In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah Sargent answers a question from Dave about trying to control a fan from their Apple Watch.

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Host: Mikah Sargent

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This week on Tech News Weekly, Mikah Sargent and Emily Forlini explore RFK Jr.'s ambitious plan to get health trackers on every American's wrist, Apple's CarPlay Ultra facing resistance from automakers, landmark AI copyright rulings, and Fairphone's latest sustainable smartphone offering.

• RFK Jr.'s Wearable Health Initiative - Emily Forlini discusses the HHS Secretary's vision for every American to wear health trackers within four years, examining both the potential benefits of democratizing health data and concerns about privacy, data collection, and the government outsourcing public health monitoring to tech companies.
• Apple CarPlay Ultra vs. Automakers - Mikah explores Apple's ambitious expansion beyond infotainment to control entire car dashboards, revealing which manufacturers are embracing or rejecting the technology, and discussing the fundamental question of who should own the in-car experience - tech companies, automakers, or consumers.
• AI Copyright Rulings Shake Tech Industry - WIRED's Kate Knibbs breaks down two precedent-setting court decisions involving Meta and Anthropic, explaining how judges ruled AI training as "transformative" fair use while leaving the door open for piracy-related damages that could reach into the trillions.
• Fairphone 6: Sustainability Meets Modularity - Will Sattelberg from 9to5Google showcases the latest repairable smartphone featuring modular backplates, a dedicated "Moments" mode for digital wellness, and an ambitious 8-year software support promise, though US availability remains limited.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Emily Forlini

Guests: Kate Knibbs and Will Sattelberg

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Struggling with slow Wi-Fi and apps that won't load properly on your iPhone or iPad? Mikah Sargent shares a look at the hidden Wi-Fi settings that could be sabotaging your internet experience, uncovering the specific toggles that might be causing Instagram videos to stop mid-scroll and social media sites to fail loading.

Managing Saved Networks - How to view and connect to your commonly used networks, plus adding hidden networks that don't broadcast their SSID

"Ask to Join Networks" Settings - Why Mikah chooses "Off" to avoid constant network prompts

Auto-Join Hotspot Feature - How your device can automatically connect to personal hotspots and when to use "Ask to Join" vs "Automatic"

Network Management with Face ID - Using the Edit button to access your complete network history stored in iCloud Keychain and removing unwanted connections

Auto-Join Problems - Why devices sometimes connect to guest networks instead of main networks and how to prevent this frustrating issue

Low Data Mode - A crucial setting for hotspots and limited data connections that disables background tasks like photo syncing and automatic updates

Private Wi-Fi Address Explained - How MAC address randomization protects your privacy but can cause connection issues with certain networks that use MAC filtering

IP Address Tracking - Why Apple's "Limit IP Address Tracking" feature (a premium service) often causes slow connections and social media loading failures

Host: Mikah Sargent

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Spring cleaning in the summer? Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard roll up their sleeves to tackle both physical and digital device maintenance, sharing expert tips for getting your Apple gear spotless inside and out.

• Physical iPhone cleaning - Apple's official recommendations for safe disinfecting using 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes and Clorox wipes, while avoiding bleach and hydrogen peroxide that can damage device coatings
• Specialized cleaning tools - iFixit's Precision Cleaning Kit featuring tiny brushes, foam-tipped swabs, and contact cleaner for getting into speaker grills and ports
• Digital decluttering - MacPaw's app CleanMyPhone uses AI to find duplicate photos, similar shots, and organize camera rolls while supporting Ukrainian developers
• Mass app deletion strategy - Using Apple Configurator to quickly remove unused apps in bulk, with Rosemary demonstrating how she went from 827 apps to a more manageable number
• AirPods deep cleaning - Apple's specific instructions for cleaning earwax buildup using micellar water and distilled water to break down waxes without damaging the mesh speakers
• Case and accessory maintenance - Importance of removing iPhone cases regularly to clean both the device and case interior, plus organizing charging cables in labeled mesh bags
• Cable management and recycling - Tips for checking cable condition, proper storage solutions, and donating old chargers to homeless shelters for those still using older devices

News

• Control Center transparency - Apple reduced the transparency to minimize distractions while maintaining the glass aesthetic
• Safari interface tweaks - Tab bar repositioned to the bottom for better usability after user feedback
• App Store accessibility section - New feature allowing developers to specify supported accessibility features on product pages
• Enhanced Wallet tracking - Siri can now scan emails for package tracking from any merchant, not just Apple Pay purchases
• Call transcription updates - Feature renamed to "save call transcripts" with clearer notifications that all participants will be informed before recording begins

Feedback

• VoiceOver PDF accessibility - Johnny, a blind user, seeks alternatives to Adobe Acrobat for filling PDF forms, highlighting ongoing accessibility issues with major software companies and poorly designed PDF forms

Shortcuts Corner

• HomeKit automation limitations - Bjorn's question about combining multiple triggers (window open/close) into single automations reveals fundamental HomeKit restrictions that require separate automations for each trigger

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard

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On Hands-On Tech, Mikah Sargent tackles a question from Casey about extending the life of their laptop by installing Linux on it!

