Hands-On Apple (Audio)

By TWiTTechnology

Hands-On Apple (Audio) episodes

May 15, 2020HOM 9: Homebrew Bundle: Set Up a Mac Fast - Install Multiple Mac Programs Fast with Homebrew
This episode requires Homebrew, so if you haven't yet installed it, watch last week's Hands on Mac and install it now.

Then open the Terminal and type

`homebrew bundle`

to install the bundler.

If you've been using homebrew you can automatically write a bundle with the command

`brew bundle dump`

add the —describe switch to get a comment before each item in the brewfile describing its use

`brew bundle dump —describe`

Last week we mentioned a cool tool called `mas` - if you've installed it you can also use brewfiles to install Mac App Store apps. brew bundle dump will automatically add these to your brewfile.

Save your brewfile to iCloud or locally and now when you set up a new Mac you can use it to automatically install everything.

Once you've created a brewfile, updating brew is as simple as issuing the command brew bundle.

Thanks to brew and mas, updating your Mac system entirely is as simple as:

`sudo softwareupdate -ia —verbose ; brew bundle -v ; brew cleanup ; brew doctor —verbose`

softwareupdate is a built-in MacOS command to update the system from the command line. To see which updates are needed type

`softwareupdate -l`

it will also let you know whether a reboot will be required

the -i switch can be used to specify individual components to be updated, -ia says update them all.

We covered the brew commands last week.

Combining softwareupdate with brew bundle -v will upgrade everything on your system that's been installed using mas or brew, too.

Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac.

Host: Leo Laporte

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac

Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
expressvpn.com/hom
12 min
May 08, 2020HOM 8: Homebrew: macOS Package Manager - Homebrew Installs Apps from the Terminal
Homebrew Installs Apps from the Terminal

Host: Leo Laporte

For full show notes on this episode, visit https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac/episodes/8
Sponsor:
hover.com/twit
13 min
May 08, 2020HOM 8: Homebrew: macOS Package Manager - Homebrew Installs Apps from the Terminal
Homebrew Installs Apps from the Terminal

Host: Leo Laporte

For full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac/episodes/8
Sponsor:
hover.com/twit
13 min
May 01, 2020HOM 7: Spotlight on Spotlight - Spotlight Does More Than You Think!
The only problem with the Mac's GUI interface is that it may take some digging to find the file or application you want to use. But Apple has a fix for that: Spotlight, and it's the easiest way to open anything on your Mac.

Press command-space and start typing. You can launch applications, documents, even emails, with a few keystrokes. Command-option-space launches a Finder window for searching.

But there are a few little known shortcuts that make Spotlight even more useful.
Use the kind: keyword to narrow down your search:
kind:audio
kind:folders
kind:app
kind:email
To find the location of a file, select it on the list then hit the Command key. The full directory will show up in the status bar. Command-R opens the file location (not the file)
You can look up definitions by typing a word
Type
Use it as a calculator
Type 2 + 2
Convert units
Search for movie showtimes, weather, and places near me
Type movies
Type weather
Type drugstores
Search for flight information by entering the airline and flight number
United 30
Or a stock price
aapl
Search for contact information by typing a name

To limit the searches Spotlight can make, check the Spotlight system preferences. You can also change the key command.

If you like what spotlight can do, there's a third-party app, Alfred, that does even more!
https://www.alfredapp.com/

Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac

Host: Leo Laporte

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac

Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
itpro.tv/twit use the code TWIT30
13 min
May 01, 2020HOM 7: Spotlight on Spotlight - Spotlight Does More Than You Think!
The only problem with the Mac's GUI interface is that it may take some digging to find the file or application you want to use. But Apple has a fix for that: Spotlight, and it's the easiest way to open anything on your Mac.

Press command-space and start typing. You can launch applications, documents, even emails, with a few keystrokes. Command-option-space launches a Finder window for searching.
But there are a few little known shortcuts that make Spotlight even more useful.
Use the kind: keyword to narrow down your search:

kind:audio

kind:folders

kind:app

kind:email

To find the location of a file, select it on the list then hit the Command key. The full directory will show up in the status bar. Command-R opens the file location (not the file)

You can look up definitions by typing a word

Type

Use it as a calculator

Type 2 + 2

Convert units

Search for movie showtimes, weather, and places near me

Type movies

Type weather

Type drugstores

Search for flight information by entering the airline and flight number

United 30

Or a stock price

aapl

Search for contact information by typing a name

To limit the searches Spotlight can make, check the Spotlight system preferences. You can also change the key command.

If you like what spotlight can do, there's a third-party app, Alfred, that does even more!

https://www.alfredapp.com/

Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac

Host: Leo Laporte

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac

Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
itpro.tv/twit use the code TWIT30
13 min
April 24, 2020HOM 6: MacBook Air 2020 Review - Leo looks at the new Macbook Air, the good, the bad, and the ugly webcam.
Leo looks at the new Macbook Air, the good, the bad, and the ugly webcam.

