Hands-On Mac (Video): Recent Episodes
TWiT
Get the most from your Mac! Hands-On Mac gives you all the info you need to use your MacBook, iMac, or Mac Pro to the fullest. Leo Laporte is your guide for all things Apple - from the best apps to the latest macOS time-saving tricks.
Although the show is no longer in production, you can enjoy episodes from the TWiT Archives.
Explore the full potential of Preview's Inspector tool on macOS, as Mikah demonstrates how to uncover detailed file information on both images and PDFs. With the Inspector, you can view metadata like creation dates, DPI, and file formats, alongside specialized EXIF and IPTC data for photos. Learn to manage keywords, add or remove annotations, and even apply PDF security settings. Ideal for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of file insights and data management in Preview.
View information about PDFs and images in Preview on Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/preview/view-information-about-pdfs-and-images-prvw9c94f0a4/11.0/mac/15.1
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Hands-on with macOS's Preview app takes annotation and signing to a new level as Mikah explores how to make the most of PDF form-filling, markup, and redaction features. Learn to add text, draw shapes, redact sensitive information, and even use Preview's built-in AutoFill to complete form fields with ease. Mikah demonstrates both trackpad and camera options for adding a signature, ensuring that your PDF interactions stay quick and seamless without third-party software. An essential guide to mastering macOS Preview's PDF tools.
Fill out and sign PDF forms in Preview on Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/preview/fill-out-and-sign-pdf-forms-prvw35725/11.0/mac/15.1
Annotate a PDF in Preview on Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/preview/annotate-a-pdf-prvw11580/11.0/mac/15.1
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Unleash the full potential of macOS's Preview app as Mikah explores how to combine, rearrange, and edit PDFs without needing third-party tools. From duplicating files to protect originals, deleting unnecessary pages, and mastering the Contact Sheet view for seamless page reordering, this episode is packed with practical tips. Mikah also demonstrates merging PDFs, helping you compile crucial information into a single document with just a few clicks. Perfect for anyone looking to streamline their workflow with Preview's often-overlooked PDF management features.
Combine PDFs in Preview on Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/preview/combine-pdfs-prvw43696/11.0/mac/15.0.1
Add, delete, or move PDF pages in Preview on Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/preview/add-delete-or-move-pdf-pages-prvw11793/11.0/mac/15.0
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Learn how to export PDFs like a pro using macOS's Preview app. This episode covers key tips on compressing PDFs, using Quartz filters for unique effects, and locking or password-protecting your documents to secure your content. Whether you're optimizing file sizes or preventing edits, this step-by-step guide will help you take control of your PDFs with ease.
Compress a PDF in Preview on Mac - https://support.apple.com/guide/preview/compress-a-pdf-prvw1509/11.0/mac/15.0.1
Add effects to a PDF in Preview on Mac - https://support.apple.com/guide/preview/add-effects-to-a-pdf-prvw1510/mac
Lock PDFs and images in Preview on Mac - https://support.apple.com/guide/preview/lock-pdfs-and-images-prvw35875/11.0/mac/15.0.1
Password-protect a PDF in Preview on Mac - https://support.apple.com/guide/preview/password-protect-a-pdf-prvw587dd90f/11.0/mac/15.0.1
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Just because you downloaded a JPG doens't mean you're stuck with a JPG. Mikah Sargent shows you how to use Preview on macOS to converte image file types, adjust image compression, and access hidden/legacy export options.
Convert image file types using Preview on Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/preview/convert-image-file-types-prvw1012/11.0/mac/15.0.1
Host: Mikah Sargent
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 might have heard about the new feature in macOS Sequoia, iOS 18, and iPadOS 18 that lets you schedule a message to send later, but have you figured out how to do it? Mikah Sargent shows you where to find the Send Later feature and shares everything you need to know about using it.
Schedule a message on Mac to send later - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/messages/send-later-icht113734b8/14.0/mac/15.0.1
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
With the introduction of macOS Sequoia comes the introduction of a monthly permissions prompt for Screen & System Audio Recording. Mikah Sargent shows you an app you can use to quickly and easily circumvent the monthly prompts.
Amnesia - https://goodsnooze.gumroad.com/l/amnesia?layout=profile
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Contrary to what an internet search might tell you, it's actually rather simple to reset your HomePod and HomePod mini. Mikah Sargent walks you through the process of factory resetting your HomePod speaker.
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
If you have an iPhone with the Dynamic Island, you may have noticed the flashlight controls look a little different from previous versions. Mikah Sargent shows you how to control the brightness and beam width of your flashlight in iOS 18 on an iPhone with the Dynamic Island.
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Mikah Sargent guides viewers through the intricate process of pre-ordering the latest iPhone model. This informative episode breaks down each step, from selecting device specifications to understanding trade-in options and AppleCare+ coverage. Viewers will learn valuable tips for navigating the Apple Store app, choosing financing options, and setting up calendar reminders to ensure a smooth pre-order experience.
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Privacy settings on macOS can be complex and confusing. Mikah Sargent breaks down each privacy option in the Settings app, explaining what they control and how they affect app permissions. From Location Services to Developer Tools, he covers the full spectrum of privacy settings, offering practical advice on when to grant or revoke app access. Viewers will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to manage their personal data and make informed decisions about app permissions on their Mac. This episode empowers users to take control of their privacy and security in macOS.
Change Privacy & Security settings on Mac - https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-privacy-security-settings-on-mac-mchl211c911f/14.0/mac/14.0
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
If you've been looking for a replacement for Mac Bartender, you're not alone. Mikah Sargent shows you the app he uses to keep his Mac Menu Bar organized: Hidden Bar.
Hidden Bar on the App Store - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hidden-bar/id1452453066?mt=12
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Apple just announced a new place to find and listen to your podcasts: Apple Podcasts on the Web. Mikah Sargent walks you through the new site, showing you how to play and follow podcasts just like you would in the Apple Podcasts app for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
Apple Podcasts on the web - Apple Podcasts for Creators - https://podcasters.apple.com/support/5462-apple-podcasts-available-on-the-web
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
If you hate getting charged for in-app subscriptions that you're no longer using, you need to audit your subscription list. Mikah Sargent walks you through the process of viewing, managing, and canceling your app subscriptions all from your iPhone's Settings app.
