Hands-On Apple (Audio)

By TWiTTechnology

Hands-On Apple (Audio) episodes

September 18, 2025HOA 200: New Messages Features in iOS 26
iOS 26 just dropped, and Hands-On Apple reveals the surprising new features you'll notice first, such as custom message backgrounds and built-in polls that change how you chat with friends. Get the scoop on the subtle details and settings that will likely impact how you use your phone every day.
Messages app gets refreshed info page and easier contact editing

Custom conversation backgrounds debut in Messages with photos and colors

Built-in polling feature launches for group decision-making in Messages

New message filtering, unknown sender screening, and notification controls explained

Conversation backgrounds, photo visibility, and contact photo options in Messages settings

Host: Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple

Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
12 min
September 11, 2025 HOA 199: Preordering the iPhone 17 Like a Pro
Apple just dropped the iPhone 17 lineup and Mikah Sargent walks you through a smart pre-order setup that could be the difference between snagging your dream device on day one or missing out. Find out the exact steps and tips to avoid the dreaded "sold out" message.

Host: Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple

Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
9 min
September 04, 2025 HOA 198: Deduplicate Pics in the Photos App!
Stop letting duplicate photos clog your Mac. Find out how the merging utility in Apple Photos can help you reclaim storage and sanity with just a few clicks. Mikah Sargent reveals the surprisingly powerful deduplication tool already built into macOS and what it gets right.

Host: Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple

Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
8 min
August 28, 2025HOA 197: The Ins & Outs of Camera Control
Think your iPhone 16's Camera Control is just another button? Mikah Sargent breaks down its secret shortcuts and customizable tricks that could change how you quickly snap photos in a pinch!
Step-by-step walkthrough of camera control actions and gestures

Deep dive into camera control's adjustable photo and video settings

Using camera control for quick app launches and photo captures

Switching between supported camera apps with camera control

Customizing activation methods and accidental launch prevention

Exploring camera control's accessibility and pressure sensitivity settings

Integrating camera control features into your everyday workflow

Host: Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple

Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
16 min
August 21, 2025HOA 196: Troubleshooting Universal Control & iPhone Mirroring
Don't let misbehaving Apple features derail your workflow. This episode explains the settings, strategies, and overlooked requirements that separate smooth users from the frustrated.
Common Universal Control issues: disconnects, lag, and connection failures

Universal Control requirements: hardware, Apple ID, iCloud, and keychain

Network setup tips for reliable Universal Control across devices

Fixing Universal Control with iCloud sign-out, restarts, and patience

Advanced Universal Control troubleshooting: deleting preference files and toggling settings

Resolving conflicts with display options, Stage Manager, Sidecar, and internet sharing

How to use USB connection to kickstart Universal Control

iPhone mirroring basics: behind-the-scenes tech and requirements

Fixing iPhone mirroring: ensure device compatibility, settings, and proximity

Step-by-step network troubleshooting for iPhone mirroring failures

Force quitting and resetting iPhone mirroring and device access

Diagnosing persistent issues with console logs and error messages

Mesh network quirks and system requirement confusion as common culprits

Host: Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple

Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
29 min
August 14, 2025HOA 195: Slow Mac Startup Speeds
Is your Mac taking forever to start up? Mikah Sargent reveals the hidden culprits slowing down your macOS boot times and walks through proven solutions to get your machine running like new again.
Login Items Management - How to identify and remove unnecessary apps that automatically launch at startup using System Settings - General - Login Items and Extensions

Terminal Commands for Advanced Users - Using "launchctl list" to view all startup processes and "launchctl remove" to eliminate problematic items from the command line

Hidden Launch Agents and Daemons - Navigating to /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons through Finder to manually remove stubborn startup services

Spotlight Re-indexing Fix - Using Terminal command "sudo mdutil -E /" to rebuild corrupted Spotlight indexes that can cause system hangups

Cache Clearing Strategy - Removing cached files from ~/Library/Caches and /Library/Caches to free up system resources

Visual Effects Optimization - Disabling animations, transparency effects, and the genie effect in Accessibility settings to reduce graphics processing load

Stage Manager Performance - Why turning off Stage Manager can help improve startup times on older Macs

Host: Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple

Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
20 min
August 07, 2025HOA 194: Apple TV Color Balance
Mikah Sargent reveals a powerful but often overlooked calibration tool that automatically adjusts your TV's color balance for optimal picture quality. This step-by-step demonstration shows exactly how to access and use this game-changing feature that most Apple TV owners never know exists.
Accessing the Settings - Navigate to Settings > Video and Audio > Calibration > Color Balance

Prerequisites and Setup - Requires iPhone with Face ID, iOS 14.5 or later, and avoid vivid or dynamic picture modes during calibration

Step-by-Step Calibration Process - Detailed walkthrough of bringing iPhone close to TV, receiving notification, entering authentication code, and positioning phone against screen

Results and Implementation - Review of "original" vs "balanced" options and selecting the improved color profile for ongoing use

Limitations and Compatibility - Discussion of why this feature won't work with projector setups due to positioning constraints, but works with standard televisions