Starting at $999 ($899 education pricing) with dual-core 1.1Ghz i3, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage in Silver, Space Gray, and Gold.

My machine, as configured, with quad-core 1.2 Ghz i7, 16 GB RAM, and 1 TB storage, $1849

All models include real ESC key and TouchID (no TouchBar) and two T3 ports on the left, headphone jack on the right.

The new Magic keyboard with scissor switches isn't the best I've ever used, but it's usable, and a major upgrade from the 2018 model.

There are no surprises here. It's a Macbook Air, with a better keyboard.

Nevertheless, if you love the Macbook Air, the first ultrabook, which I do, it's great and I'm very happy to be able to recommend it again.
Pros:
Great 16:10 screen (2560x1600) with TrueTone

All-day battery life

Usable keyboard

Super thin and light
Cons:
Y-Series Ice Lake chips are not super fast

No Wi-Fi 6

Lackluster camera with no shutter

Only two T3 ports, and they're both on the same side!

Totally non-upgradable

Expensive

Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac

Host: Leo Laporte

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Sponsor:
LastPass.com/twit
11 min
April 24, 2020HOM 6: MacBook Air 2020 Review - Leo looks at the new Macbook Air, the good, the bad, and the ugly webcam.
Leo looks at the new Macbook Air, the good, the bad, and the ugly webcam.

Starting at $999 ($899 education pricing) with dual-core 1.1Ghz i3, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage in Silver, Space Gray, and Gold.

My machine, as configured, with quad-core 1.2 Ghz i7, 16 GB RAM, and 1 TB storage, $1849

All models include real ESC key and TouchID (no TouchBar) and two T3 ports on the left, headphone jack on the right.

The new Magic keyboard with scissor switches isn't the best I've ever used, but it's usable, and a major upgrade from the 2018 model.

There are no surprises here. It's a Macbook Air, with a better keyboard.

Nevertheless, if you love the Macbook Air, the first ultrabook, which I do, it's great and I'm very happy to be able to recommend it again.
Pros:
Great 16:10 screen (2560x1600) with TrueTone
All-day battery life
Usable keyboard
Super thin and light
Cons:
Y-Series Ice Lake chips are not super fast
No Wi-Fi 6
Lackluster camera with no shutter
Only two T3 ports, and they're both on the same side!
Totally non-upgradable
Expensive
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac
Host: Leo Laporte

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Sponsor:
LastPass.com/twit
11 min
April 17, 2020HOM 5: Fun With Mac Terminal Commands - Terminal Commands for Your Mac
Did you know that hidden in your Mac is a powerful Unix-style command line? Open up the Terminal, and try out these simple commands:
cd: change directory
ls: list the current directory's contents
chmod: change the permissions of the files in this directory
man: gives a manual on how to use any command
tldr: Too Long; Didn't Read - gives a short and simple description of any command
sudo: do a command as the superuser (admin)
rm: remove file or directory - be careful with this one!
sudonvram StartupMute=%00: turns on the "bong" when you start up your mac
sudonvram StartupMute=%01: turns off the "bong" when you start up your mac

Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac. Come back next week for more fun!

Host: Leo Laporte

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Sponsor:
itpro.tv/twit use the code TWIT30
22 min
April 17, 2020HOM 5: Fun With Mac Terminal Commands - Terminal Commands for Your Mac
Did you know that hidden in your Mac is a powerful Unix-style command line? Open up the Terminal, and try out these simple commands:

cd: change directory

ls: list the current directory's contents

chmod: change the permissions of the files in this directory

man: gives a manual on how to use any command

tldr: Too Long; Didn't Read - gives a short and simple description of any command

sudo: do a command as the superuser (admin)

rm: remove file or directory - be careful with this one!

sudonvram StartupMute=%00: turns on the "bong" when you start up your mac

sudonvram StartupMute=%01: turns off the "bong" when you start up your mac

Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac. Come back next week for more fun!

Host: Leo Laporte

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Sponsor:
itpro.tv/twit use the code TWIT30
22 min
April 10, 2020HOM 4: Get to Know Your Terminal - Fun With the Mac Command Line
Hidden deep in your Mac lies a Linux command line. Welcome to the Terminal: the most powerful tool on your Mac that you aren't using! On this episode of Hands-on Mac, Leo runs you through some basic commands: how to change directories with cd, list their contents with ls, and get help with man.

Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!

Host: Leo Laporte

Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Sponsor:
hover.com/twit
8 min

About Hands-On Apple (Audio)

From the publisher's feed

Hands-On Apple explores and explains the Mac — and beyond! From clever Terminal commands to little-known iOS settings, Mikah Sargent shares all the best tips and tricks for your Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch. You'll get all the details on Apple's apps and the best apps in the App Store, you'll learn about awesome accessories for your Apple devices, and you'll explore updates to Apple's operating systems — including iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Hands-On Apple is your one-stop shop for Apple know-how.

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