In Touch with iOS 397 - USB Drives Live On, Vision Pro Evolves, and Plex Locks Down
The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Patrice Brend'amour, Jill McKinley, Jeff Gamet, Marty Jencius, Guy Serle. A post-Thanksgiving Apple tech roundtable: Vision Pro M5 vs M2, spatial video, iOS 26 beta updates, USB drives vs digital media, AirTag travel upgrades, Plex limitations, Spotify price hikes, the $149 iPhone pocket, Peanuts specials on Apple TV+, and plenty of laughs between the full panel.
The show notes are at InTouchwithiOS.com
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In Touch with iOS Magazine on Flipboard
Summary
In Episode 397 of In Touch With iOS, Dave is joined by Patrice Brend'amour, Jill McKinley, Marty Jencius, Jeff Gamet, and Guy Serle for a lively post-Thanksgiving discussion covering Vision Pro updates, iOS 26 developments, media format debates, travel tech improvements, and plenty of humor.
The panel begins with Apple Vision Pro, diving into the M5 vs. M2 comparison, app support concerns, frozen iPad-based apps, spatial vs. 3D video, and why personas remain one of the Vision Pro's most underrated features. Several panelists challenge a recent critical article about Vision Pro, noting that the platform is still early and evolving.
Next, the group covers iOS 26 beta updates and Apple's Invites app, leading to a comedic sidebar about who exactly uses the app — if anyone. This transitions into a deep (and funny) debate over USB thumb drives, CDs/DVDs, Blu-rays, and digital vs. physical media. From enterprise security to indie concert CDs, everyone shares stories illustrating why physical media is "dead"… or maybe not so dead.
More news includes AirTag upgrades that help airlines locate lost luggage, Spotify preparing another round of price increases, and Plex restricting free users from sharing library access — which sparked concerns among Plex users on Apple TV.
The crew also reacts to Apple's limited-run $149 iPhone "pocket" accessory, Pocket Casts adding smart playlists, and Peanuts holiday specials becoming Apple TV+ exclusives. The episode wraps with chat room highlights and each panelist sharing where they can be found online.
Topics and Links
In Touch With Vision Pro this week.
Vision Pro M5 review: It's time for Apple to make some tough choices
TRON Legacy is Finally in 3D on Disney+ for Apple Vision Pro! #applevisionpro #tron #disney
Beta this week.
iOS 26 Beta 3 continues this week.
iOS 26.2 adds convenient new feature designed for Apple's Invites app
In Touch With Mac this week
4 storage types I think no longer make sense in 2025
Other Topics
AirTag's newest feature could work even better now for many travelers
Pocket Casts app introduces smart playlists feature to organize your podcasts
Plex's crackdown on free remote streaming is starting with its Roku app
News
Apple News Loses CNN - MacRumors
Spotify planning price increase for US subscribers
iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide
Want to watch 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving'? You'll need an Apple TV subscription
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Our Host
Dave Ginsburg is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users and shares his wealth of knowledge of iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and related technologies. Visit the YouTube channel https://youtube.com/intouchwithios follow him on Mastodon @daveg65, , BlueSky @daveg65 and the show @intouchwithios
Our Regular Contributors
Jeff Gamet is a podcaster, technology blogger, artist, and author. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's managing editor, and Smile's TextExpander Evangelist. You can find him on Mastadon @jgamet Pixelfed @jgamet@pixelfed.social and Bluesky @jgamet.bsky.social Podcasts The Context Machine Podcast Retro Rewatch Retro Rewatch His YouTube channel https://youtube.com/jgamet
Marty Jencius, Ph.D., is a professor of counselor education at Kent State University, where he researches, writes, and trains about using technology in teaching and mental health practice. His podcasts include Vision Pro Files, The Tech Savvy Professor and Circular Firing Squad Podcast. Find him at jencius@mastodon.social https://thepodtalk.net
Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him by email at eabolden@mac.com, on Mastodon at @eabolden@techhub.social, on his blog, Trending At Work, and as co-host on The Vision ProFiles podcast.
Jill McKinley works in enterprise software, server administration, and IT A lifelong tech enthusiast, she started her career with Windows but is now an avid Apple fan. Beyond technology, she shares her insights on nature, faith, and personal growth through her podcasts—Buzz Blossom & Squeak, Start with Small Steps, and The Bible in Small Steps. Watch her content on YouTube at @startwithsmallsteps and follow her on X @schmern. Find all her work at http://jillfromthenorthwoods.com
Chuck Joiner is the host of MacVoices and hosts video podcasts with influential members of the Apple community. Make sure to visit macvoices.com and subscribe to his podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @chuckjoiner and join his MacVoices Facebook group.
Patrice Brend'amour loves to create podcasts, automations or software. She also enjoys working with diverse sets of people, leading them to success and making a tiny difference in the world. Which she does as VP of Development at a Healthcare Software provider. She can be found at https://the-patrice.com and her podcast Foodie Flashback at https://foodieflashback.com