Accidental Tech Podcast

663: Defending the Honor of The Cheesecake Factory

October 30, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The hosts observed two notable 'in the wild' sightings: a passenger using the Flighty app and another using the Apple Vision Pro on an airplane, with the latter user sporting the new dual-knit headband and a third-party case. 
  • The ATP Holiday Store is open, featuring new items like the Chicken Hat 2.0 and T568A/T568B Ethernet wiring standard shirts, with the B standard shirt outselling the A standard two-to-one. 
  • Feedback confirmed that John's issue with disappearing files created by Shortcuts is a known bug, which can be temporarily fixed by unchecking the 'Overwrite if file exists' option in the save file action. 
  • Apple is reportedly developing refreshes for the Mac Studio, Mac Mini, and external monitors, while the shift to Face ID on Macs remains years away. 
  • The beta release of macOS 26.1 introduces a 'tinted' option for Liquid Glass transparency, which users find subtle and potentially half-hearted in its implementation across the OS. 
  • Mac users running macOS 26.0 are strongly advised to wait for the 26.1 update due to widespread performance slowdowns, potentially caused by an unpatched bug in the Electron framework used by many popular third-party apps. 
  • The Vision Pro's visual experience is consistently described as soft or blurry, especially with immersive video, leading one host to experience eye strain similar to trying to read a phone without reading glasses. 
  • The discussion on visual acuity suggests that the eye strain experienced might be related to the eyes constantly trying to focus sharply on elements that are inherently soft due to image processing or low signal resolution, which is different from the strain caused by presbyopia. 
  • While one host finds the Vision Pro's softness bothersome and suggests future models need significantly more pixels (beyond Retina standards) and a wider FOV, the other host, who is using it without corrective lenses, is surprisingly able to navigate the UI based on learned spatial cues. 

Segments

Flight Sightings: Flighty and Vision Pro
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Two separate passengers were observed using the Flighty app and the Apple Vision Pro on the same flight.
  • Summary: One passenger was seen using the Flighty app on an iPhone Air while sitting in a head-by-one seat, and the person behind him was also using Flighty. Another passenger was seen using the Vision Pro for the entire flight, utilizing the new dual-knit headband and demonstrating a volume adjustment gesture.
Flighty App Pricing Model
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(00:01:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Flighty now offers a flexible pay-as-you-go weekly plan for $5, making it affordable for infrequent flyers.
  • Summary: The initial high cost of Flighty is mitigated by a weekly plan costing five dollars, which is suitable for those who fly only a couple of times a year. This pricing structure is considered a worthwhile expense relative to other air travel costs. The app is useful even for tracking family members’ flights.
ATP Holiday Store Promotion
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(00:05:52)
  • Key Takeaway: The ATP Holiday Store is open, featuring the Chicken Hat 2.0 and T568A/T568B Ethernet shirts, with mugs already sold out.
  • Summary: The store is promoting the new Chicken Hat 2.0 and the popular T568A and T568B shirts, noting that B shirts are selling at a two-to-one ratio over A shirts. The mugs have sold out, and listeners are encouraged to purchase merchandise soon as the store promotion has limited time remaining.
Mac Virtual Display Resolution Limits
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(00:12:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Mac Virtual Display is limited to 3K resolution when used with Intel Macs, whereas Apple Silicon supports up to 5K (or ultra-wide with Sequoia 15.2+).
  • Summary: Using the Vision Pro with an Intel Mac results in a non-Retina experience equivalent to 3K resolution, which is significantly less clear than the 5K supported by Apple Silicon Macs. The Pro Display XDR’s 6K resolution is un-retina’d at 3K, meaning 3008x1692 points is the non-Retina equivalent.
Vision Pro Window Management Tip
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(00:19:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Tapping and holding the ‘X’ button on a Vision Pro window allows the user to hide all other open windows.
  • Summary: This feature addresses the lack of explicit window management by providing a quick way to declutter the view without closing applications. This action significantly improves the user experience when focusing on a single window or application.
Vision Pro Fit vs. Ski Goggles
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(00:20:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Vision Pro fit issues arise because its rigid aluminum frame and light shield do not conform to the face like flexible plastic ski goggles do.
  • Summary: Ski goggles are made of flexible plastic that bends around the wearer’s face, allowing the strap to pull them securely against contours. The Vision Pro’s rigid light shield lacks this compliance, and the main frame’s attachment points do not pull the light shield back onto the face effectively, leading to potential gaps.
Vapor Chamber Cooling Potential
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(00:24:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Vapor chamber cooling is rumored for the iPad Pro roadmap, but its inclusion in the fanless MacBook Air is less certain due to cost and thermal management trade-offs.
