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The BirchTree Podcast

The BirchTree Podcast

By Matt Birchler

A micro-podcast about tech, Apple, and design.
Currently playing episode

138: I Did it!

The BirchTree PodcastNov 08, 2018

00:00
09:27
Framing the Conversation (the iPad is a General Purpose Computer)

Framing the Conversation (the iPad is a General Purpose Computer)

Today I dive into why I think framing the conversation a certain way is really important, and why I've taken time to make sure we're talking about "small and medium businesses" rather than "developers" and iPads in addition to iPhones in the recent App Store debates.
Aug 24, 202008:52
Bean Counters and Microsoft Fanboys in the 90s

Bean Counters and Microsoft Fanboys in the 90s

The show is back! Well, sort of, I just had to talk about a concern I’ve been having in recent years, which has only amplified in recent months. Short version: Apple fans in 2020 are reminding me more and moe of Microsoft fans in the 90s.
Aug 18, 202010:28
The “What is a Podcast?” Podcast

The “What is a Podcast?” Podcast

At this point, I think I may have had my say on what is or isn’t a podcast, as well as what open podcasting should be focused on if it wants to stay the default option for podcasters in the future.
May 22, 202010:20
Buying Into a Philosophy

Buying Into a Philosophy

Does using an iPad require you to buy into it’s philosophy? Yes, but so does every other platform out there. We can debate the merits of the features there today, but I think it’s a fool’s errand to put your chips on this philosophy argument as to why the iPad has a fundamentally different problem than any other platform.
May 05, 202005:24
The iPad’s Cursor

The iPad’s Cursor

iPadOS 13.4 added a cursor, and I finally have time to talk about it!
Apr 05, 202007:22
Doom Eternal Review

Doom Eternal Review

My review of Doom Eternal, the latest game in the classic franchise.
Apr 04, 202008:55
WWDC in March

WWDC in March

9to5Mac and MacRumors have dueling iOS 14 and watchOS 7 leaks this week, and I do my best to address as many as I can.
Mar 10, 202010:30
Playing the Original Halo in 2020
Mar 05, 202004:30
Value, Values, and More Value

Value, Values, and More Value

Inspired by the book, Start With Why, and The Verge’s review of the Mac Pro.
Mar 03, 202009:01
Forza Horizon 4 Might be my Favorite Racing Game Ever

Forza Horizon 4 Might be my Favorite Racing Game Ever

I don’t think I was prepared for just how good Forza Horizon 4 is.
Feb 26, 202004:10
Why I, An Apple Nut, Bought a PC

Why I, An Apple Nut, Bought a PC

Well, I didn’t see this coming until recently!
Feb 25, 202012:33
iOS Isn’t Adware, but it Ain’t Perfect

iOS Isn’t Adware, but it Ain’t Perfect

Is iOS just adware as an article this week suggested? I don’t think so, but I also see where they’re coming from, and Apple needs to be careful with how they balance a great software experience with getting people to pay for their ever-growing library of premium services.
Feb 18, 202010:32
My Take on the Galaxy S20 Lineup

My Take on the Galaxy S20 Lineup

Samsung announced their Galaxy S20 lineup yesterday and these are my impressions after having a day to process what they announced.
Feb 12, 202017:09
Uppercuts and Body Blows

Uppercuts and Body Blows

I recently gave a big presentation and the best advice I got going into that talk was a boxing metaphor, and it reminded me of a few things about not only public speaking, but also how we talk to each other everyday.
Feb 04, 202008:02
What is COTS and Why Should I Care?

What is COTS and Why Should I Care?

COTS is a way for merchants to take card-present credit card payments with their phone only; no separate credit card reader required. It’s pretty cool and Samsung just announced the first phone that will support this out of the box. But of course, it’s a little more complicated than that…
Jan 14, 202010:05
My Tech Wishlist for 2020

My Tech Wishlist for 2020

My hope and dreams for what we get from Apple, Google, Microsoft, Samsung, Nintendo, and Sony this year.
Jan 07, 202016:01
My Top 5 Games of 2019

My Top 5 Games of 2019

These are the 5 games that impacted me more than anything else this year.
Dec 29, 201908:44
The Reinvention Trap and the Reinvention High

