MacBreak Weekly 988: "Clothes by the Pound"
Date: September 3, 2025
Host: Leo Laporte with Andy Ihnatko, Alex Lindsay, Jason Snell
Overview
As anticipation builds for next week’s Apple event, the MacBreak Weekly crew (Leo Laporte, Andy Ihnatko, Alex Lindsay, and Jason Snell) gather for a lively, meandering pre-event show. While joking about Zeno’s Paradox and their annual “struggle to find something new to say,” the team dives into the latest Apple hardware rumors (with a focus on AirPods, AirTags, and Apple Watch), device design, the logistics of luggage trackers, and the industry’s shift toward influencer marketing. The episode is rich with anecdotes, nerdy tangents, and some serious tech insights—delivering the classic MacBreak blend of fun, skepticism, and expertise.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. AirPods Pro 3 & Audio Accessory Rumors
(03:19 - 10:25)
AirPods Pro 3 Expected Features
- Rumored to launch without translation feature at first.
- Health sensors rumored (heart rate, possibly temperature).
- Hints at better pass-through, noise canceling, and perhaps lossless audio.
- Battery longevity still a concern for some users.
- Discussion of ways extended Bluetooth range could make AirPods more useful.
Jason Snell:
“AirPods Pro is actually the product that I’m most excited about …because it’s just such a great product.” (09:44)
Andy Ihnatko:
“It can be vastly improved if they simply say, hey look, we’ve also redesigned the fit…” (10:08)
Fit and Comfort Problems
- Panelists share personal experiences with varying ear fits.
- Many use alternative brands (UE Fits, Shokz) due to comfort and stability.
- Discussion on Apple’s ongoing attempts to scan more types of ears for better universal fit.
2. Noise Protection at Concerts
(05:33 - 08:46)
- Mixed reviews of using AirPods as concert ear protection.
- Comparison to traditional earplugs; AirPods often “bottom out” at low frequencies.
- Modern phones and watches now alert on dangerous decibel levels.
- Theaters aim for “safe” sound averages (below 85 dB), but concerts regularly exceed this.
Alex Lindsay:
“The number one complaint at a theater is that it’s too loud…Theaters are usually set considerably lower [in volume].” (08:25)
3. User Experience Frustrations: AirPods Pairing and Controls
(20:22 - 22:03)
- Apple’s settings for AirPods can only be adjusted when the device is connected—a hassle when AirPods aren’t nearby.
- Frustrations over automatic device switching (e.g., TV, phone confusion).
- General wish for smarter, more context-aware interaction (“Do you want to go?” “Should you jump devices?”).
4. Drafting Apple Event Predictions
(31:10 - 36:13)
- Jason’s “event draft” for Upgrade podcast identified top, likely reveals:
- iPhone Air as the “thinnest iPhone ever,” though not iPad Pro thin
- Introduction of “tech woven” cases to replace finewoven
- Satellite messaging for Apple Watch Ultra 3
- Tweaks such as the Apple logo position and (maybe) a new watch face
- Acknowledgement that Apple hoards some features for new hardware launches, even if not strictly necessary.
- Panel expects few surprises: “Feels like everything, literally everything has been rumored.” (38:43, Jason Snell)
5. AirTags, Luggage, and the Saga of $15,000 Worth of Clothes
(39:39 - 55:36)
Creative Uses & Limitations
- Experiences with AirTags in luggage, packages, and even as “decoys.”
- Limit of 32 trackers per Apple ID is a pain for heavy users.
- Desire for better tracking history, above/below floor detection, and longer range.
- Shipping gear with an AirTag and a pre-stamped return envelope for secure kit tracking.
Alex Lindsay:
“Every time I lose something…you can only do 32. I have 32 trackers. Different bags, different things.” (40:10)
Notable Anecdote: LA Suitcase Heist
- Man tracks his stolen luggage with AirTag to an abandoned building, finds thieves wearing his clothes.
- Discusses practicality and psychology of putting expensive items in luggage, and ways to disguise luggage to avoid theft.
Alex Lindsay:
“I try to do things with my bags that are original…because people don’t think that they’re valuable.” (44:29)
6. Vision Pro News and Rumors
(82:46 - 89:54)
- Rumor: Vision Pro “Air” model to arrive around 2027 at less than half the price and weight of the original ($3,000+ today).
- Jason: Cheaper, lighter headset is essential for adoption—developers need an audience.
- Vision Pro vs. Meta Quest: Apple’s quality is “substantially better,” especially for immersive video/3D content.
- Meta rumored to announce new $10,000 headset at Meta Connect soon.
