The Tech Night Owl Live Tech Radio With A Twist!

We cover the new Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch. Is this a keeper, or another pathetic attempt to jumpstart a market that has yet to show potential? We'll also cover the possibly desperate decision of Microsoft to acquire Nokia's handset division. Will this move help the failing Windows Phone mobile OS gain a decent share of the smartphone market? Along to talk discuss these issues are Adam Engst, of TidBITS and Take Control Books, who will also talk about a compelling eBook his company just published, entitled "Take Control of Your Online Privacy." We'll also be joined by Macworld's "iTunes Guy," Kirk McElhearn.

Josh Centers, Managing Editor for TidBITS, discusses in detail Steve Ballmer's decision to step down as Microsoft CEO within the next 12 months. He'll also cover the possibilities for Apple TV, whether it will be part an effort by Apple to create a new gaming platform, and whether there is an Apple TV set in our future. Outspoken commentator Bryan Chaffin, Co-Founder and Co-Publisher of The Mac Observer, gives you his reaction to Steve Ballmer's departure from Microsoft. He'll also cover the latest rumors about the iPhone 5S and 5C — the alleged low-cost plastic model — and reports of scratch tests to see how the cheaper iPhone fares under use and abuse. You'll also hear Bryan's reactions to the continuing developments in the Department of Justice's antitrust case against Apple over eBook price fixing. Are the proposed DOJ and judicial remedies against Apple too stringent?

On this week's all-star episode, commentator John Martellaro,Senior Editor, Analysis & Reviews for The Mac Observer, gives you his vision for a souped up Apple TV, and an Apple smart TV set. He'll also explain why the passing of Steve Jobs signifies Apple's rebirth, why NFC will never appear on an iPhone, and why, in the Post-PC era, OS X and iOS should evolve differently. You'll also hear from Avram Piltch, the Online Editorial Director for Laptop magazine, on ways to make Windows 8 more like Windows 7. He'll also discuss his recent blog, entitled The Ten Best Bargains in Tech Today. And, no, the list definitely does not include the $35 Google Chromecast.

We feature Macworld's "iTunes Guy," Kirk McElhearn, who will discuss a peculiar Mail bug in Mountain Lion that may cause your email to be sent from the wrong account. He'll also tackle the Apple ID conundrum, where you still cannot merge two or more IDs regardless of the reason. Up next is outspoken commentator Peter Cohen, from The Loop, and iMore, who will talk about the recent announcement that billionaire investor Carl Icahn had invested in Apple, what might come from Apple's iPhone announcement, which is expected on September 10, the ins and outs and potential of the forthcoming OS X Mavericks and the promise of iOS 7.

On this week's all-star episode, author and publisher Adam Engst, of TidBITS and Take Control Books, updates his "Apple in the hot seat" discussion. First he recaps Apple's recent loss in a Federal eBook price-fixing trial, and then comments about the U.S. Department of Justice's draconian demands for remedies. He also discusses Apple's last-minute victory before the ITC, where President Obama vetoed a ruling that would have banned the iPhone 4 and some older iPads from being sold. From The Mac Observer, you'll hear from co-founder and co-publisher Bryan Chaffin. He'll also talk about the Apple eBook price-fixing trial, and the DOJ's demands, along with the veto of the ITC's import ban. He'll also cover the ongoing changes and what's improved as development of iOS 7 continues. And don't look now, but there may also be a surprise visit from "The Fake Steve Ballmer." You'll learn about the next version of QuarkXPress, version 10, from Gavin Drake, VP of Marketing for Quark, Inc.

Cutting edge commentator Daniel Eran Dilger, from Roughly Drafted Magazine and AppleInsider, once again takes on one of his favorite topics, the platform wars. This time he exposes the false report that Samsung's mobile handset profits exceeded those of Apple's iPhone, and the curious claims of declining iPad market share in the wake of reports that 84% of the tablets going online are — iPads. You'll also hear from tech journalist Jim Dalrymple, Editor in Chief of The Loop, who will also offer his usual direct comment on the platform wars involving Apple versus Samsung/Google and Microsoft, along with the various predictions about future Apple products. In addition, industry analyst Stephen Baker, Vice President for Industry Analysis at the NPD Group, will discuss Microsoft's problems selling Surface tablets, the prospects for Google's Chromecast, and the possible future of 4K or Ultra HD TV.

We feature outspoken commentator Peter Cohen, from The Loop, and iMore, who talks about the media's inability to understand Apple. He also provides some important observations about Apple's 3rd quarter financials. Macworld's "iTunes Guy," Kirk McElhearn, discusses his latest book "Take Control of Launchbar," which covers the ins and outs of a popular OS X utility designed to make you more productive. He'll also discuss Microsoft's ongoing problems in light of having to take a $900 million write-down because of loads of unsold Surface tablets. You'll learn about the causes of data loss on iPhones, iPads, Android gear, and Macs and PCs, from a data recovery and cellphone/laptop forensics expert, Russell Chozick of Flashback Data. He also give you advice on what to do if the worse should happen.

