The Tech Night Owl Live Tech Radio With A Twist!

Cutting-edge commentator Daniel Eran Dilger, of Roughly Drafted Magazine and AppleInsider, dissects the facts about the presumed success of Google, the Android mobile platform, and Chromebooks, those cheap notebooks that are evidently selling well to K-12 school systems. Daniel asks the questions journalists seldom ask about the problems with Android, and the lack of serious new features in the latest version of the OS. He also discusses the problems Microsoft has had as it disengages itself from the failed multibillion dollar purchase of Nokia's handset division. You'll also hear from an ethical hacker, Dr. Timothy Summers, President of Summers & Company, a cyber strategy and organizational design consulting firm, who delivers an update on the Apple versus FBI controversy, where the two parties were locked in a legal battle over attempts to unlock an iPhone used in a terrorist attack. The case ended after the FBI paid over a million dollars to hackers who succeeded in breaking into the phone. He talks a

We present outspoken commentator John Martellaro, Senior Editor, Analysis & Reviews for The Mac Observer. His bill of fare this week includes speculation that the desktop version of Siri will make its debut in the next version of OS X — or will it be rebranded macOS? — this fall. The discussion will also cover Apple's challenge in developing an electric car, and whether it'll be offered as a car-sharing scheme, rather than sold to individual customers. And what about the cooling iPhone upgrade fever? Is Apple going to deliver a compelling enough upgrade to entice customers to buy the next iPhone? You'll also hear from columnist and podcaster Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy," who will focus much of his discussion on iTunes 12.4 for Mac and Windows. Has Apple managed to respond to customer complaints about the loss of a full-time sidebar and an increasingly complex user interface? The discussion will also include hopes for improving the look and feel of Apple Music, the possibilities f

On this week's all-star episode, we present publisher/editor Adam Engst, of TidBITS and Take Control Books, takes control of a variety of topics. He talks about the confusing array of chatting apps, including WhatsApp, and it's peculiar set up process on a Mac and PC, the use case for different Apple notebook computers, such as the MacBook and MacBook Pro, and what Apple might improve to boost sales. The discussion turns to the state of iPad keyboards, and whether Apple should produce one that's closer in design to a more traditional Mac keyboard. You'll also hear from columnist Rob Pegoraro, who writes for USA Today, Yahoo Tech and Wirecutter. The discussion begins with Gene's concerns about unexpected changes in Skype's option to automatically adjust microphone levels, where the feature was turned on after being switched off. Rob will talk about the controversy over Facebook's priorities in posting the "Trending" news list, and he will give some projections about what might come from the forthcoming Google

On this week's all-star episode, blogger and podcaster Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy," talks about Apple's peculiar standards for mentioning their products. So it's never "the iPhone," but "iPhone," which is, to them, a proper name. The discussion moves to Apple's product refreshes, and whether they are just too tame to convince people to upgrade. With the iPhone SE selling for $50 less than its predecessor, the iPhone 5s, is Apple considering setting lower prices for other iPhones too when new models arrive this fall? You'll also hear from commentator Bryan Chaffin, co-founder and co-publisher of The Mac Observer, who talks at length about Apple's financials, and how Wall Street sets expectations (correct or otherwise) for a company. The discussion moves to rumors of major fixes to Apple Music, and ongoing speculation about whether Apple will actually build a car. Bryan will explain why he feels it would be wrong for Apple to buy an existing car company, such as Tesla, because Apple n

Kyle Wiens of iFixit joins us to give the results of teardowns of some of the very latest tech gear. During this segment, he'll discuss Apple's 2016 MacBook, and whether, aside from minor hardware upgrades, it differs much from last year's model. He'll also present the results of the teardown of the iPhone SE, the latest smartphones from Samsung and LG, and some virtual reality headsets. He'll also remind you about the poor repair rating of the Microsoft Surface tablets. You'll also hear from Stephen Baker, Vice President for Industry Analysis at the NPD Group. He discusses why he feels Mac sales dropped so much in the March quarter; he suggests some of Apple's notebooks are long in the tooth and need major refreshes. He'll also talk about the impact of the iPhone SE, and whether there's a big market for smaller smartphones. The discussion will also focus on 4K TV, and where the new format is going. What price points are most popular, and what about getting more genuine 4K content to watch? Stephen also talk

