Argomenti trattati
The milestone of Apple turning fifty became a recurring theme in recent reporting, serving as the springboard for several long-form pieces and shorter columns. I tackled a variety of formats: a collaborative product list, a recorded discussion with a historian, feature writing for specialist outlets, and hands-on reviews of hardware and apps. Throughout these projects I emphasized context and nuance — trying to avoid simplistic cross-era comparisons and instead focusing on how devices, software and corporate decisions shaped industries such as photography and mobile gaming.
That work also branched into unrelated but adjacent subjects: critiques of the sleep tracking implementation on the Apple Watch, practical lists of mobile controllers for gaming on phones, and coverage of retro handhelds and browser games. I updated buying guidance for Mac shoppers and put together app roundups that help readers solve everyday problems, from scanning prints to tracking daylight. A handful of curated links and interviews with other writers rounded out the coverage, providing wider context about AI, App Store dynamics and independent development.
Counting and curating: the team-driven product retrospective
Rather than attempt an apples-to-apples ranking of products separated by decades, I organized a product countdown built from the personal votes of a team of writers. This group approach produced a list that felt more like a conversation than a definitive canon: items ranged from foundational hardware to surprising software wins. The resulting countdown was published in several installments — each covering a ten-item slice — which sparked further debate among editors and readers. The format made space for both sentimental favourites and pragmatic choices, illustrating how collective taste can reveal as much about the present moment as it does about the past.
Conversations and feature pieces
Podcast and historical perspective
I joined a long-running tech podcast to discuss the arc of Apple, speaking with historian Alex von Tunzelmann about origins, key successes and missteps, and the company’s position as AI changes the landscape. The conversation aimed to move beyond checklist histories and instead consider cultural influence, product design philosophy and strategic pivots. Emphasizing historical perspective allowed us to ask whether market dominance can be sustained when technological disruption accelerates, and to explore the kinds of bets — in hardware, services and research — that have underpinned Apple’s longevity.
Photography, unreleased projects and long-form features
For Amateur Photographer I wrote a compact history of how Apple altered photographic practice, highlighting subtle and non-obvious changes that extend beyond the iPhone’s camera sensor. Another piece for TechRadar catalogued seven mythical prototypes — unreleased products and internal experiments that never reached customers but still inform the company’s direction. Meanwhile, a rapid-fire list for a smartphone-focused magazine captured fifty distinct ways that Apple’s devices and platforms reshaped everyday life, from portable music to modern app ecosystems, demonstrating the breadth of the company’s impact.
Practical tests, gaming gear and utility guides
Gaming hardware and retro revival
On the gaming front I reviewed and recommended peripherals that convert a phone into a competent handheld for both modern AAA ports and older titles. The piece on mobile controllers explains why tactile input still matters for immersive play, while coverage of the Evercade Nexus examined Blaze’s attempt to revive the feel of classic consoles rather than only the catalog of ROMs. That review praised wireless multiplayer options but noted display pixel density concerns, and a separate roundup gave readers budget alternatives if they want a retro experience immediately.
Apps, guides and browser pastimes
Other practical work included a guide to specialist scanner apps tailored for photos, documents, food and collectibles, plus a refreshed Mac buyer’s guide to help would-be buyers navigate current options. I also assembled a list of 57 browser games — casual, obscure and delightfully addictive titles that require no install — highlighting why short-play web games remain a useful escape. Alongside these pieces I critiqued the sleep tracking behavior of the Apple Watch, arguing that overly gentle feedback can reduce the feature’s usefulness for behaviour change.
Finally, a few notable reads and interviews from peers were recommended: an analysis by Reece Rogers on AI outputs gone wrong, a letter from Marco Arment to an assumed successor at Apple, and a discussion between Daryl Baxter and Riley Testut about App Store rules and indie distribution. These links complemented the primary coverage and helped frame the debate around platforms, policy and independent creativity. April 5, 2026.