iOS Today (Audio)

Unlock the secrets to enhancing your tech experience with our latest episode of iOS Today! Get ready to discover the Sonos Roam 2, the ultimate portable speaker with upgraded Bluetooth functionality that's perfect for on-the-go music lovers. Rosemary Orchard also introduces the BoomTag rechargeable, a Find My-compatible device with a USB-C port, ensuring you'll never need to worry about disposable batteries again. Together, these gadgets offer practical solutions that fit seamlessly into your daily life, whether you're at home or traveling.

We then shift gears to explore a range of smart home and iPad accessories that can make your life easier and more stylish. Learn about the versatile wraps from Slick Wraps, which not only protect but also add a touch of flair to your gadgets. Plus, we dive into the world of SwitchBot, featuring the smart remote for consolidating control of various IR-compatible devices and the innovative blind tilt for a more automated home experience. These affordable and efficient solutions are perfect for upgrading your smart home setup without breaking the bank.

Lastly, we turn our focus to AirTag accessories and invaluable user recommendations. Rosemary shares her hands-on experiences with a variety of AirTag holders from Belkin, detailing their practical applications for keeping track of your belongings. We also highlight listener Mark's glowing review of Carbon Copy Cloner, a robust backup solution for Mac users, and provide tips on using iOS shortcuts to quickly paste text on your iPhone. Don't miss out on these insights that offer both practical tech advice and a bit of humor to brighten your day.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard

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

You can also contribute to iOS Today by sending an email to [email protected].

Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard dive deep into the core features of the highly anticipated iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, fresh off the heels of Apple's WWDC keynote. The duo explores the major changes and improvements users can expect, from the redesigned Messages and Photos apps to the enhanced customization options for the home screen and Control Center. Rosemary also shares her insights on the upcoming changes to the Shortcuts app in the Shortcuts Corner segment.

iOS 18 and iPadOS 18:

• Messages app improvements: scheduled messages, text formatting, animated effects, and RCS support
• Phone app updates: T9 search and the ability to record and transcribe calls
• Home screen customization: large icons, free placement of apps, and tinted icons
• Control Center enhancements: widget-like functionality and customizable pages
• Photos app redesign: new carousel view, collections, memories, and AI-powered features
• Mail app updates: categorization, grouping emails, and design changes (coming later)
• Siri improvements: seamless switching between typing and talking, and enhanced understanding
• Privacy and security updates: limiting app access to contacts, local networks, and Bluetooth devices
• Minor updates to the Health, Fitness, Reminders, and Calendar apps

Shortcuts Corner:

• App Intents: the magic behind Shortcuts, driving many of the new features
• Redesigned Shortcuts app UI: improved organization and faster loading times
• Enhanced scripting actions: checking device type and adding multiple conditions to an "if" action
• Shortcuts in Control Center and on the lock screen for quick access
• Simplified Home app actions for controlling accessories
• New Reminders actions: opening specific lists, pinning/unpinning lists
• Books app actions: navigating pages, opening specific views, and controlling page scrolling

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard

Want access to the video version 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.

You can also contribute to iOS Today by sending an email to [email protected].

In this episode of iOS Today, Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard explore the additional features coming in iOS and iPadOS 18 that weren't covered in their initial WWDC recap. They discuss the exciting potential of Apple's new AI capabilities with Apple Intelligence, fascinating updates to the Notes app with enhanced handwriting recognition, and much more. The show concludes with an insightful Shortcuts Corner segment exploring automation improvements tied to AirPods and the Home app.

Main Topic: iOS 18 Additional Features
- Apple Intelligence: Apple's take on generative AI with a focus on privacy and on-device processing. Woven into many new iOS 18 features.
- Writing tools: Enhancements to make text more friendly/professional, summarize, proofread, and more. Smart reply improvements in Mail.
- Image generation: An "image playground" to create custom images based on context. Unique "Genmoji" to make your own emoji.
- Photos: Improved search, memory movies, and the ability to clean up unwanted elements in pictures.
- Siri: ChatGPT integration and potential for other large language models in the future.
- Notes app: Auto-refine and straighten handwriting, copy handwriting as text, audio recording, and more updates coming post-release.
- Calculator app and Math Notes: A new place for handwritten equations, graphing, and dynamic calculation.
- Maps: Integrated hiking trail maps and topographic maps, potentially replacing third-party apps.
- Passwords app: A dedicated place to manage passwords across devices, similar to third-party password managers.
- SharePlay: Shared playback controls on HomePods and screen sharing with device control in FaceTime.
- Wallet app and Apple Pay: "Tap to Cash" for easy money transfer, rewards/points balances, and installment financing options.
- Journal app: Search functionality, widgets for writing prompts and streaks, and integration with Health app.
- Apple TV app: "Insight" feature to identify on-screen people and music, plus enhanced dialogue options on more devices.
- Home app: Granular controls for guest access, HomeKey improvements for hands-free unlocking.