View or cancel app subscriptions on iPhone - https://support.apple.com/en-vn/guide/iphone/iph4e3e7324f/17.0/ios/17.0
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
On Hands-On Mac, Mikah demonstrates Mic Modes in macOS from his new recording room! These audio options are available during a user's video call (such as on Google Meet or FaceTime. The modes Mikah details include Standard, Voice Isolation, and Wide Spectrum.
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
In the latest beta of iOS 18, Apple has introduced the first Apple Intelligence features. Mikah Sargent demonstrates Apple's new Writing Tools, Siri's new look and some of its capabilities, Safari's summarization, and more.
Apple Intelligence Preview - Apple - https://www.apple.com/apple-intelligence/
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
When macOS Sequoia ships this fall, you'll be able to mirror — and control — your iPhone on your Mac. Now that the public beta of macOS Sequoia has shipped, Mikah Sargent shows you how to set up and use iPhone Mirroring on your Mac.
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
If you'd like to try out iOS & iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and more, you'll need to join the Apple Public Beta Program. Mikah Sargent shows you how to sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program, install public beta software, and — if you choose — unenroll from the program.
Apple Beta Software Program - https://beta.apple.com
Host: Mikah Sargent
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 join Apple's Developer program without needing to pay the annual account fee. Save for app distribution, a free Apple Developer account gives you access to the company's documentation, video resources, and beta software.
Apple Developer - https://developer.apple.com
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Discover the hidden potential of the iPhone 15 Pro's Action Button! Join Mikah Sargent as he reveals how to customize this versatile feature, from launching the camera and setting Focus Modes to activating accessibility tools and running personalized Shortcuts. Unlock new ways to make your iPhone work smarter for you in this detailed walkthrough.
Use and customize the Action button on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max - https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/action-button-iphone-15-pro-max-iphe89d61d66/ios
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Apple announced quite a few new features coming to its platforms in the Fall. Mikah Sargent shares the features exclusive to macOS Sequoia, including iPhone Mirroring, window tiling, background replacements, and more.
macOS Sequoia Preview - https://www.apple.com/macos/macos-sequoia-preview/
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
In this episode of Hands-On Mac, Mikah Sargent tackles the challenge of preventing your Mac from falling asleep during critical tasks. He begins by introducing the built-in "caffeinate" command in macOS, providing a step-by-step guide on how to use it to keep your Mac awake. Mikah explains the limitations of "caffeinate," such as its inconsistent performance and lack of advanced features. He then introduces Amphetamine, a robust third-party application available for free on the Mac App Store.
Mikah provides a detailed walkthrough of Amphetamine's features, including its ability to start sessions that prevent sleep based on various criteria: indefinitely, for a set time, while specific apps are running, or during downloads. He explores the app's customization options, such as quick settings, session defaults, triggers, and hotkeys, highlighting how these features offer more control and flexibility compared to the "caffeinate" command. Mikah discusses practical use cases for Amphetamine, like ensuring your Mac stays awake during long downloads, presentations, or video calls. The episode concludes with Mikah emphasizing the benefits of using Amphetamine to manage your Mac's sleep behavior more effectively and encouraging listeners to try the app for themselves.
Amphetamine - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/amphetamine/id937984704?mt=12
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
There may come a time when you're unable to use your voice to communicate with those around you. Your iPhone, iPad, and Mac have an accessibility feature called Personal Voice that lets you synthesize a voice that sounds similar to you, giving you the ability to communicate with others. Mikah Sargent walks you through the process of setting up a Personal Voice and using Live Speech to access it. You can use your Personal Voice for FaceTime calls, phone calls, in specific apps, and more!
Create a Personal Voice on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/en-us/104993
Use Live Speech on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/en-us/105018
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
After receiving a number of emails about scheduling Time Machine backups, Mikah Sargent has created an episode of Hands on Mac about TimeMachineEditor. TimeMachineEditor is an app whose sole purpose is to serve as a Time Machine backup scheduler. Mikah walks you through the process of setting up and scheduling Time Machine backups using the app.
TimeMachineEditor - https://tclementdev.com/timemachineeditor/
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Apple's latest Apple Pencil, the Apple Pencil Pro, includes several new features:
- Barrel roll: Rotating the barrel of the Appe Pencil changes the orientation of art tools.
- Squeeze: A gesture that opens a tool palette in Apple's built-in apps.
- Haptic feedback: Tiny taps and buzzes provide feedback when you squeeze and tap the Appe Pencil Pro.
- Find My: You can use the Find My app to find your missing Apple Pencil Pro. Mikah Sargent walks you through the new features of the Apple Pencil Pro as well as the settings for Apple Pencil on iPadOS.
Apple Pencil - https://www.apple.com/apple-pencil/
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Time Machine is a built-in back up tool for macOS that keeps multiple, browsable versions of your Mac as you make changes over time. Mikah Sargent walks you through the process of setting up, managing, and accessing your macOS Time Machine backups.
Back up your Mac with Time Machine - https://support.apple.com/en-us/104984
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Focus Modes give you the ability to silence notifications, filter apps, mute certain contacts, and more. Mikah Sargent walks you through the process of setting up a Focus and learning how to adjust Focus Modes.
Set up a Focus on Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-a-focus-to-stay-on-task-mchl613dc43f/14.0/mac/14.0
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Your Mac is capable of more than just screen sharing. Mikah Sargent walks you through the various network sharing options you have available to you in macOS Sonoma, including file, media, and Bluetooth sharing settings.
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Today's episode looks at a built-in app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It's Apple's Voice Memos! Mikah Sargent demonstrates how to get started with new vocal recordings on an iPhone, as well as relevant editing tools, sharing options, and important choices to make in Settings.
