Category: podcast

Jon Westfall and I (Todd Ogasawara) were joined by frequent guest panelist Frank McPherson who was on the podcast with me way back in 2008.

Frank first joined us all the way back on Podcast #2 on Nov. 28, 2008, when the hot topic was the T-Mobile G-1—the very first Android phone. Jon hopped on board with Podcast 69 on Dec. 22, 2013, to discuss the transition from Windows Mobile/Phone to other platforms and Microsoft Project Siena.

We also mentioned frequent guest panelists Sven Johannsen and Jack Cook on Podcast 109 in Feb. 2015, discussing the state of Windows Phone two years before it was discontinued.

Our discussions included Apple’s upcoming 50th anniversary on April 1, my anticipating the delivery of the new “budget” MacBook Neo A18 Pro powered laptop, Frank’s skeptic’s few on “what is low cost?”, and the Google March 2026 Pixel Drop. A key part of our discussion was how Android devices extend seamlessly to connected displays. This feature was previously enabled only in developer mode but is now a standard capability.

Frank had some specific thoughts about Android desktop mode on his blog. I noted that while my Pixel 10 Pro supports this, I was disappointed to find that neither the Pixel Tablet nor the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE does.

Jon showed off his latest project: an Elecrow e-Ink screen which will be a remotely programmable office door sign. We also discussed the Elecrow CrowView Note, which is an interesting portable monitor with keyboard that functions as a “phone-to-laptop” device (somewhat reminiscent of the old Celio REDFLY Mobile Companion).

Available via Apple iTunes.
MobileViews YouTube Podcasts channel
MobileViews Podcast on Audible.com

As we inch ever closer to episode 600, we spent some time reflecting on our podcasting journey and the accelerating pace of our 100-episode milestones. It feels like just yesterday I started this show during a brief stint as a full-time blogger, and I’m incredibly grateful for Jon Westfall and all the friends who have stepped in to keep the show running consistently over the past 18 years.

Tech News & Announcements

Jon Westfall and I (Todd Ogasawara) covered several major industry updates and rumors this week:

• Apple’s Upcoming Events: We discussed the rumors surrounding the Apple March 4 launch event, including the highly anticipated A18 Pro budget MacBook, which is expected to bring fun colors and a more accessible price point.
• Google’s Latest Offerings: We touched on the Google Gemini Lyria 3 music creation feature. I was able to try it out a couple of times.  Additionally, we looked at the news that Google launched a Snapseed camera for iPhone, bringing pro manual controls and retro film effects to iOS.

E-Ink Troubleshooting: Boox Note Air5 C

I provided an update on the Boox Note Air5 C and a frustrating e-ink lag problem when using Microsoft OneNote. This writing lag is a known issue. The current solution when dealing with OneNote’s infinite scrolling is simple but annoying: don’t write near the very bottom of the display. Note that this specific issue doesn’t seem to happen on the iPad or conventional Android tablets—it is strictly an e-ink quirk.

Workplace Feedback, “Vibe Working,” and OneNote

We moved into a deeper discussion about evaluating work and the ongoing challenges of providing workplace feedback. Jon has been evaluating the work of his peers lately in OneNote, and to say it’s not going well would be an understatement. We debated whether the fault lies with the tool itself or the user, leading into a wider conversation about the lack of attention to detail in professional environments.

This tied perfectly into the difficulty of giving feedback to coworkers, especially when unreadable formatting or poorly optimized code directly impacts your own workflow. Finding that reasonable middle ground to deliver criticism without causing unnecessary friction remains a constant challenge.

We introduced some new terms to frame this phenomenon, comparing Mark Zuckerberg’s old “move fast and break things” mantra against the reality that carelessness often speaks directly to competency. We coined phrases like Minimally Viable Product / Deliverable, Vibe Working, and Generation AI to describe these modern workplace dynamics.

Available via Apple iTunes.
MobileViews YouTube Podcasts channel
MobileViews Podcast on Audible.com

This week on MobileViews 597, we dive into a series of mini-rants and discuss the future of low-cost computing, hardware prices, and AI features in mobile apps.Key Topics and Discussion Summary1. The Clipchamp/OneDrive Forced Storage Rant

Microsoft’s recent update to its Clipchamp video editor, which forces all users to save their projects to OneDrive, has sparked a firestorm of negative feedback. Because video files are large, users with slow upload speeds (like ~25Mbps) are seeing performance slow to a crawl, and they are concerned about quickly maxing out their free cloud storage.

