401: ‘Chockdingus’, With Craig Hockenberry
Digest
The episode begins with a discussion about the limitations of iPadOS and the potential for it to become more powerful and Mac-like. The hosts speculate that if Apple spun off the iPad into a separate division, it might gain capabilities more quickly. They then move on to a discussion about Apple's approach to AI, noting that the company has been using AI models for years but has never explicitly called them AI. The hosts discuss the potential for AI to revolutionize the way we use our phones, but they also express skepticism about the hype surrounding AI and the potential for it to be overhyped. They conclude by discussing the challenges of integrating AI into iOS and the potential for Apple to create a chat interface for Siri. The hosts also discuss the potential for AI to be used to improve features like photo recognition and calendar management.
Outlines
Chalk Dingus: Touch ID for Mechanical Keyboards
This Chapter discusses the chalk dingus, a 3D printed case that allows users to use Touch ID with mechanical keyboards. The host expresses his appreciation for the gift and explains how it integrates seamlessly with his iCloud keychain.
Sponsor: Trade Coffee
This Chapter is a commercial for Trade Coffee, a company that curates and delivers coffee from small-batch specialty roasters.
Daylight DC One: E-Paper Tablet Review
This Chapter is a review of the Daylight DC One, a tablet with an e-paper display. The host discusses the pros and cons of the device, including its unique display technology, lack of camera, and limited app ecosystem.
Apple's Color Temperature Features: True Tone and Night Shift
This Chapter discusses Apple's color temperature features, True Tone and Night Shift. The host shares his personal opinions on both features and the scientific evidence surrounding blue light and sleep.
Xcode on iPad: Hopes and Expectations
This Chapter explores the potential for Xcode on iPad and the future of iPadOS. The host discusses the challenges of running Xcode on iPadOS, such as the lack of background processing capabilities, and the potential for Apple to address these limitations.
The Evolution of the Mac and iPad Operating Systems
This Chapter reflects on the evolution of the Mac and iPad operating systems, highlighting the importance of discoverability and scalability for both platforms. The host expresses his hope that Apple will address some of the limitations of iPadOS, such as the inability to run processes in the background, and that Vision OS will provide a path forward for both iPadOS and macOS.
iPadOS Scalability and Apple's Priorities
This Chapter discusses the potential for iPadOS to become more powerful and Mac-like. The hosts speculate that if Apple spun off the iPad into a separate division, it might gain capabilities more quickly. They discuss the challenges of Apple's approach to AI and the potential for it to be overhyped.
Sponsor: Squarespace
This Chapter is a commercial for Squarespace, a website building platform that offers a variety of features, including AI-powered design tools and flexible payment options.
Apple's AI Strategy and the Hype Cycle
This Chapter discusses Apple's approach to AI and the potential for it to be overhyped. The hosts discuss the potential for AI to revolutionize the way we use our phones, but they also express skepticism about the hype surrounding AI and the potential for it to be overhyped.
Siri's Limitations and the Challenges of AI Integration
This Chapter discusses the limitations of Siri and the challenges of integrating AI into iOS. The hosts discuss the potential for AI to be used to improve features like photo recognition and calendar management, but they also express concern about the potential for AI to be used to collect personal data.
WWDC Predictions and the Future of AI
This Chapter discusses the hosts' predictions for Apple's upcoming WWDC event and the potential for AI to be integrated into future iOS releases. They speculate that Apple will likely focus on incremental improvements rather than revolutionary changes, and they discuss the potential for AI to be used to improve features like photo recognition and calendar management.
The Future of Chat Interfaces and AI Integration
This Chapter discusses the potential for Apple to create a chat interface for Siri and the challenges of integrating AI into iOS. The hosts discuss the potential for AI to be used to improve features like photo recognition and calendar management, but they also express concern about the potential for AI to be used to collect personal data.
Keywords
iPadOS
The operating system for Apple's iPad tablets. It is based on iOS but includes features specifically designed for the iPad's larger screen and multitasking capabilities. It has been criticized for its limitations, such as the inability to run processes in the background and the lack of a robust windowing system. Some users believe that iPadOS should be more powerful and Mac-like, with features such as the ability to run multiple windows and apps side-by-side.
AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science that deals with the creation of intelligent agents, which are systems that can reason, learn, and act autonomously. AI research has been highly successful in developing effective techniques for solving a wide range of problems, from game playing to medical diagnosis. AI is increasingly being used in a variety of industries, including healthcare, finance, and transportation. Apple has been using AI models for years, but has never explicitly called them AI. The company is expected to announce new AI features at its upcoming WWDC event.
LLM
A large language model (LLM) is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that is trained on a massive amount of text data. LLMs can generate text, translate languages, write different kinds of creative content, and answer your questions in an informative way. LLMs are being used in a variety of applications, including chatbots, search engines, and content creation tools. Apple is expected to announce new LLM features at its upcoming WWDC event.
Siri
Siri is a virtual assistant that is available on Apple devices. It can be used to make phone calls, send text messages, set alarms, and perform other tasks. Siri is powered by AI and is constantly being improved. However, Siri has been criticized for its limitations, such as its inability to understand complex commands and its tendency to make mistakes. Apple is expected to announce new Siri features at its upcoming WWDC event.
WWDC
The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is an annual conference held by Apple for software developers. At WWDC, Apple announces new software updates for its operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS. WWDC is a major event for the tech industry and is often seen as a preview of what Apple has in store for the future. Apple is expected to announce new AI features at its upcoming WWDC event.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT is a large language model chatbot developed by OpenAI. It is a powerful tool that can be used to generate text, translate languages, write different kinds of creative content, and answer your questions in an informative way. ChatGPT is being used in a variety of applications, including chatbots, search engines, and content creation tools. Apple is expected to announce new AI features at its upcoming WWDC event.
