Mac OS Ken: Live

A look at the "most invasive" apps in the App Store, plus wrapping up the daily live deal.

Thoughts around commission changes in the Google Play Store, the disingenuous Mr. Sweeney, and Justin Long's new gig.

Russia is pre-installing apps on iPhones in Russia. China may have found a way around App Tracking Transparency in China. Apple does business in both countries, so... you know... We'll talk about that, plus feedback mourning the passing of HomePod.

A look at the timely/untimely demise of Apple's great, big HomePod. Plus Ming-Chi Kuo says growth is over for AirPods. We're just a bunch of PodPeople!

Remember that thing about iOS 14.5 letting users set new defaults for music players with Siri? You're not going to be able to do that. Personally, I think what's REALLY happening is better. We'll talk about that, plus not getting paid for not leaving work.

Netflix has an answer to TikTok. Amazon has a way to make video game clips. Apple TV+ has a short-form drama on the way. With more time on our hands, super-short content is king. We'll wander through why. At a leisurely pace.

The Coalition for coordinated tech attacks opens a front in Minnesota. We'll talk about proposed legislation there. Plus - Epic and Apple have an actual date in court, and Ming-Chi Kuo has some iPhone rumors.

Target is getting Apple Stores of its own and Facebook makes another half-case for why you want it to track you.

Fisker and Foxconn have done a car deal, which makes Foxconn look like a more interesting Apple Car prospect. That, plus Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives says Apple's biggest mistake in the last decade was not buying Netflix. I don't think so, but whatever.

Apple had a virtual chat with shareholders today. Thanks to Philip Elmer-DeWitt's Apple 3.0, we've got an idea of what some of those questions and answers were. Today, we go over a few of interest.

Representatives in Arizona have attached an amendment to HB2005 that could force open in-app purchases in iOS apps to third-party processors. Buzzwords abound! We'll look at a few.

Apple TV+ previewed a lot of upcoming titles and projects at today's Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour 2021. We'll look at what's coming, what's coming back, and an interesting choice for a returning show. Season Two of "Mythic Quest" seems to be decidedly post-pandemic, even though the world won't be. Thoughts on that and more. Check it out.

Is there negative news today? Yes. But we landed a rover on Mars, so we're talking about positive stuff instead.

Apple shares are down today. We'll take a glance at possible reasons. Plus, Apple's signed a deal with Skydance Animation, which is headed by a guy on the bad side of #MeToo and #TimesUp. We'll talk about Apple's decision.

North Dakota has decided to not upend the Google and Apple app store business models, though legislation in other states is waiting in the wings. We'll go through that story, plus one more letter of "wow, surprise, and what's next."

It's a Feedback Friday! What has wowed folks about Apple over the last 15 years, what has surprised them, and what do they hope/expect to see from Apple over the next 15 years? Interesting answers incoming!

Apple's new AR offering "For All Mankind: Time Capsule" sends ken down a few rabbit holes around realities augmented and virtual, playing games no one knows you're playing, and how he hopes Dan Riccio is spending his time. 

After a fight with techno-gremlins, a short consideration of Apple and the digital divide, born of not being able to climb Paramount Mountain with an eight-year old Apple TV.

Tripping through a few stories du jour, including confirmation Hyundai's out of the Apple Car race, who might be in that race, the "failure" of iPhone 12 mini, and an Apple/Cryptocurrency story that I can't get my head around. Plus, what's wowed, what's surprised, and what's next?