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An Apple Shortcuts masterclass

The Vergecast

2025/10/28
The Vergecast

The Vergecast

2025/10/28
This episode of The Vergecast explores the evolving landscape of smart wearables and personal automation, diving into real-world experiences with cutting-edge tech and the hidden power of overlooked tools. From augmented reality glasses that blend into daily life to the surprisingly deep world of iOS shortcuts, the conversation reveals how innovation balances between ambition and usability.
The podcast examines Meta’s Ray-Ban Display glasses, praising their sleek design and transparent display but questioning their social acceptability and practical limitations like weight, fit, and privacy concerns. Victoria Song highlights the potential of gesture controls via the Neural Band, suggesting a future where intuitive inputs enhance wearables. Later, podcaster Stephen Robles defends Apple Shortcuts as an essential, powerful automation tool—far from obsolete—used by creators to streamline tasks from travel planning to media management. Despite its steep learning curve, Shortcuts thrives through community sharing and deep iOS integration. The discussion calls for better discovery and AI-assisted creation to make automations more accessible. Finally, in response to a listener query, the team offers pragmatic advice on wireless earbuds under $120, recommending Soundcore and last-gen premium models while emphasizing that the best choice might be the one you already own.
05:30
05:30
Gesture controls are intuitive and should be explored across all wearables.
10:53
10:53
The 69-gram weight of the Meta Ray-Ban Display causes physical discomfort during long wear
32:12
32:12
Many think the glasses are cool but distrust Meta's involvement.
45:35
45:35
A simple 'My Home ETA' shortcut combines location, directions, and messaging in one tap.
1:08:30
1:08:30
A shortcut automatically sets media volume to zero when opening Instagram or TikTok to prevent loud audio surprises
1:13:25
1:13:25
Apple should let Siri or ChatGPT create Shortcuts automatically