A weekly podcast discussing the latest in Apple and technology.
9to5Mac’s Happy Hour podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Castro, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play Music, or through our dedicated RSS feed.
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Hosts:
Benjamin and Chance react to the departure of not one, but two, key Apple executives this week with the news that John Giannandrea is retiring as SVP of AI, and design VP Alan Dye is leaving for a new job at Meta. Also, Apple finally agrees a deal with Tencent over commission for mini apps in WeChat, India tries to pre-install a state security app on iPhones, and the new Apple Music Replay launches.
And in Happy Hour Plus, an analytics report claims baseball games drive more subscribers to Apple TV than its original series. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance give their opinion on the 2025 Apple holiday ad ‘A Critter Carol’, and talk about some of the Apple tech deals they’ve found this Black Friday. Also, there’s more clarity on the Apple Watch WiFi sync changes coming to the EU next month, and Google pulls off an impressive stunt to make AirDrop work on Android. Finally, Benjamin installed macOS Tahoe for the first time and has some thoughts to share.
And in Happy Hour Plus, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman delivers the first details about what to expect from iOS 27. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance discuss the week in Apple news, including the suggestion that Tim Cook’s retirement announced could come early in 2026. Also, Apple responds to user feedback on the multitasking changes with the latest iPadOS 26.2 beta 3, Tesla is rumored to be adding CarPlay to its vehicles, and MLS becomes part of the base Apple TV subscription starting next season.
And in Happy Hour Plus, they discuss the future of the Mac Pro and why Apple should stop selling it. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance discuss all the new features in the 26.2 betas, including a clever new Edge Light mode and even more Liquid Glass throughout the system. Apple launches Digital IDs in Wallet, and there are questions about the future of the iPhone Air.
And in Happy Hour Plus, we consider if Apple is done for the year, as far as new product launches go. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance discuss all the new features in iOS 26.2, including some fancy Podcast AI updates and a puzzling decision to remove Apple Watch Wi-Fi syncing in the EU. Also, Apple launches a browsable App Store on the web, and is set to pay $1bn annually to Google to use Gemini models as the underpinning of new Siri.
And in Happy Hour Plus, the pair react to the new Apple TV intro, and get hyped for the premiere of Vince Gilligan’s new series, Pluribus.
Benjamin and Chance react to a bevy of Bloomberg reports about Apple’s future plans, from touchscreen Macs to ads in Apple Maps and a future OLED iPad mini.
And in Happy Hour Plus, the 1X NEO robot makes waves with a launch that demonstrated perhaps the biggest divide between the hype and the reality of the product. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance react to the inclusion of a new Liquid Glass toggle in Settings in iOS 26.1 beta 4, and whether it reflects Apple’s lack of confidence in software design. The Apple TV F1 deal is now official, and Chance goes hands-on with the M5 Vision Pro.
And in Happy Hour Plus, the pair discuss the news that the iPhone Air is reportedly not selling well, and check in with their experiences a month after its release. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance react to the new M5 iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and Vision Pro launches. Apple also kills off Clips app and teases live immersive NBA content, and announces a controversial name change for the Apple TV streaming service.
And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin gets more excited about the upcoming Apple smart display based off some details from Mark Gurman. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance cover all the new changes in beta 2 of iOS 26.1, as Apple tidies up some loose ends in the new Liquid Glass design, and (kinda) brings back Slide Over on iPad. Also, Meta’s launch of smart glasses with displays apparently prompted a change to the Vision Pro roadmap, and the F1 streaming deal is apparently nearly done.
And in Happy Hour Plus, the duo compares MagSafe power banks for the iPhone Air. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance talk about the week’s Apple news, including the bonkers leak of the so-far-unannounced M5 iPad Pro, and then the FCC chipped in with showing off the new MacBook Pro and Vision Pro too. Also, Benjamin’s robot vacuum got a dramatically better Matter update, Apple uses iPhone cameras to shoot Friday Night Baseball, and Beats unveils the Powerbeats Fit.
And in Happy Hour Plus, we have some new iPhone follow-up as Chance samples the Max life, and Benjamin’s Air is accruing dust. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance reflect on how Apple describes the unibody in iPhone history. Then, Benjamin shares his experiences with his first week of having the iPhone Air, meanwhile online durability and battery tests show impressive results across the new iPhone lineup. Nevertheless, Apple is forced to comment on 17 Pro ‘ScratchGate’, and the first iOS 26.1 beta adds some new swipe gestures in the Music app.
And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance tries the new Jupiter environment in visionOS 26, as Apple previews a swathe of new third-party immersive video content in the works. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Chance got review units of all the new phones, so we take the opportunity to talk about his hands-on experiences with iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air and the new AirPods Pro 3. Just how good is Apple’s new lineup? Also, Benjamin has eSIM woes in preparation of his iPhone Air delivery.