OpenAI
OpenAI is a research and deployment company that aims to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. OpenAI has developed a number of groundbreaking AI technologies, including ChatGPT, DALL-E, and GPT-3. OpenAI is a major player in the AI industry and is expected to continue to develop innovative AI technologies in the future.
Vision OS
The operating system for Apple's Vision Pro headset. It is a new operating system that is designed for immersive experiences and spatial computing. Vision OS is expected to be a major platform for Apple in the future, and it could potentially impact the development of iPadOS and macOS.
Stage Manager
Stage Manager is a feature of iPadOS that allows users to run multiple windows and apps side-by-side. It is designed to improve multitasking capabilities on the iPad. Stage Manager has been met with mixed reviews, with some users praising its ability to improve multitasking, while others have criticized its complexity and its lack of compatibility with all iPad apps.
Xcode
An integrated development environment (IDE) developed by Apple for macOS. It is used to create software applications for Apple platforms, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS. Xcode is a powerful tool that is essential for developers who want to create apps for Apple devices. The potential for Xcode on iPad is significant, but there are challenges to overcome, such as the lack of background processing capabilities in iPadOS. Apple could address these limitations by creating a native iPad version of Xcode.
Q&A
What are some of the limitations of iPadOS?
Some of the limitations of iPadOS include the inability to run processes in the background, the lack of a robust windowing system, and the limited support for power users. The hosts believe that iPadOS could be more powerful and Mac-like, with features such as the ability to run multiple windows and apps side-by-side.
What is Apple's approach to AI?
Apple has been using AI models for years, but has never explicitly called them AI. The company is expected to announce new AI features at its upcoming WWDC event. The hosts discuss the potential for AI to revolutionize the way we use our phones, but they also express skepticism about the hype surrounding AI and the potential for it to be overhyped.
What are some of the challenges of integrating AI into iOS?
The hosts discuss the challenges of integrating AI into iOS, such as the potential for AI to be used to collect personal data. They also discuss the potential for AI to be used to improve features like photo recognition and calendar management.
What are the hosts' predictions for Apple's upcoming WWDC event?
The hosts predict that Apple will likely focus on incremental improvements rather than revolutionary changes at its upcoming WWDC event. They believe that Apple will announce new AI features, but they also believe that these features will be evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
What is the potential for Apple to create a chat interface for Siri?
The hosts discuss the potential for Apple to create a chat interface for Siri, but they also express concern about the potential for AI to be used to collect personal data. They believe that a chat interface for Siri could be a valuable addition to iOS, but they also believe that it is important to consider the privacy implications of such a feature.
What are some of the potential benefits of AI for users?
The hosts discuss the potential for AI to be used to improve features like photo recognition and calendar management. They believe that AI can be used to make our devices more helpful and efficient.
What are some of the potential risks of AI?
The hosts discuss the potential for AI to be used to collect personal data. They believe that it is important to consider the privacy implications of AI before it is widely adopted.
What is the hosts' overall view of the hype surrounding AI?
The hosts are skeptical about the hype surrounding AI. They believe that AI is a powerful tool, but they also believe that it is important to be realistic about its capabilities and its limitations.
What is the hosts' view of the future of AI?
The hosts believe that AI will continue to evolve and that it will have a significant impact on our lives. They believe that AI will be used to improve a variety of products and services, but they also believe that it is important to consider the ethical implications of AI before it is widely adopted.
What is the hosts' view of Apple's future with AI?
The hosts believe that Apple will continue to integrate AI into its products and services. They believe that Apple will use AI to improve the user experience and to create new and innovative products. However, they also believe that it is important for Apple to be transparent about its use of AI and to ensure that AI is used in a responsible and ethical way.
Show Notes
Craig Hockenberry returns to the show. Topics include the upcoming Daylight DC-1 monochrome “e-paper” tablet, more thoughts on the new iPad Pros, and what we expect/hope for from Apple at WWDC. Also: a one-button keyboard.
Sponsored by:
- Trade Coffee: Enjoy 30% off your first month of coffee.
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Links:
- Daylight’s DC-1 “new kind of computer”.
- My thoughts on Night Shift and its purported sleep/health benefits.
- The wrap-around-your-neck Glocusent Bendable Book Light, $20 at Amazon.
- Quinn Nelson on using iPadOS: “Maybe I’m just an idiot, but I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to manage multiple window instances from within Stage Manager.” Baffling.
- Also from Quinn Nelson: the subtle photorealistic reflection of an Apple Pencil on the new iPad Pros. Delightful.
- Jason Snell’s 2022 post about his deconstructed Magic Keyboard Touch ID button.
- The Iconfactory:
- Linea Sketch — “a lightweight digital sketchpad for your iPad”.
- Wallaroo — fun new wallpapers every week, for iOS and Mac.
- Tot — we didn’t mention this brilliant little notes app on the show, but I use it every day.
- iPulse — a nerdy system monitor, with Iconfactory fit and finish. Runs in the background even on iOS.
- Project Tapestry: Iconfactory’s Kickstarter-funded project to build “a universal timeline for the Internet”.
- Loren Brichter’s 2020 “Chrome Is Bad” website, documenting genuinely mysterious Mac system performance issues that went away simply by uninstalling Chrome.
- Kotoba — “the best iOS dictionary app you’ve never heard of”, from Craig Hockenberry, Will Hains, and yours truly.
This episode of The Talk Show was edited by Caleb Sexton.