MacStories
@macstories.net
Apple news, reviews, stories, and podcasts. By @viticci.macstories.net, @johnvoorhees.macstories.net, and friends at https://www.macstories.net.
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@macstories.net
· Nov 18
The MacStories team is on Bluesky. To follow the site, our podcasts, and the team, use this handy MacStories Starter Pack: go.bsky.app/MSyjAAg
Detail on MacStories: www.macstories.net/news/macstor...
Detail on MacStories: www.macstories.net/news/macstor...
Activas: Modern Design with a Sprinkling of AI https://www.macstories.net/reviews/activas-modern-design-with-a-sprinkling-of-ai/
Activas: Modern Design with a Sprinkling of AI
Activas is a new health and wellness tracker for the iPhone and iPad from developer Brian Hough, who built it from the ground up with Apple Intelligence and Liquid Glass in mind. The app serves as a dashboard that brings together information from the Health app in a colorful and easy-to-understand way, using progressive disclosure...
www.macstories.net
December 9, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Activas: Modern Design with a Sprinkling of AI https://www.macstories.net/reviews/activas-modern-design-with-a-sprinkling-of-ai/
How Stu Maschwitz Vibe Coded His Way Into an App Rejection and What It Means for the Future of Apps https://www.macstories.net/linked/how-stu-maschwitz-vibe-coded-his-way-into-an-app-rejection-and-what-it-means-for-the-future-of-apps/
December 8, 2025 at 7:24 PM
How Stu Maschwitz Vibe Coded His Way Into an App Rejection and What It Means for the Future of Apps https://www.macstories.net/linked/how-stu-maschwitz-vibe-coded-his-way-into-an-app-rejection-and-what-it-means-for-the-future-of-apps/
Letterboxd Reveals Details of New Video Store Available December 10 on Web, iOS, tvOS, and More https://www.macstories.net/news/letterboxd-reveals-details-of-new-video-store-available-december-10-on-web-ios-tvos-and-more/
Letterboxd Reveals Details of New Video Store Available December 10 on Web, iOS, tvOS, and More
Letterboxd today announced full details of its previously teased Letterboxd Video Store, along with a launch date of December 10. It was also revealed that members will be able to access films on the platform via the existing Letterboxd app on iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS, as well as AirPlay, Chromecast, Android, and web. Letterboxd claims...
www.macstories.net
December 8, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Letterboxd Reveals Details of New Video Store Available December 10 on Web, iOS, tvOS, and More https://www.macstories.net/news/letterboxd-reveals-details-of-new-video-store-available-december-10-on-web-ios-tvos-and-more/
Reposted by MacStories
The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K is on sale on Amazon.
John has one of these for his gaming setup for controlling the lighting and loves it.
Affiliate Link: amzn.to/3KNoYTF
More MacStories Setups gear: www.macstories.net/setups/
John has one of these for his gaming setup for controlling the lighting and loves it.
Affiliate Link: amzn.to/3KNoYTF
More MacStories Setups gear: www.macstories.net/setups/
December 8, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K is on sale on Amazon.
John has one of these for his gaming setup for controlling the lighting and loves it.
Affiliate Link: amzn.to/3KNoYTF
More MacStories Setups gear: www.macstories.net/setups/
John has one of these for his gaming setup for controlling the lighting and loves it.
Affiliate Link: amzn.to/3KNoYTF
More MacStories Setups gear: www.macstories.net/setups/
Apple’s Fitness+ Comes to New Countries and Gets New Language Support https://www.macstories.net/news/apples-fitness-comes-to-new-countries-and-gets-new-language-support/
Apple’s Fitness+ Comes to New Countries and Gets New Language Support
On December 15, Apple is expanding Fitness+ to 28 new markets, including Chile, Hong Kong, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Taiwan, which will more than double the number of places with access to the service. The company is also dubbing fitness classes into Spanish, German, and Japanese, with the first two languages coming December...
www.macstories.net
December 8, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Apple’s Fitness+ Comes to New Countries and Gets New Language Support https://www.macstories.net/news/apples-fitness-comes-to-new-countries-and-gets-new-language-support/
Reposted by MacStories
This week on AppStories, @viticci.macstories.net and I explain our workflows for creating personal productivity tools with Claude and share some of examples of what we've built.
Then, for AppStories+ subscribers, we cover our Black Friday tech purchases.