The overwhelmingly negative community sentiment, as seen on a Microsoft Learn Q&A thread, includes:

• Loss of Local Control: Users are angered by being forced into the cloud, with many migrating to alternatives like the Open Source ShotCut or Davinci Resolve.
• Monetization Concerns: Many see the move as a deliberate tactic to push users into premium OneDrive subscriptions.
• Bugs & UX Issues: The update has reportedly caused data loss and made the desktop app difficult to use.

2. Hardware and Computing Futures

• Apple and Chromebooks: There’s anticipation for a low-cost MacBook possibly featuring an A18 Pro processor. Meanwhile, the expected availability for a particular Chromebook model has been pushed back from 2026 to 2028 (aluminium-os). Jon is also looking forward to the next-gen Mac Mini.
• Skyrocketing Hardware Costs: The prices of RAM, SSDs, and hard drives are surging due to AI-related data center demands. This raises the question of whether coders will return to valuing resource-efficient programming, reminiscent of the low-memory challenges on classic machines like the Apple II+ (PC Mag article).
• Gemini in Google Photos: We detail the process of turning off the “Gemini AI” search feature in Google Photos. Users on a Pixel or Boox tablet can bypass the AI search with a simple double-tap on the Ask button. For a full disable on Android or iPhone, the setting is found under: Profile Picture > Photos settings > Preferences > Gemini features in Photos.

3. Quick Hits

• An unexpected mouse battery explosion in a trusty Logitech mouse.
• Jon upgraded to a Backbone Pro gaming controller, noting that the Backbone line is a great “jack of all trades” device.
• Jon’s Python Toolbox recommendations:
  • Pyenv
  • PyInstaller
  • Tkinter GUIs
  • NiceGUI (for web browser interfaces)

Available via Apple iTunes.
MobileViews YouTube Podcasts channel
MobileViews Podcast on Audible.com

We recorded MobileViews 596 a day early on February 7, 2026, mostly to stay ahead of the weather. I’m currently under a flood watch in Hawaii, while Jon Westfall has been dealing with the aftermath of an ice storm in Mississippi. We spent some time comparing the “quality” of our power outages—I’ve had five short ones recently, while Jon’s neighbors dealt with a single, brutal nine-day stretch.

In my retirement, I’ve started using mechanical keyboards—I have several now. Surprisingly, I broke my first keycaps ever this month on a Royal Kludge board. The stems on the “O” and “3” keys actually cracked. I’ve been replacing them with a set of Warmier PBT shine-through keycaps, doing about three a day so it doesn’t feel like a chore. Jon is still rocking a 15-year-old Apple keyboard, but I’m trying to convince him to try a 75% mechanical layout with a volume knob.

We had a discussion about the recent tech stock dip following Anthropic’s new Claude plugins. Major players like Microsoft and Oracle saw massive hits, and I can’t help but wonder if CEOs are overreacting to AI’s current capabilities. I see a parallel to the “Advanced Intelligent Networking” (AIN) of the late 80s. Back then, we were told visual “drag-and-drop” programming would replace coders, but that path failed because non-techies didn’t account for error conditions or governance. Jon agreed, noting that while the sky is changing, it isn’t necessarily falling, and companies may soon regret the mass layoffs they’ve justified in the name of AI.

My Boox Note Air 5C journey continues. I recently picked up a Staedtler Noris Digital Jumbo stylus. It looks just like a traditional pencil and features a digital eraser on the end. Interestingly, erasing with the physical end of the stylus is actually faster than hitting “undo” on an e-ink screen. My current workflow involves syncing my daily doodles from the native Boox app to OneNote as PDFs, though I’m still struggling with how OneNote for Android handles the mixture of handwriting and text.
Jon shared his progress on a mobile “Hyflex” setup for his psychology classes at Delta State. He’s using a combination of gear to allow students to participate in-person, synchronously online, or via recording. One software highlight he mentioned is Better Display (the $21 Pro version), which allows for a picture-in-picture view of an extended display. It’s a lifesaver when the classroom projector is positioned at an awkward angle behind the presenter.

