In episode 577 of the MobileViews podcast, Todd Ogasawara and Jon Westfall dive into a lively and wide-ranging discussion on recent tech developments, frustrations, and personal experiments. The episode kicks off with reflections on the Google Pixel 10 Pro and XL, highlighting their impressive computational photography features—especially the 100x ProRes zoom—and the new Pixel Snap (MagSafe-like) charging support. The duo also critiques Microsoft’s confusing app design choices, particularly within the Microsoft 365 mobile experience, and laments the decline of Surface and Duo devices. Apple and Google’s alternating dominance in the tech news cycle is a recurring theme, with both hosts expressing mixed feelings about hardware reliability and innovation across platforms.
The conversation takes a playful turn as Todd and Jon explore the quirks of macOS wallpaper rotation, the long-awaited Instagram iPad optimization, and the curious behavior of Amazon’s Fire tablets. Jon shares his growing GitHub repository of useful Python scripts, including tools for photo redaction and LMS reporting, while Todd muses on AI’s growing influence and the potential of thermal sensing in upcoming Apple devices. They wrap up with speculation about the upcoming Apple event, interest in AirPods Pro 3 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, and a brief update on Hurricane Kiko near Hawaii.
Todd Ogasawara, Jon Westfall, and Sven Johannsen discussed the widespread alerts about a Google data breach urging Gmail password changes, which Todd noted he had not personally received despite seeing numerous reports. The conversation quickly moved to their personal tech upgrades, with both Todd and Sven having recently acquired new Pixel phones—Todd upgraded from a Pixel 7a to a Pixel 10 Pro, and Sven opted for a Pixel 10 Pro XL. They praised the Pixel 10 line’s advanced AI features, including the ProRes 100x digital zoom, which Todd found “shockingly good” and “fantastic” for capturing distant details with clarity, even if tech blogs might deem it “fuzzy”. Other impressive AI integrations include Live Translate, which Todd’s wife found amusing in its word choices, and Call Notes for transcribing phone conversations. Todd also highlighted the benefit of a one-year Google One AI Pro subscription that came with his Pixel and applauded the new Pixel Snap feature, confirming its compatibility with Apple MagSafe chargers.
Further expanding on accessories and broader tech, Todd expressed excitement about the Pixel 10 Pro’s new temperature-taking capability, useful for both body and object temperatures. He also shared his experience with the Anker Nano Power Bank (5K, MagGo, Slim), an ultra-slim, Qi2 Certified 15W Max MagSafe-compatible portable charger with a 5,000mAh capacity. Despite being marketed primarily for iPhones, Todd found it worked with his Pixel, appreciating its design and color, though he observed lower-than-expected charging wattage with both his Pixel and iPhone. Sven recommended the Doohoeek Updated Charging Case for Oura Ring 4 & 3 Charger, a portable wireless power station featuring a 1000mAh battery that converts the official wired charger into a convenient portable solution, providing up to five full charges for the Oura Ring. Jon, an Oura ring user, weighed in on the practicality of such a case, also mentioning the recent controversy surrounding Aura’s partnership with Palantir and concerns about consumer data privacy. The discussion also touched upon the desire for easier switching between mobile ecosystems and the evolving understanding of AI’s capabilities and limitations.
Way back in January 2012 I was a tech writer for the short lived revival of BYTE magazine as an online-only publication. I had the privilege of interviewing Kent Ekberg to learn about the Sony Mavica prototype analog electronic (not digital, not film-based) camera as he, in his role as a Sony Corporate Planner, introduced it to professional photographers and artists in the US in the summer of 1981. Kent also played a key role in the introduction of CDs, CD-ROMs, and was a product champion for optical discs.
I’m taking advantage of 2025 technologies like Google NotebookLM and Adobe Podcast Studio to revisit our conversation, clean up the recorded audio a little, and provide a captioned video “Audiogram” of our discussion.
Kent Ekberg joined Sony in September 1981 and was a Corporate Planner until he left the company around 1990. His role involved leading the corporate plan for Sony’s non-consumer business, which encompassed nascent computer products, peripheral devices like floppy disks, electronic cameras, and optical disks such as CDs and CD-ROMs.
