Shows
UserlandiaWhich SimCity is the Greatest SimCity?Will Wright's SimCity is one of gaming's all-time hits. The classic original SimCity started on the Commodore 64 and topped out on PCs and Macs. With ports to over a dozen platforms, you can play it on pretty much anything. Even the Super Nintendo and the Commodore CDTV can run SimCity! But which one is my favorite? Well, you'll just have to watch to find out. This episode was originally written as an article for Pixel Addict magazine, but I've expanded it and added so much more to it! You should subscribe to Pixel Addict at...
2023-03-0208 min
UserlandiaWhat’s Inside A NeXT Computer Accessory Kit?Steve Jobs thought he would user in the NeXT generation of computing, but his little black cube of darkness flopped. When you bought a $10,000 computer, what did you get in the box? There’s books, disks, tools, and stickers too. Take the NeXTstep with me as I explore a complete package of NeXT accessories included with the first NeXT computers. See the Blog Post for Transcript and Links: https://www.userlandia.com/home/2022/11/next-accessory-kit Published November 23, 2022 Thanks to Steve from Mac84 for providing some extra VCF Midwest Auction footage! https://www.youtube.com/@Ma...
2022-11-2327 min
UserlandiaAdobe and Pantone's Color ApocalypseWhat happens when two companies don’t get along? Their customers lose. Adobe has let their license for Pantone colors lapse, with the hues disappearing from their apps. Pantone wants you to pay them for digital color libraries with, what else, a subscription scheme. What does this mean for digital content creators and the design industry? I’ve created an FAQ to answer many questions, clear misconceptions, and give an idea of a path forward. See the Blog Post for Transcript and Links: https://www.userlandia.com/home/2022/11/adobe-pantone-faq Published November X, 2022 -=- Ch...
2022-11-0228 min
UserlandiaA Visit to the Apple MothershipHere, in Userlandia, be very quiet. We’re hunting dogcows. Disney has Disneyland. Boeing’s 747 megafactory is the world’s largest building. Apple has infinite loops and spaceships. Join me as I visit both of Apple’s corporate campuses, explore their history, and see if I can find the elusive dogcow. See the Blog Post for Links: https://www.userlandia.com/home/2022/10/apple-headquarters Published October 10, 2022 -=- Chapters -=- 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:15 - One Infinite Loop 00:11:14 - Searching for Clarus 00:17:37 - ...And One Ring-Shaped Building Binds Them
2022-10-1029 min
Userlandia2022 Vintage Computer Festival Midwest ReportHere, in Userlandia, my Windows color scheme is Portillo’s Hot Dog. Want to see some of the coolest old computers out there? Take a trip to the Vintage Computer Festival Midwest just outside of Chicago! I visited VCFMW this year to see how it compared to other vintage computer shows, and I’ve got all the details about the people, events, and stuff for sale. See the Blog Post for Links: https://www.userlandia.com/home/2022/9/vcf-midwest-2022 Published September 21, 2022 -=- Chapters -=- 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:31 - Arriving at V...
2022-09-2130 min
UserlandiaThe Compaq ProLinea 4/33 - Computers of Significant History, Part 3Here, in Userlandia, I think I’m a clone now… Compaq was in a crisis in the early 90s. Upstarts were undercutting them just as they had undercut IBM. Facing their first loss, massive layoffs, and the departure of their founder, they needed something special to turn their company around. That something special was the ProLinea, their first PC targeted directly at value customers. Listen to find out how the ProLinea put Compaq on the right path. See the Blog Post for Links: https://www.userlandia.com/home/2022/8/compaq-prolinea-433 Published August 23, 2022 ...
2022-08-2336 min
UserlandiaThe New Computer Desk WorkshopFrom the desk of Userlandia… What does it take to build a custom computer desk? Sure, people on Reddit say “throw some wood on some cabinets,” but what does that mean, exactly? Join me as I build a battlestation in my home office. See the Blog Post for Transcript for Links: https://www.userlandia.com/home/2022/7/the-new-computer-desk-workshop Published July 20, 2022 -=- Chapters -=- 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:31 - A Study in Desks 00:02:40 - This Old Desk 00:09:48 - Frequently Asked Questions 00:18:16 - The Finishing Line 00:25:31 - Fully Armed and Operational 00:29:46 - Why Bu...
2022-07-2034 min
UserlandiaThe Rise and Fall of Aluminum Enthusiast PC Cases - Nifty ThriftiesHere in Userlandia, it’s the case of the Lian Li Aluminum PC Case. Back in the year 2000, Aluminum was the hot new metal for crafting PC cases. Strong, lightweight, and stylish, it took the LAN party world by storm. What made them so great, and why did they fall out of the spotlight? Let’s review a mint condition Lian Li case and find out. See the Blog Post for Transcript for Links: https://www.userlandia.com/home/2022/5/2022/5/the-rise-and-fall-of-lian-li-aluminum-pc-cases-nifty-thrifties Published May 30, 2022 -=- Chapters -=- 00:00:00 - Intro
2022-05-3038 min
UserlandiaThe Mac Studio Report: X Marks the MacIt's time for an off-the-cuff post-event podcast! With Apple's announcement of the new Mac Studio, has the mythical xMac finally come to pass? Will working pros and enthusiast users be satisfied? Or is it just a Cube all over again? Let's find out. Blog Post: https://www.userlandia.com/home/2022/3/the-mac-studio-report-x-marks-the-mac Published March 9, 2022 -=- Chapters -=- 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:32 - In Memoriam - 27 inch iMac 00:04:55 - Mac Studio Design 00:12:30 - The M1 Ultra 00:18:56 - The Studio Display 00:23:15 - The Right Spec 00:27:38 - PC Price...
2022-03-0940 min
UserlandiaHappy Twentieth Birthday, iMac G4It's been twenty years since Steve Jobs unveiled the first flat panel iMac: the iMac G4. Whether you call it Luxo, iLamp, or Sunflower, it's one of Apple's most distinctive designs ever. He thought it would redefine desktop computing for the next decade. Was he right? Listen and find out. Blog Post: https://www.userlandia.com/home/2022/1/happy-twentieth-birthday-imac-g4 Published January 10, 2022 -=- Chapters -=- 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:31 - Introducing the iMac G4 00:04:21 - Comparing the Competition 00:08:21 - The 20th Anniversary Mac Connection 00:12:00 - The Legacy of the G4 and Future iMacs 00:14:19...
2022-01-1020 min
UserlandiaNifty Thrifties: Aldus PageMaker 4.0 for WindowsBefore computers, page layout was the domain of wax, scissors, cameras, and tape. And maybe some hot lead type. Aldus Corporation’s PageMaker helped kick off the desktop publishing revolution, and I recently discovered a copy at a local thrift store. Let’s run PageMaker 4.0 and experience how computers democratized graphic design. Blog Post: https://www.userlandia.com/home/2021/11/nifty-thrifties-aldus-pagemaker-40-for-windows Published December 28, 2021 -=- Chapters -=- 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:31 - Rescuing a Copy of PageMaker 00:10:28 - Making the Page 00:18:49 - Outtro and Credits -=- Link...
2021-12-2820 min
UserlandiaNifty Thrifties: The Toshiba Satellite Pro 460CDTOn a quiet August day, I found two lonely Toshiba Satellite Pro 460CDT laptops in a New Hampshire thrift store. Between missing power supplies, BIOS passwords, and other maladies, they needed more than a little work. Join me as I restore these machines to working order and explore Toshiba’s history as a laptop innovator. Blog Post: https://www.userlandia.com/home/2021/12/nifty-thrifties-toshiba-satellite-pro-460cdt Published December 7, 2021 -=- Chapters -=- 00:00:00 - Intro 00:04:48 - Breaking Through The Back Door 00:14:31 - Where Do You Want To Go Today? 00:21:08 - The Toshiba Satellite Le...
