Episode Details

A new social media app has been launched by the Twitterific team. Tapestry combines Blue Sky, Mastodon, RSS, and YouTube feeds on your iOS device. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Marty Jencius, Eric Bolden, Guy Serle, Jim Rea, and Web Bixby discuss the implications of this app given its pedigree. We also look at an Office 365 price increase at the same time it drops a free VPN service, and its subscription model. Microsoft is also bringing DeepSeek to its Copilot service while, at the same time, DeepSeek was dropped from the Italian App Store.

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Chapters:

00:12 Tapestry App Launch 01:04 Microsoft 365 Price Hike 02:40 DeepSeek Integration and Controversy 11:17 AI and Privacy Concerns 14:17 Wrap-Up and Conclusions

Links:

Microsoft 365 Is Raising Prices and Ditching Its Free VPN https://lifehacker.com/tech/microsoft-365-raising-prices-dropping-vpn

Dave's Transitioning Away From Office Presentation

Deepseek is coming to Windows Copilot+ PCs https://www.engadget.com/ai/deepseek-is-coming-to-windows-copilot-pcs-130041096.html

DeepSeek privacy under investigation in US and Europe; App Store impact https://9to5mac.com/2025/01/30/deepseek-privacy-under-investigation-in-us-and-europe-removed-from-app-store-in-italy/

Guests:

Web Bixby has been in the insurance business for 40 years and has been an Apple user for longer than that.You can catch up with him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him on Twitter, by email at embolden@mac.com, on Mastodon at @eabolden@techhub.social, on his blog, Trending At Work, and as co-host on The Vision ProFiles podcast.

Brian Flanigan-Arthurs is an educator with a passion for providing results-driven, innovative learning strategies for all students, but particularly those who are at-risk. He is also a tech enthusiast who has a particular affinity for Apple since he first used the Apple IIGS as a student. You can contact Brian on twitter as @brian8944. He also recently opened a Mastodon account at @brian8944@mastodon.cloud.

David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @daveg65@mastodon.cloud.

Dr. Marty Jencius has been an Associate Professor of Counseling at Kent State University since 2000. He has over 120 publications in books, chapters, journal articles, and others, along with 200 podcasts related to counseling, counselor education, and faculty life. His technology interest led him to develop the