Host: Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple

Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
7 min
July 31, 2025HOA 193: Public Betas for iOS 26, iPadOS 26, & macOS Tahoe 26
Ready to get your hands on Apple's latest software before everyone else? This episode covers the complete process of enrolling in Apple's public beta program, from signing up to providing valuable feedback that shapes the future of Apple's operating systems.
Getting Started with Beta Enrollment - Navigate to beta.apple.com and sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program using your Apple ID, including agreeing to the terms that remind you this is pre-release software

Device Enrollment Process - Choose "enroll your iOS device" and follow the streamlined process for iOS 16.4 or later, which no longer requires downloading special configuration profiles like earlier versions

Finding Beta Updates in Settings - Access the new "Beta Updates" option under General > Software Update > Automatic Updates, where you'll see iOS 26 Public Beta options (developer betas won't appear unless you're a registered developer)

The Importance of Feedback Assistant - Learn about the dedicated app Apple installs for beta testers to report bugs, capture diagnostic files, and submit screenshots of issues you encounter

Quick Diagnostic Capture Trick - Use the volume up, volume down, side button combination for 1-1.5 seconds to instantly capture diagnostic files when you encounter problems, complete with haptic feedback confirmation

Beta Support Across All Platforms - The same enrollment process works for iPadOS, tvOS (though slightly more complex), and macOS Tahoe, with each platform getting its own enrollment path

Exiting the Beta Program - Turn off beta updates in Settings to stop receiving new beta versions and automatically return to public releases, or completely leave the program through the beta.apple.com unenroll page

Host: Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple

Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
11 min
July 24, 2025HOA 192: Locking & Hiding Apps
Mikah Sargent reveals the handy security features in iOS and iPadOS that let you lock and hide apps from prying eyes, whether you're lending your phone to a child or keeping sensitive information away from untrustworthy individuals.
App Locking vs. Hiding Overview - Mikah explains the key differences between locking apps (requires authentication but stays visible) and hiding apps (completely removes from home screen except in special hidden folder)

Important Limitations to Know - When apps are locked, their information won't appear in CarPlay, notifications, search results, or Siri suggestions, and the feature only works on the specific device where it's enabled

Family Sharing Restrictions - Children under 13 cannot lock or hide apps, while teens 13-17 can use the feature but parents can still see download history and Screen Time data

Apps That Cannot Be Locked - Built-in iOS apps like Calculator, Camera, Clock, Contacts, Find My, Maps, Shortcuts, and Settings are off-limits for locking (Screen Time or Guided Access recommended instead)

Step-by-Step App Locking Demo - Live demonstration using the Home app, showing how to tap and hold an app icon, select "Require Face ID" from the quick actions menu, and authenticate to enable the lock

How to Unlock Apps - Simple process of tapping and holding the locked app icon, choosing "Don't Require Face ID," and entering your passcode to remove the protection

App Hiding Requirements - Only third-party apps downloaded from the App Store can be hidden; built-in iOS apps and default web browsers cannot be hidden

Complete App Hiding Walkthrough - Detailed demonstration using the Annotable app, showing the "Hide and Require Face ID" option and explaining that hidden apps won't send notifications or alerts

Accessing Hidden Apps - Two methods revealed: through Settings > Apps > Hidden Apps, or by going to App Library, scrolling to the Hidden folder at the bottom, and authenticating with Face ID

Host: Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple

Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
12 min
July 17, 2025HOA 191: Audio Settings for Apple Devices
Unlock the potential of your AirPods with these game-changing settings that most users never experiment with! Mikah Sargent plugs into the comprehensive settings menu for Apple's audio devices, revealing advanced features that can transform your listening experience from basic to spellbinding.
Battery monitoring and case connectivity - How to check AirPods and case battery levels, plus troubleshooting charging animations and Bluetooth connection issues

Device naming and identification - Customizing your AirPods name to distinguish between multiple pairs and ensure you're connecting to the right device

Noise control modes - Deep dive into Transparency, Adaptive, and Noise Cancellation modes, including how each works differently and when to use them

Adaptive audio intelligence - How this feature automatically switches between noise cancellation and transparency based on your environment and conversations

Hearing health features - Comprehensive look at hearing protection, loud sound reduction, and the 85-decibel safety threshold

Ear tip fit testing - Using built-in tools to ensure you're using the correct size ear tips for optimal performance and comfort

Hearing assistance - How AirPods Pro can function as hearing aids and perform actual hearing tests to customize audio

Customizing press and hold controls - Programming left and right AirPods for different functions like noise control or voice assistant activation

Call management features - Setting up tap controls for answering, muting, and ending calls with simple gestures

Personalized volume and conversation awareness - Auto-adjusting volume based on environment and automatically pausing media during conversations

Connection preferences - Solving the common annoyance of AirPods connecting to the wrong device by adjusting automatic connection settings

Spatial audio and personalization - Understanding 3D audio features and how they adapt to your specific ear shape and hearing pattern

Microphone selection and head gestures - Choosing which AirPod serves as your microphone and using head nods/shakes to control calls

Advanced features - Charging case sounds, optimized battery charging, Find My integration, and accessibility options

Troubleshooting tips - Using disconnect and forget options to resolve connection issues across all your Apple devices

Host: Mikah Sargent

Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple

Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
30 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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