AppStories

Nadia Thorne, a developer from Black Salt Games, shares her journey of adapting the game Dredge for mobile, discussing creative decisions and the unique challenges of touch controls. Wout Van Halderen from Playstack dives into the success story of Balatro, recounting how it gained popularity and its evolution from hobbyist to award-winning status. They also explore community-driven technology for disaster response, emphasizing the necessity of reliable information during emergencies, and the vital role indie developers play in the gaming landscape.

Discover the innovative features of Sky, an AI-powered Mac automation app that revolutionizes task management. The hosts share their aspirations for Apple's WWDC 2025, including improved Siri capabilities and new integrations for Apple Shortcuts. They discuss the potential of local model processing and how AI can enhance user experiences and privacy. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on developers and productivity, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in Apple's tech future.

Federico and John share intriguing wishes for macOS and visionOS, focusing on user experience and app management. They discuss enhancing permission systems, simplifying Bluetooth device pairing, and the excitement of a new mechanical keyboard. The conversation also highlights the need for improved connectivity and native apps in visionOS, alongside reflections on the Vision Pro's launch. Their ideas spark thoughts on better integration and usability for Apple's ecosystem, making tech life a little smoother and more enjoyable.

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!