The Reinvention Trap and the Reinvention High

We’re getting close to New Year’s resolution time and I thought it only fitting to talk about how making changes can bring about a new level of excitement and turbo-charge something I want to change or get better at. But that excitement fades and you need to have some core that keeps you going.
Dec 16, 201910:36
My Favorite Android Phone of 2019

My Favorite Android Phone of 2019

The Samsung Galaxy S10e is my favorite Android phone of the year, and it took spending significant time with the Pixel 4 to really appreciate how much I actually enjoy this “low end” phone from Samsung.
Dec 04, 201909:39
My 10 Favorite Songs of 2019
Nov 22, 201913:35
I Don’t Know

I Don’t Know

There is a power in being able to say “I don’t know” or “I need to think about that first” instead of having hot takes on everything. This is true in life in general, and it’s something that is sometimes hard to square with the reward systems in place on social media.
Nov 18, 201907:58
iPhone 11 Pro Review (after 2 months)

iPhone 11 Pro Review (after 2 months)

I’ve had the iPhone 11 Pro for almost 2 months and I thought it was high time I give it a quick review. Long story short: I think this a damn near perfect phone in 2019.
Nov 13, 201909:57
My Favorite Non-Apple Tech Buys

My Favorite Non-Apple Tech Buys

Despite mostly talking about Apple stuff on this show, they’re definitely not the only tech stuff I buy and I wanted to spend today celebrating some of my favorite things from companies outside Cupertino.
Nov 11, 201915:11
Shoehorning it Into Your Life

Shoehorning it Into Your Life

Some of us keep waiting for the iPad to “become a real computer” and I continue to be worried that this isn’t something that’s ever going to happen in a way that will make people looking for this happy.
Nov 07, 201908:41
The Apps Keeping me on iOS

The Apps Keeping me on iOS

The reason I stick with iOS over Android really comes down to the third part software library and not the operating systems themselves. Today I looked through some of the apps that make me happier and more productive on iOS.
Oct 31, 201911:37
Google Pixel 4: The BirchTree Review
Oct 28, 201929:55
What Makes a Phone “Pro”?

What Makes a Phone “Pro”?

The word “Pro” in the iPhone 11 Pro line this year is causing YouTubers the world over to lose their minds over what a pro device should be. Today I try to ascend over the BS to look at what a “pro” phone should do and how well the latest iPhones fall into that category.
Oct 23, 201908:47
My Pixel 4 Event Impressions

My Pixel 4 Event Impressions

Google unveiled their worst kept secret ever yesterday and as a Pixel fan I had to talk about it. This episode is on the longer side, but apparently I had a bunch to say about this phone that I think misses the mark in many ways, but also appeals to me at the same time. Come along with me as I try to sort out my feelings!
Oct 16, 201920:15
Link’s Awakening for Switch is Just Brilliant

Link’s Awakening for Switch is Just Brilliant

It’s my game of the year and I just couldn’t help talking about it.
Oct 16, 201907:31
On Interesting Tech (recorded on my Apple Watch)

On Interesting Tech (recorded on my Apple Watch)

A quick episode that I recorded in the Voice Memos app on my Apple Watch on why the Pixel event next week will get a lot of coverage what why that’s alright.
Oct 09, 201906:39
Microsoft Surface: Inverse Taco

Microsoft Surface: Inverse Taco

Microsoft unveiled their new Surface products yesterday and as someone who likes Surface products quite a bit, I wanted to take some time to go over what they talked about.
Oct 03, 201914:29
Introspection on Camera Comparisons

Introspection on Camera Comparisons

Today’s episode explores camera comparisons and why even though I think I do a responsible job with them, it brings me into a fanboy war that I don’t really want a role in.
Oct 02, 201908:06
Don’t Trust the Comments

Don’t Trust the Comments

The conversation online, specifically in places like Twitter, YouTube, and Reddit, tend to focus on the technical merits of products and not the actually product-focused elements of things like phones and computers. Today’s off-the-cuff episode (and my third of the week!) addresses this disconnect.
Sep 27, 201908:09
Apple Arcade Early Review

Apple Arcade Early Review

Apple Arcade has been out for about a week and I wanted to share my thoughts on how it’s been for me. Basically, I love it.
Sep 24, 201914:36
Series 5 and 11 Pro First Impressions

