Episode Summary
Executive Summary: The episode centers on first impressions of the iPhone X and its major changes: Face ID, the notch, gesture navigation, OLED display, and battery/restore quirks. The hosts largely admire the phone as a compelling “future” device while noting tradeoffs in reachability, multitasking, and Face ID ergonomics. They also discuss APFS snapshots, Time Machine, Siri’s limitations, and accessory/sponsor segments.
Main Topics: iPhone X first impressions and design: The hosts compare the iPhone X to prior iPhones, praising its screen, symmetry, and futuristic feel while noting increased weight, width, and some discomfort in one-handed use. Face ID behavior and ergonomics: They explore how Face ID works in practice: speed, angle sensitivity, failure modes in bed or at awkward angles, and the need to adjust body posture rather than just finger placement. Gesture navigation, multitasking, and UI regressions: Discussion focuses on the swipe-up home gesture, harder multitasking access, slower app quitting, Control Center placement, and how some common actions became less reliable than the old Home button. Display, notch, and animation experience: They debate OLED blue shift, notch impact in portrait and landscape, and the new animations—some of which feel more natural because they track finger movement, while reduced motion can look awkward. APFS snapshots, Time Machine, and storage complexity: A detailed explanation of how APFS snapshots support Time Machine and software updates, why storage calculations get complicated, and why Apple’s Time Machine UI remains confusing. Siri versus Google Assistant and future voice interfaces: They argue Siri’s shortcomings matter most in devices like HomePod, but may not significantly hurt iPhone sales unless voice becomes a much more central interaction model. Setup/migration, battery life, and iCloud tooling: The new phone transfer process is praised as faster and easier than iTunes backups, though some settings and watch migration were inconsistent; battery life and background photo uploads are also discussed.
Key Arguments: The iPhone X feels like a major leap forward visually and technically, even if it introduces ergonomic compromises. Face ID is impressively fast and robust, but it requires users to face the phone more directly and sometimes adjust posture. Removing the Home button makes some actions slower or less reliable, especially multitasking, force quitting, and invoking Apple Pay. The notch is largely a non-issue in portrait for users, but it complicates app design and looks odd in landscape and screenshots. APFS snapshots make backups and updates smarter, but they also make storage accounting and Time Machine UI more complicated. Siri’s weaknesses are real, but on phones they are secondary to the broader iPhone experience; voice assistants only become a sales risk if voice becomes much more important overall. The new device migration workflow is a major improvement over iTunes restores and may replace older backup habits for many users.
Data Points: Apple TV 4K feature support: Only the new Apple TV 4K gets the latest output format switching features - Discussed in the follow-up about tvOS 11.2 beta Time Machine snapshot cadence: Every 24 hours while the computer is on, plus weekly snapshots - Explaining APFS local snapshots and Time Machine behavior Face ID unlock context: Works from surprisingly wide angles, but fails in some lying-down or side-on positions - First impressions of Face ID usability iPhone X screen refresh: 24 hertz display mode reported by the TV, likely a multiple of the true refresh rate - Testing match source format switching on Apple TV 4K iPhone X screen protection cost: About $200 for front screen repair and about $500 for back glass repair - Reasoning about whether to buy AppleCare and use a case Siri market comparison: Google Assistant described as better and more consistent, with Google Home/Echo-like behavior - Discussion of whether Siri could affect iPhone sales Android market share: 80% market share mentioned - Argument that many buyers care more about price than platform quality Battery perception: iOS 11 battery life described as not great, though improved with 11.1 - iPhone X and iOS 11 battery discussion Phone storage backup behavior: iCloud migration was faster than iTunes backup/restore - Setup and transfer experience on the iPhone X Passcode fallback: No Face ID fallback to Touch ID; users must type passcode when Face ID fails - Concerns about awkward usage contexts like bed or low angle
Pivotal Quotes: "It really, really works. Hooray!" — John Syracusa: Reaction to tvOS 11.2 beta enabling output format switching on Apple TV 4K "It is really, really great." — Marco Arment: Summarizing the iPhone X’s overall quality despite minor annoyances "The iPhone X is the phone of the future. It really, really does." — John Syracusa: Closing assessment of the device after extensive hands-on use
Implications: The iPhone X is framed as a successful but transitional product: it establishes new interaction norms that developers and users must adapt to, while making older UI patterns feel dated. Voice, Face ID, and gesture UX may matter more over time, but Apple must keep refining ergonomics and software polish.