Full Stack Creator

John Gruber joins Tyler and David to talk about Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook Pro, what touch and pen input could mean for creative work, and the display technology behind CMF 2026. They also get into photography, the character of the Ricoh GR, and Chromagraph Camera—the new iPhone app connected to filmmaker Rian Johnson and cinematographer Steve Yedlin.
Special Guest: John Gruber.

Tyler flew out to Apple's event in California and got hands-on time with the new MacBook Pro. Yes, it has an OLED touchscreen. We get into what Apple actually announced, why Steve Jobs said touchscreen Macs don't work, the Dynamic Island, the weight drop, and whether the roughly $400 upgrade is worth it. Plus the pro workflow demos from the event, a quick buyer's guide, the new Creator Studio updates for Final Cut Pro, and Tyler's iPhone Duo follow-up.

Hands on with the iPhone Duo

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Custom AI-built tools are starting to solve the everyday problems that off-the-shelf software leaves behind. A Final Cut copy-and-paste helper, a client production app, and a thumbnail mockup tool show what photographers, filmmakers, and small teams can build around their own workflows. ChatGPT and Claude offer different ways to get started, while AI-assisted Blender animation keeps cameras, lighting, and assets editable. There’s also a look at agents that manage email and create personal podcast feeds, where they still fall short, and why creative judgment matters as software gets easier to make.

Why add a variable aperture to the iPhone now? Apple’s camera team explains the thinking behind the iPhone 18 Pro, from manual focus and automatic ISO to film grain, halation, and Apple Reference Image. The conversation also covers the iPhone Duo and the creative possibilities of its folding design.

Tyler's presets and LUTs http://stalman.com/shop

David's thumbnail training https://thumbnailacademy.com/