Make a recording in Voice Memos on iPhone - https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/make-a-recording-iph4d2a39a3b/ios
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Safari, like any modern web browser, offers support for third-party extensions. In this episode of Hands on Mac, Mikah Sargent walks you through the process of discovering, managing, installing, and using extensions in the Safari browser on macOS Sonoma.
Use Safari extensions on your Mac - https://support.apple.com/en-us/102343
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Assistive Access, a feature added in iOS 17, introduces a specialized version of iOS that simplifies the user experience. Built for those with cognitive disabilities, Assistive Access makes using an iPhone or iPad a much more focused experience. Mikah Sargent walks you through the process of enabling, configuring, and disabling Assistive Access on an iPhone running iOS 17.
Assistive Access User Guide - https://support.apple.com/guide/assistive-access-iphone/welcome/17.0/ios
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
If you've ever worried about handing over your phone to another person (a child, in particular), you might want to try Guided Access. The Accessibility feature allows you to lock down the functionality of your iPhone and limit its use to just one app. Mikah Sargent walks you through the process of setting up, using, and disabling Guided Access on your iPhone.
Use Guided Access with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - https://support.apple.com/en-us/111795
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Apple on March 5 introduced transcripts to Apple Podcasts. Mikah Sargent shows you how to view and interact with transcripts while explaining how they're created and when they'll be available. This episode also covers Apple Podcasts settings, including how to manage epiosode downloads and local storage.
Apple introduces transcripts for Apple Podcasts - https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/03/apple-introduces-transcripts-for-apple-podcasts/
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
With iMessage Contact Key Verification, you can add an extra layer of security to your iMessage conversations. The feature gives you the ability to confirm to whom you're speaking in an iMessage conversation. In this episode, Mikah Sargent walks you through the process of enabling and using iMessage Contact Key Verification.
About iMessage Contact Key Verification - https://support.apple.com/en-us/118246
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
Some apps you install on your Mac will run programs in the background. Mikah Sargent explains the difference between Launch Agents and Launch Daemons and shows you how to manage these services on your macOS devices.
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
When you navigate to the reset options on your iPhone or iPad, you're presented with a list of options for resetting different aspects of your device. Mikah Sargent explains what each reset option does and shows you how to perform the necessary reset for your scenario.
Return iPhone settings to their defaults - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/return-iphone-settings-to-their-defaults-iphea1c2fe48/ios#:~:text=Go%20to%20Settings%20%3E%20General%20%3E%20Transfer,of%20your%20content%20is%20removed.
If your iPhone or iPad won't connect to a Wi-Fi network - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/en-us/111786#:~:text=Reset%20your%20network%20settings,%3E%20Reset%20%3E%20Reset%20Network%20Settings.
Save keystrokes with text replacements on iPhone – Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iph6d01d862/ios#:~:text=Go%20to%20Settings%20%3E%20General%20%3E%20Transfer,returns%20to%20its%20default%20state.
Move apps and widgets on the Home Screen on iPhone – Apple Support (UK) - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iphd2fc8ce30/ios#:~:text=Go%20to%20Settings%20%3E%20General%20%3E%20Transfer,that%20came%20with%20your%20iPhone.
About privacy and Location Services in iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/en-us/102515#:~:text=If%20you%20would%20like%20to,until%20you%20grant%20them%20permission.
Host: Mikah Sargent
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.
We have a bit of news for you as you are watching this video. From now on, in this feed and in all of our public Hands-On Mac feeds, we are going to be releasing all episodes as audio-only. That's right, you can now easily access all of the episodes audio-only in your favorite podcast app.
Now, don't worry, if you are a video person, if you love to watch the videos, we do still have a way for you to do that, it's called Club TWiT! It's part of our plan to enhance and grow the club. It's what supports us. It what lets us keep doing what we do here.
So, if you'd like to see the video and you haven't joined yet, now is a great time! It's just $7 a month. Head over to https://twit.tv/clubtwit to sign up. Your support means everything to us.
You're okay with audio? Totally fine! You can keep listening in this feed for the audio. The video is at https://twit.tv/clubtwit.
We'll see you there!
With the launch of iOS 17 just around the corner, it's time to take a look at the exciting new features you can expect after you hit that update button. Mikah Sargent demonstrates several new features coming to iOS 17, including Contact Posters, Live Voicemail, audio message transcriptions, new features for Stickers, StandBy, interactive Widgets, improvements to autocorrect, and back-to-back requests to Siri.
iOS 17 makes iPhone more personal and intuitive
Host: Mikah Sargent
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Club TWiT members can discuss episodes in the Club TWiT Discord.
macOS has dozens of built-in keyboard shortcuts that make it possible to skip out on mousing altogether. Discovering those keyboard shortcuts, however, can be a challenge. Mikah Sargent shows you macOS's preset keyboard shortcuts for editing and navigating document text. In no time, you'll be moving through and selecting lines, words, and paragraphs of text at the tap of a key combination.
Mac keyboard shortcuts
Host: Mikah Sargent
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Club TWiT members can discuss episodes in the Club TWiT Discord.
Mikah Sargent guides you through the process of creating a bootable installer for macOS Ventura. We'll cover downloading the installer from the Mac App Store, formatting your USB drive, and creating the bootable installer. This is useful for those who want to do a clean install, or have a backup of their operating system. By the end, you'll have a functional bootable installer that can be used to install macOS Ventura on any compatible Mac.
Host: Mikah Sargent
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Club TWiT members can discuss episodes in the Club TWiT Discord.
Apple Music listeners, listen up! If you've been experiencing FOMO as Spotify subscribers post and share their Spotify Wrapped, this episode of Hands-on Mac is for you. Apple Music has a music listening retrospective of its own called Apple Music Replay. Mikah Sargent walks you through the process of signing in, viewing, and sharing your Apple Music Replay for 2022.
Host: Mikah Sargent
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Club TWiT members can discuss episodes in the Club TWiT Discord.
