Accidental Tech Podcast

717: Two Hot Streaks

November 12, 2026 02:29:42 • Download (145 MB)

PROLED details and hands-on impressions, Siri AI's expansion, living with the iPhone Duo, and how you all proved (once again) that you're the best podcast audience.

Pre-show: Hacking Marco’s Unforgetful
Follow-up:
- ATP Store donations
  - Thank you to Mark Zeren 💙
  - Transgender Law Center
- iPhone Duo
  - Marco did no listen to Casey’s advice
- MacBook PROLED
  - HTX Studio (Video timestamp link to 3m17s)
  - To darken the illuminated Apple logo:
    sudo defaults write com.apple.CoreBrightness LEBacklightMode -int 0
  - To illuminate it again:
    sudo defaults delete com.apple.CoreBrightness LEBacklightMode
  - Backglow lets you customize the glowing logo
    - MacRumors
  - Austin Evans on the exhaust ports (Video timestamp link to 5m49s)
    - …and the airflow (6m28s)
  - MaxTech’s review
    - …including a thermal camera view (Video timestamp link to 13m)
  - Geekerwan uses smoke to show airflow change (Video timestamp link to 8m44s)
  - iFixIt Teardown
- Chinese YouTubers
  - Tim Pan 🤝 Tim Cook (via Elijah)
    - STORMCREW
  - Comparing and contrasting channels (via Adeiko)
  - HTX Studio Q&A (via weiran)
- Apple “Business Specialists” (via Rich)
- Ternus as CEO
  - A suggestion from Matyas
  - A suggestion from Kári Helgason
Siri AI is now open to all developers (in beta)
- Paul Hudson’s skills repo
- Finally, Apple frees us from domains
Ask ATP:
- Why bother with an Apple TV when smart TVs exist? (via Denis Berger)
- What’s the whole point of Tailscale anyway? (via Richard)
  Note: Tailscale is a past sponsor
- Is AI going to bring us into a golden age of software? (via Chris Koerner)
Post-show: Marco throws in the towel on the Duo
- Marco’s grip tape (the thin edge’s piece was cut from a wider piece)
Members-only ATP Overtime: Future iPhone form factors
- RIP Action Button?

Sponsored by:

Base44: Build the real thing with Base44. Describe the software you need in your own words and get a working build. Get 30% off the Builder plan for your first year.
Uncommon Goods: Get 15% off your next gift.
Quince: Elevated essentials and staples that last.

Become a member for ATP Overtime, ad-free episodes, member specials, and our early-release, unedited “bootleg” feed!

716: Take the Null

November 5, 2026 02:19:24 • Download (135 MB)

More on the iPhone Duo (including its durability), more analysis of the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, and John Ternus' leadership so far.

Pre-show: Siri AI foibles
- The High Line
🗣️ ATP Holiday Store is here! 🗣️
Follow-up:
- Fineliner
  - Fineliner 🤝🏻 ATP Graffiti shirt (via Nick Foster)
    - Download for use in Fineliner (in Fineliner’s settings, Font, Import Profile; note that this will overwrite your icons and avatar, too)
    - Palm Vx
    - PalmOS emulator
  - Why Overcast Radio LLC?
- MacBook PROLED
  - Allison points out some dimensional errors on our part
  - You can completely turn off the touch screen (via Gui Rambo)
  - Pinch-to-zoom
  - Glowing Apple logo implementation software details
  - Avoiding keyboard marks with a microfiber keyboard dust cover (via Keith Huss)
  - Rounded corners (via Jeff)
    - Video
  - Reimar Servas show us why rounded corners are bad (via Marcin Wichary)
- iPhone Duo
  - iPhone Duo will welcome you… sometimes? (YouTube timestamp link to 1m15s)
  - Crackgate
  - Inner case with and without matte protector on JerryRigEverything (YouTube timestamp link to 6m45s)
    - Hinge is an ingress point for sand (10m35s)
  - iFixit Teardown
  - Two batteries are listed separately in Settings
  - iPhone Mirroring is outer-screen only (via Stephen Robles) (YouTube timestamp link to 42s)
  - Unlocking using the meat of your right index finger (via Sam Shepherd)
  - Reachability is coming in iOS 27.3
Phil Schiller’s long goodbye
Post-show: Marco’s iPhones Duo
Members-only ATP Overtime: Some fan-made tools for ATP listeners
- ATP Titles by Cole Orton
  - Quiz
- ATP Thingy Finder
- Transcript search sites
  - CatATP
    - Chapter art
  - ATP Search by Marcos Huerta
  - ATP Transcripts by Roger Goldfinger
  - Podsearch by David Smith

Sponsored by:

Granola: The AI notepad for back-to-back meetings.
Claude: Ready to tackle bigger problems? Get started with Claude today.
Tailscale: A secure network that just works.