2021-12-0730 min
UserlandiaThe Mystery of Mac OS’ Mangled Image Interpolation Implementation-=- Here in Userlandia, I’m talking rainbows, I’m talking pixels. -=- What is a bug? A miserable little pile of code... or something more? Today we look at a curious quirk in how Mac OS displays images in PDFs. The case: an ordinary strip of colored squares has transformed into a smooth rainbow gradient. Can you channel your inner detective and solve the mystery? Blog Post: https://www.userlandia.com/home/2021/11/the-mystery-of-mac-os-mangled-image-interpolation-implementation Published November 16, 2021 -=- Chapters -=- 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:42 - When There's Something Stra...
2021-11-1630 min
UserlandiaThe 2021 MacBook Pro Review-=- Here in Userlandia, the Power’s back in the ‘Book. -=- After years of broken keyboard dreams and disappointing trips to Dongle Land, Apple believes their notebook act is back together. The new MacBook Pro promises maximum power from minimum energy. Plus, all your old friends like HDMI and MagSafe are back in the band! Is this reunion tour the real deal? Can the laptops keep up with demanding users? Listen to find out. Blog Post: https://www.userlandia.com/home/2021/10/the-2021-macbook-pro-review Published November 2, 2021 -=- Chapters -=-
2021-11-021h 17
UserlandiaThe Vintage Computer Festival East 2021 Report-=- You’ll never find a more fascinating hive of geeks and nerdery. -=- On October 9 and 10 I was at the 2021 Vintage Computer Festival East in New Jersey. I saw lots of neat old computers, bought a few things, and hung out with some cool people. Have you ever wanted to go to a vintage computer show? Listen in to find out. Published October 12, 2021 -=- Chapters -=- 00:00:00 - Opening 00:00:31 - Going to VCF East 00:05:13 - Exhibits at VCF East 00:18:55 - Vendors 00:20:33 - Panels and Speakers 00:25:09 - Hanging Ou...
2021-10-1237 min
The Icon GardenGood Night Garden, Hello UserlandiaA short goodbye to the Garden. We thank you for listening over the years. It's been a lot of fun! Dan's new podcast and blog, Userlandia, can be found at www.userlandia.com.
2021-10-0502 min
UserlandiaThe Commodore 64 - Computers of Significant History, Part 1-=- The Computer for the Masses, not the Classes -=- Over the course of four decades I’ve owned many computers, used many more. Most of them are ordinary. Some of them are legendary! These are Computers of Significant History. The timeline starts in October 1982, when the Commodore 64—my first computer, and maybe yours too—was released. I take a critical look at the computer that influenced not just myself, but millions across the world. Published October 3, 2021 -=- Chapters -=- 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:31 - The Commodore 64 Comes Home
2021-10-0320 min
The Icon GardenWilliam Volk Oral History Interview - Apple, Amiga, and PC Game PioneerTime for a surprise! Joining Dan in the Garden today is game industry veteran William Volk. Volk started his career in late 1979 as a game tester for Avalon Hill and developed or spearheaded games across all generations of platforms. As a cofounder of Aegis Development, Volk was part of the first Macintosh game releases before the company pivoted to the Amiga. Volk joined Activision in 1988, serving on its executive team as VP of Technology. We talk Volk’s career past and present, including development in the early days of the Macintosh, the influence of gaming on education, hi...
2021-06-151h 25
The Icon GardenMarch Mac-ness with Matt CoreyFill out your iMac rumor brackets! After weathering a cold and snowy winter, Dan and Jake welcome March with open arms. It’s a season of renewal, and previous guest Matt Corey returns to talk about his new light control app, Follow the Sun. Both Jake and Matt now have M1 MacBooks Air—how do they fit in their workflows? Plus, Dan finally succumbed and bought the LG 34WK95U ultrawide monitor. Is the ultrawide life all it’s cracked up to be? Listen in to find out. Recorded March 12, 2021 Links MacBook Air BM...
2021-03-171h 39
The Icon GardenSmart Kitchens and Food TechnologyI’m a Power User, and I Need a Power Cereal! The dynamic duo is reunited as Jake thaws out from the Texas deep freeze—did all his smart tech survive? Dan still can’t find a GPU, and Jake adds CarPlay to his new automobile. For our main topic, we talk smart kitchen appliances, how tech has changed our grocery habits, and hot takes on easter candy too. Recorded February 26, 2021 Links Tom’s Hardware GPU Sadness Index BMW i3 CarPlay Retrofit kit OONI Koda 16 Pizza Oven Steve1989MREInfo Kowboy Kent James May’s Fo...
2021-03-031h 20
The Icon GardenMacinography 18: The Problem with PerformasMeet the Martinettis. They’re the all-American family of the nineties. When they want a computer, they hop on down to the big box store and buy a Performa, the computer made just for them. Alas, darkness lurked from within that happy Mac, seduced by the siren song of marketshare. Listen to find out how an otherwise reasonable idea almost rotted Apple from the core. Sources Macworld, October 1992 MacUser, October 1992 Apple Confidential 2.0 By Owen W. Linzmayer MacWorld Mac Secrets by David Pogue and Joseph Schorr The Martinettis Bring Home a Computer The LA Times: The Un-Infomercial Ap...
2021-02-2453 min
The Icon GardenLive Streaming With Your Mac with Maegan WilsonNever cross the streams. We’ll do it live! Guest and friend of the show Maegan Wilson returns to fill in for Jake. Ever wanted to stream your games or productivity but didn’t know where to start? Dan and Maegan talk about streaming to Twitch and YouTube using Macs (and PCs!), the gear you’ll need, and what the experience is like. Recorded February 16, 2021 Links Maegan on Twitch Maegan on Instagram Maegan on Twitter Maegan’s Livestream Gear Let’s Racing Time on Twitch Elgato Stream Deck NewTek NDI Camera App LG 5K2K mo...
2021-02-171h 09
The Icon GardenFitness Technology Roundtable with Isaac Niebeling, Dustin Ray, and Ian BlackburnGonna fly now. Get buff, get tough! The Icon Garden Roundtable is back, this time the subject is fitness technology, apps, and more! Special guests Isaac Niebeling, Dustin Ray, and Ian Blackburn sit down to talk smart exercise bikes, fitness games, how social media and apps work into our fitness routines, and more. Recorded January 30, 2020 Links Are We Doing This? Podcast DustinMRay on Twitter IanBlackburn on Twitter Apple Watch Triathlete Training Today App Trainer Road Zwift Wahoo Fitness Training Peaks Rouvy RGT Cycling Fulgaz Strava GTA 5 Bike Simulator Mod Kickr Core Kickr...
2021-02-031h 56
The Icon GardenKeeping Vintage Macs Alive with Steve AKA Mac84They call it retro, which means old, but cool. Special guest Steve, AKA Mac84, joins Dan and Jake to talk all things retro. Ever wanted to restore an old Mac but didn’t know where to start? How about collecting old Apple clones? We’ve got all your favorite flea market and eBay finds right here. Listen for some nostalgia and commiseration! Recorded January 15, 2020 Links Mac84tv on Youtube History of Clones Part 1 - Mac84tv Mac84 Website or Retro version for vintage Macs Why Apple Allowed Mac Clones - RMC The Cave...
2021-01-201h 44
The Icon GardenThe 2021 Inaugural Tech-TacularYippie ki-yay, Mother Mac-er! Ring in the new year with Dan and Jake! Now that the new year is in session, it’s time for a holiday review. What did we give (and get) for the holidays this year? How are Jake’s AirPods Max holding up—and what’s this about a great, inexpensive third party case from an unexpected source? And how painful can it be to construct holiday gifts for children? All these and more as we start off 2021 right. Plus, Jake tries to install a smart shower. Listen in to find out how it went...
2021-01-061h 14
The Icon GardenMacinography 17: The Print ShopMacinography 17: The Print Shop Decades ago, making your own holiday cards was a tedious affair of hand writing and poorly drawing a season’s greeting. What if your new home computer made it easy to design attractive custom cards? You’d make one for everybody—even Uncle Frank. Aldus and Adobe might have led the charge, but Broderbund Software was just as critical to introducing desktop publishing to the masses. But there’s more to this groundbreaking app than banners—it starred in a titanic legal battle to determine the future of software copyright. Tune in to find out.
2020-12-3037 min
The Icon GardenThe 2020 Icon Garden Holiday Special with Jeff BergIt’s Christmas all over again! Ho ho ho! Merry Macmas! Jeff Berg rejoins Dan and Jake to talk about the present that Santa Tim dropped for all the good Apple children: AirPods Max! Jake has a pair of the new headphones and we review features, audio quality, comparisons, all of it! Plus, we try Apple Fitness+, and a holiday episode wouldn’t be complete without a holiday gift guide for all the techies in your life. Pour a cup of cheer and listen in! Recorded December 18, 2020 Links AirPods Max Apple Fitness+ Jake...
2020-12-221h 56
The Icon GardenMac To The Future with Krazy KenAwesome. Awesome to the Macs. Catch the Crazy! Dan and Jake are joined in the studio by Krazy Ken to speculate about future Macs based on imagined (and rumored) new Apple Silicon chips. Dan talks about rescuing a hot rod Power Mac 8100. Jake experiments with HomeKit Adaptive Lighting. Ken recalls his greatest tech misadventures. All this and more when you tune in! Recorded December 4, 2020 Links Computer Clan - YouTube Cardeo Smart Watch is a scam! - Computer Clan I bought a NeXT cube. Now what? - Computer Clan ARM Windows successfully virtualized...
2020-12-091h 30
The Icon GardenThe Route to Big Sur with Jay McNiffBig Sur! (badabum) Big Sur, Big Sur, Big Sur! The new M1 Macs are out in the wild, and until Dan and Jake get ones of their own, they do the next best thing: bring in a guest! Friend of the show Jay McNiff stops by to talk about the new M1 MacBook Air, Big Sur, and obscure giant robots. Also, Jake has HomePods Mini! Are these little spheres packing big sound? Listen to find out. Recorded November 20, 2020 Links M1 Mac benchmarks - Anandtech Federighi: “Windows on ARM macs up to Microsoft” Big...
2020-11-251h 36
The Icon GardenMacinography 16: How The Aaron Extension Saved The WorldIf there’s one thing users love, it’s customizing their computers. Extensions were the cause of, and solution to, all of Classic Mac OS’ problems. The humble INIT made your Mac more powerful, or just more attractive. Ironically, the system that tried to kill the extension, Copland, inspired some of the most popular add-ons—especially ones that mimicked its new interface. Was Jeff Goldblum really running the Aaron extension on his PowerBook in Independence day? Listen to learn how the shareware community, and the Aaron extension, changed the Mac. Sources Inits - MacTech
* Patching Traps for INITs...
2020-11-1953 min
The Icon GardenApple November 2020 Mac Special EventDan and Jake are hot on the tail of an Apple Special Event! This time it’s about the unveiling of the first Apple Silicon Macs. What’s changed? What’s the same? And are they just making a bunch of crazy promises? Plus: Jake learns a lesson! Dan watched Dave Letterman Interview Lizzo! Join us for this hot off the microphones special event. Recorded November 10, 2020 Links MacBook Air MacBook Pro Mac Mini No eGPUs with M1 Macs The Apple Silicon Event Subscribe Apple Podcasts Overcast
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2020-11-111h 05
The Icon GardenBack in the Smart Life Again with Matt Corey1 2 3 4 5, 6 7 8 9 10, 11 12 Friend of the show and iOS HomeKit developer Matt Corey joins Dan and Jake! Matt talks about his new HomeKit app, Signals, and discusses all things HomeKit. Plus, Jake finally gets and reviews that mythical unicorn of HomeKit devices, a HomeKit doorbell! Finally, we talk new iPhone and Home accessories like HomePod Mini, MagSafe, and AirTags fit in to the connected life. We hope you enjoy this as much as we did! Recorded October 22, 2020 Links Signals for HomeKit Matt’s Website Light automations Matt on Twitter Yobi B3 HomeKit Doorbell Airtags patents Ho...
2020-10-281h 26
The Icon GardenMacinography 15: The Road to ARMageddonNovember 2020 marks the thirtieth anniversary of ARM Limited. With Apple switching to Arm-based Apple Silicon for Macs, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's Arm's desktop debut, but it's not the first time for Arm on desktop. How did ARM go from powering Acorn Computers, a veteran of the British Micro wars, into the world's most popular architecture? And how did Apple and ARM save each other in their hours of need? Listen in to find out. Sources / Notes: Computer History Museum Oral History: Steve Furber Computer History Museum Oral History: Sophie Wilson Computer History Museum Oral H...
2020-10-2156 min
The Icon GardenApple October 2020 iPhone EventAnd oh what heights we’ll hit, on with the show, this is it! It’s the day after an Apple Special Event! Dan and Jake convene to discuss HomePods Mini and new iPhones, in all sizes great and small. What did we like? What are we buying, or not? Or really... how MANY HomePods Mini is Jake buying? Join us for our recap and reactions to the iPhone 12 event! Originally recorded on October 13, 2020 Show Notes and Links: iPhone 12 iPhone 12 Mini iPhone 12 Pro HomePod Mini MagSafe accessories iPhones have 30 discount on AT&T an...
2020-10-151h 11
The Icon GardenApp Store Developer Relations with Maegan WilsonThe difference between us and other App Stores is that other App Stores are App Stores. For our forty-eighth regular show, we are joined by special guest, developer and friend of the show, Maegan Wilson. What’s going on in Maegan’s tech life, and how is life in the App Store these days? We dig into Jake’s new LG HomeKit TV, witness the arrival of his new Apple Watch, and then dig into life as an iOS developer in 2020. It’s a wonderful discussion focusing on life as a small developer. Originally recorded on Septe...
2020-09-301h 47
The Icon GardenMacinography 14: The LC 500 and Power Mac 5000 SeriesA long time ago, in a schoolyard far far away, the computer was a rarity. Apple conquered the classrooms of the eighties with the Apple II, but repeating that success in the nineties with the Macintosh would be a more difficult feat. Before the iMac, Apple launched many big-screen all in ones. Listen to find out how successful (or disastrous) this was for Apple in their most challenging era yet. Sources / Notes: HackedEducation.com: Kids Can’t Wait AppleDesign by Paul Kunkel and Rick English Macworld September 1993 Macworld June 1995 MacUser November 1995 ArsTechnica | 20 Years Ago Today: Apple To...
2020-09-2340 min
The Icon GardenApple September 2020 Special EventTick, Tock, Tick (do do doo doo) Tick, Tock, Tick It’s the day after an Apple Special Event! Dan and Jake join together to talk about all the new products that Apple announced. Why is Jake banging down the Apple Store door to get his new watch? Are the new iPads good enough for your friends and family? We look at all the details from the keynote and talk presentation, value, and specs. Originally recorded on September 15, 2020 Show Notes and Links: Apple Watch Series 6 Apple Watch SE New Entry-Level iPad New iP...
2020-09-161h 12
The Icon GardenTech Enthusiasm Yesterday and Today with Colin WirthAre you familiar with the old robot saying “Does Not Compute”? Dan sits down with Colin, host of This Does Not Compute on Youtube, to talk computing both modern and retro. The Apple Silicon Switch is on everyone’s minds, and what do we want from new computing platforms, exactly? Lots of talk about our favorite vintage Macs and the inside story on the PowerBook 1400. Plus, we talk school computer experiences, repairing old tape decks, and what, exactly, AR is good for. Originally recorded on August 28, 2020 Show Notes and Links: PowerBook 3400c Video...
2020-09-021h 52
The Icon GardenMacinography 13: The Sexy, Sassy Story of SCSIO woe of the early Mac User, for they could not store more than 400K. Nay, such crimes could not stand! It was not the serial drive nor the Hyperdrive that would lead them to storage salvation. Forsooth, it is SCSI that would lead the Mac faithful to the promised land of mass storage. Listen in for the tale of SCSI’s attempt to bring order to the chaotic world of storage. Sources / Notes: CHM Oral History of Larry Boucher CHM Oral History of John Squires CHM Oral History of Dal Allan Byte Magazine Evolution of ES...
2020-08-2656 min
The Icon GardenApple Watch in 2020 with Ian BlackburnTime out of mind. Friend of the show Ian Blackburn returns to talk all things Apple Watch! WatchOS 7, Series 6 rumors, our thoughts on fitness and apps. The ZX Spectrum Next makes an appearance, and once again Apple’s app store policies are in the news, making for an interesting Fortnight (Fortnite?) in Mac. Plus, there’s new iMacs to discuss, and Phil Schiller’s transition to Apple Fellow. Stick around for all the details. Originally recorded on August 15, 2020 Show Notes and Links: ZX Spectrum Next - Kickstarter Ars Technica Reviews the new iMac P...
2020-08-192h 03
The Icon GardenPeripheral Paraphernalia 2.0It’s not an hour of mouse talk, we swear. It’s time to revisit a topic from early on and take a look at our currently setups, peripherals and all. What has changed and we are we into right now? Additionally, we talk about Tim Cool’s congressional testimony and the current app store controversies, the EU’t anti-trust probe, and Apple’s Q3 fiscal results (spoiler: They did very well). For fun, we look at at javascript OS8 emulator! Please join us for Peripheral Paraphernalia 2.0! Originally recorded on July 31, 2020 Show Notes and Links...
2020-08-051h 22
The Icon GardenMacinography 12: The Macintosh II SeriesSteve Jobs loved his all-in-one Mac, but not everyone was happy with its limitations. Even before Steve’s departure, engineers were planning a new expandable Mac with color screens and lots of power. From the cancelled Big Mac to a Wicked Fast IIfx, the projects that made the Macintosh II series were some of Apple’s most influential. Listen in to hear the tale of the Mac’s second act. Sources / Notes: Macworld April 1987 The Mac II Reference Guide by Scott Foresman Folklore.org Folklore.org: Mea Culpa [CHM Oral History - Rich Page Part 1 Insanely Great...
2020-07-2943 min
The Icon GardenGlorified Electric Typewriter ProgramsiWorkin’ For A Living. We take a surprisingly contentious topic and dive into the myriad options that exist and have existed for word processing on Apple platforms past and present. Where did we start? What do we do now? Is Word 5.1 still the one to beat? In the news, Apple wins in Europe tax battle, iOS 13.6 may be the final update for the 13 era, the Logitech Folio touch for the iPad pro launches, and are we finally getting braided cables? In the HomeKit Chronicles, we break from the rules slightly and look at the Eufy Doorbell, which mi...
2020-07-221h 31
The Icon GardenWWDC 2020 Wrap-Up And Beta BonanzaThe Virtual was Reality. Jake returns and we continue to digest and consider the 2020 WWDC Keynote. All the little things that came up after the big announcement, some high-quality sessions, and we play the game: Which day one beta’s did Jake install on his daily driver devices? In the HomeKit Chronicles, Jake takes on bias lighting and the new Hue HDMI Sync box, with a helping hand from HomeBridge. We hope you enjoy our continuing coverage of WWDC 2020! Originally recorded on July 2, 2020 Show Notes and Links: Apple WWDC Keynote 2020 - YouTube Ph...
2020-07-081h 35
The Icon GardenWWDC Keynote 2020 Extravaganza with Steve StrezaARMageddon is upon us. Big Sur ahoy! For our forty-first regular show we bask in the afterglow of another WWDC Keynote. Jake was unable to make it for this one, but friend of the show and iOS developer Steve Streza joins Dan to talk about all the new iOS/iPadOS, WatchOS. TVOS and MacOS hotness as we prepare for ARMageddon. How did we feel about the prerecorded keynote? Did we get everything on our Holiday in June wishlist? What does the incoming ARMageddon mean going forward? All that and Hey! too. We hope you enjoy our timely-ish...
2020-06-241h 41
The Icon GardenMacinography 11: Trackpads and the Portable Pointing Device WarsToday, every laptop in the world comes equipped with a touchpad. But it wasn’t always that way. What came before the trackpad? What did it have to beat to be number one? And who had one first? We touch on these complicated questions on this installment of Macinography. Sources / Notes: CHM Oral History - David Levy CHM Oral History - George Gerpheide CHM Oral History - Arthur Porter CHM Oral History - Ted Selker CHM Oral History - Federico Faggin CHM Oral History - Robert Miller CHM Oral History -Neil Hancock CHM Oral History - Ra...
2020-06-1752 min
The Icon GardenWWDC Wishes and WondersBlack Lives Matter. For our fortieth regular show, we take a moment to address the current global situation and our thought on Black Lives Matter and the current protests. Then we take a step back and talk a little about what we want and expect to see out of WWDC. Plus, we chat about what we want Apple to do to fix our home theater and device sprawl problems. Lastly, it’s Bizarro World in the HomeKit Chronicles as Dan joins the party with an Air Conditioner...and HomeBridge! Originally recorded on June 5, 2020 Sh...
2020-06-101h 19
The Icon GardeniOS 13.5 Exposure Notification with Dr. Vivian Pugh and Zac HallThe doctor is in. Zac Hall returns and joins first time special guest Dr. Vivian Pugh, internal medicine physician (and Jake’s amazing wife), for a discussion on contract tracing, how it has traditionally been done and what the new Exposure Notification API developed by Apple and Google can do to improve contact tracing for Covid-19 while maintaining user privacy. How does it work? Who is embracing it? Vivian and Zac help us understand from both a medical and technological perspective, and we hope you enjoy this fascinating discussion on a very timely subject. Originally re...
2020-05-271h 09
The Icon GardenMacinography 10: OpenDoc and Apple's Development DoldrumsIn the beleaguered era, developing for the Macintosh was radically different than today. But one project of Apple’s stood out from the rest. OpenDoc wasn’t just a way to link data, but aimed to redefine how we interact with documents and applications. With partners like IBM, Novell, and WordPerfect, how could it fail? Listen to find out. Sources / Notes: Kurt Piersol OpenDoc lecture CHM oral history of Larry Tesler, Part 3 OpenDoc human interface research 1994 SFA Atlanta notes Greg Maletic’s Blog Amy D. Wohl’s blog MacTech issue 22 Sundial IBM OS/2 OpenDoc Resourxe TidBITS Ars Open...
2020-05-2032 min
The Icon GardenThe Primary iPad with Geoff FarinhaMore than meets the eye. We are joined by special guest and friend of the show Geoff Farinha for a discussion on the ins and outs of using the iPad as a full-time, and in Geoff’s case ONLY, computer! Can it be done? What are the irritations and limitations? What do we want to see improved? This is living at the edge of sanity and we love it! We hope you enjoy this episode, and thanks to Geoff for a great discussion! Originally recorded on May 8, 2020 Show Notes and Links: Geoff Fa...
2020-05-131h 57
The Icon GardenThey Call Me The Working Mac with Bradley ChambersI live to xServe, sir. Special guest Bradley Chambers from 9to5mac stops by the garden for a discussion of the current state of Apple in the enterprise in general and education in particular. Dan and Jake share initial impressions of the new iPad Pro Magic Keyboard, and Bradley and Jake compare HomeKit homes. All that and Fraggle Rock too! We hope you enjoy this episode, and thanks to Bradley for a great discussion! Originally recorded on April 23, 2020 Show Notes and Links: Bradley on Twitter Bradley at 9to5mac Apple @ Work Podcast...
2020-04-292h 11
The Icon GardenMacinography 9: The First PowerBooksIn the eighties, our arms ached from lugging around big, heavy portable computers everywhere. Some companies started making laptops, but the real game changer were notebooks made by NEC and Compaq. Where was Apple in all of this? They stumbled with the Mac Portable, but a resourceful team had a plan: make the smallest, most powerful notebooks on the market. Listen in to learn about the birth of the PowerBook and how Apple changed laptop history. Sources / Notes: Alan Kay’s Dynabook paper MacUser December 1991 Birth of the PowerBook, Low End Mac CHM Oral History of Da...
2020-04-2249 min
The Icon GardenThe 2020 iPad ProThey call it a cursor because it makes you curse. For our thirty-sixth regular show, after spending a couple of weeks with it, Jake shares his impressions of the new iPads Pro and iOS 13.4. Does it live up to the hype? Is it worth the upgrade? Can Jake live with an 11 inch screen? The HomeKit chronicles continues the project of going off-book with HomeBridge, this time testing out if it can work with pool controls! All that and news too! Bonus commentary on our Work From Home successes and woes. Originally recorded on April 10, 2020
2020-04-151h 23
The Icon GardenPersonal Finance and Tax AppsYou can’t cut back on Mac funding! You’ll regret this! For our thirty-fifth regular show, we cover some late-breaking news, including the release of new MacBooks Air and new iPads Pro, iOS 13.4 and the ongoing closure of Apple Stores due to coronavirus. The HomeKit chronicles takes on the project of going off-book with HomeBridge, and in our main topic, we tackle the (usually) timely and always fascinating world of personal finance and tax apps! Originally recorded on March 27, 2020 Show Notes and Links: MacBook Air iPad Pro iOS 13.4 Apple Stores Closed Home...
2020-04-011h 44
The Icon GardenMacinography 8: FireWireOnce upon a time, there was an interface known as SCSI. Nobody liked setting IDs, chaining devices, or using thick cables on fat connectors. “There’s gotta be a better way!” said the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and Apple took them up on their challenge. Apple, Sony, IBM, and other companies came together to design a hot interface: IEEE 1394, better known as FireWire. So if it was so great, why isn’t it still around? Listen in to find out. Sources / Notes: Ars Technica’s The Tragedy of FireWire Michael Johas Teener’s Q&A Oral histo...
2020-03-2527 min
The Icon GardenThis Old Mac with Stephen HackettYe Olde Startup Chime For our thirty-fourth regular show, we are joined by very special guest Stephen Hackett. Stephen is the founder of Relay.FM, a fantastic podcast network, and one of the preeminent collectors of all things Mac history. Stephen stops by to talk about his history with Macs, to really get into the weeds on a shared love of Mac history, talk a little HomeKit, and cover breaking news stories such as some iOS14 leaks and the recent decision to take WWDC online in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Won’t you join us for a tr...
2020-03-182h 09
The Icon GardenBonus Episode 4: The Commodore Cast with Jeff Berg and Andrew WelyczkoThe Guru Meditates. For a special bonus episode, Dan sits down with previous guests and friends of the show Jeff Berg and Andrew Welyczko to talk about their favorite deceased computer company: Commodore! Commodore products were an integral part of our early computing lives, and we discuss the highs, the lows, and the bizarre that defined Jack Tramiel’s legacy. Why did Apple succeed at the vertical integration game and Commodore crashed and burned? We talk all the details. Jeff discusses his time working for Commodore’s ad agency, Andrew remembers Deluxe Paint, and Dan cares way too...
2020-03-111h 58
The Icon GardenThe Measure of a Mac with Merlin MannWon’t you Listen to what the Man says? For our thirty-third regular show, we are joined by very special guest Merlin Mann. You may know Merlin as the productivity guy behind 43 Folders, or from such podcasts as Reconcilable Differences, Back to Work, Do By Friday or You Look Nice Today. Merlin stops by to talk about his history with Macs, and he and Jake geek out on some HomeKit stuff, and in our main topic we get into a great discussion of Apple’s Tug-of-war between its long-time and newer customers and what that means going forw...
2020-03-041h 39
The Icon GardenMacinography 7: The First Power MacsIn the nineties, Apple's processor architecture was falling behind the competition. Motorola won a few battles, but Intel was winning the war. Enter IBM had a hot new architecture that could help both Apple and Motorola. Would they succeed in putting more Power into the Mac? And just how good were those first generation Power Macs anyway? Listen to find out. Sources: The Computer History Museum's Oral Histories of David Patterson, Gary Davidian, the SPARC Roundtable, the IBM 801 roundtable, and Dave Ditzel. Apple Confidential Apple-history.com MacWorld ...
2020-02-2632 min
The Icon GardenCES and HomeKit Roundtable with Special Guests Zac Hall, Adam Justice and Richard GuntherCES has come and gone, with new HomeKit, Smart Home, and connected goodies. For our thirty-second regular show, we are hosting a very special roundtable focusing on the state of HomeKit in a post-CES world. We are joined by very special guests Zac Hall of 9to5mac, Adam Justice, CEO of Connectsense, and co-host of The Smart Home Show, and Richard Gunther, the other host of the Smart Home Show! This group of amazing folks share their thoughts on the state of the HomeKit union and ecosystem as we head in to 2020. What do we like? Where is there...
2020-02-191h 30
The Icon GardenWe're Gonna Make It With Hep SvadjaLooks like we made it For our thirty-first regular show, we are joined by very special guest Hep Svadja. Hep is the Product Manager for Adobe’s Capture, a photographer and a maker. Hep brings an absolute wealth of knowledge and experience as we talk about all things creative! We are excited to have Hep join us for an awesome discussion! We are also excited to announce a special upcoming HomeKit roundtable, now that CES has wrapped, with anticipated guests Zac Hall from 9to5mac, Adam Justice, the CEO of device maker ConnectSense, and Adam’s co...
2020-02-051h 21
The Icon GardenMacinography 6: Microsoft Word 5.1In the sixth installment of Macinography, we look back at one of the most fondly remembered applications on the Classic Mac OS: Microsoft Word. Microsoft was the dominant player in word processing on the Mac, and 5.1 was slaying the competition. What made people love this word processor so much? Why did it stick around for years after its end of life? Listen in to find out. Sources / Notes: Wired Magazine on Word 5.1 Refuseniks IDGConnect Zamzar’s 30 years of Word History of Microsoft, MSDN: Jeff Raikes The Best Softw...
2020-01-2921 min
The Icon GardenAn Eye for Design with Andrew WelyzckoA Memorial service for QuickDraw GX For our thirtieth regular show, we are joined by very special guest and Mac Ach forum mod Andrew Welyczko, who you may know as Cateye on the forums. Andrew brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with using the Mac in desktop publishing and related creative endeavors, from his 13 years as a designer (among many other roles) at the Onion, to his work as a self-employed designer. We talk a bit about the rack mounted Mac Pro, discuss potential new power management on the Mac, and Dan and Andrew reminisce and...
2020-01-221h 56
The Icon GardenNew Year's 5K ResolutionThis is 2020 For our twenty-ninth regular show, we cover a few odds and ends from the holiday season, including all the shiny new Apple loot we are playing with. Specifically, Dan talks about his new Apple Watch and whether his new AirPods make him feel like a Pro! Apple and Imagination kiss and make up and CES is nigh! What does that bring for HomeKit? And how much of that will actually ship in 2020? Please join us as we kick off the new year in Icon Garden style! Originally recorded on January 5, 2020 Show...
2020-01-081h 19
The Icon GardenThe 2019 Icon Garden Holiday SpecialIt’s lovely weather for a podcast together with you! For our twenty-eighth regular show, we take a break from the usual podcast antics and celebrate the holidays, Icon Garden-style! Tech podcasts are required by ancient podcast law to have year-end awards, so awards we have! Everything from app of the year to our favorite holiday specials to watch on that digital device that Santa is sure to bring. Please join us for the Icon Garden Holiday Special and have a safe and enjoyable holiday season and we will see you in 2020! Originally recorded on De...
2019-12-241h 18
The Icon GardenMacinography 5: The Mac Color ClassicToday in the fifth installment of Macinography, we journey back to the third epoch of Apple design beginning in the year of 1993. The traditional all-in-one Mac was getting a bit creaky. A brand new Mac in a newly designed case sought to carry the torch of the all-in-one Mac. This Mac would definitely be one for the history books… but not for the reasons they thought it would. Listen in for the story of the Mac Color Classic. Sources / Notes: Macworld April 1994 MacUser April 1994 Jason’s Macintosh Museum The Club for Creating the Stro...
2019-12-1826 min
The Icon GardenThe Professional Mac User with Jeffrey BergTakin' Care of Business For our twenty-seventh regular show, we are joined by special guest Jeff Berg, jaberg on the Ars forums. Jeff is a long-time mac user and active participant on the forum, and brings a wealth of knowledge and some great stories to the table. In the news, we offer our takes on the Apple holiday ad, discuss AirPlay 2 getting cracked, BMW changing course on charging for CarPlay, the location tracking confusion of ultrawideband, and rumors of a port-free iPhone. In the HomeKit Chronicles, Jake was all set to talk about the Onelink Safe and...
2019-12-112h 24
The Icon GardenThe 2019 16 Inch MacBook ProBye Bye, Little Butterfly. For our twenty-sixth regular show, we spend some time taking a look at the recently announced (and released) 2019 16-Inch MacBook Pro. Is the keyboard finally fixed? We talk specs, first impressions and whether this is the MAcBook Pro for all the professionals out there, and speculate on when we might get these changes in a smaller form factor. In the HomeKit Chronicles, one of the biggest promised of iOS 13 becomes a reality as Logitech adds HomeKit Secure Video to its Circle 2 camera, and Jake finds a light at the end of the tunnel...
2019-11-271h 39
The Icon GardenMacinography 4: The Rise and Fall of Iomega's Zip DriveJoin us for the third episode of Macinography, where we look at influential hardware, software, and ephemera of Apple and Apple-related subjects. Every Mac user needed a place to store their stuff. Floppies were flunking in the nineties, and hard drives weren't portable enough to bring jobs from place to place. Long chained to the expensive and finicky SyQuest system, Mac users longed for a change. Iomega came a-courtin', promising a hundred megabytes in a speedy, small, and most importantly, inexpensive enclosure. Iomega rode this drive to historic success, but would it just be a one-hit wonder? Listen to...
2019-11-2037 min
The Icon GardenUtility PlayersPut me in, coach! For our twenty-fifth regular show, we discuss a number of odds and ends, including Dan’s new phone, resolution for Jake’s ongoing issues with military access on Catalina, a series of mini-reviews for AirPods Pro, the H2O Audio Interval Swim System, and Photoshop on the iPad. If the HomeKit Chronicles, we go back to the basics and discuss some of the things you can HomeKit-ify with basic smart outlets. Automate ALL THE THINGS! In today’s main topic, we take a look at some of the small but mighty utility programs and ap...
2019-11-131h 58
The Icon GardenOne Year Podaversary With John SiracusaOur Next Guest Needs No Introduction. But of course he gets one anyway! For our twenty-fourth regular show, which also happens to be our One-Year podaversary, we couldn’t be more excited to be joined by Ars Technica legend, the man behind the OS X reviews himself, John Siracusa. John joins us for a wide ranging discussion on everything from the state of forums as a place of discourse, reduced functionality in Shazam, our kids and virtual assistants, and the legacy of his Ars Technica OS X reviews. Thanks to John for joining us and we really ho...
2019-10-301h 33
The Icon GardenMacinography 3: The Titanium PowerBook G4Join us for the third episode of Macinography, where we look at influential hardware, software, and ephemera of Apple and Apple-related subjects. Our topic this time is perhaps the most influential Apple laptop of all, the Titanium PowerBook G4. This machine’s exotic exterior and supercomputer insides would change portable computers forever… but it has to contend with its dark side to do so. Listen to find out how it all happened. The Titanium G4 on: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerBook_G4 Apple-history https://apple-history.com/pg42001 MacWorld San Francisco Keynote https...
2019-10-2323 min
The Icon GardenThe New Hotness with Zac Hall of 9to5Mac.comStill Waiting For Big Sur. For our twenty-third regular show, we are joined by very special guest Zac Hall of 9to5Mac for a wide ranging discussion covering all the new hotness…the Watch Time podcast, the iPhones 11, regular and pro, why we are or aren’t rushing to update to Catalina, and our experiences with Apple Watch Series 5. The fortnight in Mac gets political as we dig into the recent decision by Apple to remove apps from the Chinese App Store. Zac and Jake get nerdy about HomeKit as we discuss our home automation strategies for new...
2019-10-162h 27
The Icon GardeniOS 13 Is The Lucky NumberIf only they had released it on Friday the Thirteenth. For our twenty-second regular show, our main topic is iOS 13 in all it’s mobile glory! In the fortnight, we talk new iPhones and Watches in the wild, Apple not letting “slofie” die, initial impressions of what Apple is getting right and wrong with Apple Arcade, Google Chrome creating problems for some Macs, and Dan gives us a mini-review of the new Adobe Fresco. In the main topic, we talk about a rough beta cycle and what we love and not-so-love about iOS 13 on the iPhone so far. I...
2019-10-021h 23
The Icon GardenMacinography 2: System 7Join us for the second episode of Macinography, where we look at influential hardware, software, and ephemera of Apple and Apple-related subjects. Our topic this time is the classic Mac OS, specifically System 7. This operating system saw the transition of four CEOs and years of tumult at Apple. For most of the nineties, this was what it meant to be a Mac. What was the goal of System 7 and how did it change our idea of what a Mac was? Listen to find out. System 7 on: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_7 L...
2019-09-2531 min
The Icon GardenIndie Apps Then and Now with Charlie ChapmanWe could be independent together. For our twenty-first regular show, we have to start off on a somber note as we say goodbye to friend of the show and our first guest, Clark Goble. Clark was a wonderful guest, a terrific human being, and we send our sincere condolences to his friends and family. A link to support his family is included below. No fortnight this week as we continue to recover from the Apple Event last week. In the HomeKit chronicles, Jake reviews the Honeywell Lyric security system. Is it ready for prime time and your...
2019-09-181h 58
The Icon GardenBonus Episode 3: September 10 iPhone EventBonus Episode 3: September 10 Apple Event What, you were expecting the obvious joke? For this special edition of the Icon Garden, we spend some time discussing the September 10, 2019 Apple Special Event. New iPhones, check. New Watches, check. New iPad, check. $4.99 for Apple TV+...wait, what?! We grouse, celebrate, and pontificate on what was announced and what wasn't so please join us for this special edition of the Icon Garden! Show Notes: iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro Apple Watch Series 5 Apple TV+ Apple Arcade iPad 10.2 Follow Us: Our show is produced by Nathan...
2019-09-121h 09
The Icon GardenMobile Payments for Fun and ProfitEpisode 20: Mobile Payments for Fun and Profit And I made it Square. For our twentieth regular show, our main topic is mobile payments…Apple Pay, Venmo, PayPal, etc. Where have we come from and where are we headed? We talk about the mobile payment revolution that has taken over the world (and drags the USA kicking and screaming along…) Dan join the iPad Pro club, Apple officially blesses third party iPhone repairs, Airlines continue to give side eye to the 2015 MacBook Pro, the bug bounty program expands, and Siri is still listening. In the HomeKit chro...
2019-09-042h 16
The Icon GardenSwiftUI and Native Apps with Steve StrezaEpisode 19: SwiftUI and Native Apps with Steve Streza Well, I do declare. For our nineteenth regular show, we are joined by special guest Steve Streza to to take a developer’s eye look at SwiftUI. We talk about Apple Q3 results, is Siri listening? The Apple Card laugh approaches and We have a new LG monitor to discuss. In the HomeKit chronicles, Jake’s move continues and we talk about the Rachio sprinkler and welcome the Arlo camera family to HomeKit along with Vizio coming out of beta with Airplay 2 support. We hope you enjoy this...
2019-08-212h 18
The Icon GardenMacinography 1: The Mac LC IIJoin us for the first episode of Macinography, where we take an in-depth look at the Macintosh LC II, a popular early nineties Mac that found its way into schools across the globe. Featuring an Apple IIe emulation option and a cute pizza box design, the LC II helped spur the imagination of many a curious child. Listen in to hear about its place in the market and how pizza box Macs delivered a hot slice of computing to a market hungry for graphical interfaces. The LC Family on: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M...
2019-08-1421 min
The Icon GardenThe Apple II FamilyEpisode 18: The Apple II Family Integrating the Woz Machine For our eighteenth regular show, we have fire up the wayback machine again for a look back to where it all arguably started: the Apple II family. We talk about the recent changes to the MacBook line, consider the possibility of Apple bankrolling podcasts and what that might mean, talk about Apple purchasing Intel’s modem line, rave about a new update to Pixelmator, and tease our new Macinograhy mini-sodes! In the HomeKit chronicles, Jake’s move continues and we consider the implications of Ring and Amaz...
2019-08-071h 58
The Icon GardenApple Watch for Health and Fitness with Ian BlackburnEpisode 17: Apple Watch for Health and Fitness w/ Ian Blackburn Watch what happens next! For our seventeenth regular show, we have another very special guest with us! Apple WAthc Triathlete Ian Blackburn joins us to take a deep dive into all aspects of fitness and health tracking with the Apple Watch. We discuss the departure of Jony Ive and Ian shares his experience with the Netatmo Presence camera in the HomeKit Chronicles! Please join us for a fun (and fitness) filled look at all things Apple Watch! Show Notes: Ian Blackburn...
2019-07-241h 47
The Icon GardenThe New HomeKit Workshop with Clark GobleEpisode 16: The New HomeKit Workshop Hey Shmorby, do me a favor—open the door, and let 'em in. For our sixteenth regular show, we have a major new development—a special guest! Ars forums user ClarkGoble joins us as our first-ever guest host on the show to discuss the new developments in HomeKit after WWDC and in general. More than just a HomeKit Chronicle, this is a HomeKit Extravaganza! We also review the new iOS 13 and Catalina public betas, finding out what works and what doesn't for early pludgers, along with other interesting tidbits like the...
2019-07-101h 53
The Icon GardenWWDC In-Depth PostmortemEpisode 15: WWDC In-Depth Postmortem We do the same thing we do every year, Pinky—Try to take over the Worldwide Developer Conference! For our fifteenth regular show, we forego the usual order of things and take a look at all the things we saw at WWDC 2019. How did our predictions fare? What did we like? What did they get right? Wrong? Join us, at far far less than the cost of a monitor stand, for our in-depth WWDC post-mortem! Show Notes and Developer Videos of Note: Advances in MacOS Security Notarized apps Sy...
2019-06-261h 18
The Icon GardenPirates of Silicon Valley, Twenty Years LaterEpisode 14: Pirates of Silicon Valley, 20 Years Later Everybody Wants to Rule the World For our fourteenth regular show, we bask in the post-WWDC hangover with a couple of mini-reviews. Dan takes a look at the SteamLink app and compares it to the hardware version, while Jake offer his initial thoughts on the PowerBeats Pro. In the HomeKit Chronicles, we follow up on some HomeKit compatible switches courtesy of the “Friends of Hue” program and take a first look at a DIY camera solution. In our main topic, we fire up the time machine and go back...
2019-06-121h 49
The Icon GardenWWDC 2019 Keynote SpecialBonus Episode 2: WWDC 2019 Keynote Special It’s Dubba Dubba Dee Cee Time! For this special edition of the Icon Garden, we spend some time discussing and pontificating on the 2019 WWDC Keynote presentation held on June 3, 2019. We talk about the product launch of the year: yes folks, the Mac Pro lives! And makes wallets everywhere scream. We then take a look at some of the standout features of all the new operating systems: iOS 13, tvOS 13, macOS 10.15, WatchOS 6, and the new set member of the family, ipadOS! Please join us for this special edition of the Icon Ga...
2019-06-051h 57
The Icon GardenA Head in the CloudsEpisode 13: A Head in the Clouds Cloud goes up, cloud goes down. For our thirteenth regular show, we take a look at the highlights of the fortnightly news, starting off as all good podcasts do, with news of the EU starting an Apple/Spotify probe, BMW continues to do CarPlay wrong, and we give our last chance WWDC predictions for the record. In the HomeKit Chronicles, Jake contemplates the process of moving HomeKit stuff as his house goes to the market, and we have a moment of silence for Nest. In our main topic, we...
