MacBreak Weekly 986: Movies on the Moon

Date: August 20, 2025
Host: Leo Laporte
Panel: Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, Jason Snell
Theme: Apple’s next big moves — rumored products and UI redesign, next iPhone lineup, Apple Watch future, Vision Pro environments, and the big shift in global production.

Episode Overview

This week, Leo, Alex, Andy, and Jason dig into key leaks from Apple's beta code, confirming a slew of forthcoming products. They analyze the impending iPhone event, the future of Apple Watch (including that never-ending custom watch face debate), the new UI paradigm (“Liquid Glass”), and Apple’s changing product strategies. There’s also an in-depth Vision Pro segment — including immersive movie environments and practical camera workflow tips. The panel examines Apple’s manufacturing shift to India, market pressures from Samsung, the reality of AI in everyday devices, and plenty of banter on “phones as jewelry” and the philosophy of design.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Apple Event Rumors & Strategy

(04:23, 16:48, 18:17, 22:10, 26:27, 31:19)

• Upcoming iPhone Launch (Sept 9, 2025):

  • Mark Gurman’s predictions (confirmed by code leaks):
    • Seven unreleased Apple products: new iPhones (including a “thin” model and possibly a folding phone next year), iPads, Apple TV, HomePod mini, and Studio Display.
  • The iPhone event remains Apple's "toughest ticket" — more international, broadcast-heavy, highest media interest (04:23).
  • “The iPhone is always the priority. It means so much more than any other PR anything that Apple does the whole year.” — Jason (05:28)
  • Apple appears to be moving to a bifurcated iPhone launch cycle: flagships in September, less expensive/base models in the Spring (31:03).

• Thin and Folding Phones:

  • Apple poised to answer Samsung with a super-thin iPhone this year, folding model possibly next year.
  • “They have to go out and find all the customers that aren’t buying Apple right now and chip away at those reasons.” — Andy (21:00)
  • Discussion on “fashion” and design-driven products vs. mainstream features (27:41).

• Apple diversifying product line:

  • The panel argues this segmentation is now central to Apple's growth: “Apple is so huge at this point...the way Apple grows...is by finding little corners of the audience they're not serving well.” — Jason (19:31)
  • Expect more color options, material finishes, “jewel-like” phones for the style-conscious.

2. macOS, iOS & the Liquid Glass Redesign

(07:17, 08:22, 09:56, 14:01, 15:32, 16:48, 18:17)

• UI/UX Big Picture:
  • Apple’s new “Liquid Glass” design language — modern, tactile, aesthetic overhaul, especially tailored for touch devices and future hardware (e.g., edge-to-edge iPhones, folding phones, headsets).
  • Panel agrees: This UI shift is “always for Apple — it’s got to match the hardware roadmap, not just user or developer requests.” — Jason (09:56)
  • Some skepticism on the value for non-touch platforms (desktop Mac, Apple TV).
  • Touchscreen MacBook Pro rumors suggest future tactility will matter everywhere.

“Apple's OS and its hardware often move in sync. The iPhone is always the priority...it’s always for Apple. Doing a redesign is always for Apple because nobody is ever going to say, I'd really like a redesign.” — Jason Snell (09:56)

3. Vision Pro: Immersive Environments & Creator Workflow

(65:10, 65:27, 67:08, 70:06, 71:32, 72:39, 75:41)

• “Movies on the Moon” and Beyond:

  • Disney+ Vision Pro app: adds the "Alien Earth" containment room as a viewing environment — panel admires the creativity, but notes screen size limitations (65:27).
  • Joshua Tree is a group favorite setting.

• Custom Environments & API Frustrations:

  • Widespread desire for open APIs for Vision Pro environments — currently only select partners (e.g. Disney) can contribute. “It seems such a natural that apps...should be able to contribute to the environments list...but I can’t.” — Jason (67:08)
  • Panel expects (hopes) Apple will eventually expand access, perhaps when their Jupiter environment model ships.

• Camera Tech Insight — Blackmagic Ursa:

  • Alex offers a hands-on review of the workflow: immersive shooting, practical storage tips (“shot 24 terabytes in a week!”), and the creative excitement and challenges of early adopter workflow (74:35, 75:10, 80:23, 81:46).

“I don't think I've ever had more fun shooting with a camera than I've shot with that camera...very rarely do you feel like you're just in a whole different world.” — Alex Lindsay (81:31)

• Alex’s new YouTube channel:
  • “OHG Dash Immersive”—for demos, learnings, and test footage from the Vision Pro/immersive workflow.

4. Apple Watch: Product Stagnation, Custom Faces & the Psychology of Wearables

(14:51, 37:04, 41:10, 42:54, 44:20, 45:18, 46:40, 47:21, 47:49, 53:47, 54:14)

• Rumors & Leaks:

  • Only minor chip update expected in 2025 model (“not much more capable than existing one,” Jason 37:04).
  • Many users are “waiting for the right sensor” (e.g., continuous glucose, blood pressure).

• Debate over Custom Watch Faces:

  • “I have been wanting my own watch faces pretty much since version one...Let me design my own watch face if you’re not going to give me what I’m asking for.” — Alex (47:21)
  • Jason recounts Apple’s history of tight design control and wonders why third-party faces still remain off-limits after 10 years (53:47).

