Basic AF: a (mostly) tech podcast

Gannon Nordberg joins us again for the 2024 Tips & Tricks Show! Over a dozen new tips & tricks for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and more!

You can find Gannon’s work at levelonenerd.net - Simple tutorials to level up your Apple tech game, delivered straight to your inbox every 2 weeks for free. Go sign up for his newsletter!

Links from the show:

Use profiles in Safari on Mac
Turn off Listening History in Apple Music with a Focus Mode
Play music together in a car with SharePlay and Apple Music
Edit portraits on iPad
Make stickers from your photos on iPhone
Search in Messages on iPhone
Easily change photo aspect ratios
Change the color of links and highlights in Notes
See time spent in daylight
How to Automatically Change Your Apple Watch Face Based on Time or Location
Use the Smart Stack to show timely widgets on Apple Watch
Hazel for Mac

Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

Support the show

Contact Us

• Drop us a line at [email protected]
• You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
• Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
• Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
• Tom has a new YouTube channel
• Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design

Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!

• Review on Apple Podcasts
• Rate on Spotify
• Recommend in Overcast

Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

• Apple Music
• Spotify

Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.

Gannon Nordberg returns to the show and Jeff got his hands on the new Apple Vision Pro at the Danbury, CT Apple store! JB shares his first impressions on everything, from the initial setup experience to exploring the immersive scenes, navigating visionOS, using the Photos app, and excellent Spatial Audio performance. And answers the big question on everyone's mind - did he end up buying it?

You can find Gannon’s work at levelonenerd.net - Simple tutorials to level up your Apple tech game, delivered straight to your inbox every 2 weeks for free. Go sign up for his newsletter!

Links from the show:

Apple Vision Pro EPIC Review - Is This The Future?
Apple Vision Pro - Unboxing, Review and demos!
Apple Vision Pro REVIEW: Pros and Cons
Using Apple Vision Pro: What It’s Actually Like!
Apple Vision Pro review: magic, until it’s not

Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

Support the show

Contact Us

• Drop us a line at [email protected]
• You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
• Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
• Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
• Tom has a new YouTube channel
• Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design

Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!

• Review on Apple Podcasts
• Rate on Spotify
• Recommend in Overcast

Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

• Apple Music
• Spotify

Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.

Jeff and Tom share their go-to apps for messaging, email, tasks and calendars, notes and office suites, with a tiny bit of automations thrown in for good measure.

Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

Support the show

Contact Us

• Drop us a line at [email protected]
• You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
• Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
• Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
• Tom has a new YouTube channel
• Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design

Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!

• Review on Apple Podcasts
• Rate on Spotify
• Recommend in Overcast

Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

• Apple Music
• Spotify

Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.

The year has just begun, and there’s a lot of news for Jeff and Tom to cover:

• The Apple Watch was banned from sale in the US just before Christmas and then given a reprieve while the case is reviewed; what’s the latest?
• Apple Vision Pro may arrive in the next 30 days
• Microsoft dropped Copilot AI apps for iOS and iPadOS. How does the service stack up against ChatGPT? And what’s this Copilot key coming up for Windows keyboards?
• Rumors persist that Siri will be gaining Generative AI capabilities at WWDC
• The Clicks Creator Keyboard is a crazy new keyboard for iPhone, so of course Tom ordered one!

Links from the show:

• Apple Watch Sales Ban Paused
• Apple Vision Pro rumored to launch in final week of January and Mark German at Bloomberg is reporting retail launch by February
• Microsoft CoPilot for Mac, iOS, and iPadOS
• Microsoft’s new Copilot key is the first big change to Windows keyboards in 30 years
• New Version of Siri With Generative AI Again Rumored for WWDC
• Clicks Creator Keyboard for iPhone

Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

Support the show

Contact Us

• Drop us a line at [email protected]
• You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
• Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
• Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
• Tom has a new YouTube channel
• Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design

Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!

• Review on Apple Podcasts
• Rate on Spotify
• Recommend in Overcast

Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

• Apple Music
• Spotify

Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.

In this festive episode, Tom and Jeff cozy up with eggnog and share their favorite tech and media picks from the year. The duo dives into the melancholic melodies of Sufjan Stevens' Christmas music, invoking the holiday spirit. Then, they switch gears to discuss Radio Paradise, an eclectic internet radio station that's been a game-changer in their music listening routines. 

As they reflect on the tech that made their year special, Jeff tells how Astropad's Rock Paper Pencil for iPad has transformed his editing process and Tom counters with his newfound appreciation for the Bear Notes App, praising its simplicity and elegance. As they exchange stories and recommendations, they also delve into the world of CarPlay, discussing its convenience and limitations. With a few other recommendations in between, he episode rounds off with Jeff's thoughts on the excellent 14” MacBook Pro. Join the boys for a tech-filled holiday episode that's as informative as it is entertaining.