How do you uninstall applications on your Mac? How do you make sure deleted files are truly, fully deleted? How do you troubleshoot a poor internet connection? Chances are you're using multiple apps and utilities to complete tasks on your Mac that could all be handled by CleanMyMac X. This week, Mikah Sargent explains why CleanMyMac X — despite unfairly being lumped in with low-quality, multi-utility apps — is good, actually. The app can help you solve all sorts of problems on macOS, help you speed up your system, and make sure you've fully uninstalled apps you're looking to get rid of.
Host: Mikah Sargent
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Club TWiT members can discuss episodes in the Club TWiT Discord.
Apple will release macOS Ventura at some point in the fall, but that doesn't mean you have to wait to see some of the exciting new features in action. Mikah Sargent takes you through some of the most interesting new features of macOS Ventura, including Continuity Camera, Stage Manager, the all-new Weather app and Clock app, and more.
Host: Mikah Sargent
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Club TWiT members can discuss episodes in the Club TWiT Discord.
Hands-On Mac 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 Mac is your one-stop shop for Apple know-how.
You can still get legacy episodes of HOM for free on your favorite podcast apps. The new versions of Hands-On Mac are only available ad-free on Club TWiT or Apple Podcasts. You can join Club TWiT for $7 a month and get everything the club offers or just get the podcast for $2.99 a month. You can also get the ad-free audio versions for $2.99 a month on Apple Podcasts.
Host: Mikah Sargent
Leo Laporte gives his thoughts on Apple's new M1 MacBooks and what it means for the future of the Mac.
Get the new Apple MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Chip: https://amzn.to/3ntda8c
Get "In the Beginning...was the Command Line" by Neal Stephenson: https://amzn.to/3h0Yknc
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Leo Laporte shares a must-have app for macOS, iStat Menus from Bjango. This system monitoring app gives you real-time info on your Mac's stats, including a CPU monitor, GPU, memory, network usage, disk usage, disk activity, battery, and more.
Get iStat Menus: https://bjango.com/mac/istatmenus/
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* LastPass.com/twit
Want to know what's new with macOS Big Sur? Watch this!
- New features:
- Control center and the menu bar
- Notification center and widgets
- Messages
- Photos
- Time Machine and APFS
- New wallpapers and new sounds (including the startup chime!)
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* itpro.tv/twit promo code TWIT30
Here's a tool that comes with every Macintosh - the Mac Activity Monitor. It's a lot more useful than you might think!
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* peakdesign.com/twit
macOS Big Sur is here! now you have to keep it secure. Here are some easy ways (and some pretty tricky ways) to keep your Mac safe. You have a lot of security options with macOS Big Sur, and third party software can give you even more options.
- Use secure passwords. To keep your information safe, you should use passwords to secure your Mac, and choose passwords that can't be easily guessed. See Tips for creating secure passwords and Learn how passwords are used.
- Require users to log in. If others can get physical access to your Mac, you should set up separate users for each person using the Mac, and require each user to log in. This prevents an unauthorized person from using the Mac. It also separates user files, so users only have access to their own personal files and settings. Users cannot see or modify the files or settings of other users. See Set up users, guests, and groups.
- Secure your Mac when it's idle. You can set your Mac to log out the current user if the Mac has been inactive for a certain period of time. See Set your Mac to log out when not in use. You should also require a password to wake it from sleep or from the screen saver. See Require a password after waking your Mac. For convenience, you can set up a hot corner to click whenever you want to immediately lock your screen. See Use hot corners to start the screen saver.
- Limit the number of administrative users. One or more people can have administrator privileges for a Mac. By default, the administrator is the person who initially set up the Mac.
- Administrators can create, manage, and delete other users, install and remove software, and change settings. For these reasons, an administrator should create a standard user account to use when administrator privileges are not needed. If the security of a standard user is compromised, the potential harm is far more limited than if the user has administrator privileges. If multiple people use your Mac, limit the number of users with administrator privileges. See Set up users, guests, and groups.
- Encrypt the data on your Mac with FileVault. If you have private or confidential information on your Mac, you can use FileVault encryption to protect that information from being seen or copied. FileVault encodes the information stored on your Mac so it is locked and cannot be read unless the login password is entered.
- Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
- LastPass.com/twit
Here is everything you need to know to install macOS 11 Big Sur.
- Make sure you watch all the previous Road to Big Sur episodes first!
- Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* itpro.tv/twit promo code TWIT30
Remember, I'm doing a clean install. To speed up the setup, I want an inventory of all my installed apps and configurations.
- If you've installed
masusingbrew, you have a command-line interface to your App store installs. Andbrew bundle dump —all —description —forcewill write a list of everything you've installed from brew and the app store tobrewfilein your home directory. Save that! - Running brew bundle install will reinstall everything (you might want to edit the list first to avoid reinstalling stuff you don't want)
- But what about apps you installed by hand. There's no easy way to reinstall them, but at least you can get a complete list of everything you've installed with a simple terminal command
ls -la /Applications/ > Installed-Apps.txt- Now that you have a list of installed apps you might want to save configuration files. You'll have to do that manually for GUI apps, but in most cases, they store these files in Library/ApplicationSupport - remember there are two Library folders, the system-wide folder in the root directory, and the Library in your home directory. Make a copy of both and store them on an external drive.
- If you've moved your Home directory to a separate partition or drive your ~/Library will be preserved. So no need to worry about that. Just make a copy of the system-wide ApplicationSupport folder.
- CLI programs usually store their configurations as hidden files in your Home folder. These files usually begin with a dot. You can see them with the following command:
ls -ld *.- As you can see many of my dotfiles are really aliases to files stored in a folder called Sync. This is where Syncthing comes in handy
- Dotfiles often contain private information, like PGP private-keys and mail passwords that you wouldn't want to store on a public server. Instead I sync them to a shared folder available on all my systems. That way I always have access to dotfiles I want to use on all my machines, but I keep them away from prying eyes. I've written a little shell script to automatically alias them when setting up a new machine. Remember aliases?
