Press Pause with Bill McLean

I've been thinking about all the years I financed tech and all of the stupid money decisions I've made along the way. I recently ranked the 18 phones that I have had over the last 16 years and it had me thinking about the role media and marketing plays when it comes to the yearly upgrade cycles. This is Press Pause Season 3, Episode 10! More deep dives on apps, tech and life lessons in my...

Get 1 Month free: https://link.snipd.com/Cx7S/mclean Are you tired of hearing brilliant insights on podcasts only to forget them by the time you reach your desk? Today, I sit down with Kevin Smith, co-founder of Snipd, an AI-powered podcast player that completely fixes this problem. We discuss how a 3-person team built the ultimate audio note-taking tool, the future of AI agents managing your seco...

🧵BlackTwist Threads Scheduler(affiliate link): https://blacktwist.app?aff=9mjXLl Discover the unfiltered reality of indie app development and how to drive real audience growth on Meta's Threads. When Twitter (X) completely shifted its platform and skyrocketed API pricing to $42,000 a month, independent developers Luca and Mattia watched their profitable SaaS side projects get wiped out almost...

In this episode, we cover the latest Apple news including hands on thoughts with the new blush MacBook Neo. We also discuss why the AirPods Max 2 feel like a disappointing upgrade. Then we dive into the current state of AI in note taking apps. We compare Obsidian, Notion AI, and Apple Notes to find the best productivity workflow. Plus, we discuss the tech community's growing frustration with A...

Apple just dropped a massive wave of new hardware, and we need to talk about it. The star of the show is definitely the new MacBook Neo, bringing the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone to a laptop starting at just $599. But there is a lot more to cover. In this episode, I break down the entire release schedule. We start with the M4 iPad Air, which gets a bump to 12GB of base memory and Wi-Fi 7. We also...

In season three, episode 5 of Press Pause, we look at the broken state of productivity systems and why I am sticking with Apple Notes over Obsidian. The AI wars are heating up again as we discuss the performance of Claude 4.6 against Google's Gemini 3.1 Pro. We also break down the latest Apple rumors from Mark Gurman regarding the massive Siri delay. It looks like those highly anticipated feat...

Where to find Tom: Web/newsletter: tomfanderson.com Threads: threads.com/@tomanderson Podcast: basicafshow.com In this episode of Press Pause, I am joined by Tom Anderson from the Basic AF show to discuss the reality of being a tech enthusiast who just cannot stop switching apps. We talk about the "infinite loop" of productivity tools and why the search for the perfect setup never really...

We spend so much time searching for the perfect notes app that we often forget to actually use the notes and do the work. In this episode of Press Pause, I’m looking at why I’ve moved away from the complexity of tools like Obsidian and Notion to go back to the most obvious choice: Apple Notes. For a long time, the "graph view" and complex linking were the gold standard, but for most of us, they’ve...

I have spent the last three weeks obsessing over the same decision regarding which notes app is actually right for my workflow. Between Apple Notes, Notion, and a dozen other productivity tools, it feels like a constant cycle of optimizing and then starting over. In this episode, I break down why choosing a notes app is so difficult right now and why the system you use matters far more than the so...

Press Pause: Tech Obsession & Remembering the Average User In this episode, I'm diving into why my latest iPhone video struck such a chord with viewers, Apple's big moves in AI (including that surprising Gemini partnership), and why the AI race might be a solution still searching for problems. We'll cover: • Why you probably don't need the Pro iPhone this year • Apple's new...

In this episode I talk about the new Notion 3.0 updates and why they matter for you. Apple has revamped its entire operating system lineup and I share some of my early favorite features and of course scratch gate. We have seen early reports of iPhone 17 durability issues both in store and now that people have them in their hands. I cover the process they use to get the colors into the aluminum, ho...

Apple has announced a bunch of new devices, including Airpods Pro, Apple Watch, SE, Series 11 and Ultra 3 and the first time a new iPhone has made its way into the lineup in what feels like forever. Come check out the iPhone 17 lineup as well and chat about everything that Apple talked about during their fall event! Sign up for my new weekly Newsletter The Digital Pulse!https://billmclean.substack...

This week brings seismic shifts in the tech landscape that you need to know about. Apple is facing an unprecedented drain as their top AI engineers defect to Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic, raising serious questions about the company's ability to compete in the artificial intelligence arms race. Meanwhile, the AI chip wars are intensifying with Broadcom and OpenAI announcing a groundbreaking part...

