
Empower Apps
An exploration of Apple business news and technology. We talk about how businesses can use new technology to empower their business and employees, from Leo Dion, founder of BrightDigit.
Latest episodes

Dec 15, 2023 • 46min
The Bushel Holiday Special
Join us by the virtual fireplace this Christmas Eve for 'The Bushel Holiday Special' podcast episode! Unwrap the enchanting tale of Bushel's journey, filled with the warmth of festive storytelling and the magic of app development. Gather 'round for a holiday story like no other! 🎄🎁Pre-Order Bushel Today! Release Date December 15!Join our Brand New Patreon Page!Related EpisodesWe Have All The Heroes with Stefano MondinoIt Depends with Brandon WilliamsNow You Know What I'm Doing This SummerHow to WWDC with Peter WithamOpen and Extensible with Matt MassicottemacOS by Tutorials with Sarah ReicheltMicroapps Architecture with Majid JabrayilovSupercharged with Pedro PiñeraMy Taylor Deep Dish Swift Heroes World TourPizza, Playpen, and Fastlane Funding with Josh HoltzFastlane with Josh HoltzRelated Links Bushel of an App - From Seed of an IdeaBushel of an App - Building the CrustBushel of an App - Design, Architecture, and Automation (December 18)Bushel of an App - Making Cider from Apples (December 19)What are the benefits of microapps?A Swift Developer’s Guide To Getting The Most Out Of WWDCHelp Your Swift Team Learn: New APIsRocketSim - Build Apps FasterHypervisorVirtualizationRunning macOS in a virtual machine on Apple siliconVapor: Fluent → OverviewsaveMachineStateTo(url:completionHandler:)NSFileVersioninsidegui/VirtualBuddy: Virtualize macOS 12 and later on Apple Silicon, VirtualBuddy is a virtual machine GUI for macOS M1, M2, M3brightdigit/PackageDSL: Simplify the management of your Package.swift file with PackageDSLjoshdholtz/DeckUI: Swift DSL for writing slide decks in Xcodebrightdigit/FelinePine: Easy to use API for setting up logging and log categories across your architecturesynesthesia-it/Murray: Easily add features to your projects by scaffolding new files with Stencil templatesyonaskolb/XcodeGen: A Swift command line tool for generating your Xcode projectTuist - Supercharge your Xcode development workflowsCustom Forms with No Server Code | FormspreeEleventy, a simpler static site generatorDownload iOS Firmware for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple Watch, Apple TV and HomePod / IPSW Downloadstraderepublic/Cilicon: 🛠️ Self-Hosted ephemeral macOS CI on Apple SiliconTart - TartSocial MediaEmailleo@brightdigit.comGitHub - @brightdigitTwitter BrightDigit - @brightdigitLeo - @leogdionLinkedInBrightDigitLeoPatreon - brightdigitCreditsMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Blippy Trance" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
(00:00) - Seed of an Idea
(09:12) - Building the Crust
(22:11) - Design, Architecture, and Automation
(35:09) - Making Cider from Apples
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Edward Sanchez
Steven Lipton
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Dec 8, 2023 • 45min
We Have All The Heroes with Stefano Mondino
Stefano Mondino from Synesthesia comes on to talk doing not product work at Synesthesia as opposed to building a product and working with multiple projects across various teams. We also talk about his favorite dev tools including his own tool Murray.GuestStefano MondinoTwitter @puntosteMastodon @stefanomondino@mastodon.socialLinkedIn @stefanomondinoPre-Order Bushel Today! Release Date December 15!Join our Brand New Patreon Page!Related EpisodesSwiftly Tooling with Pol Piella AbadiaSupercharged with Pedro PiñeraMy Taylor Deep Dish Swift Heroes World TourPizza, Playpen, and Fastlane Funding with Josh HoltzSwift Package Index with Dave Verwer and Sven SchmidtDeveloper Productivity with Rudrank RiyamSwift Package Manager Super Powers with Marco EidingerExpert Swift with Shai MishaliFastlane with Josh HoltzConferences with John WilkerAutomation Fun with Jared SorgeRelated Links Murray Github ProjectMurray from Swift HeroesSocial MediaEmailleo@brightdigit.comGitHub - @brightdigitTwitter BrightDigit - @brightdigitLeo - @leogdionLinkedInBrightDigitLeoPatreon - brightdigitCreditsMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Blippy Trance" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
(00:00) - "Agency Work"
(12:37) - Going Cross-Platform 😱
(16:23) - Dev Tools
(26:33) - Murray
(35:14) - Swift Heroes
(40:13) - Supporting Older OSes
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Edward Sanchez
Steven Lipton
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Dec 3, 2023 • 26min
Calm Intentions with Alaina Kafkes
Alaina Kafkes from Calm joins us to talk about implementing App Intents and what she learning about her experience. Also special announcement regarding a certain app I've been working on.GuestAlaina Kafkes (@alainakafkes) / XAlaina Kafkes | LinkedInPre-Order Bushel Today! Release Date December 15!Related EpisodesThe Making of Callsheet with Casey LissMy Taylor Deep Dish Swift Heroes World TourApp Clips with Jon BauerPosture Island with Jordi BruinOpen and Extensible with Matt MassicotteConnecting Wirelessly with Gui RamboLocalization with Zach BrassAccessibility with Kim ArnettRelated Links Calm's App Intents integration: how (and how not to) work with new Apple developer technologies — Calm BlogSocial MediaEmailleo@brightdigit.comGitHub - @brightdigitTwitter BrightDigit - @brightdigitLeo - @leogdionLinkedInBrightDigitLeoInstagram - @brightdigitPatreon - brightdigitCreditsMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Blippy Trance" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
(00:00) - Pre-Order Bushel
(01:03) - Intro and Public Speaking
(02:45) - What are App Intents?
