Federico Viticci

I've been working on this for 3 months, and here it is: My iOS and iPadOS 27 review: www.macstories.net/stories/ios-... Customizable Liquid Glass, iPadOS, 15 system apps, and a big Siri AI chapter. And no, it's not a Snow Leopard release. Enjoy!

macstories.netiPhone Duo Review Roundup: Great Hinge, Messy Apps, and Everybody Misses Face IDiPhone Duo reviews are out today, and while I was hoping that this year I’d get to review this hybrid device under embargo, it hasn’t happened (I hope it will, someday!). I’ve spent the past few hours...

No iPhone Duo review today, but maybe the best review roundup (with the most links) you'll find? www.macstories.net/roundups/iph...

See you soon, LA 😎

macstories.netApple Reveals HomePod mini 2 with New Colors, Richer Sound, and Siri AIAs part of today’s announcements related to Home (including the brand new HomeView, which we’ve covered here), Apple also announced HomePod mini 2, an update to its popular line of diminutive speakers...

And here's my overview of the HomePod mini 2. I think I'm going to buy two for my desk and pair them with my Mac. 💸 www.macstories.net/news/apple-r...

macstories.netApple Unveils HomeView: A Smart Home Display Powered by Siri AIToday, Apple announced the highly anticipated HomeView, a Siri AI-powered device for controlling your HomeKit devices and accessing other apps and services like Apple Music, your calendar, Reminders, ...

Big Apple news drop today! First up: the second new product in the Ternus era – HomeView. Here's everything you need to know. This thing looks great. But no EU at launch. 😭 www.macstories.net/news/apple-u...

macstories.netDeflector Turns iOS 27 Notification Triggers into a Shortcut LauncherIn my iOS and iPadOS 27 review, I wrote about one of the more interesting additions to the Shortcuts app for power users: automation triggers based on the contents of push notifications received on yo...

I love discovering genius hacks by indie devs. Here's a free (!) utility that uses iOS 27's notification triggers to give you a direct Shortcuts launcher in the Dynamic Island or Live Activities. Super fun to play with: www.macstories.net/ios/deflecto...

macstories.netHow I Used Notion, Agents, and Local AI to Research and Organize My iOS 27 ReviewThe process for this year’s iOS and iPadOS review was, on the surface, similar to last year’s: I researched, wrote, and edited the entire story in Notion, then used a custom tool to export it to Markd...

How did I write a 25,000-word review of iOS 27 in two weeks? I did it all thanks to Notion and my custom local AI research setup powered by oMLX. Here's my story on how I ran local agents for 3 months to make it happen. www.macstories.net/club/how-i-u...

macstories.netFrames CLI 1.5.0, Now with iPhone 18 Pro and (Experimental) iPhone Duo SupportThe Frames CLI – the companion command line interface to my Apple Frames shortcut I released earlier this year – received a 1.5.0 update earlier today with two notable additions: iPhone 18 Pro frames,...

Developers: I just released Frames CLI 1.5.0, now with iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo support! All colors, poses, and displays supported. Free and open source. www.macstories.net/notes/frames...

macstories.netOur Favorite Indie Apps for iOS 27, Vol. 2It's time to get back to our favorite indie apps that take advantage of Apple's latest OS features. Today, we're highlighting: Bear, Gentler Streak, The Outsiders, DoMarks, and Cheatsheet Notes.

22 Sept

It is time to spotlight even more indie apps for iOS 27. Here's our second roundup of some excellent app updates for iOS 27, and what you can do with them using Siri AI and widgets: www.macstories.net/reviews/our-...

Apple also sent me an M5 Pro Mac mini, 64GB of RAM. I spent more time with the M5 Ultra, but for the price and size, this thing also rips! Will do more testing on this soon.

I ran all the M5 Ultra tests I could think of: - Two models (Flash-Next and GLM-5.3-Flash) - 4k, 8k, 16k, 64k, 128k, and 256k prompts - M5 Ultra vs M3 Ultra vs 5090 - 4/5/6/8-bit quants I created all the possible charts and visualizations I could think of. www.macstories.net/stories/m5-u...

