The Parallel

How do you manage a working life when you make your living as a freelance creative person? My guests and I have all had to answer that question. We also have a common interest in diversity and accessibility In tech. In fact, our conversation moves between those topics quite a bit. We talk about finding your niche in a creative field, and the role of luck and hustle in keeping a freelance life going. And of course One More Thing Guests Aleen Sims, (Aleen Mean, Less Than or Equal podcast archives, @Aleen) Steven Aquino, (Steven’s Blog, @steven_aquino) Links from the Show App Camp for Girls The Magazine (no longer being published, though archives remain available), and Steven Aquino’s feature, “Re-Enabled” Daring Fireball (John Gruber) Accidental Tech (ATP)

Happy New Year! Do people give New Years’ gifts? I’ve decided to give you one: an episode with plenty of goodies to unwrap. Instead of directing a tech topic with two great guests, this episode funds me recommending podcasts, with three great guests. That’s right, we’re breaking format to tell you about great podcasts you might like. And of course One More Thing Guests Allison Hartley (@AppleAlli, Tech Doctor Podcast) Darcy Burnard (@DHSDarcy, Maccessibility Roundtable) Frank Feuerbacher (Shelly’s Podcast) Links from the Show: all are links to podcast Web pages, unless otherwise noted. The additional links you see on some lines are to shows that came up in our discussion. Darcy’s Picks Katie Couric Podcast Anthology, Mission Log: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast Movie Sign with the Mads Taming the Terminal Under the Radar TV Talk Machine PBS Newshour Allison’s Picks Pod4Ham The Archers The Mac Show MyMac.com iSee Podcast The Daily Tech News Show Sex Out Loud (beware the autoplay audio) Frank’s Picks The Rachel Maddow Show The Naked Scientists The Thom Hartman Show This Week in Science “old time radio ranch” or Hollywood on the Radio All in the Mind Shelly’s Picks Embedded Attaboy Clarence, The Secret History of Hollywood Gravy The New York Times Book Review Podcast Going Blind Sucks About Race WhiskyCast

When I invite guests onto The Parallel, based on my address book or Twitter feed, there’s a high likelihood that the resulting show will feature what Allison Sheridan would call an “ever so flight Macintosh bias.” I wanted to change that up a bit, so I invited some friends on to talk about Microsoft. Is this how I become a Microsoft Insider? We discuss the ways Microsoft is a very different company in 2016 than it was back when many people called it “the evil empire.” And we take some tim to compare and contrast with Apple’s evolution in the same period. And of course One More Thing. Guests Jeff Bishop, (@JeffBishop, ACB Main Menu) Joe Steinkamp, (@RangerStation, Blind Bargains Podcast, aka BBQ) Links from the Show Windows Redstone 2 Windows Roadmap Minecraft for Apple TV Freedom Scientific (JAWS for Windows) iOS Access for All (thanks for the  plug, Jeff) PowerPoint Designer Microsoft Accessibility Links: site, enable page, blog, September keynote video Apple Accessibility Links: site, September keynote video

When you’re a tech professional, and a parent, you choose and use gadgets for two. Or more. My guests know more than most parents about the tech tools their kids need and want, but there are still plenty of decisions to be made. And of course One More Thing Guests Scholle Sawyer McFarland, (@schollem, Sierra: A Take Control Crash Course) Ricky Enger, (@ricky_enger) Links from the Show 504 Plans Roblox Treehouse Tynker Girls and Sex, by Peggy Orenstein

Why go to CES when you can ask others about it when they get home? My guests attended the big tech show, and lived to tell the tale. And of course One More Thing Guests J.J. Meddaugh (AT Guys, Blind Bargains Qast, @blindbargains) Allison Sheridan (NosillaCast, @podfeet) Links from the Show AIpoly Vision App (App Store) Polymer Braille (Twitter) CSUN Conference Canute Refreshable Braille Transforming Braille Allison interviews the bartender SyFy Labs Enhances Viewing of The Expanse Jacoti Listen App Robo3D 3D Repository EcoUSB Cell Life Fuels Smart Nutrition Bottle

