Press Pause with Bill McLean

The Upgrade Cycle Is A Scam

I've been thinking about all the years I financed tech and all of the stupid money decisions I've made along the way.I recently ranked the 18 phones that I have had over the last 16 years and it had me thinking about the role media and marketing plays when it comes to the yearly upgrade cycles. This is Press Pause Season 3, Episode 10! More deep dives on apps, tech and life lessons in my Newsletter! newsletter.williambmclean.com The Essential Apple Notes Guidehttps://billmclean.gumroad.com/l/wdsjz Connect with me on Social: https://www.threads.net/@williambmclean https://x.com/wbmclean https://www.tiktok.com/@williambmclean?_t=ZT-8zridiJJmIP&_r=1 https://www.instagram.com/williambmclean/ Must-have affiliate links: 🧵BlackTwist Threads Scheduler: https://blacktwist.app?aff=9mjXLl 🎙️Voice Dictation with Wispr https://wisprflow.ai/r?WILLIAM1193 🎵 2 Months Free! Music, Footage, and More from Artlist: https://artlist.io/referral/4646734/William ☀️Raycast Pro Free for 14 days: https://raycast.com/?via=william-mclean 💻CleanMyMac Free for 7 days: https://macpaw.audw.net/c/6052342/263631/1733 ☁️ Backblaze computer and NAS backup: https://secure.backblaze.com/r/05ckce ✅ My favorite cross-platform todo app(todoist): https://get.todoist.io/ucypxtigr1jy YouTube Gear(Affiliate Links) Best bang for buck camera bodies! Sony FX30: https://amzn.to/3IXxGxV Sony ZV-E1: https://amzn.to/4qda4pK Reasonably Priced Lenses with Professional Quality! Sigma 24-70mm: https://amzn.to/3W7P6uK Sigma 24mm: https://amzn.to/4o09NFi Sigma 16-28mm: https://amzn.to/47f9uz9 My Audio Gear Picks! Sennheiser MKE600: https://amzn.to/47mFUc9 Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th gen): https://amzn.to/3LcRPR5 Sony MDR-M1 Headphones: https://amzn.to/46Xyn2Q DJI Mic 3: https://amzn.to/4s6KhQ3 Shure SM7db: https://amzn.to/46reGAr Samsung T9 SSD: https://amzn.to/4kSM9tk Website: www.williabmclean.com For business inquiries: contact@williambmclean.com

What every podcast app gets wrong

Get 1 Month free: https://link.snipd.com/Cx7S/mclean Are you tired of hearing brilliant insights on podcasts only to forget them by the time you reach your desk? Today, I sit down with Kevin Smith, co-founder of Snipd, an AI-powered podcast player that completely fixes this problem. We discuss how a 3-person team built the ultimate audio note-taking tool, the future of AI agents managing your second brain, and why we are currently living in the "AI slop" era. Snipd allows you to save podcast highlights with a tap of your headphones and syncs them directly to Obsidian, Notion, or Readwise. Plus, Kevin gives us a sneak peek into the next iteration of their AI DJ feature. The Essential Apple Notes Guidehttps://billmclean.gumroad.com/l/wdsjzMore deep dives on apps, tech and life lessons in my Newsletter The Digital Pulse and Perspective Shifts!https://billmclean.substack.com/Connect with me on Social:https://www.threads.net/@williambmclean https://x.com/wbmclean https://www.tiktok.com/@williambmclean?_t=ZT-8zridiJJmIP&_r=1 https://www.instagram.com/williambmclean/ Must-have affiliate links: 🧵BlackTwist Threads Scheduler: https://blacktwist.app?aff=9mjXLl 🎙️Voice Dictation with Wispr https://wisprflow.ai/r?WILLIAM1193 🎵 2 Months Free! Music, Footage, and More from Artlist: https://artlist.io/referral/4646734/William ☀️Raycast Pro Free for 14 days: https://raycast.com/?via=william-mclean 💻CleanMyMac Free for 7 days: https://macpaw.audw.net/c/6052342/263631/1733 ☁️ Backblaze computer and NAS backup: https://secure.backblaze.com/r/05ckce ✅ My favorite cross-platform todo app(todoist): https://get.todoist.io/ucypxtigr1jy YouTube Gear(Affiliate Links) Best bang for buck camera bodies! Sony FX30: https://amzn.to/3IXxGxV Sony ZV-E1: https://amzn.to/4qda4pK Reasonably Priced Lenses with Professional Quality! Sigma 24-70mm: https://amzn.to/3W7P6uK Sigma 24mm: https://amzn.to/4o09NFi Sigma 16-28mm: https://amzn.to/47f9uz9 My Audio Gear Picks! Sennheiser MKE600: https://amzn.to/47mFUc9 Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th gen): https://amzn.to/3LcRPR5 Sony MDR-M1 Headphones: https://amzn.to/46Xyn2Q DJI Mic 3: https://amzn.to/4s6KhQ3 Shure SM7db: https://amzn.to/46reGAr Samsung T9 SSD: https://amzn.to/4kSM9tk Website: www.williabmclean.com For business inquiries: contact@williambmclean.com

