The Aftermath of Review Season: Recovery and Reflection

This week, John stumbles upon a restaurant with a thing for the Italian navy, Federico explores the Final Fantasy Tactics remake, and John has a movie pick. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes Unplugged Segment John visits Florence, which is decorated with the  Picks Federico’s Pick: Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles John’s Pick: The Lost Bus on Apple TV+ Unwind Deal In honor of the release of Tron Ares… Tron Tron Legacy …both just $4.99 in the TV app Leave Feedback for John and Federico MacStories Unwind Feedback Form Follow us on Mastodon MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Bluesky MacStories Unwind MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, Federico tries to recover from a rough week, John brings some Southern cooking to the show, Federico has a long backlog of videogames to attend to, and John has an Apple TV+ show and an album to share. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes Unplugged Southern Cooking Pecan Pie Pimento Cheese Dip Fried Okra Picks Federico’s Pick: Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Triple Click Tactics episode Hades II Donkey Kong Bananza Hollow Knight: Silksong Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Pokémon Legends: Z-A Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Despelote Mika and the Witch’s Mountain John’s Pick: Slow Horses, Season 5 on Apple TV+ Michigander by Michigander Leave Feedback for John and Federico MacStories Unwind Feedback Form Follow us on Mastodon MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Bluesky MacStories Unwind MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, John visits Mike the shipping guy, Federico’s philosophy on hardware takes a turn, John declares Apple Watch charging in the shower a myth, and we share videogame and TV picks, plus a deal. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes Unplugged Big Mike’s Shipping Shoppe Charging the Apple Watch While Showering Picks Federico’s Pick: Portal RTX Portal with RTX Update Adds NVIDIA DLSS 3.5 With Ray Reconstruction, RTX IO & New Content RTX Remix John’s Pick: Alien Earth on Hulu Unwind Deal Snowpiercer TV Series, Complete Boxed Set in TV app for $11.99 for 4 seasons/40 episodes. Leave Feedback for John and Federico MacStories Unwind Feedback Form Follow us on Mastodon MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Bluesky MacStories Unwind MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Affiliate Linking Policy

This week Federico and John reflect on the toll of the review process and the annual recovery process before Federico follows up on a TV series and John recommends a pair of albums. Plus, we have a great Marvel movie bundle deal for listeners. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes The Aftermath of Review Season iOS and iPadOS 26: The MacStories Review macOS 26 Tahoe: The MacStories Review CarPlay in iOS 26: The MacStories Review visionOS 26: The MacStories Review watchOS 26: The MacStories Review Picks Federico’s Pick: Hacks, Seasons 1–4 on HBO Max John’s Picks: Tunnel Vision by Beach Bunny I Quit by HAIM Unwind Deal 🔨 Thor – 3-Movie Bundle for $19.99 Leave Feedback for John and Federico MacStories Unwind Feedback Form Follow us on Mastodon MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Bluesky MacStories Unwind MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, John explains the art of the Southern storytelling with an example, reminding Federico to touch grass before sharing a classic movie deal and previewing some of the perks coming next week with his iOS and iPadOS 26 review. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes Two Beady Eyes Staring At Me Skunks Unwind Deal The Prestige for $4.99 in Apple’s TV app. Leave Feedback for John and Federico MacStories Unwind Feedback Form Follow us on Mastodon MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Bluesky MacStories Unwind MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Affiliate Linking Policy  

This week, the weather has begun to change, coyotes are on the loose, and John shares his running tech. Plus Federico has a TV comedy for listeners, and John has a superhero movie pick. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes John’s Running Kit Apple Watch Ultra 1 Beats Fit Pro Picks Federico’s Pick: Hacks Stream on HBO Max Buy John’s Pick: Thunderbolts Stream on Disney+ Buy Leave Feedback for John and Federico MacStories Unwind Feedback Form Follow us on Mastodon MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Bluesky MacStories Unwind MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, John and Federico return from break to chat about how they spent their time off, the new MacStories Deals social accounts, two sports-related comedies, and a great deal on a favorite TV series. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes Summer Break and MacStories Deals MacStories Deals returns after seven years Follow it on Mastodon or Bluesky: Mastodon: https://mastodon.macstories.net/@MacStoriesDeals#. Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/macstoriesdeals.macstories.net Picks John’s Pick: Stick on Apple TV+ Federico’s Pick: Running Point on Netflix Unwind Deal Futurama, Seasons 1–10 for $24.99 Leave Feedback for John and Federico MacStories Unwind Feedback Form Follow us on Mastodon MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Bluesky MacStories Unwind MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, John is joined by Jonathan Reed to recap the watchOS 26 public beta, and share a trio of comedies old an new, along with Brendon Bigley’s new project and a classic monster movie deal. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes A watchOS 26 Preview watchOS 26 The MacStories Public Beta Preview Picks Jonathan’s Picks: The Naked Gun (original movie) and the new version starring Liam Neeson King of the Hill on Hulu/Disney+ Platonic on Apple TV+ John’s Pick: Wavelengths Announcement Post: Wavelengths 2.0 A Podcast and a Patreon Unwind Deal Godzilla Minus One Minus Color (49.99 down from $14.99) Leave Feedback for John and Federico MacStories Unwind Feedback Form Follow us on Mastodon MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Bluesky MacStories Unwind MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, Federico recounts his trip to London to see Oasis play Wembley Stadium, and John recommends the new Fantastic Four movie plus a great deal on a classic comedy. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes Unplugged Segment Picks Federico’s Pick: Oasis Live at Wembley Stadium John’s Pick: Fantastic Four: First Steps Unwind Deal Warm up for Happy Gilmore 2 on Netflix with the original: Happy Gilmore, released in 1996, is available in the TV app for just $7.99 Leave Feedback for John and Federico MacStories Unwind Feedback Form Follow us on Mastodon MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Bluesky MacStories Unwind MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, John struggles to update an old Apple TV and two HomePod minis, Federico sets up OTA TV, and they both go bananas over Donkey Kong Bananza. Also available on YouTube here. This episode is sponsored by: Hello Weather: The Exceptionally Useful Weather App for iOS, Totally Redesigned for 2025 Links and Show Notes Unplugged Topics John struggles to update an Apple TV and HomePod minis Federico installs an HDHomeRun for OTA TV Picks John and Federico’s Joint Pick: Donkey Kong Bananza Leave Feedback for John and Federico MacStories Unwind Feedback Form Follow us on Mastodon MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Bluesky MacStories Unwind MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Affiliate Linking Policy