I’m talking gaming with folks who know a good deal more about the subject than I do. We talk about what’s new and hoped for in the world of consoles—particularly accessible ones—and more. When I learn from the show, everybody wins. And of course One (or maybe) More (than one) Thing Guests Liam Erven (L-Works, YouTube channel,  @liamerven) Steve Lubitz (Blog, Isometric Podcast, @WickedGood) Links from the Show Atari: Game Over documentary Oculus Rift Preorder Pricing and Date (International Business Times) Rock Band is Coming to the Oculus Rift in 2016 (PCWorld) Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes! PS Vita E3 Apple TV Nimbus Controller for Apple TV OpenEMU Slow Apple TV Game Sales Worrying (TouchArcade) AbleGamers Hearthstone Killer instinct

My guests and I all spend time writing. We’re also geeks. On this episode, we talk about what we write, and how we get the words into our computers and mobile devices. And of course One More Thing Guests Josh de Lioncourt (Blog, Haven Lost audiobook,  @lioncourt) Katie Floyd (Blog, Mac Power Users Podcast, @KatieFloyd) Links from the Show Microsoft Word Byword Omni Outliner Scrivenor MultiMarkdown Composer Bean Drafts TextExpander TextExpander Snippet Groups, including Auto-correct snippets Logitech K750 Keyboard Final Draft

My guests and I are all makers of podcasts, and big fans of the medium. And because it’s The Parallel, the guests have a lot in common. This episode features a wide-ranging discussion of how and why we make podcasts, and the roles of audience, sponsors, and guests.  And of course One More Thing Guests Jason Snell (Six Colors, The Incomparable, Relay.fm,  @jsnell) Joe Steinkamp (Blind Bargains Qast, @Rangerstation) Sponsor Haven Lost: The Dragon’s Brood Cycle, Book 1, by Josh de Lioncourt. Get your copy of the audiobook now. Links from the Show Macworld Podcast End of Line You Must Remember This The Flop House Radio Free Skaro Retronauts Down and Safe Verity Podcast The Two Minute Time Lord Hard Core History DWO Who Cast Twit Network 5by5 Studioes Daily Tech New Show

The updated Apple TV promises a richer, more flexible, more Apple-y viewing experience. My guests and I discuss whether the new offering delivers on the promise, and what it means to have apps on the big screen. We also take a peak behind the curtain of Apple’s September 9 event, with someone who, unlike most of us, was there. And of course One More Thing Guests Dan Moren (Clockwise Podcast, The Rebound Podcast, Inconceivable!, @dmoren) Josh de Lioncourt (Lioncourt.com, The Maccessibiilty Roundtable, MastersCast, @lioncourt) hing

Hey, I’m back! After a busy summer of work and travel, it’s time to get this show on the road. I’m still learning what The Parallel wants to be when it grows up, but the path, to continue the travel metaphor, is illuminated. On this one, my guests and I talk about how people learn to use technology now, and how those methods differ from the days of books, magazines, and copious documentation. There’s a lot of discussion about accessible learning, since my guests and I are all stepped in technologies like VoicOver, Braille, and the use of audio in our learning lives. Guests: Allison Sheridan (NosillaCast) and Allison Hartley (The Tech Doctor) Topics Media for learning tech subjects has changed: have we changed too? Visual learning for those who are, and are not blind Is audio a good learning format? Clarify puts interactive tutorials on the Web Everyone wants to learn programming; some are further along The pleasure of random access One More Thing: what do you want to learn next? Links from the Show Screencasts Online AppleVis Clarify Lynda.com Udemy

Welcome to the maiden voyage of The Parallel. On it, my guests and I take on several Apple-centric topics. You would be right to suspect a pattern developing. Listen in to learn what The Parallel wants to be when it grows up, or click the About link to see if I’ve written anything yet. Guests: Ken Ray (Mac OS Ken) and Robert Carter (The Tech Doctor) Topics Can Apple News become a friendly and lucrative place for content publishers? Will iOS users who largely ignore Newsstand return to an Apple-branded container to get publications and information? And will News and all its content be accessible to VoiceOver users, or will they mirror the largely inaccessible Newsstand experience? Productivity features in iOS 9, and what they mean for the iPad’s future Who’s excited about Apple Music? One More Thing: Where do you get your news?