405: ‘Chutes and Ladders’, With Hunter Hillegas

This again. Once more, let's talk *around* another election, and try, by doing so, to maybe express something *about* it.

Dan Moren returns to the show to discuss this week’s introductions of the first M4 Macs: iMac, Mac Mini, and MacBook Pros.

Tyler Stalman joins the show to discuss the iPhone 16 lineup’s cameras, and the state of iPhone photography.

Jason Snell returns to the show to discuss Apple's September product announcements, and Meta's Orion prototype AR glasses.

Nilay Patel returns to the show to consider the iPhones 16.

Special guest Taegan Goddard, longtime writer and founder of Political Wire, joins the show to talk about the past, present, and future of independent media.

Chance Miller, ace reporter (and editor-in-chief) for 9to5Mac, joins the show to talk about the latest changes to Apple's DMA compliance plans with iOS, expectations for the September Apple event, and more.

Christina Warren (a.k.a. “Mary Brown”) returns to the show. Topics include Apple’s new iOS 18.1 and MacOS 15.1 betas (featuring Apple Intelligence), a little reminiscing about Gil Amelio and Steve Jobs, and the bizarre saga of TUAW, resurrected as a zombie AI slopsite.

Special guest Hunter Hillegas, author of the excellent Vegas Mate app, joins the show to discuss euphemistic emoji, the CrowdStrike fiasco, and the closing of the iconic Mirage resort in Las Vegas.

John Moltz returns to the show for a holiday-week look at the best of recent prestige streaming content, particularly Apple TV+. And, yes, a bit on the latest Apple/EU/DMA drama.