133: ‘The MacGuffin Tractor’ With Serenity Caldwell

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on Apple’s new 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMacs, their Retina/DCI-P3 display upgrades, Skylake/Broadwell processor split, soldered RAM tradeoffs, and the broader trend toward Apple’s sealed, non-upgradable hardware. The hosts also dissect the new Magic Mouse/Trackpad/Keyboard, Apple Music and Photos’ rollout issues, Facebook’s hidden background battery drain, Elon Musk’s Tesla-vs-Apple comments, and a critical review of the Aaron Sorkin/Danny Boyle Steve Jobs film.

Main Topics: New iMacs: Retina, color, and processor changes: Detailed discussion of the updated iMac lineup, including 4K 21.5-inch models, the 5K 27-inch model’s improved color, Skylake in the 27-inch, Broadwell in the 21.5-inch, and the absence of Thunderbolt 3. Apple’s hardware philosophy: sealed machines and RAM soldering: The speakers debate Apple’s move toward integrated, user-inaccessible hardware, arguing that most customers don’t need internal tinkering and that Apple is following the iOS model. New Magic peripherals and charging controversy: They analyze the redesigned keyboard, Magic Trackpad 2, and Magic Mouse 2, especially the mouse’s bottom-mounted Lightning port and the pricing of the new accessories. Apple Photos and iCloud photo library rollout: They assess Photos as a smoother-than-expected launch, praising device syncing, optimized storage, and non-destructive edits while noting some limitations for offline access and pro workflows. Apple Music, iTunes Match, and product confusion: A long explanation of how Apple Music differs from iTunes Match, why the rollout caused confusion, why a beta period might have helped, and why iTunes remains messy. Facebook battery drain in iOS 9: They discuss evidence that Facebook may be abusing background audio to continue running and draining battery even when background refresh is disabled. Steve Jobs movie, Elon Musk, and modern Apple narratives: The hosts review the Sorkin/Boyle Steve Jobs film as a strong but highly fictionalized character piece, then pivot to Elon Musk’s comments on Apple and Tesla as a useful competitive dynamic.

Key Arguments: Apple’s new iMacs are a meaningful step toward an all-Retina Mac lineup, with improved color spaces aimed at professional photo/video work. The 21.5-inch iMac remains more consumer-oriented because of soldered RAM and lower-end processors, while the 27-inch is increasingly the pro/default choice. Apple’s sealed hardware strategy is not necessarily a flaw; for most users it reduces hassle and reflects where the industry is heading. The new Magic Trackpad is the most compelling input device because Force Touch makes it more future-proof than the Magic Mouse. The Magic Mouse’s bottom Lightning port is awkward, but the design likely prioritizes aesthetics and discourages wired use during charging. Photos launched far better than Apple Music because Photos had a real beta period, letting Apple and users work out problems before general release. Apple Music is confusing because it overlaps with iTunes Match; keeping both services is useful if users want persistent DRM-free copies on all devices. Facebook’s background behavior appears deceptive, since it may be using silent audio to keep itself alive in the background despite user settings. The Steve Jobs film is best understood as Aaron Sorkin theater, not biography; its accuracy is secondary to its dialogue and character construction. Elon Musk’s sharp comments about Apple/Tesla are ultimately good for innovation because competitive pressure keeps both companies pushing forward.

Data Points: 21.5-inch iMac starting price: $1499 - Referenced as the entry price for the new 21.5-inch iMac models. 27-inch iMac display resolution: 5K Retina - The 27-inch iMac continues with a 5K display and gains improved color definition. 21.5-inch iMac display resolution: 4K Retina - The new top-end 21.5-inch iMac model gets a 4K Retina display. Color space: DCI-P3 - Used by the new iMac displays; same color space as digital movie theaters. Processor split: Skylake on 27-inch; Broadwell on 21.5-inch - Apple updated the 27-inch iMac with Skylake, while the 21.5-inch remains on Broadwell due to graphics compatibility. Flash storage ceiling on 21.5-inch: 512 GB - The discussion notes that 21.5-inch models top out at 512 GB of flash storage. RAM configurability: Soldered in 21.5-inch; user-upgradable in 27-inch - The hosts contrast Apple’s consumer vs pro positioning. Magic Keyboard price: $99 - New standalone keyboard price after the redesign. Magic Trackpad 2 price: $129 - New trackpad price, reflecting Force Touch hardware. Magic Mouse 2 price: $79 - New mouse price, despite little visible change in form factor. Battery charge time: 2 minutes for about 9 hours - Charging the new mouse briefly provides significant usable time. Apple Music device limit: 10 devices - The service allows playback on up to ten devices. iTunes Match price: $25/year - Used as justification for keeping iTunes Match alongside Apple Music. Apple Music family plan: $14.99/month - Referenced as the price threshold that makes users care more about the service. Photos library size example: 26,896 photos and 855 videos - One speaker describes their personal Photos library size. Another Photos library size: 16,956 photos and 237 videos - A second, smaller library example is mentioned for comparison. Facebook battery usage example: 75% battery, 2 minutes on screen, 15.9 hours background - A screenshot shared in the discussion illustrating severe background drain. Facebook background activity example: 3.2 hours background - One speaker’s device shows heavy Facebook background usage despite disabled background refresh. Facebook cellular data example: 420+ MB - Facebook appears among the top data-using apps on the device. Tweetbot cellular data example: 551 MB - Compared against Facebook as a legitimately heavily used app.

Pivotal Quotes: "We always jokingly call Apple the Tesla graveyard. If you don't make it at Tesla, you go work at Apple." — Elon Musk: Discussing Apple hiring Tesla engineers and the Apple car rumors. "PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They're not going to just walk in." — Ed Colligan (quoted): Referenced as a historical parallel to Musk’s comments about Apple and cars. "This movie is really, really going to bother you if you're the sort of person who wants it to be factually accurate." — John Gruber: Summarizing the Steve Jobs film as a dramatic character piece rather than a biography.

Implications: Apple is steadily shifting to sealed, premium, Retina-first hardware while leaning into cloud sync and service integration. That makes workflows easier for most users, but frustrates pros, tinkerers, and anyone sensitive to battery, pricing, or accuracy in Apple’s ecosystem.