MacVoices #25138: Live! - App Store Politics, iPhone Pricing Rumors, Smart Home Transitions

The discussion starts with Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Marty Jencius, Mark Fuccio, Eric Bolden, Jim Rea, and Jeff Gamet examining another piece of app store legislation, questioning its logic, potential impact, and the recurring influence of major players like Epic and Spotify. They explore the rumor of iPhone 17 price increases, debating whether tariffs, manufacturing shifts, or strategic messaging are driving the narrative. Wrapping up, the panel provide a PSA on Apple’s shift away from legacy HomeKit architecture in iOS 19, including what users should check to stay compatible. 

http://traffic.libsyn.com/maclevelten/MV25138.mp3

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Show Notes:

Chapters:

00:10 Intro to MacVoices 04:26 App Store Freedom Act Discussion 15:18 Apple Pricing Rumors 25:29 Home Architecture Changes

Links:

Florida lawmaker proposes forcing Apple to allow third-party app stores like EU https://9to5mac.com/2025/05/06/florida-lawmaker-introduces-bill-to-break-apples-app-store-stronghold/

Apple may raise iPhone 17 prices but not blame tariffs https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/05/12/apple-may-raise-iphone-17-prices-but-not-blame-tariffs

Apple discontinuing support for older Home architecture with iOS 19 https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/05/12/apple-discontinuing-support-for-older-home-architecture-with-ios-19

Guests:

Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him on Twitter, by email at embolden@mac.com, on Mastodon at @eabolden@techhub.social, on his blog, Trending At Work, and as co-host on The Vision ProFiles podcast.

Mark Fuccio is actively involved in high tech startup companies, both as a principle at piqsure.com, or as a marketing advisor through his consulting practice Tactics Sells High Tech, Inc. Mark was a proud investor in Microsoft from the mid-1990's selling in mid 2000, and hopes one day that MSFT will be again an attractive investment. You can contact Mark through Twitter, LinkedIn, or on Mastodon.

Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer’s Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @jgamet@mastodon.social on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet.

David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @daveg65@mastodon.cloud.

Dr. Marty Jencius has been an Associate Professor of Counseling at Kent State University since 2000. He has over 120 publications in books, chapters, journal articles, and others, along with 200 podcasts related to counseling, counselor education, and faculty life. His technology interest led him to develop the counseling profession ‘firsts,’ including listservs, a web-based peer-reviewed journal, The Journal of Technology in Counseling, teaching and conferencing in virtual worlds as the founder of Counselor Education in Second Life, and podcast founder/producer of CounselorAudioSource.net and ThePodTalk.net. Currently, he produces a podcast about counseling and life questions, the Circular Firing Squad, and digital video interviews with legacies capturing the history of the counseling field. This is also co-host of The Vision ProFiles podcast. Generally, Marty is chasing the newest tech trends, which explains his interest in A.I. for teaching, research, and productivity. Marty is an active presenter and past president of the NorthEast Ohio Apple Corp (NEOAC).

Jim Rea built his own computer from scratch in 1975, started programming in 1977, and has been an independent Mac developer continuously since 1984. He is the founder of ProVUE Development, and the author of Panorama X, ProVUE's ultra fast RAM based database software for the macOS platform. He’s been a speaker at MacTech, MacWorld Expo and other industry conferences. Follow Jim at provue.com and via @provuejim@techhub.social on Mastodon

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