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
- peakdesign.com/twit
I have mentioned that this time I'm going to do a clean install of Big Sur, but even if you're going to just upgrade on top of your old macOS it's very important to make a backup of your system. Now is also a good time to think about your backup strategy.
- https://dpbestflow.org/links/39
- FireCuda Gaming Dock 4TB at https://amzn.to/37u2tgF (affiliate)
- Use Optimized Data to move stuff off your Mac to make room
- Hit About This Mac under the Apple icon, select storage, and hit manage.
- Get ready for a clean install
- Update brewfile
- Update time machine
- Make a full image backup
- Make an image of your data disk
- Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* peakdesign.com/twit
Is Big Sur compatible with your old Mac apps? Find out all the answers in this episode of Hands-On Mac.
Who can run Big Sur? Just because you're running Catalina does NOT mean you can run macOS 11. Apple says these systems will work:
- MacBook, 2015 and later
- MacBook Air, 2013 and later
- MacBook Pro, late 2013 and later
- Mac Mini, 2014 and later
- iMac, 2014 and later
- iMac Pro (all models), 2017 and later
- Mac Pro, 2013 and later
Free space requirements
- 50.33GB looks to be the minimum Fresh Install Space Requirement?
- 12.5GB of Available storage Space = Fresh Install? (Catalina Requirement)
- 18.5GB of Available storage space = For Upgrade? (Catalina Requirement)
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
When you upgrade to Big Sur, think about starting from scratch. Here's step one of how to prepare:
- Move your data to a new drive
- Create a ghost user account in the internal hard drive
- Create a copy of the home directory on the external drive
- Get the 970 EVO Plus SSD at https://amzn.to/3iPokBi (affiliate)
- Get the OWC Express 4M2 at https://amzn.to/2Ic2nj6 (affiliate)
- Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* LastPass.com/twit
The first part of Mac OS 11 Big Sur is already here: Safari 14! Here's what's new:
- Customizable Start Page
- Privacy Report
- Improved Tabs Design
- Improved Extensions Support
- Choose your own search engine
- New security and privacy features
- Stop getting annoying website notification popups
- Turn off autoplay video and audio
- Kill pop-up windows
- Custom style sheets
- Develop menu
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* itpro.tv/twit promo code TWIT30
A Better Finder Attributes Core features:
- batch change file creation date and time
- batch change file modification date and time
- batch adjust the Exchangeable Image File (EXIF) time & date that pictures were shot to compensate for timezones or incorrectly set camera clocks
- set the creation date of a digital camera picture file to the time the picture was taken
- show invisible files in the Finder
- remove invisible files (including .DS_Store) from entire folder hierarchies
- EXIF date writing support for JPEG (modification of existing timestamps only), CR2, CRW, and CIFF files
- EXIF date reading support for JPEG, CRW, CR2, THM, NEF, digital camera TIFF, RAF, ORF, MRW, SRF, PEF, CIFF and DNG
- "remove" file creation and/or creation dates so that they display as "---" in the Finder
- add or subtract time intervals to the modification date and time
- add or subtract time intervals to the creation date and time
- make file creation and modification date the same
- set or clear the "hide file extension" flag
- set or clear the "lock" flag
- set the Mac 9-style creator and type codes of documents
- Get the program at https://www.publicspace.net/ABetterFinderAttributes/features.html
- Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
- LastPass.com/twit
- Work in multiple spaces on Mac
- If the desktop on your Mac gets cluttered with open app windows, you can use Mission Control to create additional desktops, called spaces, to organize the windows. When you work in a space, you see only the windows that are in that space.
- If your Mac has a Touch Bar, you can set an option in Keyboard preferences to show spaces in the Touch Bar. Then just tap a space to open it.
- If you assign an app (or System Preferences) to a specific space, the app will always open in that space.
- Use apps in Split View on Mac
- Many apps on your Mac support Split View mode, where you can work in two apps side by side at the same time.
- To use apps in Split View on other displays, make sure the "Displays have separate Spaces" tick box is selected in Mission Control preferences.
- Third-Party Solutions
- Magnet https://apps.apple.com/us/app/magnet/id441258766?mt=12
- Moom https://apps.apple.com/us/app/moom/id419330170?mt=12
- Tiles https://freemacsoft.net/tiles/
- Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
- LastPass.com/twit
Syncthing, a free open-source program, syncs multiple computers securely. Use it for backup, file sharing, or to keep the same files on all your computers - Mac, PC, and Linux. Leo gives a demonstration by setting up some synchronization between his devices.
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* LastPass.com/twit
On macOS the Finder is the program that runs all the time. With it, you can manage files, launch applications, and as we've learned, automate many of the tasks you perform all the time. Learning to use the Finder more effectively can make a big difference in how happy you are with your Mac. So here are some tips from a variety of sources. Some you may know, some you may not.
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* LastPass.com/twit
Now it's time to really make folder actions sing with your own custom code. You can do this in Automator or Applescript (easier), or using a scripting language like shell, python, or Perl (advanced).
Follow these steps in order:
Create a script with Script Editor or another script application.
-
- In that script, write a handler that conforms to the syntax documented here for the `[adding folder items to] ' folder action. Your handler can use the aliases that are passed to it to access the image files dropped on the folder.
-
- Save the script as a compiled script or script bundle.
-
- Put a copy of the script in
/Library/Scripts/Folder Action Scriptsor~/Library/Scripts/Folder Action Scripts.
- Put a copy of the script in
-
- Use the Folder Actions Setup application, located in
/Applications/AppleScript, to:
- Use the Folder Actions Setup application, located in
- a. Enable folder actions for your image folder.
- b. Add a script to that folder, choosing the script you created
- Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
- LastPass.com/twit
Before we go too crazy creating scripts to attach to your folder actions let me show you the easiest way to automate your mac: a little utility called Hazel.
Hazel watches whatever folders you tell it to, automatically organizing your files according to the rules you create. Have Hazel move files around based on name, date, type, what site it came from, and much more. Automatically sort your movies or file your bills. Keep your files off the desktop and put them where they belong.
https://www.noodlesoft.com/
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* LastPass.com/twit
From the TWiT Community forums, MrHomebrew says: "I've used a Mac for a while now (since 10.2) and have some geek cred, but I've never utilized folder actions and would love to hear Leo's take on how useful they can be."
Leo dives into Folder Actions and how to get started with them on macOS!
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* LastPass.com/twit
From zapping the P-RAM to booting in safe mode, these are the secret key combinations handed down from Mac guru to guru. If your Mac is having trouble, give them a try!
Mac startup key combinations
To use any of these key combinations, press and hold the keys immediately after pressing the power button to turn on your Mac, or after your Mac begins to restart. Keep holding until the described behavior occurs.
- Command (⌘)-R: Start up from the built-in macOS Recovery system. Or use Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R to start up from macOS Recovery over the Internet. macOS Recovery installs different versions of macOS, depending on the key combination you use while starting up. If your Mac is using a firmware password, you're prompted to enter the password.
- Here's how to set a firmware password: Go into recovery mode, look in the Utilities Menu
- Option (⌥) or Alt: Start up to Startup Manager, which allows you to choose other available startup disks or volumes. If your Mac is using a firmware password, you're prompted to enter the password.
- Option-Command-P-R: Reset NVRAM or PRAM. If your Mac is using a firmware password, it ignores this key combination or starts up from macOS Recovery.
- Shift (⇧): Start up in safe mode. Disabled when using a firmware password.
- D: Start up to the Apple Diagnostics utility. Or use Option-D to start up to this utility over the Internet. Disabled when using a firmware password.
- N: Start up from a NetBoot server, if your Mac supports network startup volumes. To use the default boot image on the server, hold down Option-N instead. Disabled when using a firmware password.
- Command-S: Start up in single-user mode. Disabled in macOS Mojave or later, or when using a firmware password.
- T: Start up in target disk mode. Disabled when using a firmware password.
- Command-V: Start up in verbose mode. Disabled when using a firmware password.
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
- GetRoman.com/HOM
Here's how to use Homebrew and the Terminal command line to quickly install fonts.
Leo likes to use Fish, but you can use Bash as well.
- If you haven't already, install and update Brew and its cask feature.
- Then type the following into the Terminal command line:
- brew update
- brew tap homebrew/cask
- brew tap homebrew/cask-fonts
- brew search font-
- brew search font- | less
- brew search nerd-font | less
- brew cask install font-fira-code
- brew cask install font-daddytimemono-nerd-font
- for $font in (brew search nerd-font) ; brew cask install $font ; end
- And then go get a cup of coffee!
Here's some more information on installing fonts from the command line: https://corgibytes.com/blog/2020/01/29/install-fonts-on-your-mac-from-the-command-line-with-homebrew/
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
- LastPass.com/twit
Sick of paying for Ringtones? You can make any song a ringtone for free on your Mac! Here's how:
Open Apple Music, or iTunes on older Macs.
- Open Music -> Preferences click Files, click Import Settings and choose AAC Encoder, High-Quality 128k
- Select a track to use as the source.
- On the Get Info > Options tab set start and stop times to 40 seconds or less
- Use File > Convert > Create AAC version.
- Right-click on the new copy and click Show in Windows Explorer or Finder.
- Change the file extension from .m4a to .m4r. (You may need to adjust folder options to see the extensions.)
- Now connect your phone and drag the m4r file to it.
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* GetRoman.com/HOM
- Want to learn some powerful Mac keyboard shortcuts and how to create your own?
- Last week we spent some time in the Keyboard system preference pane, but you may have noticed many more features in there. Let's explore.
- Keyboard → Modifier Keys
- Text - abbreviations and completions
- Shortcuts - macOS comes with a ton of keyboard shortcuts, but you can add your own, or modify them as needed here
- If you want to create a keyboard shortcut to launch an application or perform a more complex action use Automator.
- Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* LastPass.com/twit
- As usual, go to the Accessibility System Preference pane to see Speech option.
- Select the "Speak selected text when the key is pressed" checkbox. By default, speaking is enabled when you press Option-Esc.
- Choose a voice. Alex is the default but there are many others.
- For full screen-reading capability (like JAWS) you can turn on voice over.
- If you'd like to convert web pages and text tiles to recordings stored in Apple Music, open the Keyboard system preference pane and select the Shortcuts tab. Tap "Services" on the left and you'll see a variety of useful services you can add to the Services menu. On Catalina and later look for "Add to Music as Spoken Track" in previous versions of macOS it will say iTunes instead. You can even add a keyboard shortcut. Look for the Services entry under the Applications main menu. In the Text section, you'll find an entry to add the selected text to Music. You can also right-click on a text selection in some apps (the Services menu isn't always available as a right-click, however).
- If you do this a lot or want to convert a number of files from text to speech at once, you can create an Automator app to do this, too.
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac.
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
- GetRoman.com/HOM
Should you buy a Mac now? Should you wait for the new Apple Silicon Macs? Here's what we think.
TWiT's Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac.
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* LastPass.com/twit
- Dictate your messages and documents on Mac
- Say the name of the punctuation mark, such as "exclamation mark."
- Say "new line" (equivalent to pressing the Return key once) or "new paragraph" (equivalent to pressing the Return key twice). After you say "new line," the dictated text appears when you're done dictating.
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* LastPass.com/twit
An alias can be used anywhere you can use a file or folder
- Soft Links (ln -s original alias)
- can cross the file system,
- allows you to link between directories,
- has different inode number and file permissions than original file,
- permissions will not be updated,
- has only the path of the original file, not the contents.
- Hard Links (ln original copy)
- can't cross the file system boundaries (i.e. A hardlink can only work on the same filesystem),
- can't link directories,
- has the same inode number and permissions of original file,
- permissions will be updated if we change the permissions of source file,
- has the actual contents of original file, so that you still can view the contents, even if the original file moved or removed.
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac.