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Host: Mikah Sargent

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This week on Tech News Weekly, Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy talk cybersecurity vulnerabilities with over 40,000 exposed internet cameras, Wyze's new security features following past breaches, a study on youth mental health and addictive tech use, and the launch of Trump Mobile's new phone and cellular plan.

• 40,000 Exposed Internet Cameras: A cybersecurity investigation by BitSight reveals that over 40,000 internet-connected cameras are accessible to anyone with a browser and IP address, many of which use default passwords or lack basic security features.
• Wyze Introduces "Verified View" Security Feature: Following previous incidents where users could see other people's camera streams due to cloud failures, Wyze launched a new security feature that stamps user metadata onto footage for an additional layer of verification to access photos and videos.
• Study Challenges Screen Time Assumptions for Youth Mental Health: A major JAMA study tracking over 4,000 kids from ages 10-14 found no direct link between screen time duration and suicidal behavior, but instead identified addictive usage patterns as the real culprit.
• The Launch of Trump Mobile: The new "47 Plan" offers 20GB of data for $47.45/month, along with a $499 phone claimed to be "made in America," though tech experts question both the value proposition and manufacturing claims.

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy

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Get ready to experience the future of iPad productivity as Mikah Sargent takes us on an exclusive first look at iPadOS 26's intuitive windowing system that finally brings true multitasking to Apple's tablet platform. Mikah explores Apple's latest iPadOS 26 beta, revealing how the iPad is evolving into a more desktop-like experience with powerful new windowing capabilities and familiar Mac-inspired interface elements.

• Windowing System - Detailed walkthrough of the new multi-window functionality, activated by tapping a curved "macaroni noodle" icon in the bottom-right corner of compatible apps
• Mac-Style Window Controls - Demonstration of the familiar red, yellow, and green "stoplight" buttons borrowed from macOS that allow users to close, minimize, and resize windows with precision
• Multi-App Window Management - Live demo showing how multiple apps (Safari, Music, Settings) can run simultaneously in resizable windows, creating a true desktop-like multitasking experience
• Menu Bar Integration - Exclusive look at how traditional menu bars have arrived on iPadOS, providing access to app-specific settings, file operations, and system controls just like on Mac
• Safari Windowing Features - Exploration of how web browsing works in the new windowed environment, including tab management and window manipulation capabilities
• Settings and Music App Integration - Demonstration of how system apps adapt to the windowing interface, including quick access to app settings via Command+Comma keyboard shortcut

Host: Mikah Sargent

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Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard go over Apple's 2025 Design Award winners, exploring groundbreaking apps that showcase the best of Apple's platforms. From AI-powered language learning tools to visually stunning adventure games, these winners represent the pinnacle of mobile innovation and design excellence.

Delight and Fun Category

• CapWords - Revolutionary language learning app that transforms everyday objects into interactive stickers, supporting nine languages with AI-powered photo recognition
• Balatro - Award-winning poker-inspired deck builder that cleverly teaches poker fundamentals while delivering addictive gameplay across multiple platforms

Innovation Category

• Play - Developer-focused app enabling interactive SwiftUI prototype creation with seamless cross-device syncing between iPhone and Mac
• PBJ, the Musical - Quirky Shakespeare adaptation telling Romeo and Juliet with condiments as characters, featuring original soundtracks and creative storytelling

Interaction Category

• Taobao - Pioneering Apple Vision Pro shopping experience with photorealistic 3D models allowing users to visualize furniture and products in their actual spaces
• DREDGE - Atmospheric horror fishing adventure with seamless gameplay continuity across iPhone, iPad, and Mac platforms

Inclusivity Category

• Speechify - Accessibility-focused text-to-speech app supporting 50+ languages and hundreds of voices, designed for users with dyslexia, ADHD, and low vision
• Art of Fauna - Beautiful wildlife puzzle game featuring vintage-style artwork with full voiceover support and innovative block-based puzzle mechanics

Social Impact Category

• Watch Duty - Critical wildfire tracking app providing real-time evacuation updates and emergency information faster than traditional services
• Neva - Emotionally resonant adventure game exploring environmental themes through the relationship between a girl and her wolf companion

Visuals and Graphics Category

• Feather - Intuitive iPad app enabling users to transform 2D designs into stunning 3D models using touch and Apple Pencil interactions
• Infinity Nikki - Visually spectacular open-world adventure game featuring magical outfits, whimsical creatures, and breathtaking rendering quality

Shortcuts Corner

• New "Use Model" action in Shortcuts enables cloud, local, or ChatGPT model integration for AI-powered automation
• Apple's Shortcuts Gallery now features dedicated Apple Intelligence examples including leftover recipe generation and PDF summarization

App Caps

Mikah's Pick: Gigapixel

• AI-powered photo upscaling app that enhances image resolution and quality using sophisticated machine learning models
• Features standard and low-res enhancement modes plus specialized face recovery for portrait photographs
• Particularly useful for printing older photos or enlarging images without quality loss

Rosemary's Pick: Dark Noise

• Premium white noise app enabling custom sound mixing with extensive library of ambient sounds
• Supports audio layering with other apps, iCloud sync across devices, and Siri Shortcuts integration
• Includes whimsical features like "unnamed goose mode" and developer-friendly privacy controls

These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today/episodes/757

Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard