In this episode of iOS Today, hosts Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard dive deep into the world of HomePod and HomePod mini, revealing a treasure trove of tips and tricks. From setting alarms and using intercom features to leveraging built-in sensors and personal requests, the duo explores the full potential of Apple's smart speakers. The episode concludes with a Shortcuts Corner segment, addressing a viewer's question about customizing shortcut menu appearances.

HomePod Tips and Tricks:

• Setting alarms: Using voice commands or the Home app to set and manage alarms on HomePod
• Shazam integration: HomePod can identify songs playing nearby, though it doesn't save the results
• Temperature and humidity sensors: Newer HomePods can measure room conditions
• Intercom feature: Send voice messages to specific rooms or the entire house
• Ambient sounds: Apple's remastered soundscapes for relaxation and focus
• Personal requests: Access messages, reminders, calendars, and more through voice commands
• "What's my update?" feature: Get a personalized morning briefing including weather, reminders, and news
• Troubleshooting: Rosemary shares her experience with Siri weather responses and offers tips for resolving issues

Feedback:

• A listener wants to know how to omit BBEdit from constantly showing up as a "Recent" file

Shortcuts Corner:

• Custom menu images: A viewer asks how to add custom images to shortcut menus

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 iOSToday@TWiT.tv.

In this episode of iOS Today, hosts Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard unveil a treasure trove of hidden features and advanced tips for iOS and iPadOS devices. From transforming your on-screen keyboard into a precision text-editing tool to customizing contact notifications, the hosts cover many practical tips to enhance your Apple device experience. They also explore photo editing tricks, Wi-Fi password sharing, live captions in FaceTime, and creating shortcuts for health management.

• Keyboard tricks:
  • Using the spacebar as a trackpad for precise text editing
  • Quick-switching between letters, numbers, and symbols without changing keyboards
• Contact customization:
  • Setting personalized vibrations and ringtones for important contacts
  • Managing emergency bypass settings to prioritize notifications
• Photo management:
  • Copying text from screenshots when apps don't allow selection
  • Applying consistent edits across multiple photos
• iOS 17 features:
  • Streamlined two-factor authentication with automatic code-filling
  • Customizable home screen layouts and focus modes
• Communication enhancements:
  • Live captions in FaceTime calls
  • Replying to specific messages in iMessage threads

Feedback:

• Discussion on authentication for the new iPhone mirroring feature

Shortcuts Corner:

• Medication reminders:
  • Creating a shortcut to set alarms for medication schedules
• Nutritional tracking:
  • Developing a custom shortcut to log dietary information in the Health 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 iOSToday@TWiT.tv.

In this episode of iOS Today, hosts Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard dive into the second half of the 2024 Apple Design Award winners, covering the categories of Social Impact, Visuals and Graphics, and the new Spatial Computing category. They discuss standout apps and games that push the boundaries of design and functionality across Apple's platforms, including innovative uses of Apple Vision Pro technology.

Social Impact category winners:
Gentler Streak: A fitness app that takes a more compassionate approach to fitness tracking
The Wreck: A narrative game exploring themes of grief and sisterhood

Visuals and Graphics category winners:
Rooms: An 8-bit style room design app with social features
Lies of P: A Pinocchio-inspired action game with stunning visuals

Spatial Computing category winners:
djay: A DJ app that creates an immersive turntable experience in Apple Vision Pro
Blackbox: A puzzle game that cleverly uses device sensors and features

Shortcuts Corner:
Discussion of how to add custom app icons to shortcuts in iOS 17 and 18

Rosemary and Mikah also addressed a listener question about the potential of AI-enhanced Siri to provide personalized recommendations based on user data, discussing the possibilities and limitations of such features.

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 iOSToday@TWiT.tv.