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
- itpro.tv/twit use the code TWIT30
- Steve Jobs loved typefaces and typography. He says his love began when he audited a calligraphy course at Reed College. I'm glad he did because one of the things that have distinguished the Mac since its beginning is its beautiful typefaces.
- macOS comes with hundreds of beautiful fonts, but you may be interested to learn that if you have macOS Catalina, and I know you do by now, there are a dozen more hidden fonts that are just a download away. Some of these fonts are for other languages, Korean and Arabic, but most are beautiful fonts Apple licensed from prominent font works but didn't actually install, possibly to save space.
- You can browse them by opening Font Book. When you see a font that's grayed out, you can install it by right-clicking and selecting Download from the menu.
- I particularly like Canela, Publico, and Quotes. If you're worried about space you can also use font book to delete any fonts you don't want, especially any non-Roman fonts you know you won't need.
- In the past having too many fonts could slow down machines considerably, but our modern Macs seem to be able to handle the giant library with aplomb. My system has nearly 300 fonts installed. Some of which I added myself. I collect Fixed Width fonts, because, as you know, I like to code. My current favorite programmers' font is the free Input from David Jonathan Ross and Font Bureau.
- If like me, you love fonts, and if you feel like you have too many, or your Mac boot times are suffering, you can remove all but the official set using the Font book File→Restore Standard Fonts... command. It won't delete your added fonts forever, just move them into a folder. You can re-add them one by one or in one fell swoop at any time. There's also a Validate command that you might use if ever a font gives you trouble. Modern fonts are essentially little programs, and a poorly or maliciously designed font can wreak havoc on your system, so always get fonts from trusted sources, and validate them before installing.
- And if you ever want to start a conversation with a programmer, just ask her what her favorite coding font is. Then grab a cup of tea, it's going to take some time.
- For extra typography goodness, I recommend the book "Stop Stealing Sheep" by Erik Spiekermann and E.M. Ginger.
- And most importantly, a profound thank you to Steve Jobs, whose love for calligraphy got this all started.
- Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
- expressvpn.com/hom
The macOS filesystem is trickier than it looks! But once you know a few simple things, finding files on your Mac can be easy. Here is one place to start - Apple documents its file system here: https://twit.to/hom12
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac.
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* expressvpn.com/hom
- In years past programs like Duet Display and the hardware-based Luna Display let Mac users use their iPads as second displays. But these programs were "Sherlocked" by Apple when they released Sidecar for MacOS Catalina and iOS 13.
- Duet and Luna are still around because they can do different things than Sidecar. For example, Duet works with Windows 10 as well as macOS. And Luna doesn't require the Mac and iPad use the same iCloud account. Both work with older versions of macOS, as well.
- But if you're using Catalina and a late-model Mac and iPad, Sidecar is already installed and worth a try. Let me show you how Sidecar works, and a few tricks you can use to make it even better.
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:* itpro.tv/twit use the code TWIT30
- Filevault is Apple's proprietary full-disk encryption technology. It uses XTS-AES encryption, the industry-standard used by Microsoft's BitLocker, and the open-source Veracrypt among many others. It's fast, secure, and thanks to hardware support built-into all Macs with the T2 chip, it protects you without impacting efficiency or performance. Filevault is so efficient that it's on by default on all Macs sold today.
- Why would you want to turn on Filevault on an older Mac? Suppose you lose your Mac. Anyone who has it could bypass your account login and access the disk directly. Which means anything your store on your hard drive would be vulnerable. Modern smartphones are encrypted, so should be the drive on your Mac.
- Macs shipped with OS X Lion and later offer Filevault 2 - and that's the version we're referring to here. The original version was fairly limited. Filevault 2 is a great choice for all Mac users.
- When FileVault is enabled the system invites the user to create a master password for the computer. If a user password is forgotten, the master password or recovery key may be used to decrypt the files instead.
- Launch System Preferences.
- Select Security & Privacy.
- Click the Lock icon to enable changes.
- Read the WARNING.
- Click Turn On FileVault.
- You must make a choice on whether you want to use your iCloud account as a key to unlock your encrypted disk or to create a recovery key. If you plan on having highly sensitive data that you want to ensure that no one but you can get access to, the select to create a recovery key. Otherwise choose to Allow my iCloud Account to unlock my disk.
- If you've chosen to create a recovery key you must store it in a safe place not on your hard drive where you'll be able to retrieve it for recovery purposes. Otherwise your data will be unrecoverable.
- Instead of using FileVault to encrypt a user's home directory, using Disk Utility a user can create an encrypted disk image themselves and store any subset of their home directory in there (for example, ~/Documents/private). This encrypted image behaves similar to a Filevault encrypted home directory but is under the user's maintenance.
- Users who use FileVault 2 in OS X 10.9 and above can validate their key correctly works after encryption by running sudo fdesetup validaterecovery in Terminal after encryption has finished. The key must be in form xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx and will return true if correct.
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
- LastPass.com/twit
This episode requires Homebrew, so if you haven't yet installed it, watch last week's Hands on Mac and install it now.
Then open the Terminal and type
homebrew bundle
to install the bundler.
If you've been using homebrew you can automatically write a bundle with the command
brew bundle dump
add the —describe switch to get a comment before each item in the brewfile describing its use
brew bundle dump —describe
Last week we mentioned a cool tool called mas - if you've installed it you can also use brewfiles to install Mac App Store apps. brew bundle dump will automatically add these to your brewfile.
Save your brewfile to iCloud or locally and now when you set up a new Mac you can use it to automatically install everything.
Once you've created a brewfile, updating brew is as simple as issuing the command brew bundle.
Thanks to brew and mas, updating your Mac system entirely is as simple as:
sudo softwareupdate -ia —verbose ; brew bundle -v ; brew cleanup ; brew doctor —verbose
softwareupdate is a built-in MacOS command to update the system from the command line. To see which updates are needed type
softwareupdate -l
it will also let you know whether a reboot will be required
the -i switch can be used to specify individual components to be updated, -ia says update them all.
