Tag Archives: MacMinutes

Episode 296, Apple introduces Digital ID, a new way to create and present an ID in Apple Wallet

Apple Wallet, Apple Watch, Computers, Cybersecurity, Identification, safety, security, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

In this episode, we’re talking about Apple’s introduction of Digital ID, a new way to create and present an ID in Apple Wallet.  For more information and graphics, go to the podcast website.

Digital ID offers a secure and private way for users to create an ID in Apple Wallet using information from their U.S. passport, and present their ID with iPhone or Apple Watch.
Instructions on how to create a Digital ID on your iPhone and Apple Watch

 

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Episode 295. Apple iOS 26.1 Update Brings User Improvements

Apple, iOS 26, software, Technology, , , , , , , ,

In this podcast we will be discussing the new features associated with iOS 26.1, the latest incremental update from Apple Inc. for iPhone 11 or later.  Whether you’re a casual user, a tech enthusiast, or just wondering if you should “Update”, we’ve got you covered in this episode.

iOS 26.1 is the latest update to iOS 26 which recently came out from Apple.

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Episode 294, Workout Buddy on Apple Watch adds a personalized health experience

Apple, Apple Event, Apple Health, Apple Polishing Cloth, fitness, Fitness+, health, National Parks, Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,

In this podcast we will discuss Workout Buddy which is one of the new features on you Apple Watch.  With watchOS 26, coupled with your Apple Watch, Workout Buddy, is a first-of-its-kind fitness experience powered by Apple Intelligence that analyzes a user’s workout data and fitness history to deliver personalized, spoken motivation throughout their session, based on data like heart rate, pace, distance, Activity rings, personal fitness milestones, and more.

 

To enable it execute the following steps: 1. Open the Workout app on your Apple Watch. 2. Select a workout type. 3. Tap the settings icon (gear) in the top left corner. 4. Toggle on “Workout Buddy.” 5. Choose a voice and tap “Start.”
You can use Workout Buddy with the following workout types: Outdoor and Indoor Run; Outdoor and Indoor Walk; Outdoor and Indoor Cycle; Hiking; Elliptical; Stair Stepper; High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT); and Functional and Traditional Strength Training.

 

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Episode 292, Apple introduces the AirPods Pro 3, improving audio and adding new features

AirPod, Apple, Apple Music, cardiology, fitness, health, heart health, MacMini, macOS 26 Tahoe, medical, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss introduction of the  AirPods Pro 3, the ultimate audio experience.  AirPods Pro 3 feature a new design with incredible sound quality, the world’s best in-ear Active Noise Cancellation, exceptional in-ear fit and stability, heart rate sensing during workouts, and extended battery life.  We will cover the new features and improvements.

AirPods Pro 3 deliver unbelievable sound quality, the world’s best in-ear Active Noise Cancellation, an exceptional fit and stability, heart rate sensing during workouts, and extended battery life.
Live Translation makes face-to-face conversations easier by helping users connect even if they don’t speak the same language.
 To help Hearing Aid users in louder environments like restaurants, Conversation Boost is now automatic, adding powerful amplification with background noise reduction when enabled.

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Episode 291, Introducing Apple Watch Ultra 3 with many new features and upgrades

Apple, Apple Event, Apple Health, Apple Maps, Apple Watch, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Emergency SOS, fitness, Fitness+, health, Sleep, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , ,

In this episode, next week, Apple introducing Apple Watch Ultra 3. Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the most advanced Apple Watch, offering even more health, fitness, safety, and connectivity features; the largest display ever in an Apple Watch; and up to 42 hours of battery life.  In this podcast we will cover the many new features and upgrades.

A new collection of bands includes a Trail Loop designed with reflective yarn along the edges, along with new colors for the Ocean Band and Alpine Loop.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the most advanced Apple Watch, offering even more health, fitness, safety, and connectivity features; the largest display ever in an Apple Watch; and up to 42 hours of battery life.
The display on Apple Watch Ultra 3 incorporates Apple’s most advanced display technology with LTPO3 and wide-angle OLEDs, making it the largest screen of any Apple Watch ever.
The new Waypoint watch face can help users navigate with a live compass, an optional satellite complication, and Night Mode.
With Messages via satellite, users can send and receive texts, emoji, and Tapbacks to friends and family — including anyone they’ve been in touch with over the last 30 days — while keeping the messages end-to-end encrypted.
Hypertension notifications on Apple Watch Ultra 3 can alert users if signs of chronic high blood pressure, or hypertension, are detected.
Sleep score is a new feature that can help Apple Watch users understand the quality of their sleep and how to make it more restorative.

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Episode 289, An Update on Blood Oxygen for Apple Watch in the U.S.

Apple, Apple Health, Emergency SOS, health, iPhone, , , , , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss a quick update to Apple’s recent introduction of a redesigned Blood Oxygen for Apple Watch in the U.S.

Screenshot of the Apple Watch taking a Blood Oxygen reading.
Screenshot of the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature on the Apple Watch and how to take a measurement.

