Hands-On Apple (Video)

By TWiT

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... more

· Technology

4.8

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FAQs about Hands-On Apple (Video):

How many episodes does Hands-On Apple (Video) have?

The podcast currently has 139 episodes available.

Hands-On Apple (Video) episodes:

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.
...more
13min
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.
...more
2min
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.
...more
12min
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.
...more
20min
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.
...more
17min
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.
...more
22min
May 08, 2025HOA 181: Spotlight Search in macOS Sequoia
Unlock the Full Power of Spotlight Search in macOS Sequoia
Mikah Sargent takes you on a comprehensive tour of Spotlight, macOS Sequoia's built-in search powerhouse that does far more than just find files. Learn how to access, customize, and troubleshoot this essential Mac feature to boost your productivity.
Accessing Spotlight - Three different ways to open Spotlight: clicking the magnifying glass in the menu bar, using Command+Space keyboard shortcut, or pressing the dedicated Spotlight key (F4) on many Mac keyboards.

Search capabilities - Spotlight displays results organized by category including files, websites, images, music, and more, with indicators showing which results will take you to web sources.

Navigation tricks - Use arrow keys to move through results, double-click to open items, and hold down the Command key to reveal a file's location in Finder.

Settings searches - Search for system settings like "VoiceOver" to quickly access specific preference panes without navigating through menus.

Quick actions - Spotlight offers contextual actions for certain searches, like sending an email when you search for an email address.

File management - Drag files directly from Spotlight results to the desktop or Finder windows, and use "Search in Finder" for more specific file searches.

Calculations and conversions - Instantly perform math calculations, convert temperatures, currencies (like yen to USD), and measurements (feet to inches) right in the search field.

Time zone lookups - Quickly check local time in different cities around the world.

Customizing search categories - Control which categories appear in results by adjusting Spotlight preferences in System Settings.

Privacy options - Turn off Siri suggestions or disable location services to limit Spotlight's scope, and use Search Privacy settings to exclude specific folders or drives from searches.

Troubleshooting Spotlight - Fix problems by rebuilding the Spotlight index through a simple but effective technique involving temporarily excluding your entire hard drive.

Search for anything with Spotlight on Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/search-with-spotlight-mchlp1008/mac

Choose suggestion categories for Spotlight on Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/choose-suggestion-categories-for-spotlight-mchl3e00eae9/15.0/mac/15.0

Prevent Spotlight searches in files on Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/prevent-spotlight-searches-in-files-mchl1bb43b84/15.0/mac/15.0

Turn off Siri Suggestions for Spotlight on Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/turn-off-siri-suggestions-for-spotlight-mchl62db64f5/15.0/mac/15.0#apdd1e1b05619144

These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple/episodes/181

Host: Mikah Sargent
...more
17min
May 01, 2025HOA 180: Revisiting iPhone Mirroring
Mikah Sargent demonstrates how to use iPhone mirroring, a powerful feature that allows you to control your iPhone directly from your Mac. This detailed walkthrough covers setup, requirements, and practical applications of this impressive Continuity feature that keeps your devices connected.
Setting up iPhone mirroring - Learn how to access the app through the dock or Spotlight search, and the initial setup process requiring passcode verification on both devices.

System requirements - Both devices need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, must be signed into the same Apple ID, positioned within 30 feet of each other, and running macOS Sequoia (or later) and iOS 18 (or later).

Interface navigation - Mikah demonstrates how to use the trackpad to navigate, access the app switcher, and return to the home screen using the menu bar at the top.

App interaction - Right-clicking apps provides additional options like converting apps to widgets or accessing app shortcuts that would normally require tap-and-hold gestures on iPhone.

Notification management - See how iPhone notifications appear on your Mac and how to customize which app notifications are displayed.

File transfers - The feature enables drag-and-drop functionality for moving photos, documents, and other files between your Mac and iPhone.

Privacy benefits - Your iPhone stays locked during mirroring, and the iPhone screen doesn't display what you're doing on the Mac side.

Multiple iPhone support - You can connect several iPhones to one Mac, though only one can be used at a time.

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.
...more
14min
April 24, 2025HOA 179: Using the Passwords App in macOS Sequoia
Mikah Sargent takes viewers on a comprehensive tour of the Passwords app in macOS Sequoia, demonstrating how this robust tool serves as a complete credential management system. From passkeys to verification codes and shared passwords, Mikah explores how Apple has created a secure yet user-friendly solution for managing all your login information across devices.
Passkeys - These are created automatically when you set up passkey authentication on websites, with limited editing options but the ability to add notes or modify the associated website.

Verification codes - Users can add two-factor authentication codes either by entering setup keys manually or scanning QR codes.

Wi-Fi - The app stores Wi-Fi network credentials, displays network security information (WPA2/WPA3), and lets users generate QR codes for easy sharing.

Security recommendations - The app alerts users when passwords may be compromised in data breaches using Apple's differential privacy techniques that protect user privacy.

Password sharing feature - Users can create groups to share specific login credentials with family members or others, with granular control over which passwords are shared.

Password importing - The app supports importing passwords from CSV files, though Mikah strongly recommends deleting these files immediately after import for security.

Cross-device synchronization - All passwords sync across Apple devices with end-to-end encryption via iCloud.

Windows compatibility - Even Windows users can access their passwords through the iCloud Passwords app, making it a versatile solution.

Passwords User Guide - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/passwords/welcome/1.1/mac/15.4.1

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.
...more
10min
April 17, 2025 HOA 178: Using a UPS With macOS
Mikah Sargent demonstrates how to set up and configure an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) with macOS, showcasing how this essential device can protect your Mac from sudden power outages and allow for graceful shutdowns to prevent data loss. This practical guide walks users through the various places macOS displays UPS information and how to customize shutdown settings for optimal protection.

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.
...more
11min

FAQs about Hands-On Apple (Video):

How many episodes does Hands-On Apple (Video) have?

The podcast currently has 139 episodes available.

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