Links from the show:

• Sufjan Stevens Songs for Christmas
• Radio Paradise
• Astropad Rock Paper Pencil
• Bear Notes App
• Field Notes Brand
• CarPlay
• Highland Pro
• Photo Shuffle on iPad
• 14” MacBook Pro

Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

Support the show

Contact Us

• Drop us a line at [email protected]
• You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
• Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
• Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
• Tom has a new YouTube channel
• Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design

Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!

• Review on Apple Podcasts
• Rate on Spotify
• Recommend in Overcast

Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

• Apple Music
• Spotify

Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.

In this episode, Spotify tells us we’re a Top 10 podcast for ten listeners, a Top 5 show for eight listeners, and a Top Podcast for 4 of you! Grateful is an understatement. Thank you! 

We follow that with a discussion on Itsycal, a menu bar item that extends the functionality of Apple Calendar. In episode 21, Jeff talked about Astropad’s Rock Paper Pencil, an iPad screen cover that turns writing on iPad into a better experience. Tom just received his this week and shared his first impressions. To wrap things up, Jeff shared his first-day experience with the technology in his new BMW X1.

Links from the show:

• Itsycal for Mac
• Rock Paper Pencil by Astropad
• BMW X1

Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

Support the show

Contact Us

• Drop us a line at [email protected]
• You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
• Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
• Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
• Tom has a new YouTube channel
• Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design

Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!

• Review on Apple Podcasts
• Rate on Spotify
• Recommend in Overcast

Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

• Apple Music
• Spotify

Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.

Join us for a unique bonus episode as Greg Battersby follows up with us on his return journey to Southern California in his Subaru Solterra EV. Using the lessons he learned around route planning, optimizing driving techniques, and charging headaches on the first trip, was the trip home any better?

Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

Support the show

Contact Us

• Drop us a line at [email protected]
• You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
• Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
• Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
• Tom has a new YouTube channel
• Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design

Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!

• Review on Apple Podcasts
• Rate on Spotify
• Recommend in Overcast

Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

• Apple Music
• Spotify

Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.

In this episode, we are joined by Jeff’s brother Greg to discuss his new electric vehicle, the Subaru Solterra. This episode delves into the heart of mid-range electric vehicles' capabilities and challenges, highlighting the nuances of planning and executing a long journey in an EV. Greg’s California adventure from Orange County to the Bay Area becomes a compelling case study on the realities of today's electric vehicle technology.

The episode provides a candid exploration of the challenges faced by mid-range electric vehicles on extended trips, from the apprehension of range anxiety to the realities of managing battery life and charging strategies. Greg's experience becomes a compelling narrative about the practicalities of EV travel and the obstacles that still need to be overcome.

Links from the show:

• EV Sales Are in a Slump — Why Aren’t More Car Buyers Going Electric?
• Here's why people aren't buying EVs in spite of price cuts and tax breaks.
• Subaru Solterra
• WattEV

Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

Support the show

Contact Us

• Drop us a line at [email protected]
• You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
• Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
• Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
• Tom has a new YouTube channel
• Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design

Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!

• Review on Apple Podcasts
• Rate on Spotify
• Recommend in Overcast

Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

• Apple Music
• Spotify

Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.

In this episode:

• The shorter shows are a hit!
• Apple has new MacBook Pros and iMacs powered by M3 chips, should you upgrade?
• RIP Touch Bar
• How Tom used the iPad to plan out his recently installed garage gym

Links from the show:

• MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro
• Behind the scenes at Scary Fast: Apple’s keynote event shot on iPhone and edited on Mac
• Apple: MacBook Pro
• Apple: iMac
• Rogue Fitness: RML-3W FOLD BACK WALL MOUNT RACK
• Photos of Tom's Garage Gym

Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

Support the show

Contact Us

• Drop us a line at [email protected]
• You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
• Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
• Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
• Tom has a new YouTube channel
• Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design

Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!

• Review on Apple Podcasts
• Rate on Spotify
• Recommend in Overcast

Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

• Apple Music
• Spotify

Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.

In this episode:

• What to expect at Apple’s upcoming “Scary Fast” event
• Apple is raising the prices on some of its services again
• Managing your subscriptions and their ever-increasing costs
• A Better Writing Experience on iPad? - Rock Paper Pencil iPad Screen Protector and Apple Pencil Tips
• Jeff’s spent a month with the FineWoven case and it’s…fine?

Links from the show:

Apple “Scary Fast” Event
AppleTV+, Arcade, and News+ subscription prices increase from today
Rock Paper Pencil - Magnetic iPad Screen Protector and Apple Pencil Tips

Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

Support the show

Contact Us

• Drop us a line at [email protected]
• You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
• Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
• Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
• Tom has a new YouTube channel
• Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design

Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!

• Review on Apple Podcasts
• Rate on Spotify
• Recommend in Overcast

Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

• Apple Music
• Spotify

Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.