Hands-On Apple (Audio)

By TWiTTechnology

Hands-On Apple (Audio) episodes

July 10, 2025HOA 190: Adding CarPlay on a Budget
Your 2015 Honda Civic doesn't have CarPlay, but that doesn't mean you're stuck without it! Mikah Sargent drives into the world of aftermarket CarPlay solutions, from portable units to full head unit replacements, helping you bring modern connectivity to your older ride without breaking the bank.
Mikah's Personal CarPlay Experience - Mikah shares his own journey installing wireless CarPlay using an aftermarket head unit through Crutchfield, highlighting the convenience of automatic phone connection

Crutchfield Integration Benefits - How Crutchfield provides vehicle-specific wiring harnesses and installation instructions, plus the advantages of full integration like steering wheel controls and built-in microphone support

Car and Driver IntelliDash Pro X10 - A $180 wireless CarPlay unit featuring a 10-inch touchscreen, cigarette lighter power, and crucial auxiliary audio output for car speaker connection

Eonon 10.26-inch Unit - A less expensive alternative that includes backup camera connectivity and built-in front-facing camera for insurance purposes

Budget CarPlay Warning - Why you should avoid cheap $20-50 CarPlay units!

Car and Driver Intellidash Pro X10 (affiliate) - https://amzn.to/4nSwJqi

Eonon 10.26 Inch Wireless Apple CarPlay (affiliate) - https://amzn.to/3GrIaV0

Crutchfield - https://www.crutchfield.com/

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.
13 min
July 03, 2025HOA 189: macOS Printers & Scanners
Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a serious flaw affecting nearly 700 Brother printer models that allows attackers to extract serial numbers and generate admin passwords without any authentication. Host Mikah Sargent walks through the step-by-step process of securing your Mac-connected printer using built-in macOS tools to access your printer's web interface and change those dangerous default passwords.
Major Printer Security Vulnerability Discovered - Rapid7 cybersecurity company found flaws affecting Brother, Toshiba, and Fujifilm printers, with 689 Brother models impacted by the most serious vulnerability

How the Attack Works - Bad actors can access printers without authentication, extract serial numbers, and use them to generate default admin passwords since manufacturers use predictable password generation methods

Viewing Printer Details and Options - How to check printer queue, sharing settings, driver information, and supply levels through the macOS interface for connected Brother printers

Opening Your Printer's Web Interface - Step-by-step guide to accessing the "Show Printer Web Page" option to reach your printer's built-in web server for advanced configuration

Checking and Updating Firmware - Importance of keeping printer firmware current, though updates don't completely solve the manufacturing-level vulnerability that requires Brother to address

Changing Default Admin Passwords - Critical security step of accessing the administrator login settings through the printer's web interface to replace factory default credentials

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
June 26, 2025HOA 188: Wi-Fi Troubleshooting
Struggling with slow Wi-Fi and apps that won't load properly on your iPhone or iPad? Mikah Sargent shares a look at the hidden Wi-Fi settings that could be sabotaging your internet experience, uncovering the specific toggles that might be causing Instagram videos to stop mid-scroll and social media sites to fail loading.
Managing Saved Networks - How to view and connect to your commonly used networks, plus adding hidden networks that don't broadcast their SSID

"Ask to Join Networks" Settings - Why Mikah chooses "Off" to avoid constant network prompts

Auto-Join Hotspot Feature - How your device can automatically connect to personal hotspots and when to use "Ask to Join" vs "Automatic"

Network Management with Face ID - Using the Edit button to access your complete network history stored in iCloud Keychain and removing unwanted connections

Auto-Join Problems - Why devices sometimes connect to guest networks instead of main networks and how to prevent this frustrating issue

Low Data Mode - A crucial setting for hotspots and limited data connections that disables background tasks like photo syncing and automatic updates

Private Wi-Fi Address Explained - How MAC address randomization protects your privacy but can cause connection issues with certain networks that use MAC filtering

IP Address Tracking - Why Apple's "Limit IP Address Tracking" feature (a premium service) often causes slow connections and social media loading failures

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
June 19, 2025HOA 187: Windowing System in iPadOS 26
Get ready to experience the future of iPad productivity as Mikah Sargent takes us on an exclusive first look at iPadOS 26's intuitive windowing system that finally brings true multitasking to Apple's tablet platform. Mikah explores Apple's latest iPadOS 26 beta, revealing how the iPad is evolving into a more desktop-like experience with powerful new windowing capabilities and familiar Mac-inspired interface elements.
Windowing System - Detailed walkthrough of the new multi-window functionality, activated by tapping a curved "macaroni noodle" icon in the bottom-right corner of compatible apps

Mac-Style Window Controls - Demonstration of the familiar red, yellow, and green "stoplight" buttons borrowed from macOS that allow users to close, minimize, and resize windows with precision

Multi-App Window Management - Live demo showing how multiple apps (Safari, Music, Settings) can run simultaneously in resizable windows, creating a true desktop-like multitasking experience

Menu Bar Integration - Exclusive look at how traditional menu bars have arrived on iPadOS, providing access to app-specific settings, file operations, and system controls just like on Mac

