AppStories

Jud Coplan and Teo Connor, both Vice Presidents at Airbnb with previous stints at Apple, share insights into the innovative features of Airbnb's 2025 Summer Release. They discuss the seamless integration of stays and experiences, emphasizing a user-centered app design that fosters community and connection. The duo highlights the importance of host-tool enhancements, collaboration across departments, and offers a sneak peek into Airbnb's expansion plans. Their vision prioritizes authentic travel experiences over mere app engagement.

This week features an inspiring conversation with Apple's VP of Developer Relations and young winners of the Swift Student Challenge, highlighting the importance of coding for students. The podcast dives into impressive innovations, including an app that supports those with Parkinson's disease. It also contrasts personal experiences with Apple Watch and Pixel Watch, discussing desired improvements in exercise tracking and notifications. The speakers voice frustrations over limitations in watchOS and tvOS, advocating for more customization and smarter features!

This week, the hosts dive into their wishlist for Apple's WWDC 2025, focusing on iOS and iPadOS improvements. They discuss the need for better multitasking features, an always-available dock, and an upgraded Siri chatbot experience. Exciting ideas like a clipboard manager and a revamped tab bar are highlighted. The conversation also touches on AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT, exploring their impact on productivity and project management. Plus, there's chatter about enhancing creative apps like Final Cut Pro on the iPad.

Dive into the fascinating world of tracking apps and discover what makes them tick! From gaming to media, the hosts discuss user-friendly features and innovative tools that enhance tracking experiences. Learn about hydration tracking with WaterMinder and the unique community aspects of gaming trackers. They even touch on using AI for media management and the quirks of finding reliable weather data. Plus, enjoy some lighthearted banter and unexpected trivia that'll leave you wanting more!

This week, Federico and John revisit the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence to describe how they’re using a variety of tools for their everyday workflows. On AppStories+, John shares his theory of the way we’ll look at AI models in the future. Subscribe here. We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week. To learn more about an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ. This episode is sponsored by: Notion – Try the powerful, easy-to-use Notion AI today. Links and Show Notes How We’re Using AI Anthropic, Claude Google, Gemini Google, NotebookLM OpenAI, ChatGPT Copilot for Obsidian Zapier Follow us on Mastodon AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Bluesky AppStories MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees

The hosts dive into their favorite calendar apps, comparing features and usability. They discuss the intricate customizations of BusyCal and its integrations with task managers like Todoist. The conversation includes a spotlight on Fantastical's unique time zone management and pricing. They also explore Notion's expanding calendar features and AI integrations. Listeners will discover alternative calendar options enhancing productivity, including innovative designs in apps like TimePage and the efficiency of Week Calendar.

Federico and John dive into their favorite utility apps, sharing gems like Amphetamine for tab management and Text Lens for capturing text. They explore the Zen Browser's unique features and tab management challenges. Keka shines as a file management tool, while Mic Drop simplifies microphone settings. The duo also discusses Markdown workflows using GitHub and Marked. Personal anecdotes add flavor, making this a treasure trove for productivity enthusiasts. Tune in for tools that could enhance your workflow!

Federico and John offer fascinating insights into their latest automation projects. They discuss innovative tools like BetterTouchTool and the use of AI Actions for transcription and summarization. The duo shares techniques for streamlining podcast promotion and content management through automation. Listeners will find tips on optimizing audio quality with earbuds and the benefits of using Notion's powerful AI. They also explore challenges with complex APIs and present clever solutions for tasks like managing RSS feeds and extracting podcast clips.

Mark Gurman, Bloomberg’s managing editor and chief correspondent covering Apple, began as a teenage app developer. He discusses his remarkable 16-year journey from 9to5Mac to Bloomberg, sharing thrilling scoops like the early Siri reveal. Mark offers insights into the evolving landscape of Apple news, emphasizing the importance of credibility in tech journalism. He reflects on his unique relationship with Apple, characterized by respectful dialogue, and shares valuable advice for aspiring journalists navigating this dynamic field.

A playful look at music nostalgia leads into a lively discussion about the evolution of shortcut helper apps. The hosts highlight productivity boosts from utilities like Actions and AI Actions, showcasing their impact on iOS and macOS. They explore Shortery’s unique capabilities for managing webpage summaries and dive into innovative tools for automating workflows in Obsidian. They also introduce the Text Workflow app, emphasizing its text formatting features, while hinting at discussions about the iPad's relationship with web applications.