In the December 2025 edition of Apple Crunch, hosts Thomas Domville (AnonyMouse) and John Gassman wrap up the year with a wide-ranging discussion covering AppleVis community awards, Apple’s own App Store recognitions, major Apple hardware and business news, and an accessibility-focused app pick to close out the month.
The episode begins with a deep dive into the AppleVis Golden Apples Awards for 2025. Thomas explains the nomination criteria and selection process before announcing this year’s winners. PixieBot takes top honors as Best App of the Year, praised for its rapid adoption of new AI models and especially its standout video description capabilities. Adventure to Fate earns Best Game of the Year for its fully accessible RPG design and highly engaged developers, while the PixieBot developer is recognized as Best Developer of the Year for consistent community involvement and innovation. The prestigious David Goodwin Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Aira, recognizing its long-standing global impact in providing visual assistance to blind and low-vision users. Runner-ups across categories, including Ally, InnoSearch AI, Art of Fauna, Land of Livia, and Weather Gods, are also discussed in detail.
From there, the conversation shifts to Apple’s own 2025 App Store Awards, focusing on the Cultural Impact category. Art of Fauna and Be My Eyes are highlighted as winners, with discussion around why Apple may have chosen to spotlight these apps as examples of accessibility, inclusion, and broader social awareness.
The second half of the show turns to Apple news and rumors. Thomas and John examine troubling reports about the iPhone Air, including its dramatic 47 percent resale value drop within ten weeks and what that says about consumer demand and pricing strategy. They also revisit ongoing rumors surrounding the iPhone Fold, expressing skepticism about its rumored $2,400 price point and questioning whether it risks becoming another niche, luxury product. The Vision Pro receives similar scrutiny, with discussion of sharply reduced marketing, low unit sales, and signs that Apple may already be shifting focus away from the headset.
This leads into a broader conversation about Apple’s leadership, including rumors that Tim Cook may step down. While acknowledging his many successes—particularly Apple silicon—the hosts debate whether recent missteps in AI, hardware pricing, and product strategy signal that Apple may be ready for a new era.
The episode concludes with AnonyMouse’s App Pick for December 2025: Mona 7 for Mastodon. Thomas discusses Mona’s long history as a highly accessible social networking client, the mixed community reaction to its move to a subscription model, and why it remains a strong option despite controversy.
Hosted By
Thomas Domville (AnonyMouse) John Gassman
Crunchy Topics
Golden Apples Spotlight — Celebrating Accessibility Excellence Apple’s Cultural Impact Awards Apple News Bytes and Rumors Leadership Shift — Is Tim Cook Nearing the Exit AnonyMouse App Pick of the Month
Resources
Golden Apples Spotlight — Celebrating Accessibility Excellence
AppleVis Announces Winners of the 2025 Golden Apple Awards https://applevis.com/blog/applevis-announces-winners-2025-golden-apple-awards
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