Mastodon: @jonathanreed@techhub.socialEmail: jonathan@macstories.net
Jonathan is a graphic designer at DesignStudio. As well as being a long-time Apple user he is a huge film and television aficionado and is very interested in the intersection between the two mediums and technology. He lives in London with his wife and daughter and is writing his bio in the third person.
Highlights of the latest Club MacStories+ happenings.
Among the highlights on the Club MacStories+ Discord:
Members got into the weeds about iCloud backups and whether to trust them. (Link)
More stories for Club members.
It’s that time of year when you all get to read what I thought of “stuff” in 2025. It seemed like a weirder year than usual, both inside and outside of tech, but on the plus side, I finally launched my podcast and will be back for season two in January with some more great guests. I hope you’ll join me. In the meantime, here are my picks for 2025: three categories, three picks each.
Always a controversial topic, AI grew larger and larger throughout 2025. It now accounts for one-third of the U.S. economy, lending more credence to concerns about what will happen when the bubble bursts.
Highlights of the latest Club MacStories+ happenings.
Among the highlights on the Club MacStories+ Discord:
How’s the performance of your long-lived Reminders lists these days? (Link)
Exploring topics beyond our day-to-day coverage.
Last week was a truly remarkable week of change at Apple. Long-time leaders announced their departures, while a crucial one was rumored to be eyeing the exit. Many have debated whether this is a talent drain or just an inevitability. Still, the thing that struck me most when reflecting on it all was not the shift in leadership but the possible shift in strategic approach to policy and – dare I say it – a future with less courage.
Let’s start with Lisa Jackson’s retirement announcement. Nothing too shocking there: Jackson is in her 60s, and despite many corporate executives carrying on into their 80s and sometimes beyond, retiring at 63 is something many would love to do. Jackson has done some great work at Apple as vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, and I’m sure she will enjoy a well-deserved rest.
Highlights of the latest Club MacStories+ happenings.
Among the highlights on the Club MacStories+ Discord:
Member jwhitley showed off the “elevated” way his cats take their place at work. (Link)
Great apps, accessories, gear, and media recommended by the MacStories team.
We’ve all been there: you want to take a big family picture, but even if you use the Camera app’s built-in timer or the Camera Remote on your Apple Watch, you have nowhere to prop up your iPhone. One person could take the photo, but then they wouldn’t be in frame to mark the occasion. Most people resort to an awkwardly angled selfie, but for the last few years, I’ve been carrying the Joby GripTight ONE Micro for just such moments.
The GripTight ONE Micro is a handy little stand that grips your iPhone with a spring-loaded mechanism and then folds flat to a size not much bigger than an AirPods Pro case. It’s served me well, but last week, it was retired for a new mini stand that takes things up a level in several areas.
Highlights of the latest Club MacStories+ happenings.
Among the highlights on the Club MacStories+ Discord:
Member Bram posted some thoughtful feedback on the direction of MacStories regarding AI coverage. This started an engaging conversation on the subject that, more than anything, emphasized how great this community is at having respectful, considered discussions. (Link)
More stories for Club members.
Back in 2015, with the release of the 12” MacBook, Apple began removing the ever-popular MagSafe power connector from its laptop lineup. The design change was almost universally hated. People loved MagSafe mainly because it would disconnect easily if someone tripped over the power cable; so many MacBooks were saved from certain death.
Thankfully, starting in 2021, Apple brought MagSafe back to all its laptops, much to the joy of MacBook users everywhere – myself included. I’ve been thinking back on the company’s about-face and how it should consider doing the same with some other features I’m feeling a little nostalgic about. Here are my favorites.
Great apps, accessories, gear, and media recommended by the MacStories team.
I’ve spoken before about my love of vinyl and how I enjoy the process of putting on an album as an intrinsic part of the music listening experience. In fact, my very first piece for MacStories Weekly was about how I’d used an iPad app called Quanta to take the audio from my record player and send it to all the HomePods in my house.
Unfortunately, the practicalities of listening to vinyl mean I can’t do so every day, especially when at my desk, as the record player is in the other room. So imagine my delight in discovering an app that can partially replicate that tangible feeling on my iPad.
Highlights of the latest Club MacStories+ happenings.
Among the highlights on the Club MacStories+ Discord:
The new #ai-talk channel was very busy, with members sharing numerous projects, both personal and otherwise.