On this week's all-star episode, Macworld Senior Editor Dan Frakes joins us to focus primarily on the pros and cons of the forthcoming 2013 Mac Pro, and how his vision of a midrange minitower Mac compares. We'll also hear from cutting-edge commentator Daniel Eran Dilger, from Roughly Drafted Magazine and AppleInsider, discusses the unexpected success of Apple's "hobby," the Apple TV, which is the top selling streaming video player. He also continues his ongoing exploration of the platform wars involving Apple, Google and Microsoft. John Martellaro, Senior Editor, Analysis & Reviews for The Mac Observer, talks about Microsoft's ongoing problems with lower-than-expected earnings and the decision to take a $900 million write-down on the unsuccessful Surface tablet. He will also comment on whether the passion for Apple gear is less than it used to be, and about those who continue to clamor for Apple's next big thing.

We focus a large part of the episode on Apple's skirmish with the U.S. Department of Justice over alleged eBook price fixing. Federal District Court Judge Denise L. Cote has found Apple guilty; Apple plans to appeal. But was this decision fair? What about Amazon, and why wasn't that company's actions to set very low eBook prices considered by antitrust officials? We have two points of view on this case, from Adam Engst, of TidBITS and Take Control Books, and Bryan Chaffin, co-founder and co-publisher of The Mac Observer. Bryan will also discuss Microsoft's latest version of corporate musical chairs, and whether it will help the company regroup and solve key long-term problems. He'll also go over the key points of an article claiming that there are 25 reasons why the iPhone is old fashioned.

On this week's all-star episode, tech commentator Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy," discusses the promise of iTunes radio, which will arrive this fall with the next OS X upgrade. He also offers his reaction to what he regards as the questionable color choices Apple made for iOS 7. From Laptop magazine, Online Editorial Director Avram Piltch discusses a recent report about a security problem that might impact hundreds of millions of users of Android gear. He also offers a list of the problems Microsoft failed to fix in Windows 8.1. Is Windows 8 a descendant of Microsoft's failed "Bob" user interface, which appeared back in 1995?

Commentator Jim Dalrymple, Editor in Chief of The Loop, discusses the decision of Barnes & Noble to stop building Nook tablets, the crazy rise and fall of Apple's stock, and the double-standard tech and Wall Street analysts use when they cover Apple Inc. Veteran tech author Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus admits defeat because OS 10.9 didn't use the code name "Bobcat," not made seriously of course. He'll also offer his reaction to OS X Mavericks, and to the promise of the next Mac Pro, Apple's tubular workstation, which is expected to be released some time this fall. On the security front, Gabriel Weinberg, founder and CEO of DuckDuckGo.com, details his company's "anonymous" search engine, which respects your privacy and doesn't track your search requests. Tech journalist Rob Pegoraro, who writes a weekly column for USA Today, reviews Republic Wireless, a prepaid cellular service that switches between Wi-Fi and a traditional wireless network to offer unlimited text, voice and data for $19 per month. He'll also cove

On this week's all-star episode, cutting-edge commentator Daniel Eran Dilger, from Roughly Drafted Magazine and AppleInsider, continues his discussions about the iOS, Android, Windows Phone platform wars with an emphasis on the unexpected defects discovered in Google's Nexus 7 tablet and why customers aren't interested in paying for Android software. He'll also cover some of Apple's WWDC announcements, such as the forthcoming cylindrical Mac Pro. On the security front, you'll hear from online privacy advocate Mark Weinstein, founder of Sgrouples.com, who will deliver the frightening news about what social networks, and the government, may know about your online activities and how to protect your privacy. Tech journalist Dann Berg will discuss his recent article for Laptop magazine describing "Eight Tools for Online Privacy." He'll also give you his reactions to key WWDC announcements from Apple, such as the Mac Pro, iOS 7, and OS X Mavericks. Hint: He's not crazy about the new naming scheme for OS X.

On this week's all-star episode, commentator Adam Engst, of TidBITS and Take Control Books, begins our coverage of Apple's WWDC keynote, and the announcements about new versions of iOS and OS X, not to mention the revolutionary take on the Mac Pro workstation. Kyle Wiens, from iFixit, reports on results of the company's teardown of the 2013 versions of Apple's Airport Extreme, Time Capsule, and MacBook Air. He also covers the repairability of other tech gear. We visit the UK, virtually speaking, for a session with Kirk McElhearn, Macworld's "iTunes Guy," and the editor of Mac OS X Hints, who reports on the launch of iTunes Radio and his reactions to the WWDC. This episode also features Bryan Chaffin, co-founder and co-publisher of The Mac Observer, who presents his take on a surprise "special guest," along with his observations on Apple's WWDC, the forthcoming iOS and OS X updates, and the latest and greatest Mac hardware.