Safari Windowing Features - Exploration of how web browsing works in the new windowed environment, including tab management and window manipulation capabilities

Settings and Music App Integration - Demonstration of how system apps adapt to the windowing interface, including quick access to app settings via Command+Comma keyboard shortcut

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.
10 min
June 12, 2025HOA 186: macOS Tahoe 26
Mikah Sargent takes viewers on a quick first look at macOS Tahoe, Apple's upcoming operating system that introduces a stunning "Liquid Glass" design language and powerful new features that blur the lines between Mac and iPhone. Get ready to see the future of Mac as Mikah explores the redesigned interface, enhanced integration features, and AI-powered tools coming to your desktop.
Liquid Glass Design Language - Deep dive into the new "Liquid Glass" aesthetic with rounded corners, glassy background effects, and softer visual elements throughout the system

Enhanced Appearance Customization - Comprehensive look at new theming options including light/dark modes, multicolor themes, icon styles (default, dark, clear, tinted), and customizable folder colors

Native Phone App for Mac - Major addition of a dedicated Phone app to macOS with Wi-Fi calling support and notification management, separate from FaceTime

Supercharged Spotlight Search - Revolutionary updates allowing quick message sending, in-app searches across Books and Shortcuts, and intelligent system settings access

Clipboard History Feature - Long-awaited clipboard management finally arrives on Mac, accessible through Spotlight

Apple Intelligence Integration - AI-powered shortcuts and features utilizing Apple's private cloud compute model for enhanced productivity

Redesigned Control Center - Updated interface with new slider designs and glossy aesthetics

Safari Content-First Design - Enhanced browsing experience with full-screen content display and adaptive color bars that match webpage content

Live Translation Everywhere - System-wide translation capabilities extending to Messages and other applications across the platform

Image Playground & ChatGPT - Creative AI tools for generating custom images, including ChatGPT integration for advanced image creation

iPhone Live Activities on Mac - Cross-device integration bringing iPhone live activities (Uber, Instacart) directly to the Mac desktop

Hold Assist Feature - Smart phone call management that notifies users when they're no longer on hold during calls

Advanced Spotlight Intelligence - AI-powered suggestions for automatic playlist creation and intelligent split-screen app arrangements

New Parental Controls - Enhanced family safety features with updated control options for parents

Journal App for Mac - Popular iOS journaling application finally makes its debut on macOS platform

Redesigned Games App - Comprehensive gaming hub for continuing saved games, accessing Apple Arcade, and coordinating multiplayer sessions with friends

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.
13 min
June 11, 2025 HOA 185b: Hands-On Mac Is Making A Change
If you've been tuning in to Hands-On Mac for your weekly dose of Apple know-how, don't worry, we're not going anywhere. We're just thinking bigger. Starting next week, Hands-On Mac becomes Hands-On Apple.

Why the change? Because Mikah Sargent's tech tips have always gone beyond the Mac. Whether he's uncovering clever iOS settings, showing off Terminal tricks, reviewing must-have Apple accessories, or testing the latest from iPadOS, this show has always been more than just Mac. It's time the name caught up with the content.

Expect the same smart, bite-sized help with all your Apple gear. If it's in the Apple ecosystem, Mikah's got something fun and useful to share with you.

New episodes still drop every Thursday. Want it ad-free? Grab the show for $5/month, or get all our shows ad-free by joining Club TWiT for just $10/month.

Same Mikah. Same great show. Just a name that finally fits. See you on Hands-On Apple!

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.
2 min
June 05, 2025HOA 185: Safari Reading List
Pocket may be gone, but your Mac has a powerful built-in replacement that's been hiding in plain sight all along. Mikah Sargent reveals Safari's underutilized Reading List feature and shows how it can seamlessly replace your favorite read-later apps with smart offline capabilities and cross-device syncing.
Adding Articles Made Simple - Multiple ways to save content including the Shift+Command+D keyboard shortcut, shift-clicking links, and the "Add Open Tabs to Reading List" bulk option

Smart Organization Tools - Built-in search functionality and automatic sorting between read and unread articles to keep your list manageable

Powerful Management Options - Right-click context menu reveals options to open in new tabs, mark as read, save offline, or delete items entirely

Trackpad Gesture Controls - Swipe gestures for quick actions: right swipe to mark as read, left swipe to remove or save offline

Offline Reading Capabilities - Save articles for airplane mode or poor connectivity situations, creating local snapshots of web pages

Continuous Reading Experience - Auto-advance feature that seamlessly flows from one article to the next when you reach the bottom of a page

Keyboard Navigation Shortcuts - Built-in options to jump between previous and next reading list items for rapid article consumption

Automatic Offline Sync Setup - How to configure Safari to automatically save all reading list articles offline across all your devices

Reader View Integration - Combining Reading List with Safari's distraction-free reader mode for the ultimate reading experience

Customization Options - Theme choices (light, dark, gray, sepia) and typography settings (San Francisco, New York, Times New Roman, Georgia) for personalized reading