His key experiences at Sony include:
The Original Sony Mavica (Magnetic Video Camera):
? Ekberg was closely involved with the Mavica prototype, which was introduced in August 1981.
? A significant part of his job was to demonstrate these prototypes at tradeshows and to major professional clients, including Time-Life, prominent photographers, and artist Peter Max, to understand potential uses for these groundbreaking products.
? He highlighted that in 1981, the concept of a filmless or electronic camera was considered “science fiction”.
? The Mavica was an analog electronic camera that captured still video frames, storing them on a small magnetic “Mavica floppy” disk. He estimated its resolution to be around 640×480 pixels, comparable to VGA quality at the time, which was better than typical video.
? Sony initially introduced the Mavica as a professional product rather than a consumer one, acknowledging the market’s unpreparedness for such technology.
? He conducted one of his first corporate strategic planning studies on the Mavica’s market potential and observed the reluctance of entrenched film companies like Kodak and Fujifilm to embrace new electronic imaging technologies.
? He recounted that demonstrations were often “static” but effective, showcasing the “magic” of instant image capture, printing, and even electronic transmission—a novel capability that allowed photos from overseas to be transmitted to Time-Life in New York for publication.
? Ekberg found the original analog Mavica to be “point and shoot” and easy to use. However, he recognized that for professional photographers, greater sophistication, such as lens adapters for Nikon and Canon lenses, would be necessary.
? The original analog Mavica was not a “runaway product”, and Sony chose not to aggressively market it to consumers, anticipating the eventual emergence of digital technology, an area where Sony initially lacked core expertise compared to Silicon Valley firms.
? Due to the limited number of prototypes (only one or two in the country), he frequently had to coordinate and even “fight” for access to the Mavica for various demos.
Other Technologies and Strategic Insights:
? Ekberg also worked extensively on CD, optical disc, and CD-ROM technologies, even more so than on Mavica.
? He served as Sony’s product champion for optical discs, navigating standardization challenges (Sony collaborated with Philips to develop the CD and CD-ROM) and taking prototypes to market to explore their applications.
? He played a role in establishing Sony’s disc manufacturing infrastructure, including the first disc plant in the United States.
? He collaborated with companies like Microsoft to legitimize CD-ROM technology, noting the adoption of Office on CD-ROM.
? He observed the resistance of traditional media, such as The New York Times, to embrace electronic formats due to concerns about cannibalizing their existing print business.
? He provided context for the technological landscape of 1981, noting that personal computers, like the newly introduced IBM PC, were not consumer products, and even Sony’s large New York office had very few computers.
? He highlighted the typical product trajectory for high-tech consumer electronics, where innovations often start in professional markets before transitioning to consumer availability
In this podcast, Todd Ogasawara and Jon Westfall discussed several notable updates and new gadgets in the tech world. Google Photos is rolling out new AI-powered creative tools, including “Photo to video,” which animates still pictures into short video clips, and “Remix,” capable of transforming photos into various art styles like anime or 3D animations. These features will be accessible through a new “Create tab” in the Photos app. Additionally, the Blood Oxygen feature has returned to Apple Watch models (Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2) in the U.S. after a U.S. Customs ruling, with sensor data now processed and calculated on the paired iPhone. The conversation also touched upon a new accessory, the Spigen Snapzip (MagFit) EDC Pouch Organizer, a mini-backpack designed for MagSafe-compatible iPhones, offering versatile storage for small essentials and multiple carrying options, including a carabiner for attachment to a belt or backpack.
The discussion further explored the broader implications of artificial intelligence, particularly concerning Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics. These foundational laws, which dictate that robots must not harm humans, must obey human orders (unless conflicting with the first law), and must protect their own existence (unless conflicting with the first or second law), were considered for modern AI models. The hosts noted that when asked about adhering to these laws, AI models were “uniformly against it,” often citing the vagueness of the rules. One AI, ChatGPT, even provided a hypothetical analysis, estimating that enforcing these laws could significantly increase electricity consumption, ranging from a 1-10% rise for a “basic rule stack” to a dramatic 200-1000% increase for advanced “simulation world modeling”. This highlights the complex ethical and practical challenges in implementing such safeguards for increasingly sophisticated AI.
