iOS Today (Audio)

As another year winds down, Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard reflect on the most impressive and useful apps that defined their digital experiences in 2024. In this special episode, the hosts dive deep into their personal favorites across various categories.

• Balatro: A unique card game that even non-card players will love
• Flighty: The ultimate flight-tracking companion
• Carrot Weather: Bringing personality & precision to weather forecasting
• Fastmail: An email app packed with powerful features
• Croissant: Simplifying cross-platform social media posting
• Call Sheet: The ultimate companion for TV and movie enthusiasts
• Plus, a few more!

Beyond their top picks, Mikah and Rosemary share insights into how these apps have improved their daily digital lives, offering listeners practical advice on finding and using the best iOS apps of the year.

Feedback

• Chris wrote in asking about a method to easily format email replies with different colors for each response.

Shortcuts Corner

• Jack asked about a CarPlay notification issue with a shortcut automation. His home arrival notification would activate on the screen but had no audio!

Whether you're looking to optimize your iOS experience or just curious about the year's best apps, this episode of iOS Today is a must-listen!

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].

Apple's App Store Awards finalists showcase the most innovative and exciting apps across Apple platforms for 2024, highlighting incredible developers and groundbreaking applications that push the boundaries of technology and creativity. From professional video tools to immersive storytelling apps, this year's selections offer something for every type of user.

• iPhone App of the Year Finalists:

  -Kino: A professional video capturing app from the makers of Halide that allows cinematic video recording with advanced filmmaking tools like LUT grading and time codes.

  -Runa: A comprehensive running and training plan app that customizes workout plans, tracks progress, and integrates with fitness platforms like Strava.

  -Tripsy: A privacy-focused travel planning app that organizes trip details, imports reservations, and provides weather forecasts without extensive data sharing.

• iPhone Game of the Year Finalists:

  -AFK Journey: A fantasy RPG with storytelling similar to Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy.

  -WearCleaner: A comedic stealth game about a werewolf janitor trying to hide his supernatural identity during night shifts.

  -Zenless Zone Zero: An anime-style RPG with strategic gameplay.

• iPad App of the Year Finalists:

  -Bluey, Let's Play: An educational game for children featuring the popular Australian cartoon characters.

  -Moises: An AI-powered music app that separates vocals and instruments, helps with learning songs, and provides chord detection.

  -Procreate Dreams: A $20 2D animation app for creating storytelling videos with timeline controls and drawing tools.

• Mac App and Game of the Year Finalists:

  -OmniFocus 4: A powerful task management app with advanced features like defer dates.

  -Adobe Lightroom

  -Shapr 3D CAD Modeling

  -Mac Games: Frostpunk 2, Stray, and Thank Goodness You're Here

• Apple Arcade Game of the Year Finalists:

  -Balatro+: A unique card game mixing poker and solitaire mechanics

  -Outlanders 2: A city-building strategy simulation

  -Sonic Dream Team: An adventure game featuring classic Sonic characters

• Apple Vision Pro App and Game Finalists:

  -Jigspace: 3D model interaction app

  -NBA Live

  -What If: An immersive Marvel-inspired story experience

  -Games include Luna, Thrasher Arcade Odyssey, and Vacation Simulator

• Apple Watch App of the Year Finalists:

  -Look Up English Dictionary: A vocabulary-building app with daily word features

  -Lumi: A photography tool showing sunrise, sunset, and golden hour times

  -Watch to 5K: A comprehensive running training program integrated with Apple Health

• Cultural Impact Finalists:

  -Diverse apps and games focusing on storytelling, accessibility, and social connection, including Oko (navigation for visually impaired), Partyful (event planning), and The Wreck (narrative adventure game)

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 strategies for using your Apple devices when internet connectivity is limited or non-existent. From downloading offline maps and media to utilizing satellite messaging, here are some practical tips for staying productive, informed, and entertained in areas with poor or no connectivity.

• Offline Media Preparation: Rosemary recommends carrying a compact 4TB SSD to store ebooks, audiobooks, and movies for entertainment during travel or in areas with no internet.
• iOS Offline Maps: iOS 17 and later offer robust offline map capabilities that work without internet connectivity.
• Saving Web Content Offline: Reading List feature allows users to save web pages for offline reading.
• Downloading Media for Offline Use: Apple TV app and Music app allow downloading entire seasons, episodes, playlists, or individual tracks.
• Satellite Connectivity Features: iPhones can now use satellite connectivity for messaging and emergency services.

Shortcuts Corner

• Addressing a listener's challenge with rescheduling overdue reminders while maintaining original time settings.

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, Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard explore neat ways to bring friends and family together using Apple technologies, focusing on features like SharePlay, ETA sharing, Check In, and Family Sharing. iPhone and Apple TV can help people connect, especially during the holiday season, regardless of physical distance!