  • Summary: Vapor chambers are ideal for thin devices like phones and iPads because they move heat very quickly across a large surface area. While a vapor chamber could improve the MacBook Air’s heat spreading, Apple might prioritize the fanless trade-off or avoid the added cost in the lower-margin Air line.
Apple MLS Deal is Worldwide
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(00:31:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Apple’s MLS Season Pass deal grants worldwide rights, evidenced by Apple advertising the service in Korea due to Son Heung Min’s presence on LAFC.
  • Summary: The Apple TV App is the exclusive destination for all live MLS matches from 2023 to 2032 globally. Apple is actively marketing this worldwide deal in international markets, such as Korea, leveraging the presence of major players like Son Heung Min.
Shortcuts File Deletion Bug Confirmed
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(00:34:13)
  • Key Takeaway: The bug causing files created by Shortcuts to disappear is confirmed to be a Shortcuts issue, specifically triggered when ‘Overwrite if file exists’ is checked.
  • Summary: Multiple users reported files created by their shortcuts vanishing over time, even dating back to early 2023. The workaround involves unchecking the ‘Overwrite if file exists’ option in the ‘Save File’ action within the shortcut. Running the same file creation process via a shell script does not result in the deletion.
Cheesecake Factory Food Freshness
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(00:39:39)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite its massive menu, all 250+ food items at The Cheesecake Factory are made from scratch daily with fresh ingredients, though the cheesecakes are delivered frozen.
  • Summary: The restaurant maintains a commitment to fresh preparation for its extensive food menu, contrary to expectations for establishments with such large offerings. The only exception is the cheesecakes, which are sourced frozen from a factory and then defrosted before serving.
Future MacBook Pro Rumors (OLED/Touch)
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(00:41:29)
  • Key Takeaway: The next major MacBook Pro redesign, expected in late 2026 or early 2027, will feature OLED displays, a hole-punch camera, M6 chips, and a reinforced hinge for touchscreen capability.
  • Summary: This rumored redesign marks a significant departure from the current boxy design, potentially bringing cellular connectivity by 2026/2027 as well. Apple is reportedly developing hardware to prevent screen wobble when touched, indicating a serious push toward adding touchscreen functionality to macOS laptops.
Touchscreens and Face ID on Macs
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(00:45:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Touchscreens should be added to MacBooks because market pressure and user expectation demand it, even if purists prefer the trackpad, and Face ID implementation on Macs is long overdue.
  • Summary: While users often unthinkingly try to touch laptop screens, Apple has historically resisted adding touch due to ergonomic concerns for desktop use. The introduction of touch on laptops is viable because the screen angle is lower than a desktop monitor, and Apple should implement Face ID on Macs, especially on their thick first-party displays.
Upcoming Mac Hardware Rumors
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(00:52:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Apple is working on new Mac Studio, Mac Mini, and external monitors, while Face ID integration on Macs is projected to be years away.
  • Summary: New Mac devices, including the Mac Studio, Mac Mini, and external monitors (J427 and 527), are slated for a spring release. The shift from Touch ID to Face ID on Macs is considered a long-term prospect, potentially years away. A rumored Apple silicon chip codenamed ‘Hydra’ (H17G) was found in Xcode beta code, suggesting a powerful chip suitable for a future Mac Pro or high-end Mac Studio.
SKIMS Men’s Underwear Sponsorship Read
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(00:55:27)
  • Key Takeaway: SKIMS now offers men’s underwear, including boxer briefs made from comfortable fabrics that fit smoothly and stay in place.
  • Summary: The sponsor read highlights SKIMS’ new line of men’s underwear, specifically mentioning the cotton and stretch boxer briefs. The product is praised for its great fabric feel, smooth fit on the legs, and modern cut that avoids bunching throughout the day. Listeners are directed to skims.com and asked to mention the podcast in the post-checkout survey.
Liquid Glass Setting in OS 26.1 Beta
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(00:57:21)
  • Key Takeaway: macOS 26.1 beta 4 introduced a ’tinted’ option for Liquid Glass, allowing users to increase opacity and contrast, though its application seems inconsistent.
  • Summary: iOS/iPadOS users can adjust Liquid Glass transparency via Settings > Display and Brightness, while macOS users find the toggle in System Settings > Appearance. The ’tinted’ option adds opacity, contrasting with the default ‘clear’ look, but users noted that on macOS Tahoe, this setting did not affect notifications in beta 4. The rapid introduction of this setting suggests Apple is responding to user pushback regarding the initial overly transparent design.
Lock Screen Camera Swipe Disablement
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(01:13:12)
  • Key Takeaway: iOS 26.1 beta 4 added a setting to disable the lock screen swipe gesture that opens the camera, addressing accidental input issues.