Jason Snell:
“If this thing [Vision Pro] is going to lead to a product that is interesting, you gotta cut the price and you gotta get it lighter.” (84:45)
7. Apple’s Public Relations Evolution: Journalists to Influencers
(59:07 - 66:26)
- Apple increasingly invites influencers, not press, to events.
- Rationale: iPhone now a mass consumer product; influencers offer wide, uncritical reach—journalists ask “hard” technical questions.
- Panel reflects on “being replaced,” but recognizes Apple’s strategy as sound.
Andy Ihnatko:
“The way that they would present [to press] would be tailored…Now the conduit is influencers.” (61:43)
Jason Snell:
“There are product launches where the presence of the technical press is more important…The iPhone is the absolute…broadest possible [launch].” (62:53)
8. Odds and Ends & Fun Tangents
- Round-the-Ear vs. In-Ear Headphones: Old habits and fit preferences die hard. (10:25 - 14:23)
- Tech woven cases: Apple's next attempt to replace leather with stylish, sustainable materials.
- Lightning Map (blitzortung.org): Visualizes real-time lightning strikes worldwide—perfect for “WarGames” fans (125:35).
- Adafruit’s Retro Computing Board: Run classic Mac OS on a $40 device; appeals to vintage enthusiasts. (105:45)
- Zoom Emmy: Andy Carluccio and the Zoom Broadcast Engineering team win an Emmy for innovation in broadcast contribution. (108:11)
- Radio Nostalgia: The panel reminisces about discovery, local DJs, and the lost art of radio programming. (101:19 - 103:48)
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
On Pre-Event Gossip:
“As we get closer in a Zeno’s Paradox sort of fashion to the Apple event, we have less and less to say, but more and more time to say it.”
— Leo Laporte (00:22) -
On AirPods Fit:
“If the AirPods don’t fit your ears, wait for the next AirPods and give it a shot, because maybe they will. And then you’re the winner.”
— Jason Snell (14:19) -
On Apple Event Surprises:
“Feels like everything, literally everything has been rumored.”
— Jason Snell (38:43) -
On Influencer Shift:
“The way that they would present [to press] would be tailored…Now the conduit is influencers.”
— Andy Ihnatko (61:43) -
On the Evolution of Headphones:
“When Apple went Bluetooth, everything else, I was like, I love my wired…now every time…I get them caught on everything. My brain doesn’t manage that anymore.”
— Alex Lindsay (12:01) -
On Airline Luggage and AirTags:
“I had FedEx tell me…they hadn’t arrived in LA…They’re not only in LA, they’re in the northeast corner of your building.”
— Alex Lindsay (41:44) -
On AirTag Sales & Waiting:
“Should people get them or wait for AirTag 2? …Unless you gotta have them, you should wait.”
— Jason Snell (47:41) -
On Apple’s Strategic Shift:
“We are those of us who’ve been covering Apple long enough…They were doing the same thing with us…the only way to get a message to the consumer…was through press.”
— Andy Ihnatko (61:43) -
On Tech Podcasting:
“This is what separates us from the amateurs when it comes to podcasting. The amateurs are like ‘Where was I?’ …We Know where we were. We know how far we’ve come from the actual topic.”
— Jason Snell (55:17)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Opening & Panel Introductions: 00:00 – 03:19
- AirPods Pro 3 Rumors & Health Features: 03:19 – 10:25
- Concert Audio Protection & Decibel Warnings: 05:33 – 08:46
- AirPods Fit/Alternative Headphones Stories: 10:08 – 14:23
- Event Draft Predictions: 31:10 – 36:13
- AirTags, Luggage Stories: 39:39 – 55:36
- Vision Pro “Air” Discussion: 82:46 – 89:54
- Influencers vs. Old School Press: 59:07 – 66:26
- Lightning Map & Retro Tech: 125:35 – 128:06
- Zoom Emmy Recognition: 108:11 – 110:03
- Radio Nostalgia: 101:19 – 103:48
- Picks of the Week: 114:28 – end
Final Takeaways
- Wait on new Apple accessory purchases: Both AirPods and AirTags may see notable upgrades soon.
- Event outlook: Apple’s next event will likely focus on iterative improvements and new accessories rather than surprise products.
- Tech nostalgia lives on: From retro emulation to radio, the panel’s tangents show the emotional side of technology.
- Influencer-driven marketing: Apple’s strategy has shifted to match the mass audience for the iPhone, leveraging influencer reach.
- Stay tuned: Next week the rumors will fade—facts will reign (until the next round).
For full details and more nerdy fun, check out the entire episode and follow along with the MacBreak Weekly crew!