The MacBreak Weekly crew celebrates the 25th anniversary of Mac OS X, discusses Apple's $95 million settlement over Siri privacy concerns, and shares their thoughts on new gaming capabilities coming to the Vision Pro headset. The hosts also debate the future of Google search in light of the US government's antitrust case and touch on the possibility of non-invasive glucose monitoring coming to the Apple Watch.

• Release of iOS and iPadOS 16.3.1 with important bug fixes and security updates
• 25th anniversary of Mac OS X and its importance in providing a modern, Unix-based foundation that became the basis for Apple's other operating systems
• Apple's $95 million settlement over Siri privacy concerns related to accidental recordings, while maintaining that user data was never sold or used for marketing
• Speculation on why Apple is unlikely to create its own search engine, particularly due to its lucrative deal with Google and the economic risks involved
• Concerns over Apple's AI-generated news summaries sometimes being wildly inaccurate, prompting calls for the company to suspend the feature until it can be improved
• Expansion of Apple Fitness+ with new workouts and integration with the Strava workout tracking platform
• The gang discusses the ethical implications of Apple potentially securing exclusive rights to non-invasive blood glucose monitoring on the Apple Watch
• Nvidia announcing upcoming support for its GeForce Now game streaming service on the Vision Pro headset, plus the ability to use the device for capturing movement to train AI for robotics
• 'Wicked' director Jon M. Chu used Apple Vision Pro during the film's post-production process

Picks of the Week:
• Leo: Ghostty - a macOS terminal with metal integration
• Jason: Govee Christmas Lights 2, programmable LED lights for festive decoration
• Alex: iPhone Cinematic mode, which allows for impressive video capture and post-production focus adjustments
• Andy: Anker's new 140W 4-port charger, offering fast charging capabilities for multiple devices simultaneously

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell

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Join us as we take a look back at some of MacBreak Weekly's best moments from 2024:

• The Vision Pro finally arrives, but someone on the panel is less than enthuastic about it.
• The Apple Car is suddenly no more!
• Department of Justice files an Antitrust Lawsuit against Apple.
• Apple announces the M4 chip.
• Apple's finally makes its foray into AI with Apple Intelligence.
• The Vision Pro Jingle is born.
• People finally started receiving their settlement payments over the butterfly keyboard lawsuit. Plus, the last recording of MacBreak Weekly in the Eastside Studio and the retirement of Jammer B.
• Why is Apple waiting to release Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.1.
• Apple announces the new M4 Mac mini with a much smaller form factor.

Host: Leo Laporte

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Blackmagic debuts a new 3D camera to capture video for the Vision Pro, which gets Alex Lindsay very giddy. King Charles III visits Apple's headquarters in the U.K. What does the panel think of iOS 18.2? And is Apple working on a new, folding iPad?

• Blackmagic debuts $30K 3D camera for capturing video for Vision Pro.
• His Majesty King Charles III visits Apple's U.K. headquarters.
• Tim Cook dines with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
• Tim Cook impressed King Charles with this specific iOS 18.2 feature.
• iOS 18.2/macOS 15.2 Review: Picture not so perfect?
• BBC complains to Apple over misleading shooting headline.
• Keynote, Pages, and Numbers get Apple Intelligence features.
• Apple's new vision for computing is a giant foldable iPad.

Picks of the Week:

• Jason's Pick: Mic Drop
• Alex's Pick: Shokz OpenSwim
• Andy's Pick: 'Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas"

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell

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Is Apple working on its own modem for cellular connection? Reports suggest that Apple is working with Sony on the development of hand controllers for the Vision Pro. And Apple snagged several Golden Globes nominations, with 'Slow Horses' and 'Disclaimer' leading the way.

• Apple prepares three-year modem rollout in bid to outdo Qualcomm.
• Apple explores Macs, headsets with built-in cellular data.
• Brazilian court overturns injunction imposed on Apple's App Store.
• Rumor: OLED MacBook Pro without a notch coming in 2026? Seems fishy per Andy.
• Tim Cook wants Apple to literally save your life.
• Apple reportedly collaborating with Sony to bolster VR gaming on Vision Pro.
• Stevie Wonder demoed the Apple Vision Pro, according to CEO Tim Cook: "It's always great to get feedback from Stevie".
• Transforming Porsche media events with spatial computing.
• Jason bought an M4 Max MacBook Pro.
• 'Slow Horses' and 'Disclaimer' lead Apple's Golden Globes nominations.
• How to watch 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' for free in 2024.
• MLS Commissioner Don Garber talks Apple subscribers, Messi and growth of soccer.
• Apple wraps 'F1' filming with Cook in Abu Dhabi.
• Tinkerer brings this retro-futuristic Mac concept to life.
• Affordable third-party Mac Studio storage upgrades coming in 2025.
• M4 Mac mini was almost even smaller, but design compromises were made.
• Apple Pay's first competitor on the iPhone has arrived in Norway.
• Apple sued by two victims for failing to curtail child sexual abuse material on iCloud.
• Impersonators are claiming laptops at Apple stores before real owners can pick them up.
• FBI warns iPhone and Android users—stop sending texts.