 

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Episode 286, macOS Tahoe 26 makes the Mac more capable, productive, and intelligent than ever

Apple, macOS 26, macOS 26 Tahoe, Productivity, software, Technology, , , , , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss what makes macOS Tahoe 26 for the Mac more capable, productive, and intelligent than ever.  Amongst the new features, we will be telling you about a stunning new design, more Continuity experiences with the Phone app and Live Activities, the biggest update to Spotlight ever, expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities, and more.

macOS Tahoe 26 introduces a beautiful new design, additional Continuity experiences, along with even more features to turbocharge productivity.
The new design unlocks even more ways to personalize the Mac.
The new design elevates iconic elements of macOS, making them at once fresh and timelessly Mac. From the moment a user unlocks their Mac, the desktop is instantly familiar.

With the new Phone app for Mac, users can conveniently access familiar content — like Recents, Contacts, and Voicemail — synced from iPhone, and easily make a call with a click.
Live Activities from iPhone appear in the menu bar on Mac; and when users click on one, the app opens in iPhone Mirroring to show more information. 
All of a user’s apps are now on view in Spotlight, including apps from their iPhone, thanks to iPhone Mirroring.
Users can now take hundreds of actions directly from Spotlight — like sending an email, creating a note, or playing a podcast — without jumping between apps.
Items from the menu bar for the app a user is currently working in are searchable in Spotlight.
Spotlight introduces quick keys, which are short strings of characters that get users right to the action they’re looking for.
Live Translation on FaceTime helps users communicate across languages by following along with translated live captions while still hearing the speaker’s voice.
Safari offers a fresh but familiar experience, featuring a rounded tab design that floats in the toolbar, along with a refreshed sidebar.

 

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Episode 285, watchOS 26 delivers more personalized and productive ways to stay active, healthy, and connected

Apple, Apple Health, Apple Music, Apple Music, Apple Watch, fitness, Fitness+, health, Technology, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss watchOS 26 delivers more productive and personal ways to stay active, healthy, and connected. A new software design makes using Apple Watch even more helpful, Workout Buddy brings a first-of-its-kind workout experience with Apple Intelligence, and the Smart Stack and Messages are more intelligent.  We will cover these new features and a lot more.

watchOS 26 offers a new look and even more intelligence for a more personalized experience.
A new software design enables a vibrant and expressive experience that reflects and refracts content using real-time rendering, which brings even more focus to content.
The Workout app debuts the biggest update to its layout and navigation since its introduction, with four new buttons in the corners that make it easier for users to access their favorite features to customize workouts.
Apple Music can now select the best playlist for a user’s workout based on the workout type and their personal tastes. Alternatively, users can see suggestions for playlists or podcasts based on what they’ve recently listened to during that particular workout type.
Smart Stack hints offer a proactive prompt for actionable suggestions that are immediately useful. For example, a hint for Backtrack may appear when a user is in a remote location with no connectivity.
Apple Watch now supports Live Translation in Messages with Apple Intelligence, allowing incoming texts to be automatically translated into a user’s preferred language.
Notifications are now even easier to manage with a simple wrist flick gesture. When a user raises their wrist to check a notification but isn’t ready to respond, they can quickly turn their wrist over and back to dismiss the notification.

 

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Episode 284, Apple expands tools to help parents protect kids and teens online

Apple, Apple Health, Child Computer Safety, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss Apple’s announcement this week expanding tools to help parents protect kids and teens online.  Including new ways to manage Child Accounts, the ability to share a child’s age range to receive age-appropriate experiences within an app, updated age ratings on the App Store, and more.

Apple is offering more ways to help parents ensure their kids and teens have age-appropriate experiences from the moment they set up their device, with new tools that build on the parental controls already available in Screen Time and on the App Store.
Kids ages 13 to 17 will have similar age-appropriate protections enabled, including web content filters and Communication Safety, as well as more granular age ratings on the App Store.
App developers can request the age range associated with a Child Account through the new Declared Age Range API, which will help developers provide age-appropriate experiences for their users.

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Episode 282, Universal Music Group and Apple Music announce Sound Therapy

health, iPhone, Sound Therapy, Technology, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss Universal Music Group and Apple Music announce a new feature called Sound Therapy,  Sound Therapy is a collection which leverages cognitive science and Universal Music Group’s roster of global superstars, adding subtle auditory beats to well-known curated tracks, aiming to help listeners focus, relax, and sleep.

The collection leverages cognitive science and UMG’s roster of global superstars, adding subtle auditory beats to well-known curated tracks, aiming to help listeners focus, relax, and sleep.
The Focus category is designed to support improved cognitive performance and concentration, tapping into the power of gamma auditory beats to help listeners get in the mindset to achieve optimum focus. White noise masks distracting sounds, aiming to help listeners stay in the moment.
The Sleep category is designed to encourage deeper sleep through an infusion of delta auditory beats or pink noise, which works similarly to white noise but uses natural sounds like rainfall and ocean waves.
Songs in the Relax category are made for letting go, blending and infusing in theta auditory beats to help achieve ultimate relaxation.

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