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 ...
Learn how Apple's latest macOS Sequoia update transforms the humble Notes app into a powerful calculator, allowing users to perform complex mathematical calculations right where they jot down their thoughts. Mikah Sargent breaks down the exciting new Math Notes feature that brings computational magic to your note-taking experience. From basic calculation capabilities to the defining of variables, this episode will get your brain ready to quickly crunch numbers on your Mac!
Host: Mikah Sargent
Download or subscribe to Hands-On Mac at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
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Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
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11:10
HOM 174: Archiving Files With Keka
Mikah Sargent explores Keka, a feature-rich third-party archive utility for Mac that offers extensive compression and extraction options beyond what's built into macOS. This free and open-source tool provides advanced customization while remaining user-friendly.
The app supports creating archives in multiple formats including 7-zip, tar, gzip, dmg, iso, and many others. Keka can extract numerous file types including ZIP, RAR, JAR, ISO, DMG, TAR, EXE, and CPGZ files. Users can set Keka as the default archive utility system-wide or for specific file types. The app includes extensive compression settings like compression level, file naming preferences, and integrity verification.
The app is available free on Keka.io but purchasing from the App Store supports the developer!
Host: Mikah Sargent
Download or subscribe to Hands-On Mac at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Want access to the ad-free video 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.
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14:29
HOM 173: Archive Utility
Mikah Sargent dives deep into Archive Utility on macOS, a powerful but often overlooked tool that works behind the scenes to compress and expand files on your Mac. From creating basic zip archives to encrypted files, this episode reveals all the hidden features of this versatile utility.
How compression works - Compression algorithms look for repeating patterns in data to make files smaller, though already compressed files like JPEGs may not benefit much.
Quick compression with right-click - The fastest way to compress files is selecting them, right-clicking, and choosing "Compress," which always creates a standard zip file.
Opening Archive Utility - Access it directly by using Command+Space and typing "archive" to explore its full capabilities beyond the right-click option.
Archive Utility settings - Configure where expanded files are saved, what happens to archives after expansion, and whether to automatically expand nested archives.
Expansion options - Choose to keep, trash, or delete archives after expanding them, or move them to a specific location.
Compression options - Similar settings exist for what happens to original files after creating an archive.
Archive formats explained - Despite setting preferences in Archive Utility, the right-click "Compress" option always creates zip files regardless of settings.
Creating CPGZ archives - These compressed archives must be created by selecting a folder through the File menu, not through right-click compression.
Regular archives (CPIO) - Simple "briefcase" archives without compression, useful for bundling files without reducing size.
Apple Archive (AAR) - A Mac-specific format that uses multi-threaded compression to efficiently compact files.
Encrypted archives (AER) - Secure, password-protected archives that can be unlocked with Touch ID if saved to your keychain.
Why ZIP remains the standard - ZIP format is used for the right-click compression option because of its universal compatibility across different operating systems.
Zip and unzip files and folders on Mac - https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/zip-and-unzip-files-and-folders-on-mac-mchlp2528/mac
Host: Mikah Sargent
Download or subscribe to Hands-On Mac at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Want access to the ad-free video 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.
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21:32
HOM 172: Game Mode on macOS
Ever wondered how to level up your Mac gaming experience with built-in features most users don't know about? Mikah Sargent leads gamers into Mac's game mode and controller connectivity, revealing tricks for gamers and tech enthusiasts.
Game Mode Overview
A special Mac feature exclusive to macOS Sonoma 14 and Apple Silicon devices that optimizes gaming performance. When a game is in full screen, the system prioritizes the game's CPU and GPU access while reducing background task resource consumption.
Game Mode Activation and Controls
Automatically activates when a game is in full screen mode. Users can toggle game mode on/off through a small controller icon or by swiping with three fingers and accessing the main screen.
Bluetooth Performance Boost
Game mode doubles the Bluetooth sampling rate, improving wireless device performance. This is particularly beneficial for gaming accessories like controllers and wireless headphones, ensuring smoother audio and input synchronization.
Controller Connectivity
Modern Xbox and PlayStation controllers can easily connect to Macs via Bluetooth. The system provides detailed controller settings, including battery percentage, button mapping, and custom profiles.
Advanced Controller Settings
Mac offers comprehensive controller customization options, including: Button remapping, Haptic feedback adjustment, Light bar color customization, and Game-specific control profiles.
Buddy Controller Feature
A unique accessibility feature that allows two controllers to function as one, helping less experienced players (like children) participate in games more comfortably.
Recording and Capture Options
Users can set up custom controller buttons to trigger screen recordings and game captures, enhancing the gaming experience and content creation potential.
Use Game Mode on Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/en-us/105118
Connect a wireless game controller to your Apple device - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/en-us/111099
Connect a PlayStation wireless game controller to your Apple device - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/en-us/111100
Host: Mikah Sargent
Download or subscribe to Hands-On Mac at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Want access to the ad-free video 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.
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14:34
HOM 171: Apple File System & Hyperspace
Save space harmlessly on macOS! Mikah Sargent explores Hyperspace, a clever Mac app that helps users reclaim disk space without deleting any files. Unlike traditional cleaning apps, Hyperspace leverages the APFS (Apple Protected File System) to optimize storage by identifying opportunities to create space-saving clones of duplicate data. Traditional systems create entirely new files for each version, while APFS cleverly maintains one copy of the base data with different metadata references, saving significant space.
Users who have had their Macs for a long time or work with mixed file systems are most likely to benefit from Hyperspace, as they may have files that aren't optimized for APFS. The Hyperspace app (from Hypercritical) is free to download and scan with, but reclaiming space requires either a one-time unlock or subscription payment.
Hyperspace: Reclaim Disk Space - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hyperspace-reclaim-disk-space/id6739505345?mt=12
Hypercritical: Hyperspace - https://hypercritical.co/hyperspace/
Host: Mikah Sargent
Download or subscribe to Hands-On Mac at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac
Want access to the ad-free video 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 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 join Club TWiT for $7 a month and get ad-free audio and video feeds for all our shows plus everything else the club offers...or get just this podcast ad-free for $2.99 a month.
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