Series 5 and 11 Pro First Impressions

I’ve had the Apple Watch Series 5 and iPhone 11 Pro for a long weekend and have some thoughts.
Sep 23, 201913:21
iPhone 11, Apple Watch Series 5, and More

iPhone 11, Apple Watch Series 5, and More

You know the deal, Apple had their September event today and these are my initial impressions from watching the event.
Sep 10, 201923:18
Episode 200! Why Hardware Still Matters in 2019

Episode 200! Why Hardware Still Matters in 2019

This kind of snuck up on me, so thank you for listening for 200 episodes! Today, on the eve of a new iPhone announcement, I talk about why hardware still matters in 2019, specifically in terms of photography, as well as why Google seems to get all the credit when it comes to “computational photography.”
Sep 09, 201909:25
My Android 10 Review

My Android 10 Review

This is the audio version of my review of Android 10. I'm just going over the major updates: gestures, dark mode, and privacy/security.
Sep 05, 201918:45
Dark Noise Review

Dark Noise Review

My review of the new white noise app, Dark Noise.
Aug 27, 201904:58
Just Here for the AirDrop Memes

Just Here for the AirDrop Memes

It’s hard to keep up with iOS and Android, and today I dive into why I think it’s important for people like me to provide the context normal people simply can’t be expected to figure out themselves.
Aug 26, 201911:09
The September Preview

The September Preview

We’re only a few weeks away from Apple’s annual September event and I’ve not really taken any time to talk about what I’m looking forward to there. Today, that is rectified.
Aug 21, 201909:23
Micro.blog, the Open Web, and Good Vibes

Micro.blog, the Open Web, and Good Vibes

I can only really say nice things about Micro.blog and it felt like it was time to have an episode about only good stuff.
Aug 14, 201906:34
Did the iPhone Kill Phone Design?

Did the iPhone Kill Phone Design?

Turn on voice boost in your podcast app for this episode. I apparently drifted away from the mic around the middle of the episode and I couldn’t get the audio to be totally level throughout…sorry :(

The iPhone undeniably shifted our thinking as a society about what a phone is, but did it “kill design” while it was at it? I argue it didn’t kill design, but had a design that was so far ahead of what everyone else was doing that it made little sense to keep pursuing those older designs.
Aug 12, 201908:30
Falling in and Out of Love with Companies

Falling in and Out of Love with Companies

Just because you love a company one day does not mean you are going to love them another day. Even of those changes make logical sense for them to make and even if the writing is on the wall that the change was going to happen, none of that means everyone is going to be a fan of these changes.
Aug 08, 201908:15
Why We Don’t Take Android Tablets Seriously

Why We Don’t Take Android Tablets Seriously

Android tablets just haven’t caught on, and today I dive into some reasons why I think that’s the case.
Aug 05, 201907:14
Sea of Solitude Game Review

Sea of Solitude Game Review

In this bonus episode, I review Sea of Solitude, a new game that deals with depression, ego, and sorrow. It's not "fun" but it's definitely worth a look.
Jul 27, 201904:33
Why Breath of the Wild is Absolutely Brilliant

Why Breath of the Wild is Absolutely Brilliant

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a brilliant game, and if you’ll allow me, here’s why.
Jun 30, 201922:22
The iPadOS Marketing is Working

The iPadOS Marketing is Working

The iPadOS public beta came out yesterday and that means all the major tech outlets got out there “here’s what’s new in iPadOS 13” videos as well. If Apple’s goal in changing the naming of the iPad’s operating system was to shift the conversation in terms if its “ability to replace your PC” then I think they it seems like it’s working.
Jun 25, 201906:44
Apple Beta Status Report: macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS

Apple Beta Status Report: macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS

Quick episode today on how the betas are holding up for me and why I'm desperately hoping for new betas today to fix some of the crazy problems I'm having with my iPhone and Apple Watch in particular. These were explicitly messaged as unstable and I knew that going in, so not complaining by any means, just wanted to let other "thrill seekers" out there know where these stand after a few weeks of use.
Jun 17, 201909:46
Google Stadia and the State of Game Streaming

Google Stadia and the State of Game Streaming

Google's upcoming Stadia service looks like a really hard sell to me, especially compared to things like Microsoft xCloud, not to mention the years of baggage the gaming industry has with very similar services.
Jun 11, 201911:16