Shortcuts Corner
- AirPods: Head nodding/shaking detection for automation prompts and enhanced voice isolation for better audio in windy conditions.
- Home app: Robot vacuum integration to run cleaning automations when everyone leaves home.
- Energy monitoring: Ability to add utility providers to track energy usage and work towards more eco-friendly automations.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard

Want access to the video version 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.

You can also contribute to iOS Today by sending an email to [email protected].

In this episode of iOS Today, Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard discuss the announcements from Apple's May 2024 iPad event. They cover the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models, the Apple Pencil Pro, and updates to Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad.

• New iPad Air features the M2 chip, updated colors (though the new "purple" color is underwhelming), and landscape front camera, now available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes
• Apple Pencil Pro introduced with pressure-sensitive barrel sensor, gyroscope for "barrel roll" feature, and haptic feedback
  New 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models are thinner, featuring tandem OLED displays for improved brightness and contrast and debuts the M4 chip, offering performance improvements
• Magic Keyboard updated with function row and haptic trackpad
• Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 adds Live Multicam feature using new Final Cut Camera app, faster rendering, and support for external and cloud-based projects
• Logic Pro for iPad 2 includes AI-powered features like ChromaGlow for analog warmth, Session Players, and Stem Splitter for isolating track elements

Shortcuts Corner:

• iOS 17 added Transcribe Audio action for transcribing audio files, Show Passwords action for quick access to passwords in Settings, and actions for managing mobile hotspot settings
• iOS 17.4 introduced Get Orientation action to detect device orientation (useful for Action button automations), Get Activities action to determine user activity (walking, running, cycling, in car), and Shut Down/Restart actions for device power management
• Show Definition action provides quick access to word definitions without using the Dictionary app

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard

Want access to the video version 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.

You can also contribute to iOS Today by sending an email to [email protected].

In this episode of iOS Today, Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard dive into the world of Safari extensions, discussing a variety of handy tools that can enhance your browsing experience on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. From content blockers to custom search engines, the duo explores the benefits and potential drawbacks of these powerful add-ons. Additionally, Rosemary tackles a Shortcuts Corner question about switching Apple Watch faces using Siri.

Safari Extensions:

• Browser Note: A simple extension that allows you to stick virtual post-it notes on websites, reminding you of important information when you revisit the page.
• Keyword Search: An extension that enables custom search engines for various websites, allowing you to quickly search Amazon, DuckDuckGo, and even TWiT.tv right from Safari's address bar.
• 1Blocker: A powerful content blocker that prevents ads and trackers from loading on web pages, potentially speeding up your browsing experience and protecting your privacy.
• Redirect Web for Safari: An extension that lets you create custom redirect rules for websites, ensuring you always end up on the correct version of a site (e.g., old.reddit.com instead of www.reddit.com).
• PayPal Honey: A controversial but money-saving extension that automatically finds and applies coupons and deals as you shop online.
• Vinegar and Baking Soda: Two extensions that work together to improve your video watching experience by replacing the native video player controls on YouTube and other video sites with iOS's native controls.
• Opener: While not technically a Safari extension, this app allows you to choose which app opens when you click on a link, giving you more control over your browsing experience.

Shortcuts Corner:

• Doug asks how to switch Apple Watch faces using Siri without having to confirm the action on his watch when his iPhone is locked.
• Rosemary walks through the process of ensuring the shortcut has the necessary permissions to run when the device is locked and troubleshoots potential issues Doug may be facing.
• If the "Allow Running When Locked" option is missing, Rosemary suggests resetting the shortcut's privacy settings or recreating the shortcut from scratch.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard

Want access to the video version 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.

You can also contribute to iOS Today by sending an email to [email protected].