Hands-On Apple (Video)
Hands-On Apple explores and explains the Mac and the wider Apple ecosystem. Host Mikah Sargent shares tips and tricks for Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch, covering Terminal commands, little-known iOS settings, Apple's built-in apps, and notable App Store apps. The show also looks at accessories for Apple devices and updates to iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. New episodes are released every Thursday.
Episodes
HOA 250: Create Your Own Wallet Passes
Tired of waiting for your favorite gym, library, or coffee shop to offer digital cards? With iOS 27, you can finally make your own custom Apple Wallet passes for any barcode or QR code, no third-party apps needed.
Physical loyalty cards now easily added to Apple Wallet with iOS 27
"Create a Pass" feature lets users digitize any barcode or QR code
Three wallet pass templates: Standard, Membersh
HOA 249: Explaining Audio Intelligence
Apple Watch's new Audio Intelligence tools promise instant transcriptions and meeting summaries without keeping your recordings. But is the S11 chip's privacy tech strong enough to calm nerves on both sides of the conversation?
Apple Watch Audio Intelligence: Four Features, One Secure Chip
Sound Recognition and Shazam: Always-On Environmental Listening
Live Rewind: 15-Second Instant Replay Wit
HOA 248: Options for Backing up Your iPhone
With new iPhones shipping and major iOS updates around the corner, now is the moment to protect your info. Mikah shows the overlooked features and essential steps that keep your data truly safe. You might be missing crucial areas and not even know it!
iCloud Backup: how it works, what it includes, and limitations
Key differences between synced data and backed-up data
Backing up locally to Mac
HOA 247: The Apple TV App
The Apple TV app's constant renaming and feature shuffling have left users wondering where their watchlists vanished and what each oddly similar label actually means. Mikah Sargent untangles the confusion and reveals why your streaming experience might be missing more than you think.
Identifying Watchlist and Continue Watching rows on iOS
How to add, find, and remove shows from Watchlist and Co
HOA 246: Set-It-And-Forget-It Accessibility Upgrades
You're missing out if you haven't explored Apple's accessibility menu. Mikah spotlights simple tweaks that solve real problems for everyone, not just those who need them. These are features you can toggle once, and love forever!
Reducing car sickness with Vehicle Motion Cues and customizable dots
Flash for Alerts: flash notifications with LED or screen for incoming calls and texts
Custom hapti
HOA 245: Retrain Your Fingers for watchOS 27
Confused by the Apple Watch's shifting gestures and button functions? Mikah Sargent breaks down the new logic, revealing how a simple mantra can help you master your device's next overhaul.
watchOS 27 overhauls Apple Watch button functions and navigation
Breaking old muscle memory: changes to Digital Crown, side button, Siri
Digital Crown press reveals new dynamic app switcher and app list
Sc
HOA 244: Live Text & Visual Look Up
Stop fumbling with serial numbers, plant names, or care tags. Discover quick, practical tricks to turn your iPhone's camera into a powerhouse for instant web answers and hassle-free text capture.
Enabling Live Text and checking device and language compatibility
Using Live Text in Photos, Camera, and Notes for text selection
Tips for extracting phone numbers, emails, and addresses with Live Tex
HOA 243: iPhone Display vs. Your Eyes
If you have kids using iPhones, Screen Distance might already be enforcing healthy habits without you knowing it. Find out how iOS screen features, like Bold Text and True Tone, are shaping digital wellness for your eyes and your family.
Setting up and using Screen Distance on Face ID devices
Night Shift: color temperature adjustments and sleep science skepticism
True Tone vs. Night Shift: rea
HOA 242: Understanding Apple Upgrade
Apple just replaced its iPhone Upgrade Program with a device leasing model run by Klarna, and you might end up paying more for devices you never actually own. Find out what happens when your monthly payments end in this episode covering Apple Upgrade!
