Basic AF: a (mostly) tech podcast
Apple makes incredible products. The tips and insights that actually help are harder to find. Basic AF cuts through the hype cycles and gets straight to what matters for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch users. Plus, app recommendations, gear reviews, AI tools, and the everyday tech that actually shows up in your life. Every other Monday, Tom Anderson and Jeff Battersby bring 25+ years of real-world Apple experience to practical, insightful conversations for people like you.
Basic AF: a (mostly) tech podcast
Mac Mini & Mac Studio Shortages, Kindle Cutoffs & Four Things Worth Knowing About iOS 26.4
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Tom and Jeff dig into why it's getting harder and harder to buy a Mac mini or Mac Studio in anything beyond a base configuration — and what that might mean about upcoming M5 refreshes. Plus, Jeff gives a six-month health update (he's at 92% and back on stage), and the guys get into a friendly debate about Amazon pulling the plug on pre-2012 Kindles. Is it reasonable after 14 years, or does it prove physical books always win? And they wrap up with four things to know about iOS 26.4.
Topics covered:
- Mac mini and Mac Studio availability issues and what's behind the long wait times
- MacBook Neo demand and Bill McLean's hands-on review
- Jeff's updated take on the BookTracker app
- Amazon deprecating pre-2012 Kindles — and what it means for your digital library
- The Libby app and library cards for free books
- Merriam-Webster's Visual Dictionary (Jeff's new obsession)
- iOS 26.4: keyboard accuracy improvements, Urgent Reminders update, Stolen Device Protection, and AI apps in CarPlay
- Resetting your keyboard dictionary after updating
Links from the show:
- BookTracker app: https://booktrack.app
- Libby app: https://libbyapp.com
- Bill McLean's MacBook Neo review
- Apple Talk newsletter (keyboard reset tip): https://www.tomfanderson.com/p/ios-26-4-iphone-keyboard-fix
- Merriam-Webster's Visual Dictionary
We’d be honored if you'd drop a 5-star rating for us on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify!
Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!
Contact Us
- Drop us a line at feedback@basicafshow.com
- You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
- Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
- Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
- Tom has a new YouTube channel
- Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design
Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!
- Review on Apple Podcasts
- Rate on Spotify
- Recommend in Overcast
Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen
Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.
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