This M5 Ultra Mac Studio feels made for Qwen3.8-Flash-Next. - 100+ TPS at 4 or 5-bit - Token prefill is up 150% (!) compared to M3 Ultra - Can use subagents with room to spare Flash-Next feels GREAT for agentic coding, especially at these speeds. www.macstories.net/stories/m5-u...

macstories.netM5 Ultra Mac Studio Review: The Dream Mac for Local AI AgentsFor the past few days, I’ve been testing the (currently) top-of-the-line M5 Ultra Mac Studio with 256 GB of RAM. I’ll cut to the chase: the M5 Ultra Mac Studio is a dream machine for local AI agents. ...

I reviewed the M5 Ultra Mac Studio with 256 GB of RAM. It’s the dream Mac for local AI agents. And I’ve gone local-only with Hermes. My story, with LOTS of interactive charts: www.macstories.net/stories/m5-u...

macstories.netOur Favorite Indie Apps for iOS 27, Vol. 1With our annual OS reviews out of the way, Federico and I will be covering our favorite indie apps that take advantage of Apple's latest OS features. We have hundreds to draw from and instead of one b...

15 Sept

We're kicking off a new series on MacStories today: Our favorite indie apps for iOS 27. Check it out: www.macstories.net/roundups/our...

Federico Viticci reposted

macstories.netmacOS 27: The MacStories Review[pull_quote align="center"]Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void, but out of chaos. — Mary Shelley, introduction to Frankenstein (1831)[/pull_quote] Every OS ...

You thought we'd stop at one OS review today? Nope. @johnvoorhees.macstories.net delivered. Our macOS 27 review: macstories.net/stories/maco... And our watchOS 27 review: macstories.net/stories/watc... Happy reading 😎

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I've had so much fun making the review special this year: - Dark mode chapter covers - An interactive Siri AI widget - An animated Siri AI chapter cover (try it!) - Interactive Liquid Glass icon comparisons Have fun: www.macstories.net/stories/ios-...

2015-2026. Review #12 is done. Thank you all for reading all these years. Let's do this again for iOS 28. www.macstories.net/stories/ios-...

macstories.netOur OS 27 Review Extras: eBooks, Shortcuts, and the Making of the iOS and iPadOS 27 ReviewToday we published not one, but three reviews covering four OSes: Federico's iOS and iPadOS 27 review, which is packed with special interactive touches John's macOS 27 and watchOS 27 reviews The revie...

We have a LOT of extras for Club members this year: - 3 eBooks (!) - 20 shortcuts for iOS 27 - Special segment of AppStories+ - Advanced 'Making of' story for my review, with a custom app I created to manage it, which I will release for members Details here: www.macstories.net/news/our-os-...

11 Sept

Next week.

Federico Viticci reposted

macstories.netiPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo: The MacStories OverviewApple’s iPhone lineup is taking a different shape this year. At today’s Surprise and Shine event, the company introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max alongside the iPhone Duo, its first foldable i...

My complete overview of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo, with lots of notes and questions about the latter: www.macstories.net/news/iphone-...

Federico Viticci reposted

10 Sept

👀 Someone's been busy. @viticci.macstories.net's Apple Frames CLI already has an experimental iPhone Duo mode. github.com/viticci/fram...

My complete overview of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo, with lots of notes and questions about the latter: www.macstories.net/news/iphone-...

macstories.netApple’s Surprise and Shine Event: By the NumbersApple covered a lot of ground at today’s Surprise and Shine event, and the numbers help put the announcements in perspective. After every Apple event, we like to collect the notable specs, comparisons...

I collected all – and I mean ALL – the numbers and stats from the Apple event. And I added some fun visualizations this year, too. Have fun memorizing them all: www.macstories.net/news/apples-...

macstories.netAll the ‘Surprise and Shine’ Release Dates and Features, VisualizedAt today’s Surprise and Shine event, Apple announced a lot of dates. Most of the new hardware arrives on September 18, but the brand new iPhone Duo won’t launch until October. Before then, Apple’s nex...

I have rounded up all the Apple release dates for everything announced today… …and check out the fancy calendar widget we have to see them all: www.macstories.net/news/all-the...