Note: While Google Photos Remix has not appeared in my (Todd’s) apps yet, I do see Google Photos’ AI Enhance option on my Pixel 7a and Pixel Tablet. However, it is only functional on the Pixel 7a. The photos here show the before-and-after applying the new enhancement feature. It does not appear as an option in Google Photos for iOS/iPadOS or in a web browser.
In their latest “MobileViews 574” podcast, hosts Todd Ogasawara and Dr. Jon Westfall navigated through significant tech news and offered practical advice. A notable development discussed was the discontinuation of AOL’s dial-up internet access on September 30, 2025, marking the end of an era for the once-pioneering service. The conversation also touched upon Microsoft’s decision to retire its Microsoft Lens app from iOS and Android devices, effective September 15, 2025, with full support ending November 15. Todd, who uses Lens to de-skew photos of doodles and whiteboards, is now seeking alternatives, with suggestions including Microsoft 365 Copilot app, OSS Document Scanner, Genius Scan, and Google Lens. This led to a humorous digression about the differing “personalities” of AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini.
Shifting to essential tips, Dr. Westfall provided a comprehensive “back-to-school tech roundup” for students. Key recommendations included USB drives with encrypted partitions for secure and compatible file transfer, and small thermal printers such as the Phomemo M04AS for quick, inexpensive prints like QR codes or notes. A Belkin 2-in-1 MagSafe Wireless Charging Dock was suggested for convenience, supporting iPhone’s StandBy mode. For car-owning students, a portable jump starter (like the NOCO Boost GB40) and a mobile tire inflator (such as the DENVIX Tire Inflator) were highlighted as essential safety tools that also function as power banks and lights. Practical, inexpensive items like a packable rain hat (e.g., Soxbang Waterproof Bucket Rain Hat) and a towel were also recommended for unexpected weather. Finally, both hosts emphasized the critical need for a backup plan for all critical technology, leveraging cloud storage and considering extended warranties, along with the “three-day rule” for assignments to mitigate stress. This last point was underscored by observations about some students’ reluctance to even use two-factor authentication for campus email due to perceived inconvenience.
Todd Ogasawara and Jon Westfall covered a range of interesting topics, from real-world natural disasters to the cutting edge of AI development and personal tech. Todd shared his recent experience during a statewide tsunami alert in Hawaii, triggered by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia. While initial information was well-managed, he highlighted significant issues with traffic chaos during evacuation and a concerning lack of information post-wave impact. On the technology front, Todd discussed Google Notebook LM, praising its ability to create succinct summaries and slideshows with voiceovers from source material. He also introduced Google Opal, a new experimental tool from Google Labs that allows users to build and share powerful AI mini-apps using natural language and visual editing, describing it as a “step beyond Visual Basic” for accelerating AI prototyping and workflows.
Jon Westfall also shared his recent tech purchases and an exciting new project. He acquired an 8Bitdo Micro Bluetooth Gamepad, a pocket-sized mini-controller weighing just 24.8 grams with 16 buttons. Its versatility allows it to function as a game controller for Switch, Android, and Raspberry Pi, or as a keyboard mode device for various applications, including as a remote for his new Kobo Libra Colour eReader. The Kobo Libra Colour features a 7″ E Ink Kaleido™ 3 color display and Kobo Stylus 2 compatibility for colorful mark-ups and note-taking, with notebooks backed up to Kobo Cloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive. Jon also unveiled his open-source project, Uncle John’s Bank, a self-hostable banking system for parents and kids designed to teach financial literacy, notably incorporating daily compounding interest and Certificates of Deposit (CDs). This sophisticated project was developed remarkably fast (75 hours) thanks to extensive use of OpenAI Codex, which integrated directly with his GitHub repository, even writing developer documentation. However, Jon noted a peculiar issue where GitHub Copilot (AI) reviewing Codex (AI)-generated code sometimes caused new problems, suggesting limitations in AI-to-AI code interaction. Finally, Jon shared intriguing results from asking various AIs (Google Gemini, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Anthropic Claude) for investment advice, observing their diverse recommendations and risk appetites.
