Parker Ortolani
@parkerortolani.com
product development @ Penske Media | prev @theverge.com & @polygon.com, @9to5mac.com, and @buzzfeed.com | opinions are my own
🔗 https://www.parkerortolani.com
✍🏻 https://www.parkerortolani.blog
🎨 https://www.behance.net/parkerortolani
🔗 https://www.parkerortolani.com
✍🏻 https://www.parkerortolani.blog
🎨 https://www.behance.net/parkerortolani
Stumbled across an absolutely fantastic new Reddit client, closest thing to Apollo yet I think… apps.apple.com/app/id675…
February 7, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Stumbled across an absolutely fantastic new Reddit client, closest thing to Apollo yet I think… apps.apple.com/app/id675…
Fantastic interview with Tony Fadell. Touches on practically everything. If it doesn’t make you wish he was running Apple… youtu.be/CWdCys0cn…
January 29, 2026 at 4:23 AM
Fantastic interview with Tony Fadell. Touches on practically everything. If it doesn’t make you wish he was running Apple… youtu.be/CWdCys0cn…
I’ve really been completely turned around on Tahoe. Only looks truly good in dark mode, with tinted glass, and a dark wallpaper. Otherwise it’s sort of a mess. I loved it at first but over time really soured on it. Hope macOS 27 peels much of it back, or at least takes steps to refines the changes.
January 26, 2026 at 10:29 PM
I’ve really been completely turned around on Tahoe. Only looks truly good in dark mode, with tinted glass, and a dark wallpaper. Otherwise it’s sort of a mess. I loved it at first but over time really soured on it. Hope macOS 27 peels much of it back, or at least takes steps to refines the changes.
downloaded UpScrolled but man we do not need another new social network, we need something built on AT or AP like PinkSky to take off as a TikTok replacement
January 26, 2026 at 7:56 PM
downloaded UpScrolled but man we do not need another new social network, we need something built on AT or AP like PinkSky to take off as a TikTok replacement
I just don't know what to do with myself
January 24, 2026 at 8:19 PM
I just don't know what to do with myself
If you watch anything this week, make sure it's this interview with Dario Amodei and Demis Hassabis at Davos from earlier today. It's essential viewing. The two of them are just captivating. youtu.be/02YLwsCKUww?...
FULL DISCUSSION: Google's Demis Hassabis, Anthropic's Dario Amodei Debate the World After AGI | AI1G
YouTube video by DRM News
youtu.be
January 21, 2026 at 3:56 AM
If you watch anything this week, make sure it's this interview with Dario Amodei and Demis Hassabis at Davos from earlier today. It's essential viewing. The two of them are just captivating. youtu.be/02YLwsCKUww?...
I really wish the new Digg had somehow been built on AT or ActivityPub so that it would grow faster, feels quiet even with the doors open
January 18, 2026 at 6:32 PM
I really wish the new Digg had somehow been built on AT or ActivityPub so that it would grow faster, feels quiet even with the doors open
Cannot believe how much better Claude Code makes vibe coding iOS apps. It’s unbelievable how much more you can do than the inline Xcode chat.
January 18, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Cannot believe how much better Claude Code makes vibe coding iOS apps. It’s unbelievable how much more you can do than the inline Xcode chat.
I’m starting to see a ton of iPhone Airs and it’s making me wonder if the theory that it was going to be a late bloomer might hold water.
January 16, 2026 at 2:27 PM
I’m starting to see a ton of iPhone Airs and it’s making me wonder if the theory that it was going to be a late bloomer might hold water.
If you’re joining the new Digg for the first time today, you might as well join the new /apple community that I’ve started! techcrunch.com/2026/01/1…
January 14, 2026 at 9:50 PM
If you’re joining the new Digg for the first time today, you might as well join the new /apple community that I’ve started! techcrunch.com/2026/01/1…
Any sort of consternation around the Apple and Google deal for Gemini in Siri is severely misplaced. Apple hasn’t lost. If anything, this is a modern day “Microsoft” moment where they get a much needed boost from their top competitor. They’ll productize Gemini better than anyone else.
January 13, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Any sort of consternation around the Apple and Google deal for Gemini in Siri is severely misplaced. Apple hasn’t lost. If anything, this is a modern day “Microsoft” moment where they get a much needed boost from their top competitor. They’ll productize Gemini better than anyone else.