Federico Viticci reposted

macstories.netApple Music to Launch Labels on AI “Songs”Ethan Millman, writing for The Hollywood Reporter: Apple Music will soon launch labels on songs created with artificial intelligence, the company said in an email sent out to industry partners on…

20 Aug

Apple Music to Launch Labels on AI “Songs”

culturedcode.comRepeating To-Dos, Refined - Things Blog - Cultured CodeThings 3.23 brings new flexibility to repeating to-dos: complete them early when you’re ahead, or reschedule them to a new date if plans change.

19 Aug

Arguably still the prettiest task manager ever made, Things finally received the ability to mark repeating tasks as done early. Took a while, but they nailed the implementation. culturedcode.com/things/blog/...

testflight.apple.comJoin the Canvases betaAvailable on iOS

19 Aug

I got my Retroid Pocket Nova today and it's exactly as lovely as I hoped it would be 🥺 Retroid's own dual-screen accessory also feels very nice with it. Excited to dig in

Federico Viticci reposted

Simon B. Støvring

@simonbs.dev

18 Aug

NEW APP ALERT 👀 For the last 15+ months, I’ve been working on and off on Canvases, an iPhone, iPad, and Mac app that lets you build widgets in a visual editor and update them with data from Shortcuts. Want to help me test it before launch? Join TestFlight: testflight.apple.com/join/n4DzganM

Federico Viticci reposted

18 Aug

Then, on NPC XL, Brendon shares his first-week gaming experiences and more since getting the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8. 🎧 https://www.patreon.com/NextPortableConsole/posts/hands-on-with-z-166845153?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Federico Viticci reposted

18 Aug

Today on NPC: Next Portable Console, Abxylute teases new mobile phone controllers, and a bunch of Steam news. 🎧 https://apple.co/4qnTmV3 📺 https://youtu.be/9eXjgLfo_vs

Federico Viticci reposted

patreon.comA PC Gaming on Android Check-In | Next Portable ConsoleA PC Gaming on Android Check-In by Next Portable Console on Patreon. Join Next Portable Console's community for exclusive content and updates.

4 Aug

Replying to @npc.macstories.net

Then for Patreon supports on NPC XL, they revisit GameNative and the progress it's made with emulating PC games on Android. 🎧 www.patreon.com/NextPortable... 📺 www.patreon.com/NextPortable...

Federico Viticci reposted

apple.coRecomps, Decomps, and Playable DioramasPodcast Episode · NPC: Next Portable Console · August 3 · 27m

4 Aug

NPC is out and this week, Brendon, John, and Federico dig into the week's handheld news and take a nerdy look at the recomp and decomp scene that is rapidly expanding to new operating systems. 🎧 apple.co/4fLfMuw 📺 youtu.be/tUzmYedvqXc

macstories.netLock Launcher Introduces “No Redirect” Launchers, XL Widgets for iOS 27I don't think I ever mentioned it on MacStories (although I probably did at some point on AppStories or Unwind), but my favorite "launcher" app for iOS is a utility called Lock Launcher, which I've be...

27 July

I found my new favorite "launcher" utility for iOS: The new version of Lock Launcher *somehow* manages to launch apps without redirects AND already supports the new XL portrait widgets in iOS 27. My story: www.macstories.net/ios/lock-lau...

Federico Viticci reposted

27 July

Replying to @johnvoorhees.macstories.net

📺 https://youtu.be/se44l-PFcD0?si=6qRvMdugrKQTztDN Then for AppStories+ subscribers, why Cmux is the best Mac/iOS terminal app combo around. https://www.macstories.net/appstories-plans/

Federico Viticci reposted

27 July

This week on AppStories: 📱 Is the App Store gold rush a gold rush without gold?  What has Apple done to TestFlight? 🤖 Open Minis sets out to make agents first class citizens on iOS and iPadOS 🎧 https://apple.co/45oFPTo

Federico Viticci reposted

patreon.comIs Armada Ready to Replace Your Steam Deck? | Next Portable ConsoleIs Armada Ready to Replace Your Steam Deck? by Next Portable Console on Patreon. Join Next Portable Console's community for exclusive content and updates.

