Category: podcast

In MobileViews 629, Jon Westfall, guest panelist Don Sorcinelli, and I discussed cloud storage policy shifts, new Android based Googlebooks, and Googlebook OS growing pains. I recorded the episode on my new Acer Googlebook 14, though a pre-show Googlebook microphone glitch with a Comica EJOY D10 Pro forced me to rely on the laptop’s built-in microphone. We opened with Microsoft’s upcoming M365 storage policy changes for consumer subscriptions, which will cap family plans at a total of 2 TB starting in early 2027 rather than 1 TB per user, raising concerns for families using OneDrive for photo and video backups. I also shared details about ordering Amazon’s new Alexa Tablet 8 inch model ($280 list), which runs Google Android with Play Store access, though Don noted that the new aluminum-body device omits the microSD card slot found on older Fire models.

A major segment of the podcast was dedicated to a hands-on review of the Acer Googlebook 14. While Jon and I agreed that the $899 hardware, display, and keyboard are top-notch, the Googlebook OS currently behaves like an early beta release. I walked through several software headaches, including Chrome browser crashes, fillable PDF form fields disappearing during printing (requiring printing on a MacBook Neo instead), graphical Linux applications like Audacity failing to launch, and file syncing quirks in OneDrive. Despite these early adopter bugs, the hardware remains promising with the expectation that Google continues to refine the platform.

Don provided an enterprise perspective on Windows updates and Surface Pro ARM devices, detailing Microsoft’s chaotic September “patch palooza” where over 900 fixes broke Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) functionality and an Alberta timezone preview caused application timing errors. He also explained why enterprise adoption of ARM Surface Pros remains slow due to driver-level incompatibilities with VPNs and security software. We wrapped up with two clever hardware and software hacks from Jon: securing a legitimate Windows 11 Pro license for $7.49 via Groupon for a virtual machine on his M4 MacBook Pro, and using an Uptab adapter recommended by ChatGPT to revive a 2010 27-inch Apple Cinema Display with single-cable USB-C power delivery.

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

In MobileViews 628, Jon Westfall, Sven Johannsen, and I discussed the retail rollout of the new Google Googlebooks . I shared my frustration over the delivery delay for my pre-ordered Acer model even though it is currently at the delivery company’s location less than 20 miles from me, while Sven highlighted sparse local stock at Best Buy locations. The nearest Best Buy with Googlebooks in stock was 240 miles distant from Sven.  We clarified that actual Googlebook pricing ranges from $899 for entry-level models to $1,400 for premium hybrids, with Google committing to a 10-year OS support window through mid-2034 for current Chromebooks. I noted that I chose the $899 Acer unit specifically for its native USI 2.0 stylus support, and we debated iPad desktop replacement workflows versus remote VNC setups.

Our AI software discussion focused on practical workflows and new feature rollouts. I highlighted getting access to Google Notebook’s live voice chat on mobile, while Jon shared how he trained his Gemini notebook to generate complete clinical psychology course packages—including MARP slide decks, case study vignettes, and facilitator guides. We also looked ahead to the “rambler” speech cleanup tool built into Googlebook OS and considered Meta’s new announcements, including why someone would want a camera-free Ray-Ban audio glasses designed for environmental transparency (instead of just using earbuds with an AI service on a paired phone) and the pocket-sized Muse Charm personal AI device.

We finished up with a discussion of mobile phone network resilience and multi-device service plans. Sven detailed his experience configuring dual eSIMs on Pixel phones to run Google Fi alongside T-Mobile, as well as signing up for the Apple Care Family plan ($49.99/month) to cover 18 devices across his household. I reflected on my reliance on AT&T’s satellite SOS texting during a recent 46.5-hour local power outage which resulted in AT&T wireless service being severely degraded or completely unavailable for several days.

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

Jon Westfall was not available to record a podcast this week. So, I recorded a very short mini-podcast mostly of mini-rants with the exception of my positive mini-review of the ESR Geo Digital Pencil for the iPad.

ESR Geo Digital Pencil Review

• The ESR Geo Digital Pencil serves as an affordable $35 iPad stylus alternative.
• The stylus attaches magnetically, charges via USB-C, and features an on-off cap switch with an indicator light.
• The device supports pressure sensitivity and edge detection similar to the Apple Pencil Pro.

YouTube App Anomalies on Android Tablets

• YouTube app display bugs on Android tablets by showing full-window or blank thumbnails.
• Clearing the app cache and storage temporarily resolves persistent thumbnail rendering failures.
• The display issues are  seen on devices running both Android OS 17 and Android OS 16 – a Google Pixel Tablet and a Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE.