we present columnist and podcaster Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy," On this episode, he talks about the new monthly price plans for Amazon Prime, Amazon customer service, a possible smudging problem on 9.7-inch iPad Pro's display, and Apple's user hostile upgrade policies for most Macs. There will also be a brief discussion on Kirk's search for a new hybrid car. You'll also hear from commentator Jeff Gamet, Managing Editor for The Mac Observer. Jeff will talk about lingering Apple/FBI issues, concerns about proposed legislation in the U.S. Congress covering device encryption, the European Commission's antitrust case against Google over its alleged restrictive policies on the Android platform, the prospects for an Apple Car, the inability to upgrade RAM on many Macs, and the need for new features in the iOS to make it possible to do more productive things on an iPad. Gene repeats his concerns about the fact that he cannot use an iPad to record episodes of his radio shows due to Apple's "

We present cutting-edge commentator Daniel Eran Dilger, of Roughly Drafted Magazine and AppleInsider. He'll discuss what you need to understand about the Apple versus FBI conflict over iPhone security and its implications. Daniel will also talk about the well-known security shortcomings of the Android platform, that only a small number are using a slow software-based encryption scheme. Sales of iPhones and the high-end Samsung Galaxy smartphones are also compared and contrasted. You'll also hear from Jonny Evans, Computerworld's "Apple Holic." Jonny will talk about the prospects for an Apple Car, and what we might expect from Apple. Does the forthcoming mid-sized Tesla 3 pave the way? Jonny will also question why Apple hasn't pushed the fourth generation Apple TV to the educational market, Apple versus the FBI, and how things are being done in the UK. The discussion will move to how Apple has been able to boost Mac market share against Windows, and the growing presence of Macs and other Apple gear in the ent

We present author Josh Centers, Managing Editor for TidBITS, and author of "Take Control of Apple TV" and other titles. He'll focus his discussion first on the forthcoming Tesla 3 electric car, which garnered over 325,000 preorders days after it was announced. He'll also talk about the lingering Apple/FBI issues, OS X security and is latest book covering the fourth generation Apple TV. Gene explains why he's still using the previous model. You'll also hear from commentator and podcaster Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy," who discusses the latest security exploit involving Adobe Flash, and why he removed Flash from all his Macs, and only uses the embedded version in the Google Chrome browser. He'll also comment on the lingering Apple/FBI controversy, and talk up his new iPhone SE and iPad Pro. The discussion concludes with Amazon's efforts to expand same-day delivery and supermarkets that allow you to place online orders for home delivery in the U.S. and UK.

On this week's all-star episode, we present columnist John Martellaro, Senior Editor, Analysis & Reviews for The Mac Observer. At the top of John's agenda this week is Apple's dispute with the FBI over an iPhone 5c used by a terrorist. Now that the authorities have recovered data from it, is the dispute over — or is it beginning? The very thought takes us to a compelling issue, that, to John, iPhone technology is "indistinguishable from magic." John will also explain why he feels Apple's 9.7-inch iPad Pro will "breathe new life into the product line." He'll also talk about OS X, which debuted as a Public Beta in 2000. Is it time for Apple to think about making OS X and iOS more proactive, more intelligent? You'll also hear from ethical hacker Dr. Timothy Summers, President of Summers & Company, a cyber strategy and organizational design consulting firm. Dr. Summers will participate in a thorough discussion of the ins and outs of the FBI's solution to unlocking that iPhone. He'll also speculate about

We present prolific author and commentator Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus with lots to talk about. He first complains about problems dealing with Microsoft's One Drive and why he kept getting strange system errors after trying to upload files to the cloud storage system. The discussion moves on to why Apple refused to post his new satiric song, "Why iTunes Must Die!" in iTunes. Bob and Gene talk about Apple dodging a bullet in its conflict with the FBI, and there's a segment about the "printer ink wars" and how to save a bundle on consumables. Bob will also explain how his Apple Watch continues to be an indispensable tool for his health and fitness needs. You'll also hear from outspoken columnist and podcaster Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy." Kirk will discuss what he regards as an advertising scam at Facebook, when you agree to pay for additional traffic to boost a post in your timeline. He'll also explain why he prefers a 4-inch iPhone, and, therefore, ordered an iPhone SE. There's a brief dis