(06:47) - Why App Intents
(11:16) - Coding Challenges
(17:21) - Components of App Intents
(21:24) - Multiplatform and Last Thoughts
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Edward Sanchez
Steven Lipton
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Nov 19, 2023 • 30min
Empowering Accessibility with Via Fairchild
Via Fairchild comes on the show to talk about accessibility, UI Kit, Swift UI and how it all brings your app to a wider more diverse audience.GuestVia FairchildVia Fairchild | LinkedInVia (@codingmilf) / XVia (@codingmilf@techhub.social) - MastodonAnnouncing a Brand New Patreon Page!Related EpisodesThe Making of Callsheet with Casey LissSwiftly Tooling with Pol Piella AbadiaMy Taylor Deep Dish Swift Heroes World TourPizza, Playpen, and Fastlane Funding with Josh HoltzAccessibility with Kim ArnettRelated Links Perform accessibility audits for your app - WWDC23 - Videos - Apple DeveloperKano | Official SiteCurb cut effect - WikipediaWomen Who Code - Empowering women to excel in tech careers | Women Who CodeUnderdogDevs - helping aspiring developers who are either formerly incarcerated or from a disadvantaged background.Women in Tech Resources & Blog | Women in Tech NetworkScratch - Imagine, Program, ShareSocial MediaEmailleo@brightdigit.comGitHub - @brightdigitTwitter BrightDigit - @brightdigitLeo - @leogdionLinkedInBrightDigitLeoInstagram - @brightdigitPatreon - brightdigitCreditsMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Blippy Trance" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
(00:00) - Special Announcement
(01:23) - Why Accessibility
(05:27) - What APIs to Use
(14:22) - Making Accessibility a Priority
(18:24) - Diversity and Accessibility
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Edward Sanchez
Steven Lipton
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Nov 4, 2023 • 25min
Learning Judo with Sean Rucker
Sean Rucker, Co-founder of Judo, talks about their product and the challenges of building Judo using SwiftUI. They discuss the designer/developer handoff problem, SwiftUI vs web design, and the Judo SDK. They also explore performance differences, surprising user requests, and avoiding scope creep in their Judo project.

Oct 16, 2023 • 1h 22min
The Making of Callsheet with Casey Liss
Casey Liss comes on to talk about his new app Callsheet, working with Movie and TV APIs, old TV hardware companies, and enjoying App Review on the beach.GuestCasey LissMastodon @caseyliss@mastodon.socialAnalogueAccidental Tech PodcastRelated EpisodesPizza, Playpen, and Fastlane Funding with Josh Holtz | BrightDigitRevisiting Third-Party APIs with Christian Selig | BrightDigitRelated Links PlaypenThe Movie Database (TMDB)Rotten Tomatoes: Movies | TV Shows | Movie Trailers | Reviews - Rotten TomatoesStream Movies & TV Shows | PlexChannels — Watch TV Your WayMovie Reviews, TV Reviews, Game Reviews, and Music Reviews - Metacriticsituational-accessibility-inclusive-design-microsoft.jpeg 880×1,432 pixelsCommon Sense Media: Age-Based Media Reviews for Families | Common Sense MediaViewModifierredacted(reason:)StoreKit Overview - Apple Developerhttps://www.vulture.com/article/rotten-tomatoes-movie-rating.htmlATP 547: Own Your PricingATP 545: My Butler Can’t Use ItATP 544: Valid in a Marco WayATP 543: 100 Million Tire-KickersSocial MediaEmailleo@brightdigit.comGitHub - @brightdigitTwitter BrightDigit - @brightdigitLeo - @leogdionLinkedInBrightDigitLeoInstagram - @brightdigitPatreon - empowerappshowCreditsMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Blippy Trance" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
(00:00) - What is Callsheet
(05:52) - Secrets of Success
(10:17) - Delightful App
(14:42) - Design and API Challenges
(35:30) - StoreKit
(41:16) - AppReview Fun!
