405 - F1's Oscar Charge and the Vision Pro Retrocade

The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave is joined by Jill McKinley,Jeff Gamet, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Guy Serle. The discussion spans the latest Vision Pro beta updates and immersive NBA experiences to rumors of new M5 MacBook Pros and significant leadership shifts at Apple. The team also tackles critical security news, including a major data breach at a manufacturing partner and new anti-phishing features from 1Password.

The show notes are at InTouchwithiOS.com

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Summary

In episode 405 of In Touch With iOS, host Dave Ginsburg is joined by a full panel including Marty Jencius, Jill McKinley, Eric Bolden, Guy Serle, and Jeff Gamet to dissect the latest developments in the Apple ecosystem. The episode covers a wide range of topics from hardware shortages and software betas to major security breaches and executive transitions.

The panel discusses the recent Vision Pro beta releases, noting that while the updates are relatively minor, they significantly improve connectivity with game controllers. Looking ahead, Apple Arcade is set to launch a "Retrocade" on February 5th, bringing 3D immersive versions of classics like Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Asteroids to the headset. The team also reviews the recent immersive Lakers NBA game, sharing mixed feelings about the audio quality and app stability, but ultimately expressing excitement for the future of sports in VR.

Current MacBook Pro stock is reportedly thinning, with wait times stretching into March. This has fueled speculation about an imminent release of M5 Pro and M5 Max models. The panel debates whether users should upgrade now or wait for the rumored M6, while also considering how NVIDIA's priority at TSMC for AI chips might be impacting Apple's supply chain.

The discussion takes a serious turn regarding a massive 1TB data breach at Apple manufacturing partner Luxshare. The stolen data allegedly includes confidential product designs and engineering documents from 2019 through 2025, raising concerns about reverse engineering and hardware vulnerabilities. On the software side, 1Password has introduced a new anti-phishing feature that warns users when they attempt to paste passwords into suspicious websites. The panel also revisits Walmart's continued refusal to accept Apple Pay, noting that the retailer prefers its own "Walmart Pay" system to maintain control over customer purchase data.

Apple TV+ continues to gain momentum with six Academy Award nominations for the film F1. The panel also previews upcoming content, including the March 27th premiere of For All Mankind Season 5, and discusses other popular series like Starfleet Academy and Monarch.

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to reports that John Ternus is being groomed as the next Apple CEO. Ternus has recently taken over management of the design teams, a move seen as a way to expose him to broader business operations before Tim Cook eventually retires. While some panelists express anxiety over a post-Cook era, others highlight Apple's history of strong succession planning.

Topics and Links

In Touch With Vision Pro this week.

Apple Seeds Second Betas of watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, and visionOS 26.3 to Developers

visionOS 26.3 Beta 2 Release Notes

Apple Arcade Adding These Four Games in February for Vision Pro

Dave, Marty, and Eric give thoughts viewing the Lakers Immersive game

When and how to watch Lakers games in Apple Immersive format on Vision Pro

What it's like to watch an NBA game courtside in Apple Vision Pro

Beta this week. iOS 26.3 Beta 2 continues.

In Touch With Mac this week

MacBook Pro Buyers Now Facing Up to a Two-Month Wait Ahead of New Models

The Gmen show Episode 22

Other Topics

Major data breach could expose Apple secrets

Walmart Still Doesn't Accept Apple Pay in the U.S. in 2026, Here's Why

Apple Tops 2025 Smartphone Market With 20% Share, 10% Growth

Apple drops to 7th in U.S. patent rankings for 2025 as grants fall 11%, per report

Apple tops the 2026 World's Most Admired Companies list—finishing No. 1 for the 19th year in a row

News

Apple's F1 Movie Nominated for Best Picture at 2026 Oscars

Apple scores six Academy Award nominations

Apple TV reveals first look at season five of hit space drama "For All Mankind"

ChatGPT Atlas Gains Tab Groups, Auto Google/AI Search Switching

1Password Launches Anti-Phishing Warnings for Pasted Passwords

Apple's John Ternus Takes Over Design in Latest CEO Succession Move

Announcements

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Our Host

Dave Ginsburg is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users and shares his wealth of knowledge of iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and related technologies. Visit the YouTube channel https://youtube.com/intouchwithios follow him on Mastodon @daveg65, , BlueSky @daveg65 and the show @intouchwithios

Our Regular Contributors

Jeff Gamet is a podcaster, technology blogger, artist, and author. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's managing editor, and Smile's TextExpander Evangelist. You can find him on Mastadon @jgamet Pixelfed @jgamet@pixelfed.social and Bluesky @jgamet.bsky.social‬ Podcasts The Context Machine Podcast Retro Rewatch Retro Rewatch His YouTube channel https://youtube.com/jgamet

Marty Jencius, Ph.D., is a professor of counselor education at Kent State University, where he researches, writes, and trains about using technology in teaching and mental health practice. His podcasts include Vision Pro Files, The Tech Savvy Professor and Circular Firing Squad Podcast. Find him at jencius@mastodon.social https://thepodtalk.net

Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him by email at eabolden@mac.com, on Mastodon at @eabolden@techhub.social, on his blog, Trending At Work, and as co-host on The Vision ProFiles podcast.

Jill McKinley works in enterprise software, server administration, and IT A lifelong tech enthusiast, she started her career with Windows but is now an avid Apple fan. Beyond technology, she shares her insights on nature, faith, and personal growth through her podcasts—Buzz Blossom & Squeak, Start with Small Steps, and The Bible in Small Steps. Watch her content on YouTube at @startwithsmallsteps and follow her on X @schmern. Find all her work at http://jillfromthenorthwoods.com

Chuck Joiner is the host of MacVoices and hosts video podcasts with influential members of the Apple community. Make sure to visit macvoices.com and subscribe to his podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @chuckjoiner and join his MacVoices Facebook group.

Guy Serle is one of the hosts of the new The Gmen Show along with GazMaz and email GMenshow@icloud.com @MacParrot and @VertShark on X Vertshark on YouTube, Google Voice +1 Area code 703-828-4677