Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This week, Federico and John reflect on their preparations for the fall review season, how dealing with design changes is different than new features, and explain some of the tools their using for research and writing this year.
On AppStories+, John answers the question “What if the Stream Deck was $20 and fit in the palm of your hand.”
⸻
Links and Show Notes
Preparing for Review Season:
• Apps Mentioned
• News Explorer – https://betamagic.nl/products/newsexplorer.html
• Obsidian – https://obsidian.md
• NotebookLM – https://notebooklm.google
• Copilot – obsidiancopilot.com/en
• Screenfloat – https://eternalstorms.at/ScreenFloat/
AppStories+ Post-Show:
• How One Tiny Gaming Controller Became an Essential Studying Tool - Endless Mode – endlessmode.com/video-games/culture/how-one-tiny-gaming-controller-became-an-essential-studying-tool
• Anki – apps.ankiweb.net
• 8BitDo Micro – amzn.to/40E2OrJ
• 8BitDo Ultimate app – app.8bitdo.com
Visit AppStories.net to learn more about the extended, high bitrate audio version of AppStories that is delivered early each week and subscribe – http://appstories.plus
Check out our Desk Setups – macstories.net/setups
Leave Feedback for John and Federico:
• AppStories Feedback Form – https://forms.gle/BLN5ZSFTWo8jScmH9
Follow us on Mastodon:
• AppStories – mastodon.macstories.net/@appstories
• Federico Viticci – mastodon.macstories.net/@viticci
• John Voorhees – mastodon.macstories.net/@johnvoorhees
Follow us on Bluesky:
• AppStories – https://bsky.app/profile/appstories.macstories.net
• MacStories – https://bsky.app/profile/macstories.net
• Federico Viticci – https://bsky.app/profile/viticci.macstories.net
• John Voorhees – https://bsky.app/profile/johnvoorhees.macstories.net
Affiliate Linking Policy – macstories.net/privacy-policy
Timestamps:
00:00 - Awoken By an Explosion
04:55 - Our Fall Review Workflows
11:20 - Writing About Design
15:23 - The Review Process and Our Workflows
18:00 - Shortcuts' Use Model Action
20:44 - Obsidian, Copilot, and NotebookLM
25:05 - iPadOS 26 on the iPad mini
This week, Federico and John reflect on their preparations for the fall review season, how dealing with design changes is different than new features, and explain some of the tools their using for research and writing this year.
On AppStories+, John answers the question “What if the Stream Deck was $20 and fit in the palm of your hand.”
⸻
Links and Show Notes
Preparing for Review Season:
• Apps Mentioned
• News Explorer – https://betamagic.nl/products/newsexplorer.html
• Obsidian – https://obsidian.md
• NotebookLM – https://notebooklm.google
• Copilot – obsidiancopilot.com/en
• Screenfloat – https://eternalstorms.at/ScreenFloat/
AppStories+ Post-Show:
• How One Tiny Gaming Controller Became an Essential Studying Tool - Endless Mode – endlessmode.com/video-games/culture/how-one-tiny-gaming-controller-became-an-essential-studying-tool
• Anki – apps.ankiweb.net
• 8BitDo Micro – amzn.to/40E2OrJ
• 8BitDo Ultimate app – app.8bitdo.com
Visit AppStories.net to learn more about the extended, high bitrate audio version of AppStories that is delivered early each week and subscribe – http://appstories.plus
Check out our Desk Setups – macstories.net/setups
Leave Feedback for John and Federico:
• AppStories Feedback Form – https://forms.gle/BLN5ZSFTWo8jScmH9
Follow us on Mastodon:
• AppStories – mastodon.macstories.net/@appstories
• Federico Viticci – mastodon.macstories.net/@viticci
• John Voorhees – mastodon.macstories.net/@johnvoorhees
Follow us on Bluesky:
• AppStories – https://bsky.app/profile/appstories.macstories.net
• MacStories – https://bsky.app/profile/macstories.net
• Federico Viticci – https://bsky.app/profile/viticci.macstories.net
• John Voorhees – https://bsky.app/profile/johnvoorhees.macstories.net
Affiliate Linking Policy – macstories.net/privacy-policy
Timestamps:
00:00 - Awoken By an Explosion
04:55 - Our Fall Review Workflows
11:20 - Writing About Design
15:23 - The Review Process and Our Workflows
18:00 - Shortcuts' Use Model Action
20:44 - Obsidian, Copilot, and NotebookLM
25:05 - iPadOS 26 on the iPad mini
