Is Your Ecosystem Making Your Decisions for You?
Weekly Wheaties #2613
In this newsletter:
📝 Post: Is Your Ecosystem Making Your Decisions for You?
🗞️ In Case You Missed It: Apple Business
🗞️ In Case You Missed It: Meta Changes
🗞️ In Case You Missed It: Other Tech Headlines
😎 Pick of the Week: Google Picks
📦 Featured Product: MacBook Neo Alternatives
📝 Is Your Ecosystem Making Your Decisions for You?
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been diving into the hardware side of computers - specifically CPUs. A common question I alluded to at the end of last week’s post that I get asked often, is “When is the best time to buy?” followed by, “What [computer, tablet, phone] should I buy?” I want to answer those in a bit of a different way than normal.
I will, however, answer both questions with a few blanket statements:
Spend the most amount of money you’re willing to on the most recent version of whatever device you’re buying. Buy it as soon as you have decided to buy something and given yourself permission to spend the money. Then, never look at [those devices] again. Next week there will be something newer, faster, and cheaper.
But my longer answer comes with a bit of a hot take. I think we are venturing off into a culture with less “general” IT folks. It seems like people are less and less willing to fight IT problems, or they haven’t grown up solving IT problems… which leads to a culture purchasing products that they are more familiar with, and they are less likely to switch ecosystems. There are niche software and hardware problem solvers out there, but on the consumer side of things, the easy way out usually wins.
To put it bluntly, it’s easier to stay within one ecosystem as best one can rather than have a mixed matched set of devices. This looks different based on the type of products we’re talking about, but you already know who we’re talking about:
Computers: Apple, Google, or Microsoft
Tablets: Apple or Google
Phones: Apple or Google
Smart Home: Amazon, Apple, or Google
Technically, I know Microsoft and Amazon offer phones or tablets, but they run on Android (which is owned by Google). There is also an increasingly larger segment of the Smart Home world that runs on the Matter standard, but it’s also not an easy plug and play system in comparison. Just trying to keep it simple for the explanation.
Which begs the next question: would you purchase a device (regardless of ecosystem) if it’s miles above the competition for its given purpose? I’ve mentioned it before, but the Apple TV is that device. If you are a cord cutter and don’t mind spending the money, the Apple TV is by far the best streaming device on the market. Where Apple is lacking is in the Smart Home systems. I would never suggest the Homepod for home automation.
The recently released Macbook Neo shows Apple is starting to go after the baseline computing market. This device comes in at $599 (or $499 with a student discount) and has shown to outperform even pricer PC counterparts. Since they have cornered the high-school aged market with their iPhone, it appears this laptop may keep them grounded to Apple when this cohort moves on to college and the working world. For the same reason many fall into The Subscription Trap, it is so much easier to just stay in the same ecosystem.
At the end of the day, you’re not just choosing a device, you’re choosing between convenience and flexibility.
So when you ask what device to purchase, you really need to ask another question. Are you wanting to stay in the same ecosystem, or are you willing to purchase something outside if it shows to be the best device available? Alternatively, are you willing to give up certain features in lieu of keeping the status quo?
🗞️ ICYMI: Apple Business
With the release and early success of the MacBook Neo a few weeks ago, many are saying Apple is coming after school systems and enterprise alike. It has also been shown to be their most repairable laptop in more than a decade. With the low starting price (and $100 discount for students), this is only the beginning for a possible new era. Coming April 14, Apple is revamping their business portal to provide a new all-in-one platform for businesses of all sizes. This includes updated device management, professional email, file syncing and ads in Apple Maps.
As we await a new Siri on the consumer side, it was reported that Apple Can Create Smaller On-Device AI Models From Google’s Gemini. This will allow iOS 27 to provide a standalone (read: no internet needed) version of Siri alongside the built-in model. I’ve reported on the Google version of this a few times already - Google AI Edge Gallery. In case it’s not coming across via writing, let me be clear — this is nothing short of amazing and a very and big deal!
Apple also released iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 With New Emoji, Playlist Playground, Purchase Sharing. It includes a few updates to music, some new emojis, and family purchase sharing changes (each member can use their own payment method now). Something else that’s hidden in the update is a security patch to protect users from a new DarkSword hacking tool, and something everyone has been waiting for — an updated ‘fix’ to Autocorrect.
🗞️ ICYMI: Meta Changes
AI integration in the Meta suite of apps is not slowing down. It’s also ramping up internally as Meta Executive Will Spearhead Push to Get Employees Using More AI. Mark Zuckerberg is wanting to lead by example and Is Building an AI Agent to Help Him Be CEO. Outlets aren’t sure if it’s due to AI-integration (or a lack of) or not, but their biggest-ever layoffs may start soon. This also comes right after a New Mexico jury orders Meta to pay $375M over alleged child safety failures. They will, of course, appeal. In other news, Meta reverses course, will keep metaverse partially VR after all.
🗞️ ICYMI: Other Tech Headlines
Make sure you check your phone’s app permissions, because the FBI started buying Americans’ location data again.
PBS partners with ITVS to launch the PBS Documentaries YouTube Channel. The channel will debut an expansive, diverse collection of documentaries across all forms of nonfiction storytelling.
The popular travel app Flighty launched the Flighty Airports Meltdown Map on their website to help track major airport disruptions and give you a way to track issues, delays, and more.
We won’t be getting any AI animated Disney videos as OpenAI Scraps Sora Video Platform Months After Launch.
😎 POTW: Google Picks
With all of the Apple and AI talk this week, Google (and its users) may feel a bit left out. But they are far from falling behind. With many of the new AI ‘third party’ tools being released, Google continues to do Google things and has made their own version of many of those tools - and many times may have even been the first one to do so.
To follow along with many of their updates and see what you may have been missing, check out this article from The Neuron on Google AI Day.
A tool I didn’t see mentioned much that is pretty interesting (at least for businesses) is Pomelli by Google Labs. It helps find colors, pictures and more to help develop marketing campaigns.
I made a post a while back about Mastering the Art of Speaking Google. But I also stumbled across this article that has some great information: Google Has a Secret Reference Desk. Here’s How to Use It.
Lastly, as much as Google does, they are also known for canceling products - regardless of the following and public outcry. To see some of these, visit the Google Graveyard - Killed by Google.
📦 Featured Product
If you are intrigued by the MacBook Neo, but want to stay in the PC or Google camp, consider these alternatives at a similar and competitive price.