We present Bryan Chaffin, co-founder and co-publisher of The Mac Observer. He'll discuss the ever-complicated Apple/FBI conflict, where Apple is being asked to create what's called a "GovOS," to allow the authorities to break into an iPhone 5c used by a terrorist. He'll also make some sage predictions of what might come from the Apple media event set for March 21, 2016. Speculation has it that the offerings will include a new 4-inch iPhone, and an iPad refresh, a new version of the 9.7 model. Bryan also talks about his efforts to live without his Apple Watch for a full week, offering his impressions after five days. And, yes, he still wears a watch, a mechanical one. You'll also hear from freelance writer and podcaster Peter Cohen, who will also discuss the possibilities at the Apple media event, and whether the expected new products appeal to him. The discussion will also include Peter's impressions of the Apple/FBI conflict, and his feelings about the government's contradictory claims about whether or not

We present outspoken commentator Jeff Gamet, Managing Editor for The Mac Observer. He will present his views about the ongoing Apple dispute with the FBI over whether our favorite fruit company can be forced to build a special OS backdoor to unlock an iPhone 5c work phone used by a terrorist in the San Bernardino attacks. He'll also talk about Apple's March 21, 2016 media event, where they are expected to introduce a 4-inch iPhone and a new 9.7-inch iPad. And how does adding new models contribute to model bloat at Apple? Can they — should they — produce fewer product variations? You'll also hear from columnist Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy." Kirk will present his views about the ongoing Apple/FBI case. He will also explain why he has preferred 4-inch iPhones over the larger versions, and what he anticipates from Apple's media event. Is he ready to trade his iPhone 6s for the rumored iPhone 5se? He'll also talk about the final outcome of the Apple e-book antitrust case, where they are

On this week's all-star episode, the polarizing topic of Apple versus the FBI is front and center once again, as our guests all give you their opinions about Apple's fight to prevent being forced to create a special version of iOS that would defeat security controls on a terrorist suspect's iPhone 5c work phone. The matter was made more confusing by the ruling from a Federal Magistrate Judge that Apple did not have to break the encryption of an iPhone that was evidence in a criminal case. As the week progressed, other tech companies had filed amicus briefs in the case favoring Apple's position, while some others filed in favor of the government. You'll also hear about the possibility that Apple plans to introduce a new 4-inch iPhone in a late March media event. Our guests include Bill Carey, VP of Marketing for Roboform, a company that makes password management software, cutting-edge commentator Daniel Eran Dilger, of Roughly Drafted Magazine and AppleInsider, and columnist Rob Pegoraro, who writes for USA T

We take a common sense look at the brouhaha involving Apple and the FBI. The authorities have obtained a court order directing Apple to, in essence, build a special version of iOS that would defeat the security protections of an iPhone 5c to access its encrypted data. This handset was used by one of the shooters in the December 2015 San Bernardino, CA attack. Apple's response is that it would create a dangerous precedent that could compromise the security of hundreds of millions of Apple customers, and would also allow other government agencies, and even foreign governments, to make similar requests. Apple is also calling for a government commission to consider the matter and make recommendations. Our guests include publisher/editor Adam Engst, of TidBITS and Take Control Books, and security guru Dr. Timothy C. Summers, President of Summers & Company, a cyber strategy and organizational design consulting firm. In addition, Dr. Summers will provide a brief look at the security situation on iOS, Android an

We are joined by commentator John Martellaro, Senior Editor, Analysis & Reviews for The Mac Observer. His bill of fare includes Apple's dispute with the FBI over whether they should be forced to develop a special iOS update that'll allow the authorities to break into an encrypted iPhone 5c that belonged to a terrorist. John will also talk about "hard disks spinning right into the graveyard," the severe limitations of Apple's Time Machine backup app, what happens when your autonomous (self-driving) car crashes, whether the next Apple Watch will be thinner, and what to do when your Apple Watch informs you NOT to eat a candy bar or other junk food. You'll also hear from commentator and podcaster Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy," who also talks about the implications of the court order demanding that Apple break into an encrypted iPhone. Kirk also attempts to answer the question of how software on an encrypted iPhone can be updated without someone entering the correct passcode. He'll als