Join me on For Perspective Season 2, Episode 5! In this episode, I discuss Apple's new AppleCare+ One subscription service that bundles device protection for multiple Apple products at $20/month for three devices. I share my experience switching from SimpliSafe to Ring home security and recommend the Scuff Instinct Pro Xbox controller. Also covering Labor Day tech deals, Apple's upcoming S...

Apple's Emotional Marketing Strategy, Notes Apps War Heats Up, and Why Tech Prices Keep Rising | For Perspective Podcast In this week's episode, I dive into Apple's shift toward emotional marketing with their powerful "No Frame Missed" short film about accessibility, the escalating battle between Notion, Obsidian, and Craft for productivity supremacy, and why tech prices seem...

🎯 What I Cover:* Bloomberg's report on AI impacting entry-level jobs for college graduates * Why the job market has me genuinely worried (plus my traffic jam revelation) * Notion CEO's appearance on The Verge's Decoder podcast - key takeaways * My experiment moving from Apple Notes/Reminders to Notion * Billionaire drama: Elon vs Apple vs Sam Altman (featuring Grok's hot take) * P...

Welcome back to Four Perspective! In this week's episode (Season 2, Episode 2), I'm diving into the biggest tech stories making waves right now. What we're covering: * Companies are getting serious about return-to-office policies with badge tracking and surveillance - but is this the right approach? * Meta is poaching AI talent from Apple with insane salary offers ($350K-$500K for prod...

Dive into the week’s biggest tech stories as we unpack Big Tech’s record-shattering $344 billion AI spend in 2025, ChatGPT vs. Google Gemini head-to-head performance, and Tim Cook’s bold stance on Apple Intelligence, all from my brand-new basement studio. We break down how on-device AI, privacy-first machine learning, and cloud LLMs are reshaping productivity, plus why Mark Gurman’s “We’ve rarely...

Is Google already winning the personalized AI race? While Apple Intelligence was expected to lead with personal context, it seems Google is storming ahead, leveraging its vast ecosystem – Search, Drive, Gmail – to train an AI that truly knows you. But is it all good news for users, especially with confusing new paid plans on the horizon? In this episode of 'For Perspective,' we dissect Google's la...

In episode 12 of For Perspective, I dive into the DOJ's case against Google, discuss Claude's exciting new business integrations, and share my honest thoughts about what my iPad Pro is actually good for now that I've added a MacBook Pro to my setup. Plus, I reflect on making intentional tech purchases and finding the right tools for your specific workflow. Whether you're tech-obses...

Are you tired of the endless search for the perfect productivity app? In this For Perspective episode, I cut through the noise of complex systems and make a case for the power of "Boring Productivity." First up, I'll give you a quick hit of tech and AI news: Apple's been quiet, Beats has new cables (but I'm still Team Anker!), and Verizon's offering intriguing bundles lik...

In this episode of For Perspective, I dive deep into the world of note-taking apps, sharing my personal journey. Starting with grad school using OneNote, exploring the markdown capabilities of Drafts, and detailed experiences with Apple Notes, Obsidian, Notion, and Bear Notes. Plus, stay tuned for:Apple News: AirPods Max update and WWDC keynote anticipation. AI News: First impressions of Gemini 2....

FOR PERSPECTIVE EP9: Apple's M4 MacBooks, My Setup Overhaul & AI EvolutionIn this packed episode, I dive into Apple's latest announcements including the new M4 MacBook Air and refreshed Mac Studio lineup. I share my personal journey upgrading to a MacBook Pro with the nano texture display (and how Apple's pricing ladder got me again).Plus, I reveal the changes to my office setup -...

Where to Get Started with AI in 2025 | From Beginner to AdvancedIn this episode of For Perspective, I break down three levels of AI engagement everyone should know about in 2025. As an engineer exploring the AI landscape, I share my practical approach to getting started with artificial intelligence tools and understanding the current state of AI technology. LEVEL 1: Practical AI Usage- Top AI mode...

Subscriptions are everywhere. People are tired of them, but they aren't going away. I go through the value proposition of subscriptions, do a review of ones that I have and could probably cancel as well as my gripes with subscriptions, specifically within the Apple Ecosystem. Sign up for my new weekly Newsletter The Digital Pulse!https://billmclean.substack.com/ Check me out on Social: https://www...