We covered the brew commands last week.
Combining softwareupdate with brew bundle -v will upgrade everything on your system that's been installed using mas or brew, too.
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac.
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
- expressvpn.com/hom
Homebrew Installs Apps from the Terminal
Host: Leo Laporte
For full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac/episodes/8
Sponsor:* hover.com/twit
The only problem with the Mac's GUI interface is that it may take some digging to find the file or application you want to use. But Apple has a fix for that: Spotlight, and it's the easiest way to open anything on your Mac.
Press command-space and start typing. You can launch applications, documents, even emails, with a few keystrokes. Command-option-space launches a Finder window for searching.
But there are a few little known shortcuts that make Spotlight even more useful.
- Use the kind: keyword to narrow down your search:
- kind:audio
- kind:folders
- kind:app
- kind:email
- To find the location of a file, select it on the list then hit the Command key. The full directory will show up in the status bar. Command-R opens the file location (not the file)
- You can look up definitions by typing a word
- Type
- Use it as a calculator
- Type 2 + 2
- Convert units
- Search for movie showtimes, weather, and places near me
- Type movies
- Type weather
- Type drugstores
- Search for flight information by entering the airline and flight number
- United 30
- Or a stock price
- aapl
- Search for contact information by typing a name
To limit the searches Spotlight can make, check the Spotlight system preferences. You can also change the key command.
If you like what spotlight can do, there's a third-party app, Alfred, that does even more!
https://www.alfredapp.com/
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Discuss episodes in the TWiT Community.
Sponsor:
- itpro.tv/twit use the code TWIT30
Leo looks at the new Macbook Air, the good, the bad, and the ugly webcam.
Starting at $999 ($899 education pricing) with dual-core 1.1Ghz i3, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage in Silver, Space Gray, and Gold.
My machine, as configured, with quad-core 1.2 Ghz i7, 16 GB RAM, and 1 TB storage, $1849
All models include real ESC key and TouchID (no TouchBar) and two T3 ports on the left, headphone jack on the right.
The new Magic keyboard with scissor switches isn't the best I've ever used, but it's usable, and a major upgrade from the 2018 model.
There are no surprises here. It's a Macbook Air, with a better keyboard.
Nevertheless, if you love the Macbook Air, the first ultrabook, which I do, it's great and I'm very happy to be able to recommend it again.
Pros:
- Great 16:10 screen (2560x1600) with TrueTone
- All-day battery life
- Usable keyboard
- Super thin and light
Cons:
- Y-Series Ice Lake chips are not super fast
- No Wi-Fi 6
- Lackluster camera with no shutter
- Only two T3 ports, and they're both on the same side!
- Totally non-upgradable
- Expensive
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Sponsor:
- LastPass.com/twit
Did you know that hidden in your Mac is a powerful Unix-style command line? Open up the Terminal, and try out these simple commands:
cd: change directory
ls: list the current directory's contents
chmod: change the permissions of the files in this directory
man: gives a manual on how to use any command
tldr: Too Long; Didn't Read - gives a short and simple description of any command
sudo: do a command as the superuser (admin)
rm: remove file or directory - be careful with this one!
sudonvram StartupMute=%00: turns on the "bong" when you start up your mac
sudonvram StartupMute=%01: turns off the "bong" when you start up your mac
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac. Come back next week for more fun!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Sponsor:* itpro.tv/twit use the code TWIT30
Hidden deep in your Mac lies a Linux command line. Welcome to the Terminal: the most powerful tool on your Mac that you aren't using! On this episode of Hands-on Mac, Leo runs you through some basic commands: how to change directories with cd, list their contents with ls, and get help with man.
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac!
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Sponsor:* hover.com/twit
Gatekeeper is a behind the scenes utility that first shipped in Mountain Lion. It's designed to protect you from rogue programs and verify downloads before you run them to keep you safe. It's probably the single most important and powerful defense against malware on macOS. But it can get in your way when you are trying to install programs that don't come from Apple. In Catalina, Apple dialed up the safety to 11. They took away the ability to install programs from anywhere. Only programs that have been approved by Apple can be installed on your Mac. Unless.... you dive into the terminal and try this handy command.
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac.
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Sponsor:* expressvpn.com/hom
The best outbound firewall for Mac! Apple's macOS comes with an excellent firewall that blocks inbound traffic, but what about outbound traffic? The first thing malware installed on your Mac will do is contact a command and control server. For that reason, it's also good to have outbound protection. Enter Lulu.
For years I've recommended Little Snitch to do this, but it's not free, and it can really swamp you with connection requests. Too many warnings are almost as bad as too few. We get warning fatigue and start to ignore the pop-ups, click OK too quickly, or uninstall the app altogether.
Lulu is free from former NSA hacker, and Mac utility guru, Patrick Wardle.
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac.
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac.
folivora.ai - Great Tools for your Mac!
For a long time, I thought the MacBook Pro Touchbar was a useless gimmick. Until I found BetterTouchTool. $7 for two years. Or $21 for a lifetime license.
Now my Touchbar is actually useful. But BTT takes some time to configure. You can get it just how you want it - with a couple of hours of fiddling - or you can download the free GoldenChaos toolbar and be ready to go in minutes. To give you an idea of all the useful features of BTT let's take a tour.
GoldenChaos is pretty useful out of the box, but there are some things you'll want to play with. Open the BTT preferences and prepare to be overwhelmed. This is the biggest preference dialogue I've ever seen.
The first thing I always do is turn off Siri! I don't know about you but I hit Siri by accident all the time, interrupting my work, and forcing me to interact with the world's thickest personal assistant. One thing you'll notice is that GoldenChaos is actually several toolbars in one. Press a modifier key to get an alternate toolbar.
Get BetterTouchTool: https://twit.to/hom1a
Get GoldenChaos-BTT: https://twit.to/hom1b
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Leo Laporte gives you helpful tips to get the most from your Mac every week on Hands-On Mac.
Host: Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac