There was an Apple event where the main attraction was an evolutionary Apple Watch. They threw in iPads, mobile device OS updates, and service bundles, but the main pull was the watch. The GMen make a small change to the show, but it isn’t at all subtle and you’ll know it because they’ll tell you.
So by ring we really mean Apple services, because one service to rule them all would be a dumb title. And our titles are ALWAYS great! Except when they aren’t. Some video issues this time out so there won’t be a video podcast this week but Big Sur will straighten ALL that out…once the apps work that we use.
Guy’s Pick: EpochCam by Kinoni. You’ll need both the iOS App and the Mac driver for EpochCam from Kinoni (free). There’s also a viewer app called the EpochCam Webcam Viewer in the Mac App Store that lets you view it.
Buy the iOS app (it’s $8 bucks), install it and connect your iPhone to your computer over USB. You can also connect via WiFi, but it’s better over USB. Go to Kinoni’s website, scroll down a bit and you’ll find the Mac Driver. Install the Mac Driver and it should work. I’ve tried it with OBS, Streamyard, eCamm Live, Skype and Zoom and it works with each, though with Zoom it only will connect and show a picture while the app is running apparently. Which seems weird but it always worked for me.
Gaz’s Pick: One thing I am prepared to pay for, OS Maps
With everyone working from home and trying to get the equipment they need to do video conferencing, pricing has gone through the roof for webcams as availability have gone through the floor. Maybe, JUST maybe you don’t need that fancy webcam or expensive microphone (Guy is sobbing now quietly in the corner) to get the job done when you likely have everything you need already.
So no podcast last week (TOTALLY Gaz’s fault for not being able to do the show and believing that Guy had it covered…so yeah…Gaz’s fault) and the GMen make up for it with LOADS and OODLES of Gaz’s Snippets! So everyone should be caught up now OK?
Epic Games smash hit Fortnight is removed for violating Apple’s rules regarding in-app purchase for digital content. Epic did this deliberately to try and force a showdown with Apple (and Google) over their policies restricting in-app purchases to just through their payment systems (which takes a cut).
New iMacs are out and normally we’d be pretty excited about it especially with these specs, but it also feels sad knowing that this could be the very last Intel Mac Apple ever releases. Also fun with traffic, actually there’s NEVER fun with traffic.
Is a conference that no one can physically attend still a conference. As it turns out, yes it can be with the right planning. Mike Potter from the For Mac Eyes Only podcast and organizer since the beginning in 2015 of the Macstock Conference and Expo Joins the GMen as they discuss everything that went right (and the virtually zero things that went wrong) from Virtual Macstock 2020.
Weirdness all the way around on this show as Guy is challenged to record a podcast in a virtual room with lots of other people talking that has little to nothing to do with the podcast. So he does succeed…kinda, but there’s some echo and other bizarre happenings. Hey it was the Virtual Macstock Conference and Expo so why wouldn’t it be weird?
Guy’s Pick: Behringer SB 78A handheld condenser microphone. $45 with tax. Amazing sounding microphone for the money. Remember that it does use XLR as a connection so you’ll need a mixer or audio interface with USB or Thunderbolt that also supplies 48V phantom power to use it with your computer
Gaz’s Pick: iPhone 11 for taking pictures of pictures!
No Guy this week as he may (or may not) be moving furniture and heavy boxes for his son (also named Guy…because imagination and all that) but there is STILL a show as Gaz reaches deep into the depths of his soul for yes, Gaz’s Snippets. C’mon it’s right in the title for Zod’s sake.
After years of (some would say) neglect, the Mac is once again first and foremost in the minds of Apple! Well maybe not first, but no longer an afterthought
The thing Guy said would happen and then said wouldn’t happen happened catching no one (except Guy) by surprise. So Intel Macs are going out and Silicone Macs are coming in. Probably not the best time to buy a Mac…or that’s what Guy thinks and his track record is SPOTLESS! Meanwhile Gaz shakes his head in disbelief.
Monday is that thing we’ve all been waiting for and talking about non-stop until we’re sick of it! Except NOW Apple said something to hack off all the free app developers out there…or something. Hard to tell what to to be outraged about this week. Simon Parnell answered our Saturn Moon Titan question from last week and the answer is, 14,630.4 years for that moon to be 1 mile further in orbit. A nice fresh custom made WOOTie was sent.
Guy’s App Pick: Need masks and having trouble finding quality ones? There is a variety of them available, with or without political statements over in the TeeHouseLA on Etsy. Got a free one from a co-worker and they are of great quality. Prices are between 6-10 Dollars per mask, but are washable so you can use them again and again.
Just about one week away until we find out if all the analysts were right and Guy was wrong about the Mac going to ARM at the virtual WWDC. Put your money on the analysts.
Guy’s App Pick: Yet another Apple Arcade game Little Orpheous by The Chinese Room
Gaz’s App Pick: Apples Screen Share LOVE IT.
But also the TP Link EAP110 OutDoor Access point, be careful though you can’t use this cheaper option with a TP Link POE hub, it comes with it’s own but if you want to hang a number of POE devices off a hub this won’t be one of them, but only £50 I’ll take it.
Yet ANOTHER week mostly stuck at home and like all good vampires, we’re becoming allergic to sunlight, mirrors, and garlic…maybe not garlic. Guy bought an old Dell Windows PC (from 2013 no less) and he’s having a lot of fun finding out just how slow what a fast computer can be. Trying to play 10+ year old games on a 7+ year old computer. JOY! Some serious (somewhat) talk about monopolies too.
So no video last week because stuff was broken…for once not by Guy or because of Guy, or due to Guy doing something wrong. There’s a first for everything. One benefit of using Apple products is that they last typically a very long time. Can you use older Mac and Apple gear and still do the latest stuff? Also we interrupt the show to watch a rocket take off.
Some stuff in the works? Other stuff on hold? Do we really know for sure? ABSOLUTELY NOT! But we’ll spend a lot of time talking about it anyway! Lastly, there is FINALLY a really good reason why no one will put Guy in charge of the world….and it involves ducks.
Gaz and Guy take social distancing to the EXTREME by talking thousands of miles away from each other but do admit they don’t wear masks while podcasting. Also, why is it that the winners of these class action lawsuits seem to be mostly lawyers?
Guy’s Pick: A fun little video editor called Shotcut made by Meltytech. Totally free multitrack editor with a few quirks, but free so stop complaining.
So the MyMac Podcast has been around for 800 shows. If you count the mini shows and one offs, it’s really been way more than that, but let’s just deal with 800 official MyMac Podcasts. So our official position is, let me know when we hit 1000. Also, we just passed the 84th anniversary of the Hindenburg disaster.
Guy’s Pick: No Way Home by SMG Studio, Free with Apple Arcade. Side space scroller where you’re the lone survivor of a terrible space accident and have to find your way home. Only problem is it’s been 9 million years, you have no idea where in space you are, and no one had ever heard of the Earth. Other than that, everything is fabulous!
Gaz’s Pick: Rode Podcastor 🙂 I bought a new one. Still waiting for it BUT.
Valve has decided that SteamVR, their platform of choice to work with virtual reality software and hardware, will not work with the macOS. This…shall not stand. Guy wants to to experiment with eCamm’s Call Recorder maybe with this very show! Or not..or maybe
Guy’s Pick: NVidia GeForce NOW!. Karl Madden turned me on to this service ($4.99 a month though a free tier is available) and with some caveats it works pretty well. Especially for those of us who bought some Steam games that no longer work with the macOS. There can be some lag which is more likely due to your connection speeds, but overall it works pretty well.
The new iPhone SE has arrived at Guy’s house and notifications related to Wi-Fi calling are driving him insane-ier. Not just a new iPhone but also the Magic Keyboard for the 11 and 12.9-inch 2020 AND 2018 iPad Pros have been released. But the GMen actually don’t spend a lot of time talking about them.