We present freelance writer and podcaster Peter Cohen. He covers the "Error 53" controversy, involving iPhone 6-family handsets that have had Touch ID sensors repaired or replaced by unauthorized service shops. When you try to update the smartphones, they stop working and display that obtuse error. Although Apple maintains the move was done for the customer's protection, it has already sparked threats of class-action lawsuits. Peter will also talk about the fourth-generation Apple TV and whether some might have expected too much from it. And what about Apple's so-far moribund attempts to start a TV subscription service? You'll also hear from prolific author and commentator Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus. After he and Gene have a brief chat about Texas culture and cuisine, the discussion moves to the "Error 53" controversy and Bob's take on it. He also talks about cable cord-cutting, admitting that he would actually like to shut off his cable TV service if he could replace the programming in other ways. Bob also detai

We present noted industry analyst Stephen Baker, Vice President for Industry Analysis at the NPD Group. He provides an extensive discussion about the arrival of 4K TVs, their success so far in the marketplace, Will enhanced color features, such as the Ultra HD Premium standard, continue to push sales? What about the lack of 4K content? Stephen also discusses flattening sales of iPhones and other smartphones, and whether one key reason is the longer upgrade cycle? We also present commentator and talk show host Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy." He offers a change-of-pace discussion about the technology of dealing with autoimmune diseases. The discussion moves to why iPad sales are falling, and have fallen for several years. Is it much, again, about the fact that people who buy them see no reason to upgrade? Kirk goes to explain that the older iPad actually works fine other than some possible performance issues with games and other software. He also cites an article, from tech columnist Jas

We cover Apple's financials for their fiscal first quarter, where they reported record sales and revenue, but just barely. For this quarter, they are projecting lower sales. Just what headwinds is Apple facing, and can they resume the pace of torrid sales growth? Were Apple's 2015 product introductions, especially the Apple Watch and fourth-generation Apple TV, not compelling enough? We'll also cover a proposal from the FCC to open up the cable set-top box market, so you can pick the devices you want to watch programing instead of being forced to buy or rent theirs. If the proposal is approved, and it will be considered on February 18 of this year, would that open up new markets for Apple, Google, Samsung and other companies? Our guests include Josh Centers, Managing Editor for TidBITS, and author of "Take Control of Apple TV" and other titles, and Jeff Gamet, Managing Editor for The Mac Observer.

We present commentator and talk show host Kirk McElhearn, also known as Macworld's "iTunes Guy." He describes a system in use in UK supermarkets — it's not in the U.S. — where customers can use their own hand-held scanners to tally purchases. The discussion turns to the planned phaseout of the free version of iTunes Radio, the possibilities for a sales slowdown of Apple gear, and Apple's excessive prices for Mac RAM and drive upgrades. Since only a few Macs can be upgraded by customers, this has become an annoying problem. You'll also hear from Bryan Chaffin, co-founder and co-publisher of The Mac Observer. A major portion of the episode will focus on bills introduced in both the California and New York legislatures that would ban the sale of encrypted smartphones that don't have backdoors that would make it possible for governments to have access to the contents. Such tech companies as Apple and Google have come under fire by authorities, including FBI Director James Comey, for using industrial strength enc

We present commentator John Martellaro, Senior Editor, Analysis & Reviews for The Mac Observer, who talks about the future of the Mac Pro, how Apple, denied leadership in 4K TV, is hoping to gain traction with an electric car. You'll also hear a brief debate about whether Apple will really attempt to acquire Time Warner and how that move might restart moribund plans to establish a subscription TV service. John will also talk about how children can learn how to program on an iPad. He'll also tell you why he loves his Mac Pro. We also present a CES wrap with columnist Rob Pegoraro, of USA Today and Yahoo Tech. The main focus will be on 4K TV. Are customers finally ready to flock to the new high resolution TV format? Rob will talk about the latest enhancements that include Ultra HD Premium, which will deliver better color and a wider contrast that will really make the picture pop. And what about the possibility of affordable OLED TVs, and plans to release a new HD tuner system to allow 4K shows to be broadc