Picks of the Week:

• Alex's Pick: Programming with ChatGPT
• Andy's Pick: Patrick Stewart's "A Christmas Carol" one-man show
• Jason's Pick: Festivitas

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell

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The finalists for the 2024 App Store Awards are out now. Is your favorite app on the list? visionOS 2.2 is out with some updates that add more value to the Vision Pro. A special stop-motion animation with Wallace & Gromit was shot with Apple's iPhone 16 Pro. And the panel reminisces on a classic game now available for the iPad.

• Apple reveals 45 app and game finalists for the 2024 App Store Awards.
• AI-powered 'Death Clock' promises a more exact prediction of the day you'll die.
• Data brokers may be banned from selling your social security number.
• NFL's Gronk calls Apple his best-ever investment.
• visionOS 2.2 brings three upgrades that make Vision Pro a next-gen computer.
• Apple in talks to upgrade a sports stadium for live Vision Pro immersive video.
• Apple nudges HomeKit robot vacuum support rollout to next year.
• Wallace & Gromit bring Christmas cheer to London's Battersea Power Station.
• Apple Music Replay 2024 is live.
• You can now wear Apple's running shoe emoji.
• Brazilian company still believes it owns the 'iPhone' trademark as it awaits trial.
• iPhone SE now over 1,000 days old as new model edges closer.
• Apple orders M5 chips from TSMC ahead of late 2025 production.

Picks of the Week:

• Jason's Picks: Simply Piano on Apple Vision Pro
• Andy's Pick: Classicbot Apple figures.
• Alex's Pick: Anker 250W GaN Prime USB C Charging Station
• Leo's Pick: Marathon for iPad

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell

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Alex Lindsay has some thoughts on the Concert for One Vision Pro immersive video. Following the movie's debut on Apple TV+, what's going on with Jon Watts and the 'Wolfs' sequel? And what could be Apple's plan to make Apple Intelligence available in the Chinese market?

• Concert for One - An Apple TV+ immersive experience.
• Drake ropes Siri into his feud with rival Kendrick Lamar, for some reason.
• Jon Watts explains demise of George Clooney & Brad Pitt 'Wolfs' sequel after streaming pivot.
• Incoming FCC chief Brendan Carr declares Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Google part of "censorship cartel..."
• How Tim Cook cracked the code on working with Trump.
• Brazil antitrust body rules Apple must lift restrictions on in-app payments.
• The App Store era must end, and the Mac is the model.
• Indecision at the intersection of Mac Studio and Mac mini.

Picks of the Week:

• Jason's Picks: Good Eats Roast Turkey & Traeger 650
• Alex's Pick: Good Eats Deep Fried Turkey
• Leo's Pick: Combustion Predictive Thermometer
• Andy's Pick: Judy Garland's Ruby Slippers

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell

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Could Apple be ramping up its efforts to bolster itself in the smart home market? Apple released Final Cut Pro 11 with new features. The M4 MacBook Pro quietly got a quantum dot display over an LCD display. And Apple releases updates to iOS 18 and macOS that you should update to if you haven't yet!

• Apple's next device is an AI wall tablet for home control, Siri and video calls.
• Apple's fiscal 2024 in charts.
• Apple releases updates to Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for the Mac and iPad.
• Apple quietly gave the M4 MacBook Pro a quantum dot display.
• Apple faces UK 'iCloud monopoly' compensation claim worth $3.8 billion.
• Apple removes another RFE/RL app at request of Russian regulator.
• Apple releases iOS 18.1.1 with 'important security fixes' for iPhone.
• PSA: iPhone users receiving AppleCare+ refunds multiple years after Apple trade-in.
• Top execs explain Apple's chip philosophy: 'We are not a merchant silicon company, trying to leave nothing on the table'.
• Apple offers $100M to undo Indonesia iPhone 16 ban.
• Trump's tariff proposal could add $240 to the cost of an iPhone. Here's the math.
• Discriminatory job ads for iPhone workers ended after Reuters report; Apple didn't comment.
• Apple now sells its own Apple News ads for the first time.
• Apple shares the most popular podcasts of 2024.
• Apple debuts The Weeknd: Open Hearts, the first-of-its-kind immersive music experience for Apple Vision Pro.
• Porch pirates appear to be accessing AT&T data to track iPhone deliveries.
• Apple seemingly discontinuing lightning to headphone jack adapter introduced alongside iPhone 7.

Picks of the Week:

• Alex's Pick: Kondor Blue USB-C Mobile
• Andy's Picks: Charlie Brown Thanksgiving & Feedbin
• Jason's Picks: ReadKit & Unread

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell

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Leo got his M4 Mac mini! A new code has been introduced to iPhones that will reboot the device after not being unlocked for a period of time. The panel celebrates the 23rd anniversary of the iPod. And is Apple getting into the security camera & smart home hub spaces following reports from Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman?

• Review: M4 and M4 Pro Mac minis are probably Apple's best Mac minis ever.
• Apple quietly introduced iPhone reboot code which is locking out cops.
• Apple launched the iPod 23 years ago, and changed the world.
• Apple reportedly shipping a security camera in 2026.
• With AI, the future of augmented reality is in your ears.
• Misguided Apple Intelligence ads.
• Breaking news: Apple Home Hub detailed: Apple Intelligence, HomeOS, square iPad-like design.

Picks of the Week:

• Leo's Pick: An A-Z Index of the Apple macOS Command Line
• Jason's Pick: Balatro
• Andy's Pick: Black Diamond Storm 450 Headlamp
• Alex's Pick: Blackmagic Resolve

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell

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