21 July

Replying to @npc.macstories.net

Then on NPC XL, Brendon and John share their tests of Armada, which gives you SteamOS on an Android handheld. 🎧 www.patreon.com/NextPortable... 📺 www.patreon.com/NextPortable...

Federico Viticci reposted

apple.coAYANEO Teases a New Game Boy AdvancePodcast Episode · NPC: Next Portable Console · July 21 · 29m

21 July

Today's the day for NPC: Next Portable Console. This week the crew brings you news of AYANEO being AYANEO, something that can't decide if it's a laptop or a handheld console, and a new taco-style controller. 🎧 apple.co/4fAfSFs 📺 youtu.be/sqpV2IWQ7Vw

Federico Viticci reposted

macstories.netTestFlight: One Step Forward, Two Steps BackI test a lot of apps, so I have strong opinions about TestFlight. However I usually keep those opinions to myself because despite the fact that it's critical to my work, TestFlight wasn't built for app reviewers. Most people haven't accumulated hundreds of active and inactive betas in the app like I have, and for

21 July

TestFlight: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back https://www.macstories.net/stories/testflight-one-step-forward-two-steps-back/

Federico Viticci reposted

macstories.netRunning Simulators Inside Claude Code for MacClaude Code's Mac desktop app has added Apple simulator support, and although it's billed as "iOS Simulator Support," it actually works with any iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, or watchOS simulator you have installed. The process of setting up a simulator is simple. A new button with an iPhone icon appears when you open an existing project.

22 July

Running Simulators Inside Claude Code for Mac https://www.macstories.net/linked/running-simulators-inside-claude-code-for-mac/

Federico Viticci reposted

macstories.netApp Store ChaosKalley Huang, writing for The New York Times about apps written with the help of AI agents that are flooding the App Store: But as with many things A.I., just because something is easy to build doesn’t mean people will use it. It is not clear if vibecoding is breathing new life into the App

22 July

App Store Chaos https://www.macstories.net/linked/app-store-chaos/

Federico Viticci reposted

AppStories Podcast

@appstories.macstories.net

20 July

On AppStories oday, Federico and John cover Siri AI - what works, what doesn't, and where it's heading. 🎧 https://apple.co/4wftRaJ 📺 https://youtu.be/ZaFfbQhDOkM And, for AppStories+ subscribers, they goo deeper into the macOS, iOS, and iPadOS 27 betas. https://www.macstories.net/appstories-plans/

Federico Viticci reposted

macstories.netOpen Minis Is the iOS Agent I Wish Siri AI Could BeEvery once in a while, I come across a third-party app that either resets my expectations for a particular niche of software on iOS or creates an entirely new category altogether. I’ve had quite a few...

20 July

I'm not exaggerating when I say that this is the most impressive iOS app I've seen in a long time. Open Minis is an iOS agent app that combines LLMs with native Apple frameworks – dozens of them – and gives us a glimpse of Siri AI for power users today. My story: www.macstories.net/reviews/open...

20 July

17 July

In the newsletter today I wrote about two apps: - One of the best new Mac apps I've tried in a long time made for Apple Music; - The new @notion.com Agents app, which is a really nicely designed experience for working with LLMs in Notion. www.macstories.net/club/macstor...

16 July

Apple's security team, watching their former employee download gigabytes of trade secrets at OpenAI

14 July

From last night, we published: My thoughts on Siri AI www.macstories.net/stories/siri... First impressions for: Golden Gate www.macstories.net/stories/maco... watchOS 27 www.macstories.net/stories/watc... visionOS 27 www.macstories.net/stories/visi...

Federico Viticci reposted

macstories.netmacOS 27 Golden Gate: The MacStories Public Beta PreviewThe public beta of macOS 27 Golden Gate is out today, and I'm sure many of you are wondering whether to take the plunge and give it a try in advance of its official fall release. That's the question this preview is here to help answer. It's not my final take on Golden Gate by

13 July

macOS 27 Golden Gate: The MacStories Public Beta Preview https://www.macstories.net/stories/macos-27-golden-gate-the-macstories-public-beta-preview/

Federico Viticci reposted