Accidental Tech Podcast
Marco Arment, Casey Liss, John Siracusa
Three nerds discussing tech, Apple, programming, and loosely related matters.
Episodes
Mentioned books
78 snips
Sep 16, 2025 • 1h 53min
657: Ears Are Weird
There’s a nostalgic dive into childhood tech, including the sentimental value of an old iPod Nano. The latest iPhone Air features are under scrutiny, revealing audio quality concerns and a questionable sales potential. Tech talk also highlights innovations like the new 40W power adapter and performance insights from the A19 Pro chip. The humorous debate over phone case durability and the quirks of smartphone mishaps keeps things light. Finally, a serious note on fundraising for Childhood Cancer Awareness ties it all together with a call for listener support.
173 snips
Sep 10, 2025 • 2h 36min
656: A Long T-Shirt
The hosts dive into the exciting world of upcoming Apple products, including the much-anticipated iPhone 17 and innovative AirPods Pro 3. They tackle tech guilt through consumerism and charity, and explore both the incremental upgrades of the Apple Watch Series 11 and the allure of ultra smartwatches. The discussion also emphasizes advances in Apple's A19 chip, tackling the intricacies of design, performance, and user preferences. Plus, personal anecdotes enhance their reflections on digital communication and trade-in challenges, making for a lively conversation.
107 snips
Sep 4, 2025 • 2h 4min
655: Shorts-Compatible Body Type
Dive into troubleshooting a six-year-old Razer gaming laptop while simultaneously supporting a noble cause with a fun charity competition. Discover humorous tips for managing devices during workouts, and explore fascinating iPhone pricing insights and specs for upcoming models. Hear witty takes on the chaotic switch-up in smartphone interfaces and discuss guilt-free tech purchases linked to charitable giving. Wrap up with insights on innovative e-ink note-taking devices and how they stack up against traditional tech.
93 snips
Aug 28, 2025 • 1h 48min
654: Athletically Engaged
The hosts vent about personal tech frustrations, from Siri interruptions to the woes of AppleCare. They tackle the implications of Apple's new 'Hide My Email' feature, highlighting mixed user experiences. Anticipation builds around the upcoming Apple event, sparking discussions on new iPhone models and innovative camera controls. The debate on energy consumption of AI versus traditional tech surfaces, as well as a dive into the differences between file snapshots and backups. Finally, they reflect on the intersection of tech, politics, and consumerism.
84 snips
Aug 21, 2025 • 1h 47min
653: Warning Stories
The conversation kicks off with the challenges of AI-generated content, emphasizing trust issues in social media. Personal insights into iOS 26 reveal a mix of excitement and usability frustrations, alongside a debate on language nuances. A repair saga for a HomePod leads to reflections on the repair economy, while ongoing grievances with AppleCare highlight frustrating bureaucratic hurdles. Rumors surface about the next M5 MacBook Pro, and there’s playful chatter about Siri’s relevance today, rounding out a fun blend of tech musings and personal anecdotes.
141 snips
Aug 14, 2025 • 2h 9min
652: You Have 24 Hours to Comply
The hosts share their chaotic home renovation stories, featuring mishaps like a surprise water leak. They dive into discussions on latest Apple beta updates, focusing on user interface changes and overall usability. An intriguing conversation about running custom email servers leads to insights on quantum cryptography. The struggles of adapting app icons to Apple's evolving design guidelines highlight the constant challenges faced by developers. Lastly, they explore the essential balance between intuition and data-driven decisions in tech leadership.
35 snips
Aug 7, 2025 • 1h 44min
651: Your Judgement About Pockets
The hosts share hilarious vacation tales, including sunscreen mishaps that led to a painful eye episode. They dive into Tim Cook's controversial political ties and the ethics of corporate leadership. Smart buying tips for Macs surface from their experiences at B&H Photo. The nostalgia of retro computing contrasts with modern design flaws, while discussions on iPhone 17 rumors tease potential innovations. They also tackle storage management in macOS and the challenges of email privacy, all sprinkled with humorous phone ownership anecdotes.
40 snips
Jul 28, 2025 • 1h 27min
650: Whatever It Takes to Get the Laundry Folded
The hosts tackle a humorous mix of parenting challenges and tech updates, revealing how multitasking can get messy, particularly with devices like Vision Pro. Sunscreen science sparks a debate about chemical vs. physical formulations. They delve into the hurdles posed by AI crawlers and the nuances of Apple software updates, emphasizing design versus usability. A discussion on AppleCare for families provides practical tips, and the innovative Aqua interface is explored, showcasing how design impacts user experience.
34 snips
Jul 22, 2025 • 1h 57min
649: Prove It With Cameras
The discussion kicks off with a lighthearted review of the CalDigit TS5+ features and network performance challenges. They explore Apple's pursuit of Formula One rights and share funny stories about appliance mishaps. The speakers dive into experiences with AirPods and the intricacies of repair services. There's excitement for a potential low-cost Apple laptop featuring the A18 Pro chip, and a debate on ethical issues surrounding tech leaks. Finally, they tackle the implications of centralized web services and share humorous sunscreen struggles.
44 snips
Jul 17, 2025 • 1h 55min
648: Part of the Movement
The hosts share their excitement about live music, reminiscing about an unforgettable concert. They discuss the woes of home heating and cooling, along with humorous thoughts on pizza toppings. A deep dive into Apple's challenges retaining AI talent reveals industry competition and leadership transitions. The latest software beta updates spark debates on design functionality, and the fun of seeing an F1 film in theaters contrasts with their previously lukewarm interest in the sport. They also critique a recent car racing movie, balancing nostalgia with contemporary elements.