• SharePlay
  • A feature that allows multiple people to watch movies, TV shows, and listen to music together remotely or in-person
  • Works across Apple devices and supports various services like Apple TV, CarPlay, and Apple Music
  • Enables collaborative media experiences with individual preferences like volume and closed captions
• Share ETA (Apple Maps)
  • Allows users to share their estimated time of arrival with contacts
  • Updates recipients automatically if route changes or arrival time shifts
  • Works both within Apple ecosystem and with non-Apple devices via text message
• Check-in Feature (Messages)
  • Enables users to set up automatic check-ins during activities like workouts or travel
  • Offers multiple options: destination arrival, timed check-in, and workout completion
  • Provides configurable location sharing with various privacy levels
• Family Sharing
  • Allows families to share app subscriptions, photos, calendars, and locations
  • Flexible setup with options to share or restrict different types of content
  • Can be configured with varying levels of sharing comfort for different family members
• Jackbox Party Games
  • Recommended as a fun way to bring people together
  • Supports multiple platforms and devices
  • Enables group gameplay through simple, accessible interfaces

Feedback:

• Rosemary discussed solutions for remotely accessing a Mac Mini used as a home server
• Rosemary and Mikah addressed an issue with large podcast app storage and explained difference between offloading and deleting an app

Shortcuts Corner:

• Dustin from Montana seeks a shortcut to remind him to adjust truck temperature when disconnecting from CarPlay

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].

Get the most out of Apple Health! Hosts Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard dive into setting up and maximizing Apple's comprehensive health tracking system. Learn essential tips for configuring your Medical ID, managing health data, and customizing fitness goals. Plus, discover budget-friendly options for health tracking as Black Friday approaches. The hosts explore how to:

• Set up critical Medical ID information for emergency situations
• Access and manage your health records directly through the Health app
• Customize Activity rings and fitness goals to match your needs
• Track sleep, hydration, and nutrition with recommended third-party apps
• Integrate data from devices like Apple Watch, Oura Ring, and smart water bottles

Feedback

• Rosemary addresses how to restore the beloved watch face switching gesture while explaining the simple settings adjustment needed.

Shortcuts Corner

• Rosemary demonstrates how to build a sophisticated shortcut combining Toolbox Pro's image recognition capabilities with clever date parsing.

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 deep into the world of Apple Watch faces. They discuss how to customize and share watch faces, offer troubleshooting tips for syncing contacts and custom alert tones across devices, and share a handy shortcut for automatically changing your watch face based on your current Focus mode.

Main Topic: Apple Watch Faces
- Rosemary and Mikah discuss the removal of certain watch faces in watchOS 11 and share their favorite ways to customize watch faces using complications.
- They explain how to edit watch faces directly on the Apple Watch and offer tips for choosing the right complications based on the watch face style and complication shape.
- Mikah and Rosemary demonstrate how to share Apple Watch faces with others while maintaining privacy by selectively sharing complication data.

Feedback
- Adam from Derby, England, asks for help with syncing custom ringtones and text tones across his iPhone, iPad Pro, and iPad Mini.
- Mikah suggests a ""nuclear option"" involving deleting and recreating the problematic contact to force a clean sync across all devices.
- Rosemary advises installing custom ringtones on all devices before assigning them to contacts and cautions that large contact images may interfere with syncing.

Shortcuts Corner
- Rosemary shares a handy shortcut for automatically changing your Apple Watch face based on your current Focus mode.
- She demonstrates how to customize watch faces for different Focus modes within the Settings app on an iPhone.
- Rosemary suggests creating variations of the same watch face with different color schemes to visually distinguish between Focus modes without drastically changing the overall design."

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, Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard explore Apple's powerful iWork suite of productivity apps. Learn why these free alternatives to Microsoft Office and Google Workspace deserve your attention. The hosts break down the advanced features of Pages for document creation, Numbers for spreadsheets and data visualization, and Keynote for stunning presentations.

• Feedback: Help for setting up an iPad and Apple ID for a 90-year-old parent
• Shortcuts Corner: Solutions for automatically reconnecting HomePods to a Mac after sleep using Keyboard Maestro

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].

Hosts Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard dive deep into Apple's powerful Continuity features, exploring the seamless integration between Apple devices. Learn how to master essential features like AirDrop, Universal Clipboard, and Handoff to boost your productivity. Don't forget Continuity Camera, iPhone mirroring to Mac, and Universal Control! Plus, get tips on using your iPad as a second display with Sidecar and leveraging Personal Hotspot sharing with family members.

In Feedback, the hosts address a viewer's question about iPhone 16 Pro Max speaker volume compared to its predecessor.

The Shortcuts Corner segment tackles a question about creating shortcuts for battery charging limits.

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].

Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard dive into the exciting new features headed to your Apple devices. From intelligent notification summaries to AI-powered focus modes, the hosts explore new tricks all iPhone users should try out!

In the Feedback segment, the duo tackles a tricky iMessage issue for users with multiple SIM cards, offering practical solutions to ensure seamless messaging across different cellular networks.

Shortcuts Corner brings you automation tips, including how to add pauses between RSS feed items in your morning routine and a clever way to manage weather notifications during sleep hours.

Plus, get the scoop on the newly announced iPad Mini featuring the powerful A17 Pro chip!

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].

Hosts Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard showcase must-have accessories to complement your latest Apple devices. Check out the MOFT Snap Flow, a versatile MagSafe-compatible notebook and stand, and get a look at Apple's clear case for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The duo also suggests Belkin's new AirPods cleaning kit, Anker's innovative dual USB-C cable, and Torras' ultra-slim MagSafe battery pack. Plus, take a peek at Anker's 3-in-1 foldable charging station for all your Apple gear.

In Feedback, they address improvements in iOS 18's autocorrect and predictive text features.

The Shortcuts Corner segment offers a solution for syncing work and personal calendars, perfect for busy professionals juggling multiple schedules!

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].