Apple II Company • Page 5

I said it earlier but there definitely are little QoL improvements where I've gone "Why the hell didn't they do this before?"

I think it'll all work out in the end just like the iOS 7 language ultimately did.

 

https://www.reuters.com/business/ap...amped-siri-bloomberg-news-reports-2025-08-22/

 

It makes sense to me. A lot of people are ignoring that this would run on Private Cloud Compute. Google is clearly willing to adapt their model for the privacy scheme Apple has.

With the increasing evidence that AI is a money pit soaked with gasoline on fire, better for Apple to continue their own research in on-device models, which I believe is going to be the best thing for end users, while leveraging better models from other players. There's nothing wrong with admitting that you weren't prepared and making deals like this.

Apple is making great strides in their on-device research, possibly more than others, and it's impressive what they've been able to do without offloading to PCC. It'll only get better over time.

 

Apple to Kick Off Three-Year Plan to Reinvent Its Iconic iPhone

 

I threw my desk setup into disarray a bit over the weekend because my desk was absolutely cluttered with work, personal, and shelter items all over the the place. I've been using my laptop in front of a second display for over a year now, didn't hate that setup but not always ideal, but now I'm off to the left with my laptop on an old stand I had sitting around. Busted out the Logitech keyboard I had, might throw it and the mouse to the side for a bit and go back to Magic Keyboard and Trackpad, especially with Touch ID being so damned important these days for authentication.

 

Yeah the one annoying thing about docking my laptop to my monitors is that it's too much clutter for me to keep my laptop open, so I miss using touch id haha

 

I used to do it with my Apple Watch but I've found that increasingly unreliable so I haven't enabled that in some time.

I might also buy a different laptop stand, the one I have is fine but not my favorite. So much of my desk accessories are cork or wood so this aluminum stand kind of kills the vibe but it allows for some storage underneath which the one I'm looking at doesn't.

 

I feel the same way. I run my laptop in clamshell most of the time and have a Magic Keyboard w/ Touch ID. I always love seeing all the different mechanical keyboards online and have wanted to try them for a long time, but having Touch ID is so integrated into everything that I feel like I would hate not having it.

 

I didn't know there was a magic keyboard with touch id integrated in it. Wtf haha I wish that was included on mine

EDIT

Ooof, $180 for the number pad one in white, or $200 for silver and black keys. Too rich for my blood!

 

I would go without number pad - I seriously never miss it - but even that is $150. It's a lot but considering how long a keyboard can last for, I'm ok with it.

 

That's the whole problem for me, too. I like my Logitech keyboard I have here, think it works well enough, but the lack of touch ID and having to either reach up to the left for the small square on my work MacBook Air or entering a password is annoying (and yes, I recognize this is very much a first world problem).

Oh, and look at that - Passwords doesn't even allow for Watch authentication. That's a bummer.

 

Haha yeah I know a lot of people don't really care about number pad, but it's a must for me. I'm really bad at using a number row without looking down at the keyboard, but my years as a cashier in high school has me really efficient with the pad lol.

Not that I even type a lot of numbers out too much in my career ... But it's annoying when I have to lol

 

Can magic keyboards easily switch between 2 Macbooks? I have an M3 for work and an M4 for personal use. They don't share the same Apple ID, so I'm not sure how that all works. I have a magic keyboard for work but have never tried that aspect out because I have an identical USB-only keyboard plugged into my dock at home. Just... If I ever were to cave and get the touch id one lol.

 

I got a switch 2 a few weeks ago and have almost exclusively been streaming from my iPad Pro. It’s immaculate. Playing Wind Waker looks so good with the cell shading even though the graphics are GameCube era. I am so happy with this device as my daily driver for everything. Mine was on sale when I got it and still felt like a big investment, but I have felt better about it as my laptop replacement, reading device, content consumption device, and overall planner. I never used my air for reading, but the pro is so light I have been reading for it rather than a kindle. I really value how easy it is to make annotations and highlight things I reference back to for work all the time.

I still haven’t downloaded the IOS beta, but I am planning on going all in on custom home and lock screens. One thing I hadn’t anticipated on enjoying so much were the speakers. Watched the Mario movie with my kid last night and the screen / speaker combo with a nice stand rules. My only gripe is how unbelievable annoying Nintendo is for not having an easy way to wirelessly stream from your device. The capture card / separate app needed is egregious.

 

I've looked into this in the past and again today. There are a couple options you can run with:

- Use a monitor or dock which you can plug in a cable so once your computer is connected, connect the keyboard and trackpad and it'll connect to that new computer.
- Pay for something like Magic Switch: Effortlessly Switch Magic Keyboard & Mouse Between Devices or ToothFairy: AirPods and Bluetooth Utility for Mac (I would probably do the latter, it's cheaper and covers more use cases)

Me - I'm starting to face enough annoying issues with my work laptop that I may just switch to using my personal for everything. I've had some odd stutters, lags, and the lack of space I have on it is frustrating enough.

 

Interesting. So I guess if I ever do get a touch id keyboard that I want to use for both, I can leave it paired to my work laptop via Bluetooth for when I go into the office, but have a USB C cord hardwired into my dock at home to easily switch between the two. Kinda sucks having a cable along the desk but sounds like it would work

Those third party apps do seem nice though .. good to know!

 

iPhone 17, the 'thinnest iPhone ever,' and everything else we're expecting out of Apple's hardware event | TechCrunch

 

At least it'd be USB-C and usable for other things!

 

For anyone wanting Apple accessories but don’t want to pay full price. I got a Magic Keyboard open box for $100 off. They’re essentially brand new and most often it’s purchased items that are returned within 30 days. I also got an Apple folio for like half price that way. I’ve had both for a few months with 0 issues.

Also a big fan of Apple Refurbished. When I was deciding between the Mac Mini and iPad Pro I was testing them out at the Apple Store and an employee told me a number of people returned the Mac minis never opened, but they have to sell them as refurbished. He said the newer the product the more likely it’s something someone got as a gift and didn’t want, or upgraded to something else without ever even opening the box.

 

Best Buy or somewhere else?

 

I scooped both on Amazon, but I believe Best Buy and Walmart both have open box items for sale.

 

Best Buy does for sure, Amazon you gotta be quick on those deals.

Didn't see anything on Walmart just now.

Mirco Center sometimes has open box deals, too.

 

I'm dealing with that keyboard situation right now. I use a Nuphy Air 75 v2 as my daily driver, and I have no issues with my personal M1 Air, as I can use the watch to unlock Mac and 1Pass. The friction comes with my work M1 Pro. I don't have watch authentication on that one, so I have to lift the lid to hit the TouchID button if I don't want to type in my full password (which is long due to security requirements).

I know some people have stripped the button out of the keyboard and made custom 3D-printed shells for it, but I don't want to deal with all of that. If Apple sold just the Touch ID button for $50-60, I'd buy it.

 

I keep forgetting that my sisters best friend works for Apple and would have no problem getting me a discount haha. Might look into upgrading my keyboard after all.

 

If anybody's in the market for a new computer - I'm selling my near brand new M4 MacBook Air. I got it in April and in May my job provided a new MB Pro and so my MB Air just sat as I really have no use for two computers. Message me if you have any interest and I can send details/photos.

I'd rather sell it to someone on Chorus than to someone on Facebook. lol