Apple launches Apple Upgrade device lease, replacing iPhone Upgrade Program
Klarna partnership explained: application, credit check, and payment
HOA 241: iOS Home Screen Customization
iOS 26 conveniently puts you in charge of your iPhone home screen with deep design tools hidden behind a single long press. Discover how Apple's new Liquid Glass and tinted themes finally let your wallpaper and icons reflect your style.
Jiggle mode and edit tools enable deep icon appearance tweaks
Exploring Light, Dark, Clear, and Tinted home screen styles
Using tints and saturation sliders fo
HOA 240: Feedback in the Apple Public Beta Program
Ready to install the iOS 27 public beta? Skip common mistakes and learn Mikah's straightforward method for filing some reports that may actually get results.
Back up devices and expectations for public beta testers
Step-by-step guide to enrolling in Apple's public beta program
Understanding your role and responsibilities as a beta tester
The importance of submitting clear, actionable feedback
HOA 239: Photographic Styles
Ever wish your iPhone could capture your photos with a look that actually feels like you? Learn how Apple's photographic styles hand you control over color, tone, and even skin tones, with no generic filters required.
Differences in photographic styles between older and newer iPhones
How to set up and select photographic styles in iOS settings
Exploring and customizing style presets like amber
HOA 238: Using Back Tap on iPhone
Transform your iPhone interaction with a neat double-tap feature that most users have never noticed in the settings menu. Find out how to program the back of your phone for quick actions like taking a screenshot, launching your favorite app, or automating nighttime routines.
Finding and enabling Back Tap in Accessibility settings
Double tap and triple tap back actions explained
How Back Tap us
HOA 237: StandBy Mode
Your iPhone can quietly transform into a customizable bedside clock, calendar, and smart photo frame with just a simple orientation tweak. Discover how StandBy mode reveals features you probably didn't know your device had.
StandBy requirements: charging, landscape mode, and settings toggle
Always-on display boosts StandBy, but older iPhones work too
Configure StandBy's display options, night
HOA 236: macOS Stickies
Are you overlooking a classic built into every Mac? Mikah Sargent challenges you to give Stickies a week and find out if it deserves a permanent spot on your desktop.
Fast, frictionless note taking without accounts or setup
Formatting features: fonts, colors, graphics, and text enhancements
Color-coded Stickies for easy organization and quick reference
Advanced options: floating notes, transl
HOA 235: Translate App
Your iPhone has a powerful translation toolkit built right in, ready to tackle menus, emails, and street signs (in over 20 languages) without any extra apps or subscriptions. Discover how to get the most out of features you might not even know exist, from real-time conversation mode to camera translations.
Supported languages and translation options overview
Translating and pronouncing text, sa
HOA 234: Changing Your Default Search Engine
Tired of Google's AI overviews? This episode breaks down your actual options for search alternatives on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, including tips most Apple fans have never tried. See just how easy it is to reclaim your Safari searches with an alternative engine and take back control on your Apple devices.
How to change Safari's search engine on iPhone
Limitations: can't remove Google everywhere, o
HOA 233: Apple Watch Customization
Most Apple Watch users never bother to customize the screen they check dozens of times a day. This episode shows how a quick face makeover can actually streamline your routines and keep you focused.
Customizing Apple Watch faces using the Watch app on iPhone
How to switch and organize Apple Watch faces
Restoring swipe-to-switch watch face option in settings
Editing and reordering watch faces
HOA 232: Activity Monitor
Learn why Activity Monitor is the macOS tool experienced users trust first to diagnose hidden memory drains, runaway CPU usage, and behind-the-scenes energy hogs. Mastering a single built-in tool can put real-time answers and expert-level control right at your fingertips.
Quick Access Methods: Spotlight, Finder, and Utilities Folder
Five Main Tabs: CPU, Memory, Energy, Disk, and Network Explain
HOA 231: Using Playlist Playground
Apple Music's Playlist Playground does more than just pick songs; it curates playlists that actually flow together, tailored to your mood or activity. Mikah shows how to craft and customize dynamic playlists with minimal effort.
How Playlist Playground differs from classic playlist and Siri options
Step-by-step demo: Creating playlists with plain language prompts
Editing and customizing AI-gen
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