On this week's all-star episode, John Martellaro, Senior Editor, Analysis & Reviews for The Mac Observer, will discuss the recent appearance of Apple CEO Tim Cook at an AllThingsD event, and what he calls "Cook Code." He'll also talk about the tragic state of iPad magazines, operations research and tech warfare, and deliver an iPhone veteran's review of the Samsung Galaxy Note II "phablet." If you're in the market for a car, you'll want to hear from Dennis Miller, Founder and CEO of SNAFU Scan, an iOS and Android app that helps you check whether your car has been recalled by the manufacturer, and the ability to examine used car auction prices to see if your dealer is ripping you off on a trade. In our third segment, Joe Wilcox, Managing Editor of BetaNews, talks about his recent decision to move his wireless service from AT&T to T-Mobile, and proceeds to discuss what we might expect to see in Microsoft's Windows 8.1 update, and whether it can address some of the concerns about the original Windows 8 r

Veteran tech author Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus, discusses the plans for Google to bring their gigabit Internet service to his Austin, TX home, the news, or lack thereof, from Tim Cook's interview before an AllThingsD conference, and some new gear he's recently reviewed, including a waterproof speaker system. You'll also hear from Laptop magazine Staff Writer Daniel Berg, who will list eight important questions that weren't asked of Tim Cook during his AllThingsD interview, and whether he said anything of importance. Daniel will also explain what he expects to see when new versions of the iOS and OS X are unveiled at Apple's WWDC, and why he likes Windows 8.

On this week's all-star episode, we discuss the Google I/O non-event, the U.S. Senate's failed attempt to grill Tim Cook and other Apple executives about the taxes the company pays and doesn't pay, Microsoft's deceptive new ads that unfairly compare Windows 8 tablets with the iPad, the media's Apple disconnect, and the products Apple is most likely to introduce later this year. Our guests this week include Jim Dalrymple, Editor in Chief of The Loop, and Daniel Eran Dilger, from Roughly Drafted Magazine and AppleInsider.

On this week's all-star episode, we present long-time Mac programmer Dan Wood, of Karelia Software, who discusses the latest version of their acclaimed Web site creation tool, Sandvox. Author and commentator Kirk McElhearn, Macworld's "iTunes Guy," and the editor of Mac OS X Hints, is on board to explain why his data began to "bleed" when he switched to a new wireless carrier. He also comments on why Apple might be ignoring Microsoft's alleged requests to make a Windows 8 version of iTunes. From Bryan Chaffin, co-founder and co-publisher of The Mac Observer, you'll learn about Google's ho-hum I/O event, China's campaign against Apple, and about Tim Cook's expected proposal, to be delivered at a Congressional hearing, for new tax laws to allow the company to repatriate billions of dollars of cash kept overseas.

On this week's all-star episode, we present Peter Cohen, co-host of the "Angry Mac Bastards" radio show and Executive Editor for The Loop, who will discuss the question of whether we want to buy or rent software, using Adobe's decision to move development of their content creative apps to the Creative Cloud as a prime example You'll also learn how to preserve your digital memories with Greg Scoblete, co-author of a new eBook, "From Fleeting to Forever: A Guide to Enjoying and Preserving Your Digital Photos and Videos," who will explain how to make sense of your growing library of digital photos and videos. We'll also feature Avram Piltch, Online Editorial Director of Laptop magazine, who will explain the "7 Ways to Give Back on Twitter and Facebook," and the "10 Best Apps for Bathroom Breaks." You'll also hear about the results of the magazine's tests of Samsung's flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4.

On this week's all-star episode, we present a real rags to riches story from Tim Angel, owner of ZooGue, a company that manufactures cases for iPhones, iPads and other mobile gear. You'll also hear from tech journalist Rob Pegoraro, who writes a weekly column for USA Today, who reports on Samsung's latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4, why Wall Street has gone insane over Apple, the worth, or lack thereof, of Facebook Home, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and their "Who Has Your Back?" summary of how major sites defend your privacy from government intrusion. Next up on this week's show, cutting-edge commentator Daniel Eran Dilger, from Roughly Drafted Magazine and AppleInsider, talks about those peculiar comments from BlackBerry's CEO that tablets will be a non-factor within five years, and have never made profits, despite the evidence of the iPad's ongoing success. Daniel will also continue his evaluation of the mobile platform wars, and why tech and financial pundits continue to misunderst

On this week's all-star episode, we present commentator Stephen Baker, Vice President for Industry Analysis at the NPD Group, who will talk about Apple's performance in the last financial quarter, the state of the PC industry, and about the potential for such future TV technologies as 4K, or Ultra HD. In the second half of the show, John Martellaro, Senior Editor, Analysis & Reviews for The Mac Observer, will discuss how Apple might change the setup for their Worldwide Developers Conference to accommodate more developers, "the power and scope of Apple," and why it's a good thing that Microsoft considers the iOS boring.