Finally, Jon is planning his hardware roadmap for the year. He’s debating between a DIY Linux box for local LLM work, a Unify storage appliance, or waiting for a Mac Mini with an M5 chip. Personally, I’m keeping an eye on the rumor mill for a touchscreen MacBook—I might actually buy one if it ever surfaces.

Check out Jon’s college classroom HyFlex setup video.

Available via Apple iTunes.
MobileViews YouTube Podcasts channel
MobileViews Podcast on Audible.com

After a severe winter storm in the mainland US last week, Jon Westfall is back to join me (Todd Ogasawara) for MobileViews Podcast 595. Note: this week’s Google Nano Banana Pro generated frame around the screenshot of Jon and me “decided” to hallucinate components of the Onyx Boox Note Air5 C home screen (like a phone icon and the entire top info-bar) despite the fact that I provide an actual screenshot of my Note Air5 C home screen 🙂

BONUS TIP: Be sure to check out Jon’s YouTube Channel: Professor Westfall

We kick off the podcast with storm-related tech notes, including lessons learned about external batteries and the effects of power surges on IoT devices. On the gear front, Jon shared his creative solution for a broken Xbox headset by replacing it with a Twelve South AirFly Pro and a lav mic, allowing him to use his existing AirPods. We also discussed, what else, AI, and the intriguing concept of OpenClaw Moltbook, a “social network” for AI agents, and the challenge of “AI slop” drowning science publishing. We also noted that my Google One 2TB subscription now includes the Gemini Plus tier, which is better defined in our reference notes as the Gemini AI Pro (Advanced) plan that bundles with the 2TB storage.

The featured device this week is the Onyx BOOX Note Air5 C color e-ink Android OS 15 tablet that I bought recently. Our deep dive explores the mindset of e-ink users, often seeking a minimalist, distraction-free tool and embracing “mindfulness” in their writing. I compare the Air5 C to my only previous e-ink experience (a 2010 Kindle) and the non-e-ink TCL NXTPAPER (which I am considering to purchase). While acknowledging known issues—like the case and the display’s color limitations—the appeal lies in rethinking note-taking in retirement, the low friction of a digital pen, and the ability to use apps from the Google Play store.

Available via Apple iTunes.
MobileViews YouTube Podcasts channel
MobileViews Podcast on Audible.com

I sat down for MobileViews Podcast 594 with my longtime friends Sven Johannsen and Frank McPherson. Our usual co-host, Jon Westfall, was away, but we had plenty to cover, ranging from the bite-sized future of entertainment to a massive deep dive into the world of color E-ink tablets.

Note: I prompted Google Nano Banana Pro to convert a screenshot of our Google Meet video call and approximate what the photos of us would look like on a color e-ink tablet.

We kicked things off by discussing a fascinating trend in East Asia: micro dramas. Specifically, a TikTok subsidiary called Pine Drama is producing miniseries with episodes lasting only 30 to 90 seconds. These “video comic strips” are designed to be highly addictive, and while I have a short attention span, I’m curious to see if this ultra-short format translates well to global audiences.

On a more serious note, we touched on a security vulnerability called Whisper Pair. This bug affects several major Bluetooth headset brands—including Sony, Google, JBL, and Jabra—allowing for potential location tracking if an attacker is within 14 meters. If you use earbuds from these brands, I recommend checking the specific lists online to see if your hardware is vulnerable.

I’ve been testing Google Gemini’s personal intelligence features lately, which are surprisingly good at “buttering you up” by knowing your interests in Star Trek or Star Wars. This led to a broader discussion about the AI Divide. With subscriptions like Gemini Pro or Copilot Pro costing around $20 a month, we are quickly moving toward a society of “haves and have-nots” regarding high-level tech tools. We also noted how this digital divide manifests in the real world.

The heart of our conversation was a deep dive into color E-ink tablets, led by Frank, who has become a true connoisseur of the medium. We compared several major players in the market:

Frank emphasized that for him, writing is about memory and engagement during meetings. While an iPad has more utility, E-ink offers reflective technology that is easier on the eyes and provides a battery life that lasts for days rather than hours.

After hearing Frank’s breakdown, I’m strongly leaning toward the Boox Note Air 5C. It’s available on Amazon for about $530 and includes a stylus that uses Wacom EMR technology, meaning I won’t even need to charge the pen.

Available via Apple iTunes.
MobileViews YouTube Podcasts channel
MobileViews Podcast on Audible.com