MacVoices

Wikipedia’s 25th anniversary sparked a discussion of its evolution as a research tool and how it compares with AI systems. The discussion by Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Web Bixby, Jim Rea, and Jeff Gamet explores academic attitudes toward Wikipedia, the need to teach responsible source verification, and how AI is reshaping classrooms and workplaces. The panel also debates whether AI truly boosts productivity and reacts to new ChatGPT subscription tiers that introduce ads.

From CES 2026 and ShowStoppers in Las Vegas, OWC’s Founder and CEO Larry O’Connor spotlights new Thunderbolt 5 workflow gear for professionals. Highlights include the first certified 2-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable, massive-capacity ThunderBlade X12 storage up to 192TB, an 8TB bus-powered Envoy Ultra, a dock with dual 10G Ethernet plus 2.5G, and the new StudioSat hybrid NVMe/SATA solution with downstream Thunderbolt ports and USB-A.

This MacVoices Live! panel looks at the shutdown of a mobile app store experiment, Spotify’s latest price increase, and a wide-ranging debate over AI-generated music and art. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Web Bixby, Jim Rea, and Jeff Gamet consider a variety of factors for each, including user behavior, platform economics, artist compensation, and whether machine-generated content can truly be considered art, raising questions about creativity, intent, and how it all affects the future of media.

On the show floor at CES Tracy Smith, Head of Marketing & Branding for STM Goods highlights their new designs for laptop backpacks, iPad cases and charging accessories. Tracy walks through updated DuxPack backpacks with limited-edition colorways, redesigned rugged iPad cases with improved magnets and stylus storage, and a sculptural vertical three-in-one wireless charger that blends functionality with modern design.

At CES 2026 we renewed our relationship with Aleksander Alski, Head of Region for USA, CA, UK, for Vasco, who caught us up on the latest developments in their translation device. He outlines an expanded lineup of devices, earbuds, and software designed for one-on-one, group, and large-audience use. New AI-driven features add cultural context, real-time presentation translation via QR codes, more natural voice cloning, strong security controls, and flexible pricing for individuals and enterprises are all outlined in the discussion.

At CES in Las Vegas, we caught up with Serhii Popov, Senior Software Engineer, and Pavlo Haidamak, Product Manager, both from MacPaw, to talk about Eney, “the world’s first Computerbeing,” (also understood as a personal AI assistant). Eney is designed to let users control their Mac through natural voice interaction. Running primarily on-device for privacy, it executes tasks, manages files, summarizes content, and integrates with third-party apps via expandable skills, and is available as part of SetApp.

From CES 2026 in Las Vegas, XbotGo introduces its Falcon AI-powered sports tracking camera designed to automatically record youth and amateur sports. Jordan Sherman, Product Manager & Executive Advisor, Global Strategy outlined how the Falcon uses uses AI to track players, jersey numbers, or the ball in sports like basketball or soccer. It eliminates manual […]

At CES 2026, a live demonstration shows how Emoitii enables real-time multilingual conversations without shared languages. Head of Delivery & Operations Lucia Popa explains how, using AI interpretation rather than literal translation, participants speak different languages while understanding each other naturally. The platform supports calls, text, business integrations, APIs, and live conferencing, adapting tone and vocabulary based on context and background to improve the interaction.

In Eureka Park at CES 2026, Prolo Ring showed off a smart ring that replaces many mouse and keyboard functions using touch gestures. Dr. Joey Cheng demonstrated how Prolo Ring supports cursor control, navigation, media playback, and custom macros through multiple gesture modes. Compatible across platforms via Bluetooth HID, it requires no drivers and can control multiple devices.

The MacVoices Live! panel looks at Apple’s decision to partner with Google’s Gemini models as part of its upcoming AI strategy, considering privacy, control, and execution timelines among the factors. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Eric Bolden, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Jeff Gamet, Norbert Frassa, Marty Jencius, and Jim Rea debate whether this move strengthens Apple Intelligence while preserving on-device and private cloud safeguards, and contrast it with Microsoft’s all-in Copilot approach, which lacks an off switch and gives users no choices.

From Las Vegas and CES 2026, Swapnil Vats, Product and Business Head for Luna Ring covers the feature set of their smart health ring that is designed to work alongside Apple Watch or on its own. The titanium Luna Ring tracks biometrics like heart rate, sleep, stress, and workouts, then adds context through voice-logged lifestyle inputs such as caffeine, meals, and anxiety. AI-driven analysis then delivers personalized wellness insights without subscription fees.

The January 2026 MacVoices Update recaps a busy start to the year, including attending and releasing interviews from CES and necessary schedule adjustments.. Chuck touches on the why’s and how’s of who was interviewed, referencing a MacVoices Blog post He also explains changes to Patreon subscriptions driven by Apple’s new system and how it does and doesn’t affect patrons, and delivers the monthly Support Report.

Charlotte Henry and Chuck Joiner return after a holiday break to discuss Chuck’s CES impressions, evolving TV hardware, and the viewing experience around Apple TV. They discuss smart TV interfaces, discoverability challenges, and why software now matters as much (if not more) as display quality. They look at both upcoming and canceled Apple TV shows, and pick some favorites among both new and returning series.