Building a Business on Meta's Twitter Clone

🧵BlackTwist Threads Scheduler(affiliate link): https://blacktwist.app?aff=9mjXLl Discover the unfiltered reality of indie app development and how to drive real audience growth on Meta's Threads. When Twitter (X) completely shifted its platform and skyrocketed API pricing to $42,000 a month, independent developers Luca and Mattia watched their profitable SaaS side projects get wiped out almost overnight. Instead of walking away from software development, they pivoted and built Black Twist, a premier scheduling, analytics, and community growth platform engineered specifically for Meta's Threads. Whether you are trying to understand the Threads algorithm, build a SaaS product, or simply grow your personal brand online, this conversation breaks down the exact strategies working right now. In this episode, we dig into the raw truth of building a tech startup while balancing a demanding 9-to-5 job, family commitments, and avoiding burnout. We discuss the massive organic reach discrepancy between X and Threads—including how the exact same content got 100 views on Twitter but exploded to 200,000 views on Threads. We also get honest about the psychological toll of dealing with app copycats and how to build a moat around your business using community. Finally, we pull back the curtain on the exact productivity and tech stacks we use to ship products and content fast. From managing ideas in Obsidian and Apple Notes to coding web apps with AI using Claude Code and Cursor, you will get a behind-the-scenes look at the tools powering modern creators and developers. Chapters 00:00 - Intro & Welcome 08:32 - Leaving X and the $42k API Shock 18:19 - The 200k View Secret on Threads 26:36 - The Brutal Reality of the 9-to-5 Juggle 42:23 - How to Handle App Copycats 48:29 - The Threads 100 Challenge 52:13 - Our Indie Dev Tech & Productivity Stack 01:02:41 - Coding with AI & Markdown Files Follow Luca on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@luca.restagno.dev Follow Mattia on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@heymattiarighetti The Essential Apple Notes Guidehttps: billmclean.gumroad.com/l/wdsjz More deep dives on apps, tech and life lessons in my Newsletter The Digital Pulse and Perspective Shifts! https://billmclean.substack.com/ Connect with me on Social: https://www.threads.net/@williambmclean https://x.com/wbmclean https://www.tiktok.com/@williambmclean?_t=ZT-8zridiJJmIP&_r=1 https://www.instagram.com/williambmclean/ Must-have affiliate links: 🧵BlackTwist Threads Scheduler: https://blacktwist.app?aff=9mjXLl 🎙️Voice Dictation with Wispr https://wisprflow.ai/r?WILLIAM1193 🎵 2 Months Free! Music, Footage, and More from Artlist: https://artlist.io/referral/4646734/William ☀️Raycast Pro Free for 14 days: https://raycast.com/?via=william-mclean 💻CleanMyMac Free for 7 days: https://macpaw.audw.net/c/6052342/263631/1733 ☁️ Backblaze computer and NAS backup: https://secure.backblaze.com/r/05ckce ✅ My favorite cross-platform todo app(todoist): https://get.todoist.io/ucypxtigr1jy Website: www.williabmclean.com For business inquiries: contact@williambmclean.com