🎧 apple.co/4pzCzgz
📺 youtu.be/yCIV_72z7ck
Then, for AppStories+ subscribers, we cover our Black Friday tech purchases.
🎧 apple.co/4pzCzgz
📺 youtu.be/yCIV_72z7ck
Vibe Coding Your Own Productivity Tools
Podcast Episode · AppStories · 12/07/2025 · 40m
apple.co
December 8, 2025 at 2:23 PM
This week on AppStories, @viticci.macstories.net and I explain our workflows for creating personal productivity tools with Claude and share some of examples of what we've built.
Then, for AppStories+ subscribers, we cover our Black Friday tech purchases.
🎧 apple.co/4pzCzgz
📺 youtu.be/yCIV_72z7ck
Then, for AppStories+ subscribers, we cover our Black Friday tech purchases.
🎧 apple.co/4pzCzgz
📺 youtu.be/yCIV_72z7ck
iPhone vs $2000 Pro Camera — How Close Are They Really? https://www.macstories.net/linked/iphone-vs-2000-pro-camera-how-close-are-they-really/
December 8, 2025 at 2:18 PM
iPhone vs $2000 Pro Camera — How Close Are They Really? https://www.macstories.net/linked/iphone-vs-2000-pro-camera-how-close-are-they-really/
Reposted by MacStories
🎅☃️🎄 Here’s a collection of our favorite Christmas Comedies on sale in the TV app today.
🧝 Elf ($7.99): apple.co/4pQfYw0
🏠 Home Alone ($4.99): apple.co/4pmV6g5
🔫 🦵 🛋️ A Christmas Story ($7.99): apple.co/4h9mPgP
🎄🏠⚡️ Christmas Vacation ($7.99): apple.co/4pRDPvo
Affiliate links 👆
🧝 Elf ($7.99): apple.co/4pQfYw0
🏠 Home Alone ($4.99): apple.co/4pmV6g5
🔫 🦵 🛋️ A Christmas Story ($7.99): apple.co/4h9mPgP
🎄🏠⚡️ Christmas Vacation ($7.99): apple.co/4pRDPvo
Affiliate links 👆
Elf - Apple TV
Buddy (Will Ferrell) was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa's elves. Unable to shake the feel…
apple.co
December 6, 2025 at 12:07 AM
🎅☃️🎄 Here’s a collection of our favorite Christmas Comedies on sale in the TV app today.
🧝 Elf ($7.99): apple.co/4pQfYw0
🏠 Home Alone ($4.99): apple.co/4pmV6g5
🔫 🦵 🛋️ A Christmas Story ($7.99): apple.co/4h9mPgP
🎄🏠⚡️ Christmas Vacation ($7.99): apple.co/4pRDPvo
Affiliate links 👆
🧝 Elf ($7.99): apple.co/4pQfYw0
🏠 Home Alone ($4.99): apple.co/4pmV6g5
🔫 🦵 🛋️ A Christmas Story ($7.99): apple.co/4h9mPgP
🎄🏠⚡️ Christmas Vacation ($7.99): apple.co/4pRDPvo
Affiliate links 👆
Podcast Rewind: Black Friday Gadgets and This Year’s Best Shows and Movies https://www.macstories.net/news/podcast-rewind-black-friday-gadgets-and-this-years-best-shows-and-movies/
Podcast Rewind: Black Friday Gadgets and This Year???s Best Shows and Movies
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories??? family of podcasts: Comfort Zone Matt wants to give the AirPods Pro 3 a piece of his mind, Nil??ane has another old school music app for the Mac, and everyone brings their best Black Friday deals. (Uh, hope you got them already. ????) This week???s Cozy Zone is the...
www.macstories.net
December 5, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Podcast Rewind: Black Friday Gadgets and This Year’s Best Shows and Movies https://www.macstories.net/news/podcast-rewind-black-friday-gadgets-and-this-years-best-shows-and-movies/
Apple Announces That Kate Adams, Its General Counsel, and Lisa Jackson, Head of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, Are Ret... https://www.macstories.net/news/apple-announces-that-kate-adams-its-general-counsel-and-lisa-jackson-head-of-environment-policy-and-social-initiatives-are-retiring/
Apple Announces That Kate Adams, Its General Counsel, and Lisa Jackson, Head of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, Are Retiring
If you thought Apple???s leadership changes were finished, you???d be wrong. Today, the company announced two more changes. The first change is to Apple???s General Counsel position, which has been led by Kate Adams since 2017. Adams will step down as general counsel on March 1, 2026 and will be replaced by Jennifer Newstead, Meta???s...