“Is Apple capable of coming up with a third party watch face API...using the existing system elements? Of course...It obviously hasn’t been a priority for them and maybe they feel like they don’t want to let it happen. But I think it’s a mistake.” — Jason Snell (51:47)

• Personal Style & Identity:
  • The panel discusses how watches (and now phones) function like “jewelry” — objects of self-expression. Stories shared about luxury watches, playful plastic Swatches, and choosing what feels good, not just what’s rational (27:41, 50:41).
  • Andy: “You want the things you wear on your body to reflect who you think you are.” (45:18)

5. Apple’s Manufacturing Shift & Global Supply Chain

(89:22, 91:28, 92:10, 93:13, 94:09, 94:55, 96:08)

• All-in on India:

  • Apple’s 2025/2026 iPhone line to be manufactured entirely in India, mostly for US market. (92:10)
  • Assembly moves fast, but many components still sourced from China—“Assembling a device from components produced elsewhere is the easiest thing to do and the quickest thing to accomplish.” — Andy (93:13)
  • Discussion on strategies to hedge against geo-political risk (esp. re: China, Taiwan), role of Tata Group.

• Automation & the Future of Jobs:

  • “The good news is a lot of manufacturing may come back to the United States. The bad news is...robots are going to change the way this is going to come back.” — Alex (94:09)
  • AI’s impact on labor, inevitable corporate push to automate at scale.

6. AI Integration on Apple Platforms

(87:23, 88:12, 89:22, 107:03, 113:05, 113:45)

• Claude Integration in Xcode:

  • Apple prepping native Claude (Anthropic) integration in Xcode, boosting Vibe code and rapid app development—enabling “little tools” and hobby apps by non-programmers (87:23, 88:12).
  • “It changes the calculation of what becomes an app when it’s taking two days or three days instead of two or three months to produce.” — Alex (88:12)

• Google’s AI play (and the AI “race”):

  • Google poised to launch Pixel 10 with major Gemini A.I. focus — panel questions if users care, or even notice, the differences yet (107:03, 111:14).
  • Jason: “You can be ahead in AI all you like, but what you really need is to make people want features based on AI. That is the real challenge…” (112:59)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Apple’s hardware/software co-design:

  • “Apple knows what it’s building years out...the OS and its hardware often move in sync.” — Jason (09:56)

• Custom Watch Faces (the recurring lament):

  • “I have been wanting my own watch faces pretty much since version one...” — Alex (47:21)

• On style-driven gadgets:

  • “There’s such a thing as a phone as jewelry. Sometimes it’s not logical. It’s okay for people to like things that are impractical or weird.” — Jason (28:51)

• Camera workflow reality:

  • “I shot 24 terabytes [in a week].” — Alex (75:41)

• Vision Pro as a platform:

  • “Every one of these apps on Vision Pro that has an infrastructure environment, I expect that they worked very closely with Apple, even possibly to the point where they had Apple build it for them from their assets.” — Jason (71:18)

• On manufacturing shifts:

  • “Diversifying from China is a good idea...the process makes it easier for Apple to think about how to diversify to other countries. Once you figured it out once, you start adjusting all the time.” — Alex (90:42)

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Topic | |--------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 04:23 | Apple Event invites, who gets in & why it matters | | 09:56 | Liquid Glass explained: philosophy, hardware tie-in | | 14:01 | Where does new design language fit (Mac, TV)? | | 37:04 | Apple code leak: newly confirmed upcoming products | | 41:10 | The Apple Watch’s design stagnation and options | | 47:21 | Custom watch faces, Apple’s philosophy on control | | 65:27 | Vision Pro—Alien Earth environment & user reactions | | 74:35 | Alex’s Ursa camera verdict, immersive workflow tips | | 92:10 | Apple ramps Indian manufacturing, global supply chain | | 107:03 | Google’s AI event, AI value on phones, user adoption | | 111:14 | AI’s real meaning to users—it’s still all about features | | 122:47 | Picks of the Week: organization, tools, spatial audio |

Takeaways for Apple Enthusiasts

• Expect a fall iPhone event packed with new form factors (super-thin, folding next year), justified in part by competitive pressure and market segmentation needs.
• Apple’s “Liquid Glass” UI signals not just a fresh coat of paint but a larger hardware-software roadmap at work — particularly for touch and mixed-reality devices.
• Apple Watch innovation looks incremental and practical, but the user desire for greater face customization remains unmet.
• Vision Pro is maturing as a creative tool and entertainment platform — but key APIs and environment contributions remain tightly walled. Alex’s real-world workflow insights are invaluable for early adopters.
• Manufacturing migration to India is not just tariff management, but part of a broader long-term strategy for operational resilience.
• AI will infuse development tools (like Xcode) and drive an explosion in vertical/specialized apps, but OS-wide “AI experiences” still need killer use cases to break out of niche status.

Picks of the Week – Quick Summary

• Jason: Mesh zipper pouch bags for cable storage and organization (“packing cubes” for wires).
• Andy: Klein Tools & Husky canvas tool bags for elegant gear management; also “Tot” by IconFactory—a brilliantly simple scratchpad for quick notes.
• Alex: Voyager Audio’s Spatial Mic Dante—a high-end ambisonic microphone for immersive spatial audio capture (ideal companion for Apple’s spatial formats).

“According to my Apple Watch, it’s time to get back to work, because break time is over.” — (141:15) — Leo’s closing words.

(This summary omits ads and intros, as requested. All attribution and tone match as closely as possible to the original participants.)