Become a member for ATP Overtime, ad-free episodes, member specials, and our early-release, unedited “bootleg” feed!

715: Diner Lobster

October 29, 2026 02:39:39 • Download (154 MB)

Casey's new iPhone Duo lifestyle, the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display (which is a real product name), the new iPad Mini, and the launch of Marco's fun new app.

Pre-show: Marco has a new toy
- Stock checker
🗣️ ATP Holiday Store is here! 🗣️
🗣️ New ATP Member’s Special: ATP Insider: Time Management is here! 🗣️
iPhone Duo first impressions
- Stephen Robles’s shortcut
New Apple announcements
- Monday: iPad Mini
- Tuesday: M6 iMac
- Tuesday: M6 MacBook Pro
- Wednesday: OLED MacBook Pro
  - Launch video
  - Advertisement
  - 🚨 THE LID LIGHT IS BACK! 🚨
  - Stephen Levy at Wired
  - Design for Touch on Mac
- Mac Studio with 512 GB RAM
Post-show: Marco’s new app, Fineliner
- Parakeet
Members-only ATP Overtime: Is Apple re-entering the server market??

Sponsored by:

Granola: The AI notepad for back-to-back meetings

Become a member for ATP Overtime, ad-free episodes, member specials, and our early-release, unedited “bootleg” feed!

ATP Insider: Time Management

October 26, 2026

On this member-special episode, three privileged workaholics with unusual jobs and wildly different time-management strategies try to discuss time-management strategies.

This episode is exclusive to our members. Join now to listen!

714: Get the Bigger Pizza

October 23, 2026 02:25:09 • Download (140 MB)

And don't bet against the smartphone.

Pre-show:
- John’s of Bleecker
- Marco and Casey at John’s
🗣️ ATP Holiday Store is here! 🗣️
Follow-up:
- HomeView
  - When was the HomeView hardware created?
  - Is it expensive? (via Paul Heering)
    - Amazon Echo Show 5: $99
    - Amazon Echo Show 8: $199
    - Amazon Echo Show 11: $249
    - Amazon Echo Show 15: $349
  - Wall-mount & regular HomeView pricing
    - Is it to prevent cheapskates? (via mvk)
    - Is it to prevent add-on dinguses (via Ben O’Matic)
  - Knock-offs coming soon?
  - Turns out, Jimmy is that guy. 😏
  - Phone screen vs. Duo screen
  - Will Marco be adding CarPlay support? (via Rick Allen)
- Apple TV
  - Price history
    - March, 2015: Apple lowers the price from $99 → $69 (timestamp link to 10m14s)
    - Glenn Fleishman’s chart
  - Microphones and HomePods
  - AV1 (via Michael Barnes et al)
    - Reddit feature comparison
  - What is “audio passthrough” (via Andrew Haglund)
    - Explainer from Caleb Denison
- The iPhone Duo has a replaceable cover layer
  - Interview with Kate Bergeron
iPhone Duo Creator Showcase
iPhone Duo preorder experience
iPhone Duo reviews
- MKBHD
- HTX Studio
- Tim Pan
- Joanna Stern
- Nilay Patel & Allison Johnson
- Gruber
- John also brought up Computer Chronicles
Apple “Pro and Tell” event next week
Post-show: Marco has something to share
- ATP Diamond Dogs: Talk Me Out of It II
- The thing Marco shared
  - 🚨 You will want to click this after Marco introduces it, but before John talks about his experience! 🚨
Members-only ATP Overtime: The people holding up the internet
- XKCD 2347

Sponsored by:

zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now.
Quince: Elevated essentials and staples that last.

Become a member for ATP Overtime, ad-free episodes, member specials, and our early-release, unedited “bootleg” feed!