Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories
This week, Federico and John reveal the winners of the 2025 MacStories Selects Awards, which celebrate the exceptional design, innovation, and creativity of apps across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.
On AppStories+, John has some Apple Music discovery tips for Federico, and they reveal the iPhone features they don’t use.
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, handhelds are shipping for the holidays, AYANEO makes a bold bet on a phone, a new Strix Halo tablet one-ups the ASUS ROG Flow Z13, and John dips a toe in the Bazzite waters.
On NPC XL, Federico jumps into the Bazzite mini PC world, while Brendon is revisiting the iPod on handheld consoles.
Comfort Zone
Chris reflects on a big year of changes, Matt has turned his garage into a mini-factory, and the gang buys clothes, but in a techy way.
On Cozy Zone, we draft fonts…for real this time!
MacStories Unwind
This week, Federico and John close out the year by sharing their favorite music of 2025.
AppStories, Episode 465, ‘The 2025 MacStories Selects Awards’ Show Notes
This episode is sponsored by:
RevenueCat – It’s the easiest way to add in-app subscriptions and native paywalls into your mobile apps, and getting started is free.
MacStories Selects 2025
Best New App: Quick Reviews
Runner-up: Wispr Flow
Runner-up: Activas AI
Best Mac App: Bloom
Runner-up: Supercharge
Best Watch App: Athlytic
Runner-up: µBrowser
Best New Feature: Matter’s TTS voices
Runner-up: Bridges’ Shortcuts Actions
Runner-up: Longplay MCP
Best Design: Sequel 2.6
Runner-up: Not Boring Camera
Readers’ Choice Award: Alfred
App of the Year: Drafts
Runner-up: Athlytic
Lifetime Achievement Award: Unread
Subscribe to AppStories+
Visit AppStories.net to learn more about the extended, high bitrate audio version of AppStories that is delivered early each week and subscribe.
NPC, Episode 61, ‘New Phones and Tablets Take Aim at Portable Gaming’ Show Notes
The Latest Portable Gaming News
The Odin 3 and MCON are starting to ship
The Anbernic RG DS got a big software update
AYANEO Pocket Play
Video
Kickstarter
Pocket Codex for iPhone and iPad
Another Strix Halo Tablet – OneXplayer Super X
John installs Bazzite on the GMKtech EVO-X2
Subscribe to NPC XL
NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes. You can subscribe here.
Comfort Zone, Episode 80, ‘My Pink Booties’ Show Notes
Main Topics
beyerdynamic DT. 770 Pro X
Bambu Lab A1 mini
Other Stuff We Talked About
The Opposite of Snow Leopard (2025 predictions episode)
Ora Browser
Ozlo Sleepbuds
Anker Soundcore A20
IKEA SKÅDIS
Star Wars Galactic Racer trailer
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic trailer
Resident Evil Requiem trailer
Cozy Zone
For even more from the Comfort Zone crew, you can subscribe to Cozy Zone. Cozy Zone is a weekly bonus episode of Comfort Zone where Matt, Niléane, and Chris invite listeners to join them in the Cozy Zone where they’ll cover extra topics, invent wilder challenges and games, and share all their great (and not so great) takes on tech. You can subscribe to Cozy Zone for $5 per month here or $50 per year here.
MacStories Unwind, ‘The Best Music of 2025’ Show Notes
The Best Music of 2025
Federico’s Picks
Forgiving Spree by Slowly Slowly
Idols by Youngblud
NSFW by The Paradox
Better Days by Yellowcard
Qualifying Miles by We Are Scientists
Album of the Year: Pruning of the Limbs by Moving Mountains
John’s Picks
(my world is an) oyster by Chloe Moriando
Modern Romance by Chloe Qisha
Ego Death at the Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams
Cosmic Selector Vol. 1 by Lord Huron
Tunnel Vision by Beach Bunny
Album of the Year: Living While Dying by fanclubwallet
MacStories Unwind+
We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free with high bitrate audio every week. To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Comfort Zone, NPC: Next Portable Console, and First, Last, Everything that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.