MacVoices #26152: Live! - Apple Vision Pro Backlash, Bartender is Back, and Apple Productivity App Changes

The MacVoices Live! panel examines backlash around Apple rumor reporting, especially Vision Pro speculation and the impact of click-driven headlines on developers and readers. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Marty Jencius, Eric Bolden, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Jeff Gamet and Mark Fuccio then turn to Bartender's return after past trust concerns, alternatives for menu bar management, and whether the new version has regained credibility. Apple's changes to its productivity apps and subscription-linked features and how they affect what you see is also reviewed.

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Show Notes:

Chapters:

0:00 Vision Pro backlash, Bartender's return, and productivity app changes
0:28 Welcome and live show setup
0:57 Panelist introductions begin
1:05 David Ginsburg joins the discussion
1:24 Marty Jencius recaps recovering from his son's wedding
2:36 Eric Bowden checks in
3:08 Brian Flanigan-Arthurs joins from Texas
3:33 Jeff Gamet's plaid shirt and the pre-show banter
4:32 Show notes availability and patron access
5:26 Marty introduces backlash against Mark Gurman reporting
6:18 Vision Pro rumors and the impact on developers
7:18 The value and harm of Apple leaks
8:06 Click-driven headlines and lost trust in reporting
9:31 Sensationalism, skepticism, and Apple rumor coverage
11:10 Gurman, Ming-Chi Kuo, and reliability of sources
12:50 Apple secrecy, Tim Cook, and managing information
15:10 Leaks as marketing and product anticipation
16:19 Brian on missing surprises in Apple keynotes
17:30 Jeff on "me too" articles and the echo chamber
19:40 Context, speculation, and responsible analysis
21:42 Vision Pro reaction on social media
23:40 Apple news, clickbait, and reader responsibility
24:35 Bartender returns after ownership and security concerns
25:29 Jeff explains why menu bar utilities require trust
26:51 Alternatives including Ice and Barbee
27:43 New Bartender developers reach out for review
28:51 New features, Top Shelf, widgets, and interface changes
31:11 Jeff feels comfortable recommending Bartender again
32:00 David reacts to Bartender's new structure and pricing
34:31 Community trust and the value of direct outreach
36:10 Reviewing software responsibly without attacking developers
37:10 Bartender currently running on Jeff's Mac
38:16 External display and notch-related Top Shelf behavior
40:14 Viewer question about Top Shelf on Macs without a notch
40:39 Apple removes old free productivity app versions
41:21 Creator Studio, advanced features, and subscription nags
42:32 New versions remain usable without paid advanced features
43:09 Closing support, sponsor, and bandwidth credits

Links:

TAHOE'S UI ISSUES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY, AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, WE SHOULD STOP ASSUMING GURMAN KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT APPLE'S VISION HARDWARE ROADMAP
https://daringfireball.net/linked/2026/05/11/gurman-on-macos-27-ui-and-vision-roadmap

Mark Gurman Has Been Burying the Apple Vision Pro Since Before It Shipped —I'm Out of Patience
https://www.frontrow.co/blog/mark-gurman-has-been-burying-the-apple-vision-pro-since-before-it-shipped-im-out-of-patience

Bartender Pro makes the MacBook notch more useful with widgets, files, clipboard, more
https://9to5mac.com/2026/05/12/bartender-pro-makes-the-macbook-notch-more-useful-with-widgets-files-clipboard-more/

Apple has removed its old free productivity iWork apps
https://appleworld.today/2026/05/apple-has-removed-its-old-free-productivity-iwork-apps/

Guests:

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

Brian Flanigan-Arthurs is an educator with a passion for providing results-driven, innovative learning strategies for all students, but particularly those who are at-risk. He is also a tech enthusiast who has a particular affinity for Apple since he first used the Apple IIGS as a student. You can contact Brian on twitter as @brian8944. He also recently opened a Mastodon account at @brian8944@mastodon.cloud.

Mark Fuccio is actively involved in high tech startup companies, both as a principle at piqsure.com, or as a marketing advisor through his consulting practice Tactics Sells High Tech, Inc. Mark was a proud investor in Microsoft from the mid-1990's selling in mid 2000, and hopes one day that MSFT will be again an attractive investment. You can contact Mark through Twitter, LinkedIn, or on Mastodon.

Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @jgamet@mastodon.social on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet.

David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @daveg65@mastodon.cloud.

Marty Jencius, Ph.D.,is a counselor educator and technology pioneer who has spent 30 years bringing emerging tech into his field — from founding one of the first professional listservs (CESNET-L) to podcasting, virtual reality, and now AI and AR. He is the founder of ThePodTalk.net, where he produces Vision ProFiles, The Old Mac Gang, A.I. Productivity Workflow, The Tech Savvy Professor, 15 Minute Bytes, The Neo Notebook, and Fade to Chat: Golden Age Cinema. He is also a regular panelist on MacVoices Live!, In Touch with iOS, and The Mac Show. Find him on Bluesky and Mastodon.

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