And in Happy Hour Plus, we react to the initial impressions of iOS 26 now that the redesigned OS is available to a wider audience for the first time. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance react to the September Apple event, with opinions in keynote order. Chance was there in person, so that includes some early hands-on thoughts of these new devices. That includes Apple’s unveiling of the new AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch Series 11, iPhone 17, iPhone Air and the unmistakably orange iPhone 17 Pro series.
And in Happy Hour Plus, the pair talk about what products they are buying from this week’s announcements, and some more on Chance’s experience at Apple Park. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance get hyped for next week’s awe-dropping event with a breakdown of what we expect, and some intriguing hanging questions. In other news, the Google search deal escapes the jaws of antitrust unscathed, and we have more details about the upcoming Siri revamp.
And in Happy Hour Plus, they discuss the Google Pixel’s 100x zoom features and debate the merits of AI usage in cameras. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance prepare to have their jaw dropped in the run up to the September 9 Apple event where we expect to see iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11 and maybe AirPods Pro 3. There’s an interesting report on Apple’s strategic calculus when it comes to acquiring other companies, and Gemini might become the brain of Siri. Also, Apple TV+ ups its monthly price by a hefty 30%.
And in Happy Hour Plus, we reflect on the last fifteen years of Apple event slogans, and whether there’s a trend of decline. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance discuss the supposed new ‘TechWoven’ cases coming from Apple for the iPhone 17 lineup, Apple reportedly exits the MLB streaming partnership, and iOS 26 beta 7 shows we are close to launch on Apple’s next bumper product cycle. Also, they tackle some listener questions in another installment of Ask9to5Mac.
And in Happy Hour Plus, after Chance already beat Benjamin on the annual predictions made in January, the pair craft up another three picks for the rest of 2025. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance react to the surprise announcement that the Apple Watch Blood Oxygen feature is coming back for US users, via a phone relay workaround. Also, Apple released the latest beta of iOS 26, featuring some fun new animations and even more Liquid Glass refinements. Plus, there’s more speculation about the low-cost MacBook and more details about Apple’s future ventures into home robotics.
And in Happy Hour Plus, we catch up on some recent TV shows and movies we enjoyed this summer. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance talk about the week’s Apple news including all the changes in iOS 26 beta 5, in which Apple inexplicably doubled down on the inverted scroll direction in the Camera app. Also, iPhone 17 case leaks suggest Apple will be adding lanyard holes to its silicon cases for the first time, and Tim Cook presents an AI strategy pep talk to employees and investors.
And in Happy Hour Plus, they discuss the uncertain future of the default search deal between Apple and Google. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance analyze the new iOS 26 icon set, as well as respond to some public beta feedback Chance has received from his family. Also, a test iPhone 17 prototype was seemingly caught on camera on the streets of San Francisco.
And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance has finally updated to watchOS 26 beta, and the pair discuss the surprising utility of the new wrist flick gesture. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance talk about all the changes in iOS 26 beta 4, the strangely good deal that is the new AppleCare One package, and a surprising rumored detail about the upcoming M5 iPad Pro.
And in Happy Hour Plus, the duo discuss the recent exodus from the AI group as motivation to work on Apple AI research wavers. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance react to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman report on what Apple is planning to ship over the course of the next twelve months, as well as the details of a near-term refresh for the Vision Pro including a more comfortable strap. Apple launches a new Emoji puzzle in News+, AirPods marketshare is revealed in a new study, and Apple sweeps the Emmy nominations.
And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin and Chance talk more about the recent controversies surrounding Liquid Glass. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance discuss the Liquid Glass design changes that came as part of iOS 26 beta 3, debate whether it looks better, and whether it retains the spirit of what Apple presented in June. There’s also a handful of other interesting changes in these latest betas for iPad, Watch and Mac. Plus, Apple formally appeals the EU on anti-steering requirements, and Jeff Williams announces his retirement in the latest significant shakeup of the Apple leadership team.
And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin discusses the report that Apple has submitted an official bid in the rights negotiations for streaming F1 in the US. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance discuss the intriguing rumor from Ming-Chi Kuo that Apple is readying a new cheaper MacBook Air powered by an A18 Pro CPU. Also, Apple befuddles everyone with a new byzantine set of App Store rules in the EU, and Apple seems open to powering AI Siri using third-party models.
And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance walks through some tech updates after another big move. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.
Benjamin and Chance talk about all the changes in iOS 26 beta 2 and macOS Tahoe beta 2, try out all the new features in watchOS 26 for the first time, and talk about why availability of Apple features and services can be so splintered.
And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin saw the F1 film in IMAX, and en route observed some horror stories of how people actually use their phones in the real world. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.