Apple Context Machine

Microsoft is buying Nokia's handset business, including smartphones and feature phones, and that's kind of like an early Christmas present for Bryan and Jeff. Back in the land of awesome, Apple announced not one, but two media events, and one of them is in China. Lastly-and we mean that literally and figuratively, Samsung announced the Galaxy Gear smartwatch. In a word, Ugh.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is on a 12-month plan to step down, which opens up new doors for the company. Jeff and Bryan offer their take on what that future may hold for Microsoft, plus they have something to say about Samsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch and the company's jump into the wearable tech market ahead of Apple.

Apple is getting colorful with the iPhone. The iPhone 5 replacement will be available in black, white, or gold, plus the rumored iPhone 5C will come in several colored plastic backs. Jeff and Bryan offer their take on what's coming for the iPhone lineup, take a look at Apple and wearable technology, and more.

The developer preview of OS X Mavericks may give us a hint of things to come in iOS, and it may be too flat. Jeff and Bryan talk about that, along with what they expect from Apple's September 10 iPhone media event, and they have a few things to share from TMO's Cool Stuff Found, too.

Two ITC rulings against Apple have been shot down in the past few days, which is good news for the iPhone and iPad maker. The bad news is that the DOJ wants to have broad sweeping control over Apple's iTunes Store. Jeff and Bryan share their take on both, along with fitness tech and Jeff Bezos buying the Washington Post.

Worker watchdog groups say working conditions in the factories that make the Apple products we use aren't up to snuff so the Cupertino company is launching more investigations into the claims. Jeff and Bryan dig into the politics in Apple's China business, and they take a look at what it means for end users now that Google will be providing the free Wi-Fi in Starbucks stores and why Google wanted the gig in the first place.

Apple reported strong revenue and earnings numbers during its third fiscal quarter conference call this week, and while iPhone sales figures pleased analysts, they weren't so happy with iPad and Mac numbers. Apple also snapped up a couple companies to help improve its Maps app and service. Jeff And Bryan take a look at both, and then jump into their thoughts on Microsoft's leadership when they should've been hiding from a lightning storm.

In this Apple Context Machine podcast, Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet note that Apple has been showing some Mac love to the pro market this year with the new Mac Pro computer and on the release of Logic Pro X. They talk about Apple's commitment to the pro market, even while some pro users get left out. They also talk about Google Maps 2.0 and what it means to Apple's commitment to its own Maps service.

iOS 7 has had three beta seeds for developers so far, and Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet dig into it to see where it stands so far. On Wednesday, Apple was convicted for antitrust violations in the ebook industry, and Bryan and Jeff couldn't believe their eyes. Turns out they have something to say about that, too.

BlackBerry has all but killed its tablet business and Jeff and Bryan have different thoughts on where the company is headed, which leads them both down a Microsoft-filled rabbit hole. They also have some thoughts on the entertainment industry and how Time Warner fits into the Apple TV strategy. Plus Bryan tries to burn down the ACM studio.

In this episode of The Apple Context Machine podcast, Jeff and Bryan talk to John Martellaro about the Apple TV (and all those rumors), Apple's new Mac Pro, and iOS 7 and the pushback we've seen from some quarters. We even manage to get in a little about OS X Mavericks, too. It's a fun episode!

Apple wrapped up its arguments in the Department of Justice ebook price fixing trial against it on Wednesday, so Jeff and Bryan asked Fortune's Philip Elmer-Dewitt to join in and share his thoughts on the case after spending nearly every day of the three-week event in the courtroom. His take on the outcome? You'll have to listen to find out.

Apple hit us with all kinds of big announcements during its World Wide Developer Conference keynote presentation this week with iOS 7, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, the new Mac Pro, and more. Jeff and Bryan have plenty to say about all of those announcements, and it turns out Jeff lost a bet so now he owes Bryan a dollar.

With Apple's annual World Wide Developer Conference only days away Jeff and Bryan take a look at what we know about this year's event as well as what seems possible based on rumors. There's plenty to talk about including the redesign of iOS 7, what's happening with OS X, companies Apple may have purchased, whether or not NFC is on its way to the iPhone, and more.

Apple CEO Tim Cook spent an evening this week talking with Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher at the AllThingsD D11 Conference where he shared his ideas on wearable technology, opening up iOS more to third-party developers, and acquiring other companies. Jeff and Bryan offer up their perspective on Tim's comments, talk about what they expect to see at June's World Wide Developer Conference, and make a couple friendly wagers, too.