Host: Mikah Sargent

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

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
May 29, 2025HOA 184: Files App Walkthrough
Your iPhone and iPad have a hidden powerhouse that rivals macOS Finder - and most users barely scratch its surface. Mikah Sargent takes you on a comprehensive tour of the Files app, revealing powerful features like document scanning, server connections, and collaborative folder sharing that transform your mobile device into a serious productivity machine.
Recents Tab Features - Exploring the most recently accessed files and discovering the powerful "more" button (three dots) that unlocks advanced selection and viewing options

File Selection and Management - How to select multiple files at once, switch between icon and list views, and sort by various criteria including name, date, size, and tags

Built-in Document Scanner - Step-by-step demonstration of the integrated scanning feature that can capture physical documents and automatically convert them to PDFs with edge detection

iCloud Drive Integration - Understanding how Desktop, Documents, and Downloads folders sync between devices, plus accessing app-specific folders like Keynote presentations

Browse Tab Deep Dive - Navigating the main file structure with Locations, Favorites, and Tags sections for organized file management

On-Device vs Cloud Storage - Important distinction between "On My iPhone/iPad" storage (local only) and iCloud Drive (syncs across devices)

Third-Party Service Integration - How cloud providers like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Box appear as locations within the Files app for unified file access

Server Connections - Connecting to network servers using URLs or IP addresses with username/password authentication

Advanced File Actions - Comprehensive tour of tap-and-hold context menus including copy, move, share, download management, compression, and Quick Look preview

File Tagging System - Creating and managing color-coded tags for organizing documents, with examples like categorizing receipts, work files, and user manuals

Favorites and Quick Access - Adding frequently used folders to the Favorites section for faster navigation and workflow optimization

Collaborative Folder Sharing - Setting up shared folders where multiple users can add, edit, and manage files together, complete with messaging and permission controls

Host: Mikah Sargent

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

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
May 22, 2025HOA 183: Getting the Most out of macOS Dictation
Unlock the power of your voice with macOS dictation! Mikah Sargent demonstrates how to transform your spoken words into written text anywhere on your Mac, complete with punctuation commands, formatting tricks, and even emoji support. This comprehensive guide walks you through enabling the feature and using advanced dictation commands you probably didn't know existed.
Enabling dictation in macOS - Access this feature through System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation, where you can choose language, microphone source, and set up keyboard shortcuts.

Auto-punctuation option - Let macOS intelligently add punctuation based on your speech patterns or manually dictate punctuation marks.

Voice punctuation commands - Mikah demonstrates speaking marks like "period," "comma," "question mark," "open quote," "close quote," and many others.

Typography symbols - Learn to dictate special characters including backslash, forward slash, ampersand, bullet points, and vertical bars.

Text formatting commands - Control your text with commands like "new line," "new paragraph," "tab key," "no space on/off," and "caps on/off."

Mathematical and currency symbols - Dictate special symbols including equal sign, greater/less than signs, and various currency symbols like dollar, euro, and yen.

Emoji dictation - Add expressions to your text by saying phrases like "smiley face emoji" or "sobbing emoji."

Intellectual property symbols - Easily add copyright (©), registered (®), and trademark (™) marks through dictation.

Troubleshooting tips - Mikah offers advice for when dictation isn't working as expected, including checking your language settings and internet connection.

Dictate messages and documents on Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac

Commands for dictating text on Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/commands-for-dictating-text-on-mac-mh40695/15.0/mac/15.0

If Dictation on Mac doesn't work as expected - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/if-dictation-on-mac-doesnt-work-as-expected-mchlc480652b/15.0/mac/15.0

Host: Mikah Sargent

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

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.
17 min
May 15, 2025HOA 182: Magnifier Walkthrough
Discover the incredible power of Apple's Magnifier accessibility tool as Mikah Sargent provides a comprehensive walkthrough of this feature that's about to make its way to macOS. Far more than just a simple magnification tool, Magnifier offers a suite of detection capabilities that can help anyone better interact with their surroundings.
Activities feature - Mikah demonstrates how to create and save custom "Activities" that configure Magnifier for specific use cases with different controls and detection settings.

Detection capabilities - The detect feature can identify and describe scenes, people, furniture, doors, text, and even what you're pointing at with impressive accuracy.

Capture functionality - Users can take photos of text or objects to zoom in on them later or have the content read aloud through the reader option.

Customizable filters - Various color filters including black and white, red on black, yellow on black, and others help users with colorblindness or those who need specific contrast settings.

Advanced settings options - Mikah details the extensive settings that allow users to customize primary and secondary controls, detection preferences, and feedback methods.

Door detection features - The tool can outline doors and provide detailed information about their color, material, shape, handle position, and even whether they should be pushed or pulled.

People and furniture detection - Magnifier can detect people at various distances with changing audio cues as they get closer, and can identify furniture including whether it's occupied.

Point and speak functionality - Users can point at objects to have Magnifier identify and read text from that specific location.

Detect text around you and have it read out loud using Magnifier on iPhone - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/detect-text-read-loud-iph29dbe3fb6/ios

Host: Mikah Sargent

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

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.
22 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.

You can join Club TWiT for $10 per month and get ad-free audio and video feeds for all our shows plus everything else the club offers...or get just this podcast ad-free for $5 per month.