The Verge Hates Tech

In this episode, we cover the latest Apple news including hands on thoughts with the new blush MacBook Neo. We also discuss why the AirPods Max 2 feel like a disappointing upgrade. Then we dive into the current state of AI in note taking apps. We compare Obsidian, Notion AI, and Apple Notes to find the best productivity workflow. Plus, we discuss the tech community's growing frustration with AI products that fail to deliver real consumer value. Here is a breakdown of what we talk about this week: - We discuss The Verge's critical coverage of the AI bubble. I share why regular consumers are not adopting these expensive new tools. - I detail my ongoing 30 day experiment using Obsidian with Claude Code. We also cover the headaches of relying on community plugins and unreliable sync. - We review why the new AirPods Max 2 missed the mark. Apple kept the same heavy design and controversial charging case. - I give my first impressions of the highly anticipated MacBook Neo in blush. We talk about its compact footprint and the return to a traditional clicking trackpad. - We look at rumors surrounding a new premium MacBook. I also explain my internal debate about consolidating my Mac Studio and MacBook Pro into one expensive machine. - We cover what to expect in the iOS 26.4 release. This includes crucial keyboard fixes and testing for end to end encryption for RCS messages. - I highlight recent app updates from Notion like custom AI skills and dashboard views. We also take a quick look at Craft's new focus on performance and reliability. If you want more context and extra articles, you can find my weekly newsletter on Substack at billmclean.substack.com. You can also find the link in the video description. Chapters 00:00 - Start 00:32 - The Verge Hates Tech? 07:17 - Obsidian (again) 15:53 - Airpods Max 2 - more of the same 17:38 - Macbook Neo 20:24 - My nex Mac is… 22:34 - A Gemini Mac App(finally) 23:00 - iOS26.4 24:20 - PKM App UpdatesThe Essential Apple Notes Guidehttps://billmclean.gumroad.com/l/wdsjz More deep dives on apps, tech and life lessons in my Newsletter The Digital Pulse and Perspective Shifts! https://billmclean.substack.com/ Connect with me on Social: https://www.threads.net/@williambmclean https://x.com/wbmclean https://www.tiktok.com/@williambmclean?_t=ZT-8zridiJJmIP&_r=1 https://www.instagram.com/williambmclean/ Must-have affiliate links: 🧵BlackTwist Threads Scheduler: https://blacktwist.app?aff=9mjXLl 🎙️Voice Dictation with Wispr https://wisprflow.ai/r?WILLIAM1193🎵 2 Months Free! Music, Footage, and More from Artlist: https://artlist.io/referral/4646734/William ☀️Raycast Pro Free for 14 days: https://raycast.com/?via=william-mclean 💻CleanMyMac Free for 7 days: https://macpaw.audw.net/c/6052342/263631/1733 ☁️ Backblaze computer and NAS backup: https://secure.backblaze.com/r/05ckce ✅ My favorite cross-platform todo app(todoist): https://get.todoist.io/ucypxtigr1jyY

Everything Apple Announced this Week

Apple just dropped a massive wave of new hardware, and we need to talk about it. The star of the show is definitely the new MacBook Neo, bringing the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone to a laptop starting at just $599. But there is a lot more to cover. In this episode, I break down the entire release schedule. We start with the M4 iPad Air, which gets a bump to 12GB of base memory and Wi-Fi 7. We also look at the new iPhone 17E, which finally ditches the 128GB storage tier, adds MagSafe charging, and features a 48-megapixel fusion camera. For your desk setup, Apple refreshed the standard Studio Display with Thunderbolt 5. They also introduced the 27-inch Studio Display XDR, which features a mini-LED panel, a 120-hertz refresh rate, and HDR brightness capabilities. Finally, we cover the quiet spec bumps to the M5 MacBook Pro and M5 MacBook Air , before diving into why the new MacBook Neo might be the most popular laptop Apple has made in years. Chapters: 00:00 - Start 00:41 - iPad Air 04:55 - iPhone 17e 07:30 - Studio Displays 14:17 - M5 Pro and Max Chips 14:32 - MacBook Pro 15:15 - MacBook Air 16:01 - Macbook Neo The Essential Apple Notes Guide https://billmclean.gumroad.com/l/wdsjz More deep dives on apps, tech and life lessons in my Newsletter The Digital Pulse and Perspective Shifts! https://billmclean.substack.com/ Connect with me on Social: https://www.threads.net/@williambmclean https://x.com/wbmclean https://www.tiktok.com/@williambmclean?_t=ZT-8zridiJJmIP&_r=1 https://www.instagram.com/williambmclean/ Must-have affiliate links: 🧵BlackTwist Threads Scheduler: https://blacktwist.app?aff=9mjXLl 🎙️Voice Dictation with Wispr https://wisprflow.ai/r?WILLIAM1193 🎵 2 Months Free! Music, Footage, and More from Artlist: https://artlist.io/referral/4646734/William ☀️Raycast Pro Free for 14 days: https://raycast.com/?via=william-mclean 💻CleanMyMac Free for 7 days: https://macpaw.audw.net/c/6052342/263631/1733 ☁️ Backblaze computer and NAS backup: https://secure.backblaze.com/r/05ckce ✅ My favorite cross-platform todo app(todoist): https://get.todoist.io/ucypxtigr1jy Website: www.williabmclean.com For business inquiries: contact@williambmclean.com