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Appscent Medical’s non-invasive sleep device that uses pleasant scent bursts to trigger a sniff reflex and restart breathing during sleep apnea events was explained by Yosi (Joseph) Azulay, Co-Founder and CEO. A radar sensor tracks respiration, an AI rotates natural scents, and a daytime biofeedback mode guides calmer nasal breathing.

At CES in Las Vegas,Meredith Perry, Co-Founder and CEO, and Dr. David Wang, Co-Founder and CTO of Elemind talk about how their wearable sleep headband uses real-time brainwave monitoring and precisely timed acoustic stimulation to help users fall asleep faster. By “noise-canceling” wakeful brainwaves, the device calms racing thoughts without drugs. Chuck had a chance to try it out and discusses his positive experience in spite of a noisy, distracting environment.

On the CES 2026 show floor, Antigravity CEO Michael Shaun talks about what makes their 8K 360 degree drone different than any other drone on the market. Chuck had some time in the flying cage and talked to Michael about his surprises with the 360-degree viewing. Michael explains how the drone, Grip controller, and Vision Goggles create a “become the camera” experience, combining traditional stability with FPV creativity. They discuss both personal and commercial applications that become possible with the Antigravity’s feature set.

From Pepcom at CES 2026, Andrew Green, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer for Twelve South, gives us a tour of their latest offerings that are both functional and stylish. r visits the 12 South booth to explore new and updated accessories. Highlights include the a wall-mounted MagSafe charger, new stands for iPhone and iPad that enable flexible workstation setups at home or on the go, the AirFly Pro 2 Bluetooth transmitter for in-flight audio, and a new leather Valet tray that discreetly integrates wireless charging into a stylish home accessory.

Our CES highlights wrap with some standout demos, including earbuds that dramatically isolate speech from loud background noise and, a tiny NFC-powered, app-configurable two-button accessory for triggering shortcuts. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Eric Bolden, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Jeff Gamet, Norbert Frassa, Marty Jencius, and Jim Rea also examine Apple’s new Creator Studio bundle, what features may […]

From Pepcom at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Paul Tan, COO for Keychron, about the new Q Ultra Series keyboards, their best yet. Highlights include an 8K wireless polling rate with ultra-low latency, exceptional battery life measured in months, a premium CNC-milled aluminum build, upgraded switches, and browser-based configuration that eliminates software downloads that allow for deep customization.

From Pepcom at CES 2026, Ty Wayman, Brand Manager for ESR, explained how their MagSlim 25W Qi 2.2 magnetic power bank addresses the heating issues associated with the higher power with cryo-boost that actively cool phones for faster wireless charging. The include a versatile three-in-one chargers for iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, and a Geo Wallet with built-in Find My support.

AT Pepcom at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, we heard about the latest and greatest home security hardware from Brett White, Global Public Relations Lead for Eufy. Highlights include a SmartLock with facial recognition, a 180-degree panoramic video doorbell, a solar-powered wall light camera with adjustable panels, and a slim SmartTrack accessory. We review Matter support, battery life, ease of installation, pricing, and availability for the devices to make your home more secure.

From Pepcom at CES 2026, Satechi Product Manager Manny Garcia describes the features of the company’s most powerful docking station yet, built around Thunderbolt 5. Despite its compact size, the dock delivers up to 120Gbps bandwidth, supports 8K displays, provides up to 140W of host power, and includes a built-in SSD enclosure for storage expansion without sacrificing ports.

From Pepcom at CES 2026, Ben Stanley, Head of Product for Strapsicle, shows of an innovative iPad case designed to make holding and using an iPad easier and safer. Inspired by a real-world family accident, the product integrates adjustable hand straps into the case to improve comfort, reduce fatigue, and prevent drops. The discussion covers accessibility benefits, thoughtful design details, build quality, use cases, pricing, and availability.

From Pepcom at CES 2026, Esteban Rojas of Ottocast explains how their products expand in-car display capabilities beyond traditional CarPlay. Ottocast introduces camera and dongle solutions that enable split-screen viewing, rear-seat monitoring, multiple user profiles, and standalone navigation.

From CES 2026 in Las Vegas at Pepcom, Alex Levine, CEO and Co-Founder of Xebec, talks about their new Tri-Screen 3 portable monitor system. The updated design features larger 13.3-inch displays, a rugged aluminum build, and a single-cable connection for both Windows and Mac laptops. With improved stability for laptop use, fast deployment, and travel-ready durability, Tri-Screen 3 solves the multi-screen deficiency suffered by so many business travelers.

From Pepcom at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Chuck talks with Stephon Narbury about Chamelo's electronically tint-changing eyewear. The glasses and ski goggles shift from clear to dark in a fraction of a second, reducing glare and fog while adapting to changing light. Battery-powered for all-day use, the lineup also includes blue-light blocking and prismatic options aimed at sports and everyday wear.

At CES 2026 Pepcom, Rescue Retriever introduces a pet safety system designed to help firefighters locate and save animals during house fires. Ryan Tussing and Rusty Tussing (Founder and CEO respectively) explain how the system combines a reflective window decal, a silent strobing smoke detector placed near where pets hide, and a collar-mounted FireTag (that […]