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512 Pixels

512 Pixels is a blog covering Apple, computer history, design, and other fine nerdery, written by Stephen Hackett.

All Episodes

NYT: Budget Constraints Blamed for Apple’s AI Woes

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/11

The hits keep coming when it comes to what’s going on with Apple, Siri, and AI. For this round, we go to Tripp Mickle writing for The New York Times: The A.I. stumble was set in motion in early 2023. Mr. Giannandrea, who was overseeing the effort, sought approval from the company’s chief executive, Tim […]

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Siri Seems Like a Real Mess

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/10

For years, tons of people have wondered why Siri has seemed so stuck in the mud, seemingly impossible for Apple to improve in meaningful ways. Now, thanks to a new report in The Information, we know a lot more about the mess behind the scenes. Hartley Charlton at MacRumors has a recap: In addition to […]

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Connected 547: The Leakies (April 2025)

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/09

This week on the podcast: Ahead of an iOS redesign, a new game emerges. Also: feedback, the power of a blog’s color scheme, and new CalDigit docks.

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The Fantasy of a US-Made iPhone

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/09

Jason Koebler at 404 Media: This weekend, U.S. secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick went on CBS’s Face the Nation and pitched a fantasy world where iPhones are manufactured in the United States: “The army of millions and millions of people screwing in little, little screws to make iPhones, that kind of thing is going to come to […]

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How Apple Could Deal with Tariffs

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/09

Jason Snell: There are a lot of suggestions that the prices of Apple products are headed up. Apple Stores are crowded with buyers who are trying to beat the anticipated price increases. But while prices are probably going up, that’s only one of the many levers Apple can pull in order to deal with the […]

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The AI Trust Gap

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/08

Kylie Robison at The Verge: A new report from Pew Research Center released last week shows a sharp divide in how artificial intelligence is perceived by the people building it versus the people living with it. The survey, which includes responses from over 1,000 AI experts and more than 5,000 US adults, reveals a growing optimism gap: […]

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CalDigit Announces Thunderbolt 5 Docks

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/07

I’ve been using a CalDigit TS4 on my desk for years, allowing me to plug in my entire setup with just one cable going to my MacBook Pro. It has never given me any trouble, and is well worth the price in my book. Now there’s a set of new docks from CalDigit, using Thunderbolt […]

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But People Like Screens

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/07

Emma Roth: Sam Altman and Jony Ive’s AI project could involve a screenless device. Sources tell The Information that the hardware startup, called io Products, is considering creating a phone-like product without a screen, as well as “AI-enabled household devices.” According to The Information, OpenAI is considering purchasing the startup.

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Sponsor: Unite 6 Turns Your Favorite Websites into...

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/07

Unite 6 is here — and it’s more than just an upgrade. It’s a new way to bring your favorite websites into your macOS workflow. Whether you’re crafting a minimalist Gmail client, a multi-tab ChatGPT hub, or a lightweight Discord alternative, Unite 6 gives you complete control and a beautifully native experience. So, what’s new […]

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Exploring the Original Microsoft Source Code

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/06

Bill Gates: The story of how Microsoft came to be begins with, of all things, a magazine. The January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics featured an Altair 8800 on the cover. The Altair 8800, created by a small electronics company called MITS, was a groundbreaking personal computer kit that promised to bring computing power to […]

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Mac Power Users 791: Exploring iCloud.com

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/06

The newest Mac Power Users episode is all about iCloud.com: iCloud is the glue that holds much of the Apple ecosystem together, syncing data and content between devices. This week, the guys walk through what is possible by using the iCloud website, including data recovery tools, account settings, and more.

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Exploring MacPaint’s Source Code

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/06

MacPaint was one of the Mac’s original first-party applications, and was written by Bill Atkinson himself. Jeffrey Starr has published an in-depth look at the application’s source code: One of two launch applications for the Apple Macintosh in 1984, MacPaint is emblematic of the Macintosh’s early quirky revolutionary branding, focus on ease of use, and […]

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Microsoft Turns 50

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/04

Today is Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, as Tom Warren writes: Founded on April 4th, 1975, Microsoft went on to strike a deal with IBM to provide software for its first PC in 1980. This became the foundation of MS-DOS, which dominated IBM-compatible PCs during the ’80s. Microsoft’s early success in developing software for PCs eventually led […]

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On the Rumored M6 MacBook Pro

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/03

Over the weekend, Mark Gurman reported that the M6-generation of MacBook Pro will bring with it an updated design, complete with a thinner chassis and an OLED display. David Sparks’ thoughts on this mirror my own: I’m particularly excited about the prospect of an OLED screen. This technology promises higher brightness, improved contrast ratios, and […]

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DEVONthink 4

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/03

I am a huge DEVONthink fan, as I use it hold and organize my ever-growing library of tech history resources. Here’s a look at my collection of databases: Today, DEVONthink 4 enters public beta 1 with a whole bunch of new features. DEVONthink 4 includes new tools for managing documents, which is the core use […]

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Switch 2

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/02

I suspect there will be one of these in the Hackett household sooner rather than later. Or maybe not?

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Sofa Gains Podcast Playback

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/02

The excellent media-tracking app Sofa has been updated to include a podcast player, complete with chapter support, playlists, a CarPlay app, widgets, and loads of settings. It looks great.

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A Fresh Coat of Paint

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/02

Later this year, 512 Pixels will turn seventeen years old. Over the years, it has had several looks, and today there’s a new one.1 The overall structure of the site is unchanged, but the colors and some of the typefaces are all new. For the first time in a long time, there is no orange […]

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Exploring Apple’s Accessibility Efforts

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/02

The history of Apple’s accessibility work dates back to the early days of the Mac, and while the iPhone took a little while, it’s now the standard-bearer when it comes to accessibility in the smartphone world. Technologies like VoiceOver that shipped on the iPhone 3GS and the Apple Watch’s ability to detect and warn you […]

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Connectgrade 546: Letting the Literal Light In

512 Pixels ·

2025/04/01

This week on the show, Jason Federico and I address some follow up, then saddle up for the Rumor Roundup before answering a round of listener questions.

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