www.macstories.net
December 4, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Apple Announces That Kate Adams, Its General Counsel, and Lisa Jackson, Head of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, Are Ret... https://www.macstories.net/news/apple-announces-that-kate-adams-its-general-counsel-and-lisa-jackson-head-of-environment-policy-and-social-initiatives-are-retiring/
This week's Cozy Zone is the challenging TimeGuessr, where you look at a photo and guess where and when it was taken. Easier said than done, or is the gang going to set a new world record?
(Cozy Zone is the weekly extension of Comfort Zone! Subscribe here: www.macstories.net/comfort-zone...)
(Cozy Zone is the weekly extension of Comfort Zone! Subscribe here: www.macstories.net/comfort-zone...)
Comfort Zone
<p>Comfort Zone is a weekly podcast that pushes its hosts outside of their, well, comfort zone hosted by Christopher Lawley, Niléane Dorffer, and Matt Birchler. Every Thursday, each host will bring ne...
www.macstories.net
December 4, 2025 at 7:17 PM
This week's Cozy Zone is the challenging TimeGuessr, where you look at a photo and guess where and when it was taken. Easier said than done, or is the gang going to set a new world record?
(Cozy Zone is the weekly extension of Comfort Zone! Subscribe here: www.macstories.net/comfort-zone...)
(Cozy Zone is the weekly extension of Comfort Zone! Subscribe here: www.macstories.net/comfort-zone...)
Comfort Zone, Ep 78: Entering My Dad Era
@birchtree.me wants to give the AirPods Pro 3 a piece of his mind, @nileane.fr has another old school music app for the Mac, and everyone brings their best Black Friday deals (tiny bit late 😅).
▶️ youtu.be/-c8c-bDut-c
🎧 www.macstories.net/comfort-zone/
@birchtree.me wants to give the AirPods Pro 3 a piece of his mind, @nileane.fr has another old school music app for the Mac, and everyone brings their best Black Friday deals (tiny bit late 😅).
▶️ youtu.be/-c8c-bDut-c
🎧 www.macstories.net/comfort-zone/
Comfort Zone, Episode 78: Entering My Dad Era
YouTube video by MacStories
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Comfort Zone, Ep 78: Entering My Dad Era
@birchtree.me wants to give the AirPods Pro 3 a piece of his mind, @nileane.fr has another old school music app for the Mac, and everyone brings their best Black Friday deals (tiny bit late 😅).
▶️ youtu.be/-c8c-bDut-c
🎧 www.macstories.net/comfort-zone/
@birchtree.me wants to give the AirPods Pro 3 a piece of his mind, @nileane.fr has another old school music app for the Mac, and everyone brings their best Black Friday deals (tiny bit late 😅).
▶️ youtu.be/-c8c-bDut-c
🎧 www.macstories.net/comfort-zone/
2025 App Store Award Winners Revealed https://www.macstories.net/news/2025-app-store-award-winners-revealed/
2025 App Store Award Winners Revealed
From a pool of 45 finalists, Apple has named 17 App Store Award winners comprised of apps and games across all of its platforms. This year???s App Store Award honors were presented to: Apps iPhone App of the Year:??Tiimo from tiimo.?? iPad App of the Year:??Detail from Detail Technologies B.V.?? Mac App of the Year:??Essayist...
www.macstories.net
December 4, 2025 at 2:10 PM
2025 App Store Award Winners Revealed https://www.macstories.net/news/2025-app-store-award-winners-revealed/
Reposted by MacStories
Coming Soon: What’s Next on Apple TV and Apple Arcade in December 2025 https://www.macstories.net/news/coming-soon-whats-next-on-apple-tv-and-apple-arcade-in-december-2025/
Coming Soon: What???s Next on Apple TV and Apple Arcade in December 2025
This month is a relatively quiet one for Apple TV, but there are a few gems coming soon, and Apple Arcade has a bunch of new games that are out tomorrow, so let???s dig into the highlights of both. Apple Arcade Games (December 4) Apple Arcade is kicking things off this month with four new...