(51:00) - Favorite Features
(58:09) - Future Plans
(01:03:00) - Privacy and the Apple TV
(01:09:29) - C#
(01:16:55) - When are you going to change the theme song?
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Edward Sanchez
Steven Lipton
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Oct 2, 2023 • 52min
Swiftly Tooling with Pol Piella Abadia
Pol Piella Abadia talks about the changes in Xcode 15, Swift 5.9 network requests, and setting up automated accessibility audits. They also discuss the benefits of Curate, a customizable QR code generator app, and their experiences in building an app and working with Apple Music.

Sep 18, 2023 • 43min
Building a Video SDK with Marc Schwieterman
Marc Schwieterman from daily.co joins us to talk about the in and outs of building a video SDK and what capabilities are for iOS.GuestMarc Schwieterman marcschwieterman.com Github @marcismeTwitter @mschwietermanMastodon @marc@xoxo.zoneDailyRelated EpisodesSpatial Experiences of the Wild with Adrian EvesIt Depends with Brandon WilliamsEmpower Station with Matt BraunConnecting Wirelessly with Gui RamboRelated Links DailyDaily Client SDK for Python — daily-python documentationHow and why Daily is using Rust for our WebRTC API platformIntroducing Daily Adaptive HEVC for iOS native videoVideo SDK Features: Build Video Calls into any UI or App - DailyThe Swift Package for the Daily Client on iOSdaily-ios-starter-kitWWDC Create a more responsive camera experienceDiscover Continuity Camera for tvOSSupport external cameras in your iPadOS appWhat’s new in voice processingiPhone 15 Pro has an AV1 decoder but no encoderAdd support for visionOS targets · Issue #642 · rust-lang/compiler-teamSupport Apple tvOS in libstd by thomcc · Pull Request #103503 · rust-lang/rustSocial MediaEmailleo@brightdigit.comGitHub - @brightdigitTwitter BrightDigit - @brightdigitLeo - @leogdionLinkedInBrightDigitLeoInstagram - @brightdigitPatreon - empowerappshowCreditsMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Blippy Trance" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
(00:00) - What is Daily
(03:16) - Building an iOS SDK for Video
(16:19) - Swift UI
(28:12) - WWDC 2023
(33:06) - AV Foundation and Networking
(41:18) - Future Plans and AI
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Edward Sanchez
Steven Lipton
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Sep 13, 2023 • 47min
Action Button for Ring Tones with Evan Stone
It's September Time! You know what that means. Evan Stone joins us to talk about the different ways we can spend money as well as his adventures at Apple's Vision Pro Labs.GuestEvan K Stone @evankstone@iosdev.spaceiOS Dev BreakInteractive LogicRelated EpisodesNow You Know What I'm Doing This SummerArm Sling for Apple Watch Developers with Hidde van der PloegSpatial Experiences of the Wild with Adrian EvesPlatforms State of Union 2023 with Peter WithamPosture Island with Jordi BruinDynamic Island with Steve LiptonRelated Links Swift Remote Studio: It’s official. It's back!Inside the Apple Vision Pro labs Assistive Touch on the Apple Watch Social MediaEmailleo@brightdigit.comGitHub - @brightdigitTwitter BrightDigit - @brightdigitLeo - @leogdionLinkedInBrightDigitLeoInstagram - @brightdigitPatreon - empowerappshowCreditsMusic from https://filmmusic.io"Blippy Trance" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
(00:00) - Overall Impressions
(02:41) - Apple Watch
(07:59) - Inspirational Video Ideas for Apple
(13:07) - Octavia Spencer Rocks
(16:07) - iPhone 15
(35:23) - Swift Remote Studio
(39:41) - Evan went to a Vision Pro Lab
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Edward Sanchez
Steven Lipton
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Aug 28, 2023 • 44min
Revisiting Third-Party APIs with Christian Selig
Christian Selig, an indie iOS developer known for his work on Apollo and Pixel Pals, discusses the challenges of design, the negative impact of changes in the Reddit API, using chat GPT for automating tasks, the impact of subscriptions in the iOS world, SwiftUI limitations, and upcoming features for Pixel Pals.