  • Summary: A new setting, found under Settings > Camera > Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera, allows users to turn off the gesture that launches the camera app. This feature is intended to prevent accidental activation when the phone is handled or pocketed. The hosts also discussed general accidental input issues, such as ‘butt dialing,’ which are not fully resolved by this specific setting.
Tahoe (macOS 26) Safety and Electron Bug
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(01:14:58)
  • Key Takeaway: macOS 26.0 is generally considered unsafe to run due to widespread slowdowns, often linked to an Electron bug overriding a private AppKit API.
  • Summary: Users are advised to hold off on upgrading to macOS 26.0 unless they require a specific new feature, as it is buggier than usual, with reports of system-wide slowdowns. This performance degradation is frequently attributed to an Electron bug where overriding the private API _cornerMask forces repeated window shadow recalculations. Users running affected Electron apps should wait for 26.1 or later, as the fix requires individual app developers to update their Electron engine version.
Vision Pro Immersive Content Impressions
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(01:30:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Immersive video content quickly becomes judged on narrative quality rather than technological novelty, and fixed focal distance causes eye strain when reading overlaid text.
  • Summary: The immersive version of the Bono show was found to be visually embellished but not necessarily artistically superior to the flat version. Content like the Highline tightrope walk was affecting due to the 3D presentation, but the overall enjoyment quickly reverted to judging the underlying story quality. A significant issue noted while watching the MotoGP film was eye strain and double vision caused by subtitles appearing to float in 3D space while being rendered at the fixed focal distance of the display.
Vision Pro Image Softness and Eye Strain
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(01:46:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Vision Pro visuals lack consistent sharpness due to image processing layers, causing eye strain for some users watching immersive video.
  • Summary: Nothing in the Vision Pro appears perfectly sharp due to image processing, sampling, and warping required by the optics. Immersive video exacerbates this softness because it is often not delivered at super high resolutions yet. This lack of sharpness can induce an eye strain feeling, similar to trying to read a phone without corrective glasses.
Nearsightedness and Eye Muscle Function
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(01:47:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Nearsighted individuals cannot use eye muscles to improve distance vision because those muscles only contract (pull) to focus up close, not push the eyeball outward.
  • Summary: For nearsightedness, the muscles responsible for squishing the eyeball to focus up close cannot actively correct distance vision. Muscles only contract, meaning they can only pull, not push the eyeball further out of the face for distance viewing. Aging causes the lens to become less flexible, leading to eye strain when the muscles attempt to force close focus.
Vision Pro Prescription Recommendations
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(01:49:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Apple generally recommends using distance glasses prescriptions in the Vision Pro, suggesting users without distance correction needs should use no inserts.
  • Summary: One host notes that Apple documentation suggests using distance glasses prescriptions in the Vision Pro. If distance vision is uncorrected (no glasses needed for driving), no lenses should be inserted. However, one user found little difference between using no correction and using +1 reading inserts.
UI Sharpness vs. Video Quality
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(01:49:52)
  • Key Takeaway: The Vision Pro’s UI elements are the sharpest components, while video content appears soft due to a combination of low signal resolution and optical limitations.
  • Summary: The sharpest elements observed in the Vision Pro are the user interface windows and controls. Video content is consistently less sharp, attributed to both the resolution of the signal and the optics preventing all scene elements from being in focus simultaneously. Avoiding peripheral viewing is necessary to mitigate eye problems or motion sickness when watching immersive video.
Resolution Needs and FOV
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(01:52:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Future Vision Pro iterations require increased pixel density to match or exceed Retina display standards at normal viewing distances, alongside a wider field of view.
  • Summary: While one source suggested no more pixels are needed, the host strongly disagrees, stating technology must advance to include more pixels over the next few decades. The field of vision (FOV) is currently narrow and needs to expand significantly. The goal should be achieving the same or greater pixels per degree than a Retina display viewed at normal distances.
Vision Correction Ordeal and Usability
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(01:53:13)
  • Key Takeaway: Using the Vision Pro is an ordeal for users with complex prescriptions requiring frequent contact lens changes, though some adaptation to blur is possible.
  • Summary: One host is currently cobbling together an inaccurate contact lens prescription to use the device, as their actual prescription intentionally mixes distance and near correction. This necessitates constantly swapping contacts, which must be removed after Vision Pro use to use computers or phones. Despite the blur, the host learned to navigate the UI without contacts by sensing changes in saturation and brightness.
Overall Impression and Value
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(01:55:10)
  • Key Takeaway: The Vision Pro is currently viewed as a fun, cool gadget to play with when acquired for free, but the user would not be overly disappointed if they had to return it.
  • Summary: After nearly two weeks of ownership, the current thinking is that the device is enjoyable as a free gadget. The incredible price point made the acquisition worthwhile for testing purposes. However, the user anticipates not being overly distressed when the lending period ends and the device must be returned.