www.macstories.net
December 3, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Coming Soon: What’s Next on Apple TV and Apple Arcade in December 2025 https://www.macstories.net/news/coming-soon-whats-next-on-apple-tv-and-apple-arcade-in-december-2025/
Coming Soon: What’s Next on Apple TV and Apple Arcade in December 2025 https://www.macstories.net/news/coming-soon-whats-next-on-apple-tv-and-apple-arcade-in-december-2025/
Coming Soon: What???s Next on Apple TV and Apple Arcade in December 2025
This month is a relatively quiet one for Apple TV, but there are a few gems coming soon, and Apple Arcade has a bunch of new games that are out tomorrow, so let???s dig into the highlights of both. Apple Arcade Games (December 4) Apple Arcade is kicking things off this month with four new...
www.macstories.net
December 3, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Coming Soon: What’s Next on Apple TV and Apple Arcade in December 2025 https://www.macstories.net/news/coming-soon-whats-next-on-apple-tv-and-apple-arcade-in-december-2025/
Bloomberg Reports That Alan Dye Is Leaving Apple https://www.macstories.net/news/bloomberg-reports-that-alan-dye-is-leaving-apple/
Bloomberg Reports That Alan Dye Is Leaving Apple
Mark Gurman, writing for Bloomberg, reports that Alan Dye, Apple vice president of Human Interface Design, is leaving the company to head up Meta???s design team. Dye???s departure was confirmed by Apple to Bloomberg, with Apple CEO Tim Cook telling the publication that Steve Lemay will take over Dye???s role: Steve Lemay has played a...
www.macstories.net
December 3, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Bloomberg Reports That Alan Dye Is Leaving Apple https://www.macstories.net/news/bloomberg-reports-that-alan-dye-is-leaving-apple/
Reposted by MacStories
🌡️ ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential is on sale at Amazon.
John had one of these when he lived in IL, and it was one of his most reliable smart home devices.
Affiliate link: amzn.to/4iHDtVF
John had one of these when he lived in IL, and it was one of his most reliable smart home devices.
Affiliate link: amzn.to/4iHDtVF
December 2, 2025 at 4:59 PM
🌡️ ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential is on sale at Amazon.
John had one of these when he lived in IL, and it was one of his most reliable smart home devices.
Affiliate link: amzn.to/4iHDtVF
John had one of these when he lived in IL, and it was one of his most reliable smart home devices.
Affiliate link: amzn.to/4iHDtVF
Reposted by MacStories
NPC is back and this week, we look at the drama surrounding the Retroid G2 and Anbernic DS and give @johnvoorhees.macstories.net Mini PC advice.
🎧 apple.co/4pfYj0U
📺 youtu.be/aZC9522EAts
🎧 apple.co/4pfYj0U
📺 youtu.be/aZC9522EAts
Anbernic Stumbles and SteamOS Dreams
Podcast Episode · NPC: Next Portable Console · 12/02/2025 · 34m
apple.co
December 2, 2025 at 6:33 PM
NPC is back and this week, we look at the drama surrounding the Retroid G2 and Anbernic DS and give @johnvoorhees.macstories.net Mini PC advice.
🎧 apple.co/4pfYj0U
📺 youtu.be/aZC9522EAts
🎧 apple.co/4pfYj0U
📺 youtu.be/aZC9522EAts
Podcast Rewind: Apps with Liquid Glass and SteamOS Plans https://www.macstories.net/news/podcast-rewind-apps-with-liquid-glass-and-steamos-plans/
Podcast Rewind: Apps with Liquid Glass and SteamOS Plans
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories??? family of podcasts: AppStories This week, Federico and John dig into some of their favorite apps that have adopted Apple???s Liquid Glass design language. On AppStories+, it???s John???s 10th anniversary at MacStories, so he and Federico look back at the last decade. NPC: Next Portable Console This week, the...
www.macstories.net
December 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Podcast Rewind: Apps with Liquid Glass and SteamOS Plans https://www.macstories.net/news/podcast-rewind-apps-with-liquid-glass-and-steamos-plans/
Apple Music’s Replay 2025 Is Live https://www.macstories.net/linked/apple-musics-replay-2025-is-live/
Apple Music’s Replay 2025 Is Live
Apple Music has released its annual Apple Music Replay overview of subscribers??? listening statistics for 2025 along with top charts for 2025. The recap can be accessed on??https://replay.music.apple.com, where you???ll find details about the music you listened to throughout the year, including your top albums, songs, artists, playlists, and genres. As with past years, Replay...
