MacVoices #25253: Live! - Battery Pack PSA, AirPods, Bending iPhones, A Free VPN, Dating With AI

The panel covers Anchor’s power bank recall over fire risks, debates iPhone durability and repairability, and reviews ExpressVPN’s ad-supported “EventVPN.” Chuck Joiner, Dave Ginsburg, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Jeff Gamet, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius Jim Rea, and Web Bixby also share travel safety tips for lithium-ion batteries, discuss Apple’s design shift toward easier repairs, and joke about Facebook’s new AI-powered dating feature before wrapping up with their latest Apple tech experiences and projects. 

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Show Notes:

Chapters:

[0:00] Episode topics overview [0:33] Anchor power bank recall and lithium safety [2:46] Power bank reliability and manufacturing [4:19] Airline and aircraft lithium-battery precautions [7:31] iPhone Air bend test and titanium discussion [9:17] Everyday phone-carrying habits and new straps [11:08] Introduction to ExpressVPN’s EventVPN [13:21] Limitations and ad-supported model [17:32] Free VPN comparisons and travel use [17:45] iPhone repairability and right-to-repair trends [21:56] Facebook’s AI dating feature reactions [30:16] New shows and AI workflow podcast [31:49] Closing chat and wrap-up

Links:

iPhone Air bend test affirms Apple’s claim of most durable iPhone ever, front glass scratch resistance also impresses https://9to5mac.com/2025/09/20/iphone-air-bend-test-most-durable-iphone-ever/

Well-Known VPN Provider Announces New Free VPN Service for Apple Users https://www.mactrast.com/2025/09/well-known-vpn-provider-announces-new-free-vpn-service-for-apple-users/

Here's how EventVPN is different from other free VPNs https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/heres-how-eventvpn-is-different-from-other-free-vpns-213014671.html

Facebook adds an AI assistant to its dating app https://www.engadget.com/social-media/facebook-adds-an-ai-assistant-to-its-dating-app-225754544.html

Guests:

Web Bixby has been in the insurance business for 40 years and has been an Apple user for longer than that.You can catch up with him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, but prefers Bluesky.

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.

Brian Flanigan-Arthurs is an educator with a passion for providing results-driven, innovative learning strategies for all students, but particularly those who are at-risk. He is also a tech enthusiast who has a particular affinity for Apple since he first used the Apple IIGS as a student. You can contact Brian on twitter as @brian8944. He also recently opened a Mastodon account at @brian8944@mastodon.cloud.

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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