385 - Please Don't Throw Your iPhone at the Wall… Yet

The latest In Touch With iOS. In Episode 385, Dave Ginsburg, Kelly Guimont, Jill McKinley, Ben Roethig, and Marty Jencius preview the September 9th Apple Event. They cover iOS 26 Beta 9 and visionOS updates, iPhone 17 rumors, Apple Watch Series 11 upgrades, and Apple Wallet's enhanced travel features. The panel also dives into AirPods Pro 3, HomePod, Apple TV speculation, Astropad's anti-reflective protector, and Apple's evolving AI strategy. A lively mix of insight, rumors, and humor for Apple fans.

The show notes are at InTouchwithiOS.com

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Summary

In Episode 385 of In Touch With iOS, host Dave Ginsburg is joined by panelists Kelly Guimont, Jill McKinley, Ben Roethig, and Marty Jencius for an in-depth discussion on everything Apple ahead of the much-anticipated September 9th Apple Event.

The panel kicks off with reactions to the iOS 26 Beta 9 and visionOS Beta 9 releases, highlighting improvements like 3D charting support for developers, enhanced accessibility ratings in the App Store, and visual refinements such as the updated liquid glass interface. While some bugs remain, overall performance feels crisper and more polished.

Looking ahead to the event, the conversation centers on the iPhone 17 lineup — including rumors of a lighter iPhone 17 Air, spatial photography integration for Vision Pro, and whether the upgrades justify an annual refresh. Opinions are divided: some are eager to upgrade, while others remain skeptical about how compelling the changes will be.

The panel also dives into expected updates for the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, including a possible return of blood oxygen monitoring and other health features. Other Apple ecosystem topics include:

• Apple Wallet enhancements — digital boarding passes with live activities, airport maps, luggage tracking, and U.S. passport support.
  
  

• AirPods Pro 3 rumors — improved noise cancellation, redesigned stems, and heart rate monitoring integration.
  
  

• HomePod and AirTag updates — hopes for better battery life and a more seamless user experience.
  
  

• Apple TV speculation — possible Wi-Fi 7 support and potential gaming opportunities.
  
  

In a lighter segment, the group discusses Astropad's new anti-reflective "Fresh Coat" screen protector, designed to reduce glare by 75% on the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models. They also dive into Opera's revamped tab management on iOS, debating its potential to rival Safari and Chrome.

Finally, the episode touches on Apple's AI ambitions, exploring reports of a planned answer engine integrated with Siri, leveraging deals with OpenAI, Perplexity, or even Google Gemini. While Apple's AI strategy sparks mixed opinions, the panel agrees that user privacy and energy efficiency will likely remain top priorities.

This episode serves as the perfect primer before Apple's big event, balancing news, rumors, personal insights, and witty banter to prepare listeners for what's next in the Apple ecosystem.

Topics and Links

In Touch With Vision Pro this week.

visionOS 26 Beta 9 Release Notes | Apple Developer Documentation

Beta this week. iOS26 Beta 9 was released this week.

Apple releases iOS 26 beta 9 for iPhone

Apple releases beta 9 for iPadOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, more [U]

iOS 26: Import and Export Markdown Files in Apple Notes

Apple Wallet has three new features for boarding passes in iOS 26 - 9to5Mac

In Touch With Mac this week

macOS Tahoe 26 beta 9 now available

Predictions for the Apple Event September 9th

Beyond iPhone 17: Apple Rumored to Launch 10 Other Products in 2025 - MacRumors

AirPods Pro 3 coming next week: Here's every rumored feature - 9to5Mac

Five new Apple products are the biggest September 9 launch 'maybes' - 9to5Mac

iPhone 17 event promises to go beyond the usual yearly updates for each product - 9to5Mac

AirPods Max get an elegant solution to their biggest design flaw - 9to5Mac
- Marty's AirPodMax charger

Other Topics

Astropad's 'Fresh Coat' Screen Protector Cuts iPhone Reflections by 75% Without Color Loss/

Apple Patents Next-Generation Taptic Engine

Apple's Shock-Resistant Haptic Engine Patent Signals Durability Leap for Future Devices

Apple Plans AI-Powered Web Search Tool for Siri to Rival OpenAI, Perplexity

News

New Opera Browser Features Aim to End Safari Tab Management Woes - MacRumors

Ecobee's Smart Security System Now Works With Home App and Siri

flair.co

Specific page for the vents: Smart Home HVAC Solutions for Central Heating and Cooling – Flair

Flair + ecobee: Smart HVAC Control Made Simple

Instagram Finally Comes to iPad

Netflix Moments Feature Gets Major Update for Scene Sharing on iOS

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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

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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.

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.

Ben Roethig Former Associate Editor of GeekBeat.TV and host of the Tech Hangout and Deconstruct with Patrice Mac user since the mid 90s. Tech support specialist. X @benroethig and all other social media @benroethig. Website: https://roethigtech.com/