Ray-Ban Meta Audio-Only Glasses Assessment

• I don’t understand the use case of the recently announced Ray-Ban Meta Audio (only) glasses
• Audio-only Ray-Ban Meta glasses lack practical value compared to exisitng open-ear headphones paired with AI services on a phone..
• The camera-equipped version of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses provides convenient photo capture.

Surface Pro 10 and Copilot Plus PC Limitations

• I bought a Microsoft Surface Pro 10 in the Spring of 2024 to better understand Microsoft’s claimed AI-first design.
• Built-in AI features on the Surface Pro 10 lack long-term value.
• The Insta360 Studio software has an ARM version. However, it does not run on the Surface Pro 10’s Snapdragon processor more than 2 years after the laptops release..

Googlebook Preview and Technical Concerns

• I pre-ordered a Acer Googlebook to learn about Googlebook OS and to see if it can actually be an alternative to my MacBook Air & Neo and, to a lesser extent, Surface Pro 10.
• Google and Gemini systems frequently confuse Googlebooks with Chromebooks during technical inquiries.
• The Googlebook features a Debian Linux system with a level 5 security certified PTM hypervisor.
• The Acer Googlebook costs $899 and features a convertible design with USI stylus support.

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

In MobileViews 627, Jon Westfall, guest panelist Sven Johannsen, and I convened to discuss our initial impressions of new Apple releases, emerging hardware, and developer updates. We started off discussing Googlebook pre-orders starting on Sept. 21 with rumored prices of $1,000 to $2,000, as well as the new Gemini desktop app for Windows. I noted my interest in the Boox Note Mini C running Android 16 with its powered InkSight stylus, while Jon and Sven discussed using their Kobo and Kindle e-readers for portable reading. Jon also shared ongoing challenges with university students misidentifying professor names and miskeying booking email addresses, prompting him to start building a Copilot Studio scheduling chatbot integrated with Microsoft Teams.

Apple’s latest hardware lineup was up next as I shared my experience with the new Apple Watch Series 12 with its included magnetic band and the iPhone 18 Pro, highlighting its identical 4x optical zoom compared to the 5x available in the older 15 Pro Max model. Sven shared his purchases of the Apple Watch Ultra 4, AirPods 5, and an iPhone 18 Pro XL for his wife, while Jon showcased his Apple Watch Ultra 4 with its flexible translucent ocean band and custom ChatGPT-designed watch faces. On the software side, I praised iOS 27’s video frame extraction tool and custom EQ settings on AirPods Pro 3, while Sven noted Google’s “made you look” external animation feature for entertaining children during photography on foldables.

We then learned about the extensive development and accessibility update that Jon and his AI developer assistants made for his Podium classroom platform, completing a real VPS deployment spanning 88 commits and 91,000 lines across 115 files that added live polls, an audio mixer, and ambient pre-lecture music with Claude acting as a virtual sysadmin. We also touched on cellular options, comparing a secondary $10 Google Fi data line with AT&T’s unrestricted roaming in Mexico. Finally, Sven highlighted Meta’s initiative providing free Ray-Ban AI glasses to blind veterans to read notes and select clothing, leading into a discussion on AR glasses featuring built-in diopter adjustments for prescription-free use.

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

Jon Westfall and I are joined by long-time friend and frequent guest panelist Steven Hughes for MobileViews Podcast 626. In this podcast, I start with a brief first-world-problems mini-rant about my wired broadband internet service provider being mostly down for 3 days prior to the podcast (I saw a brief network drop during the podcast but remained on the call – thanks to buffers?). I want to express my sincere gratitude to Jon, Steven, and other friends/panelists who have patiently listened to my podcast rants for nearly 20 years :-). And, thanks to Jon for recording this week’s podcast! We did this in case I lost network connectivity and needed to use my phone and LTE/5G to reconnect to complete the podcast session. Here’s what we discussed:

• Apple Watch Series 12
  • Health Sensing System: Features a re-architected sensor array with a ring of 12 lights (larger, power-efficient green LEDs) and an increased electrode surface area for better ECGs and continuous heart rate tracking every five seconds.
  • High-Frequency HRV & Vitals: Measures Heart Rate Variability (HRV) up to 24 times more frequently, split into Recovery HRV and overall HRV, alongside a new daytime vitals view.
  • Readiness Score: Analyzes activity, training load, vitals, and sleep to provide a daily 0–10 score with clear guidance (Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, or Go For It).
  • Audio Intelligence Suite: Powered by the S11 chip, it introduces features like Live Rewind (double-press the Digital Crown to view the last 15 seconds of a conversation as text), Siri Recap (automatic conversation summaries), Sound Recognition (for sirens, doorbells, or a baby crying), and accelerated Shazam.
  • Design & Durability: Reintroduces full ceramic cases in Pearl White and Night Blue, a radiant gold titanium Hermès edition, and Ceramic Shield 2 protection on aluminum models.
• Apple Watch Ultra 4
  • Endurance Battery & GPS: Delivers up to 50 hours of everyday battery life (84 hours in Low Power Mode), up to 45 hours in Max Extended Workout mode, and features the most accurate on-device GPS in a sports watch.
  • Shared Health & AI Platform: Inherits the new Health Sensing System (five-second heart rate tracking, 24x more frequent HRV), the Readiness score, and the S11-powered Audio Intelligence suite (Live Rewind, Siri Recap, Sound Recognition).
  • Rugged Design Updates: Available in natural and black titanium with refreshed band options, including an Apple Watch Hermès Ultra variant featuring a new extendable Grand H titanium band designed to fit over wetsuits.
• iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max
  • Variable Aperture Camera: Features a 48MP Fusion Main camera with a physical, mechanical variable aperture (f/1.48 to f/4.0) using six laser-cut blades for manual or automatic control over depth of field and low-light capture.
  • Pro Controls & Apple Reference Image: Adds dedicated camera UI options for manual shutter speed, white balance, and histograms, alongside Apple Reference Image which cryptographically signs sensor data to create an unalterable digital negative for proof of authenticity.
  • A20 Pro & Thermal Vapor Chamber: Powered by a 2nm A20 Pro chip paired with a next-generation vapor chamber having three times more surface area, enabling up to 40% higher sustained performance.
  • Redefined Dynamic Island & Connectivity: Features a smaller Dynamic Island capable of displaying up to three Live Activities simultaneously, plus Apple’s new C2 cellular modem and N1 wireless networking chip.
• iPhone Duo
  • Foldable Dual-Screen Form Factor: Apple’s first foldable phone, featuring a thin 7.6-inch inner Super Retina XDR display with a nano-texture glare-reducing finish and a 5.4-inch outer display that shares a matching aspect ratio.
  • Fold-Specific Camera & Software Tricks: Introduces Smart Take (auto-captures when everyone poses), Duo Preview (allows subjects to preview shots on the outer screen), Kid Cue (shows Peanuts animations to catch children’s attention), and Duo FaceTime.
  • Advanced Foldable Architecture: Features a durable hinge built from over 100 components, Touch ID integrated into the side button (replacing Face ID), dual-battery architecture, and Split View multitasking support.

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

In MobileViews 625, Jon Westfall and I started off with hardware updates and a bit of TV Sci-Fi nostalgia. Following a recommendation from Sven Johannsen, I purchased a Satechi Slim EX wireless mouse , though Sven ribbed me because its silver color doesn’t match my indigo MacBook Neo. The mouse’s native USB-C dongle prompted us to discuss how USB-A, despite the industry shift, will likely remain a fixture in our adapter bags for a long time. We also celebrated the upcoming 60th anniversary of the original Star Trek series on September 8th, sharing childhood memories of being terrified of Mr. Spock, analyzing Riker’s first-season lack of a beard and Worf’s voice changes in The Next Generation, and recommending the Dropping Names with Brent and Johnny, a podcast by ST:TNG stars Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner that focuses on general entertainment industry history rather than just Star Trek.

Our software discussion touched on a mix of AI productivity, weather tracking, and backup systems. While monitoring the “hockey-stick” path of tropical storm Lowell south of Hawaii and Karina to the north of Hawaii, I’ve been using Google DeepMind’s Weather Lab using the new “Weather Next 3” model, paired with twice-daily automated reports from Google Spark. In other AI workflows, I’ve been testing Google Pics (an evolution of Nano Banana), which lets users directly edit text and select objects inside AI-generated images, while Jon has been using MARP (Markdown Presentation Ecosystem) to convert Markdown into presentations. We also noted that Windows 10 and 11 now enable Windows Backup automatic cloud backup by default, prompting us to reminisce about our days as mobile MVPs in the early 2000s when Microsoft resisted our pleas to make cloud syncing the default standard.

We wrapped up with predictions for Apple’s September 9th event, which is on a Wednesday this year instead of a Tuesday. Because September 11th falls on a Friday, we speculate that Apple might shift pre-orders to Saturday. Between the rumored foldable iPhone, Watch Series 12, Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5, we debated our upgrade paths. I’m particularly interested in the Watch Series 12 as my 15 Pro battery degrades, but the lack of a telephoto lens on the rumored foldable iPhone is a dealbreaker. However, an iOS 27 feature called “iPhone Handoff” (carrier specific) might seamlessly share a single phone number across two devices—a “diabolical” strategy that might just force enthusiasts to buy both a single-screen Pro and a foldable.

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