In this episode of Basic AF, hosts Tom Anderson and Jeff Battersby welcome back Gannon Nordberg for a jam-packed conversation. Mark Gurman says Apple is working on a more conversational Siri, similar to ChatGPT's Voice mode, plus there are new critical OS updates.

Gear up for the holidays with Gannon’s top travel tech tips, including must-have gadgets like the Anker Nano charger, Twelve South Butterly charger, and VEEKTOMX Mini Power Bank. Discover tools for better travel photography, apps to beat jet lag, and the ultimate travel bag recommendations to stay organized on the go.

Plus, Gannon shares highlights from his recent trip to Australia and introduces his FREE 5-day crash course to help you build the perfect family travel tech kit—featuring over 35 products designed to keep your travel stress-free and fun.

🎉 Get started on Lesson 1: https://buildafamilytraveltechkit.com

Sign up for Gannon's course to get his complete list of 35 great travel-friendly accessories!

Find Gannon on Threads and LinkedIn!

Links:

•Apple Readies More Conversational LLM Siri in Bid to Rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT
•Apple Support - Troubleshooting Article
•iOS 18.1.1 Update Warning Issued to All iPhone Users
•Eagle Creek Pack-It Gear Pouch
•Anker Nano 3 47W Charger
•Twelve South ButterFly SE 2-in-1 Qi2 Charger
•VEEKTOMX Mini Power Bank 10000mAh

Sorry, we ran out of room! Find the full list of links at https://basicafshow.com/49.

Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

Contact Us

• Drop us a line at feedback@basicafshow.com
• You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and @reyespoint@mastodon.sdf.org on Mastodon
• Find Tom at @tomfanderson on Twitter, and @tomanderson on Threads
• Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
• Tom has a new YouTube channel
• Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design

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• Rate on Spotify
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Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

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Join Tom Anderson and Jeff Battersby in this episode as they unpack Apple’s latest announcements, with a nostalgic nod to an internet legend. Highlights include:

Farewell, Elwood “You’ve Got Mail!” Edwards

The voice that welcomed us to the internet in the ’90s, Elwood Edwards, has passed. Tom and Jeff share memories of the AOL era.

New M4 iMacs: Fresh Colors and Powerful Specs

Apple’s M4 iMac arrives with updated colors, an impressive 4.5K Retina display, and options for more RAM. Tom and Jeff discuss why this all-in-one might be ideal for families, creatives, and anyone looking for a sleek desktop.

USB-C "Magic" Accessories

The new USB-C Magic Keyboard, Trackpad, and Mouse sparked mixed feelings. Jeff gets into the eternal frustration of charging the mouse from the bottom.

A New, Smaller Mac mini

Apple’s refreshed Mac mini offers big power in a smaller package, with Jeff calling it one of Apple’s best designs yet.

Updated MacBook Pro 14” and 16” Models

Now available with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, these MacBook Pros pack serious horsepower.

Apple Intelligence: What’s Good and What Needs Work

Wrapping up with a deep dive into the latest Apple Intelligence features, Tom and Jeff explore the promise and quirks of Apple’s on-device AI. They break down highlights, including:

• Writing Tools for proofreading, adjusting tone, summaries, and list generation.
• Siri Enhancements with context awareness between requests.
• Summaries across Mail, Safari, and Notifications for quick info bites.

Links from the show:

AOL’s ‘You’ve Got Mail’ voice, Elwood Edwards, dies at age 74: https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/7/24290700/elwood-edwards-aol-youve-got-mail-voice-obituary

iMac: https://www.apple.com/imac/

Mac mini: https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/

MacBook Pro: https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/

Apple Intelligence: https://www.apple.com/apple-intelli

Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

Contact Us

• Drop us a line at feedback@basicafshow.com
• You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and @reyespoint@mastodon.sdf.org on Mastodon
• Find Tom at @tomfanderson on Twitter, and @tomanderson on Threads
• Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
• Tom has a new YouTube channel
• Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design

Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!

• Review on Apple Podcasts
• Rate on Spotify
• Recommend in Overcast

Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

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Show transcripts and episode artwork are AI generated and likely con...

Ever wondered if journaling could make a difference in your life? This week’s guest, Joe Moyer, believes it can. Joe shares his personal journey with journaling and practical advice on how to build a habit—even if you only have five minutes a day. We cover gratitude journaling, the benefits of recording daily thoughts, and how to avoid the “perfect journal” trap. He also provides tips for those who are new to journaling, with simple techniques to get started.

Links from the show:

• Joe Moyer on Threads - https://www.threads.net/@thejournalingguide
• The Journaling Guide - https://www.24letters.net/thejournalingguide
• 24Letters - https://www.24letters.net
• Day One Journaling App: https://dayoneapp.com
• Apple’s Journaling App: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/12/apple-launches-journal-app-a-new-app-for-reflecting-on-everyday-moments/
• Field Notes Notebooks: https://fieldnotesbrand.com

Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

Contact Us

• Drop us a line at feedback@basicafshow.com
• You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and @reyespoint@mastodon.sdf.org on Mastodon
• Find Tom at @tomfanderson on Twitter, and @tomanderson on Threads
• Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
• Tom has a new YouTube channel
• Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design

Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!

• Review on Apple Podcasts
• Rate on Spotify
• Recommend in Overcast

Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

• Apple Music
• Spotify

Show transcripts and episode artwork are AI generated and likely con...