reduction, the room where the recording space resides is subject to outside noises.
[SPEAKER_01]: Noise is like dogs barking, children playing, and especially,
[SPEAKER_01]: These noises can only be mitigated by using digital audio plugins.
[SPEAKER_01]: These plugins are fantastic, but add digital artifacts to the resulting audio.
[SPEAKER_01]: Depending on what you're listening to this podcast on, you'll be able to hear these artifacts.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm of the opinion that less is more, and since attempting to use condenser microphones,
[SPEAKER_01]: This has made me decide to end my condenser mic experiment and return to using my trusty old Electro Voice RE-20 for, recording this podcast.
[SPEAKER_00]: What about that voice-over side gig thing?
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I have a plan.
[SPEAKER_01]: Instead of recording in my main recording space, I'll use my MacBook Air in combination with my solid state logic SSL2 audio interface.
[SPEAKER_01]: and record VO stuff within the walk-in closet of my Master Bedroom.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'll use my iPad Pro for reading the scripts.
[SPEAKER_01]: The closet is full of hung up and folded clothing, which naturally acts as a sound deadening.
[SPEAKER_01]: The closet doesn't border any outside walls.
[SPEAKER_01]: And as far enough away from the central air unit that if running wall recording, the sound can be mitigated by simply shutting the door to the closet.
[SPEAKER_01]: So if you hear a difference in my audio in the future, then you'll know that I'm back on the RE20.
[SPEAKER_01]: The music is playing and spring has sprung here in Tennessee.
[SPEAKER_01]: This was a splendid episode, I must say.
[SPEAKER_01]: Why thank you.
[SPEAKER_01]: Wait, you're up to something, aren't you?
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, perhaps.
[SPEAKER_01]: But when joy is episode, I enjoyed making it for you.
[SPEAKER_01]: If you like what you heard, you can make a donation using the link in the show notes.
[SPEAKER_01]: Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated.
[SPEAKER_01]: You can always reach me at oF&T podcast at gmail.com.
[SPEAKER_01]: If you're so inclined, I'd enjoy hearing from you.
[SPEAKER_01]: Really, I would.
[SPEAKER_01]: Remember, don't listen to what they say.
[SPEAKER_01]: Watch what they do.
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, it's nice having you around today, but please get off my lawn.
[SPEAKER_01]: Stay skeptical.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm out.
[SPEAKER_00]: And that folks is the end of the show.