2019-05-292h 15
The Icon GardenI Tune, You Tune, We All Tune For iTunesEpisode 12: I Tune, You Tune, We All Tune for iTunes They just don’t write ‘em like that anymore. For our twelfth regular show, first we look back at the news of the fortnight, including Apples second quarter earnings report, iOS 13 and MacOS 10.15 leaks, a settlement between Apple and Qualcomm, the discontinuation of the LG 4K displays, in-store keyboard replacements, and the Galaxy Flop…er, Fold. In the HomeKit Chronicles, we take a look at 5 of the top requests from forum members and users as WWDC draws near. In our main topic, as the potential breaku...
2019-05-152h 12
The Icon GardenThe First iPhoneEpisode 11: The First iPhone My phone is so smart, S-M-R-T For our eleventh regular show, first we look back at the news of the fortnight, including Netflix shenanigans on iOS with Airplay, new iMac performance, potential Apple Store overreach in Sydney and Stockholm, revisiting the loupedeck, and the predicted breakup of iTunes. In the HomeKit Chronicles, we look at dimmers, switches, and assorted physical interfaces. In our main topic, we spend some time talking in depth about the original iPhone from 2007. What came before and why did it take so long to get it right...
2019-05-011h 52
The Icon GardenVisiting the Fruit StandEpisode 10: Visiting the Fruit Stand Behold: Apple Store! Your one stop shop for mysteriously expensive computers! For our tenth regular show, first we look back at the news of the fortnight, including preliminary reports that the Apple Card will not support joint accounts, new OS versions: iOS 12.2, tvOS 12.2, WatchOS 5.2, and MacOS 10.14.4, the departure of chip architect Gerard Williams III, and a moment of silence for AirPower. We then dig into a mini-review of the newly released AirPods 2 (with wireless charging!). In the HomeKit Chronicles, HomeKit support is now live on the first smart TVs, and...
2019-04-172h 23
The Icon GardenWhat's Eating the Mac Pro?Episode 9: What’s Eating the Mac Pro? You Macs Have Nothing to Worry About. I’m a Professional. For our ninth regular show, first we look back at an exciting fortnight, including the our special coverage of the March 25th Apple event, the escalating spat between Apple and Spotify, a date has been set for WWDC, the return of CorelDraw, preliminary rulings in the Apple/Qualcomm patent war, and a wrap up to the saga of the Keychain flaw. In the HomeKit Chronicles, we take a deep dive into the IKEA Tradfri lighting system as we c...
2019-04-031h 29
The Icon GardenBonus 1: "It's Show Time" Media EventBonus Episode: It’s Show Time Media Event It’s Showtime, Synergy! For this special edition of the Icon Garden, we spend some time discussing and pontificating on the Apple Services Event held on March 25, 2019. We talk about the product launches that occurred leading up the the event and talk about the announcements made at the event and what we are excited about and what we need to hear more details on before passing judgement. Please join us for this special edition of the Icon Garden! Show Notes: New 10.5 inch iPad Air and...
2019-03-271h 50
The Icon GardenClone HighEpisode 7: Clone High Let’s kick Intel’s ass! Oh, wait… For our seventh regular show, first we look at a few items of Apple news, including an Apple event scheduled for March 25, more on the ongoing enterprise certificate kerfluffle, a fix to the FaceTime bug, clandestine screen recording by some apps, more on Toyota and CarPlay, and the lack of a mac bug bounty program. In the HomeKit Chronicles, we talk about a promising hire at Apple, and dig into garage door openers as a segue into the world of homebridge. In our main topic, we fire up the ti...
2019-03-061h 40
The Icon GardenThat New Mac SmellEpisode 6: That New Mac Smell Swaggering about with powerful new Macs, they seemed to say “Look at me, Rex Banner: I have a new Mac!” For our sixth regular show, first we look at a few items of Apple news, including crazy FaceTime bugs, privacy shenanigans from Facebook and Google, Apple Q1 results, iPad mini rumors, more iOS beta pludging, and hints that Roku may finally be joining the Airplay 2 party. In the HomeKit Chronicles, we take a look at baby cameras, and HomeKit cameras in general, and Jake shares an eero /DNS trick to impr...
2019-02-201h 28
The Icon GardenRevisiting the Mac Game Hall of FameEpisode 5: Revisiting the Mac Game Hall of Fame If Every Port Were Perfect, We Wouldn’t Have Marathon. For our fifth regular show, first we look at a few items of Apple news, including more on bent iPad Pro, minor point pludging, Apple Pay at Target, CarPlay and HomeKit updates form CES, and iTunes and Airplay coming soon to a TV near you. We then begin a new segment on the “HomeKit Chronicles” and in our main topic we fire up the way-back machine and take look at classic mac games of days gone by…did your...
2019-02-061h 42
The Icon GardenDriving with CarPlayEpisode 4: Driving with CarPlay Wow, infotainment. For our fourth regular show, first we look at a few items of Apple news, including bent iPad Pro (iPads Pro?) and the end of in-app subscriptions for Netflix on iOS. Then we go for a virtual road trip as we take an in-depth look at CarPlay, as implemented both by car manufacturers and the growing third party ecosystem. What do we like? What can be improved? And what should you look at if you want to add CarPlay to your life. Show Notes: Bent iPad...
2019-01-231h 56
The Icon GardenThe 2018 iPad ProEpisode 3: The 2018 iPad Pro Today in the Garden: What is a computer? A miserable little pile of circuits. For our third regular show, first we look at a few items of Apple news, including new servers and a major campus upgrade in Austin. Then we take an in-depth look at the 2018 iPad Pro, its ecosystem and accessories, talk a lot about whether USB-C is the “one cable to rule them all” and look at some professional use cases to see whether the iPad Pro lives up to its Pro billing. Show Notes: Appl...
2019-01-091h 45
The Icon GardenThe Evolution of the PowerBookEpisode 2: Today in the Garden: Taking down aliens, one laptop at a time. For our second regular show, we break out the Icon Garden Time Machine and take a trip back to the bygone days of 1991, as we take a semi-exhaustive retrospective look at the history of the PowerBook line of Apple laptops, the groundbreaking line that arguably set trends in laptop design and function that still exist today. Also, we take the Pludge on updates for iOS, MacOS, and WatchOS, and briefly discuss the EKG functionality. Show Notes: Mac Portable Updates! Apple Watch...
2018-12-261h 45
The Icon GardenThe 2018 Mac Mini. Is it the xMac? Does it do xMac things?? Let's find out!Today in the Garden: Slots! God, I love Slots! Dear Princess Woz, I’m So Alone. For our first regular show, we come out of the gate strong and tackle the not-at-all controversial topic of the fabled xMac. Specifically, what is the xMac and does the new 2018 make a case for itself as a contender in the xMac challenge. Show Notes: What is the xMac? The Mac Ach Forum at Ars Technica PowerMac G3 PowerMac G4 PowerMac G4 Cube PowerMac G5 Original Mac Mini Mac Pro (The “Cheesegrater”) 2018 Mac Mini Max Yuryev on the 2018 Mac Mi...
2018-12-111h 20
The Icon GardenWelcome to the GardenToday in the Garden: Planting the seeds of a brighter future. Welcome to Episode Zero of the Icon Garden, in which we discuss the history of the Garden, look back at our history in the Mac Ach, look even further back at our history with technology and Apple in particular, and offer a preview of things to come. Show Notes: What is the Icon Garden? The Mac Ach Forum at Ars Technica Jake’s first Mac Dan’s First School Mac Dan’s First Big Boy Mac Apple IIGS book Lazy Game Reviews Samsung PenMas...
2018-12-051h 02