The Macintosh iPhone case from Spigen arrived. It is indeed as awesome as it looks online. Sadly doesn’t come in the same kind of Apple-style box that I saw in influencer content though.
January 13, 2026 at 8:39 PM
The Macintosh iPhone case from Spigen arrived. It is indeed as awesome as it looks online. Sadly doesn’t come in the same kind of Apple-style box that I saw in influencer content though.
iOS 26 is far less dramatic than iOS 7 was, but I feel like there’s been a significantly more negative reaction to it. Not sure if it’s entirely the new look or a combination of techlash and platform maturity.
I updated to new iOS on accident and dear god
January 13, 2026 at 6:00 PM
iOS 26 is far less dramatic than iOS 7 was, but I feel like there’s been a significantly more negative reaction to it. Not sure if it’s entirely the new look or a combination of techlash and platform maturity.
It seems like these new icons were designed so that they could form a rainbow marketing image rather than as actual usable, beautiful icons for your dock. Each one has almost entirely lost its identity. Some make no sense at all. These are the first Liquid Glass era designs that I truly dislike.
January 13, 2026 at 3:31 PM
It seems like these new icons were designed so that they could form a rainbow marketing image rather than as actual usable, beautiful icons for your dock. Each one has almost entirely lost its identity. Some make no sense at all. These are the first Liquid Glass era designs that I truly dislike.
I’ve wanted Pixelmator Pro on iPad for years. Cannot wait to give this a shot. 9to5mac.com/2026/01/1…
January 13, 2026 at 2:47 PM
I’ve wanted Pixelmator Pro on iPad for years. Cannot wait to give this a shot. 9to5mac.com/2026/01/1…
Can someone please make a clear iPhone case that doesn’t easily accumulate dust and gunk along the edges? Apple’s cases are particularly bad offenders but I’ve yet to find a third-party option that doesn’t also have this issue to some degree!
January 13, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Can someone please make a clear iPhone case that doesn’t easily accumulate dust and gunk along the edges? Apple’s cases are particularly bad offenders but I’ve yet to find a third-party option that doesn’t also have this issue to some degree!
My new (old) Pebble Time arrived. Truly the most playful OS ever on a wearable. Still so, so, so good. My unit’s also a kickstarter edition!
January 12, 2026 at 10:49 PM
My new (old) Pebble Time arrived. Truly the most playful OS ever on a wearable. Still so, so, so good. My unit’s also a kickstarter edition!
Not sure I’ve ever ordered a phone case as quickly as I did this one. Leave it to Spigen. www.spigen.com/products/…
January 12, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Not sure I’ve ever ordered a phone case as quickly as I did this one. Leave it to Spigen. www.spigen.com/products/…
I very much want Anthropic to set up a scrappy team for a side project to build a do-it-yourself operating system based entirely around Claude Code and Cowork. claude.com/blog/cowo…
January 12, 2026 at 8:34 PM
I very much want Anthropic to set up a scrappy team for a side project to build a do-it-yourself operating system based entirely around Claude Code and Cowork. claude.com/blog/cowo…
learning that a lot of people who act like they know things, don’t actually know anything about how Apple’s AI or Gemini work
January 12, 2026 at 7:40 PM
learning that a lot of people who act like they know things, don’t actually know anything about how Apple’s AI or Gemini work
Gemini x Siri officially confirmed, I’m both relieved and very excited www.cnbc.com/2026/01/1…
January 12, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Gemini x Siri officially confirmed, I’m both relieved and very excited www.cnbc.com/2026/01/1…
the pokémon x lego collab is absolutely wonderful, especially love the pokémon center and badge collection mini sets www.pokemon.com/us/pokemo…
January 12, 2026 at 3:13 PM
the pokémon x lego collab is absolutely wonderful, especially love the pokémon center and badge collection mini sets www.pokemon.com/us/pokemo…
Sentimental Value is highly underrated, if you haven't seen it you absolutely should (don't be afraid of the subtitles lol)
January 12, 2026 at 1:21 AM
Sentimental Value is highly underrated, if you haven't seen it you absolutely should (don't be afraid of the subtitles lol)