www.macstories.net
December 2, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Apple Music’s Replay 2025 Is Live https://www.macstories.net/linked/apple-musics-replay-2025-is-live/
John Giannandrea’s Retirement From Apple Announced https://www.macstories.net/news/john-giannandreas-retirement-from-apple-announced/
John Giannandrea’s Retirement From Apple Announced
Today Apple announced the retirement of John Giannandrea, the company???s senior vice president for Machine Learning and AI Strategy. Giannandrea will remain at Apple as an advisor until next spring. News of Giannandrea???s retirement was paired with an announcement that Apple has hired Amar Subramanya as vice president of AI. Subramanya, who worked at Microsoft...
www.macstories.net
December 1, 2025 at 11:24 PM
John Giannandrea’s Retirement From Apple Announced https://www.macstories.net/news/john-giannandreas-retirement-from-apple-announced/
Why is ChatGPT for Mac So Good? https://www.macstories.net/linked/why-is-chatgpt-for-mac-so-good/
December 1, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Why is ChatGPT for Mac So Good? https://www.macstories.net/linked/why-is-chatgpt-for-mac-so-good/
All but a few of the deals we've highlighted are still live on Amazon for Cyber Monday but will disappear soon.
Our recommendations @macstories.net:
Just the Best: MacStories’ Black Friday Picks: www.macstories.net/stories/just...
Top Early Black Friday Picks: www.macstories.net/stories/our-...
Our recommendations @macstories.net:
Just the Best: MacStories’ Black Friday Picks: www.macstories.net/stories/just...
Top Early Black Friday Picks: www.macstories.net/stories/our-...
Just the Best: MacStories’ Black Friday 2025 Picks
<p>Black Friday deals started very early this year, and we’ve covered a lot of ground on the MacStories Deals Mastodon and Bluesky accounts since publishing our Early Black Friday Picks. A lot of thos...
www.macstories.net
December 1, 2025 at 2:53 PM
All but a few of the deals we've highlighted are still live on Amazon for Cyber Monday but will disappear soon.
Our recommendations @macstories.net:
Just the Best: MacStories’ Black Friday Picks: www.macstories.net/stories/just...
Top Early Black Friday Picks: www.macstories.net/stories/our-...
Our recommendations @macstories.net:
Just the Best: MacStories’ Black Friday Picks: www.macstories.net/stories/just...
Top Early Black Friday Picks: www.macstories.net/stories/our-...
Reposted by MacStories
I've combed through thousands of deals to find the very best. Here are my favorites, including MacStories Pixel Icons, Apple hardware, smart home gadgets, wearables, batteries and chargers, headphones, videogame hardware and accessories - all on @macstories.net:
www.macstories.net/stories/just...
www.macstories.net/stories/just...
Just the Best: MacStories’ Black Friday Picks
<p>Black Friday deals started very early this year, and we’ve covered a lot of ground on the MacStories Deals Mastodon and Bluesky accounts since publishing our Early Black Friday Picks. A lot of thos...
www.macstories.net
November 28, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I've combed through thousands of deals to find the very best. Here are my favorites, including MacStories Pixel Icons, Apple hardware, smart home gadgets, wearables, batteries and chargers, headphones, videogame hardware and accessories - all on @macstories.net:
www.macstories.net/stories/just...
www.macstories.net/stories/just...
Podcast Rewind: App Evolution, Odin 3 Emulation, Window Management, and TV Affiliates https://www.macstories.net/news/podcast-rewind-app-evolution-odin-3-emulation-window-management-and-tv-affiliates/
Podcast Rewind: App Evolution, Odin 3 Emulation, Window Management, and TV Affiliates
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories??? family of podcasts: AppStories This week, Federico and John explore current changes to the world of apps through the lens of its past evolution. On AppStories+, we build ???money???s no object??? holiday wish lists for ourselves. NPC: Next Portable Console This week, Brendon, Federico, and John catch up on...
www.macstories.net
November 28, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Podcast Rewind: App Evolution, Odin 3 Emulation, Window Management, and TV Affiliates https://www.macstories.net/news/podcast-rewind-app-evolution-odin-3-emulation-window-management-and-tv-affiliates/