Hands-On Mac (Audio)

• 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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• 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.

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• HOM 170: macOS Print Center Walkthrough

  In this episode of Hands-On Mac, Mikah Sargent explores the Print Center utility in macOS - an essential but often overlooked tool for managing printers and print jobs. Mikah gives a comprehensive walkthrough of the app's features, showing how it can help troubleshoot printer issues and manage your printing needs without requiring bloated third-party software. Accessing Print Center - Mikah demonstrates multiple ways to open the utility, including using Spotlight (Command+Space), the menu bar search icon, or navigating through Finder to Applications > Utilities Viewing connected printers - The sidebar displays all connected printers with status indicators Adding new printers - Mikah shows how to add printers using the plus icon, explaining the three connection methods Connection protocols - AirPrint is recommended when available as it makes the printer accessible across all Apple devices, not just Macs Printer management options - The interface allows pausing print jobs, viewing detailed printer information, and checking supply levels for ink or toner Scanner integration - For multifunction printers, Print Center provides access to the scanning functionality through the Image Capture app Right-click menu options - Users can make a printer the default, add it to the Dock for quick access, or remove and re-add printers for troubleshooting System Settings integration - The Printers & Scanners section in System Settings provides similar functionality but with additional options like printing test pages Job history tracking - Print Center keeps records of completed print jobs, helpful for remembering which printer was used in multi-printer environments Printer webpage access - Mikah highlights how Print Center provides direct links to printer web interfaces, avoiding the need to install bloated manufacturer software Manage printers and print jobs - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/manage-printers-print-jobs-center-mac-mchl33bd189d/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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• HOM 169: Flaky Bluetooth on Your Mac? Here's How to Fix It

  Mikah Sargent shares essential tips for troubleshooting Bluetooth issues on your Mac in this episode of Hands-On Mac. Learn how to resolve connectivity problems and get your devices working smoothly again with these step-by-step instructions. In this episode, Mikah covers: Restarting your Mac: The simplest and often most effective first step in resolving Bluetooth issues Toggling Bluetooth on and off: Quickly turning Bluetooth off and back on in the System Settings can help re-establish connections Unpairing and repairing devices: "Forgetting" a previously connected device and setting it up again as new can fix persistent problems Accessing advanced Bluetooth information: Holding the Option key while clicking the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar reveals device addresses and firmware versions for connected peripherals Force quitting Bluetooth processes: Using Activity Monitor to quit the "bluetoothuserd" background process can help reset the Bluetooth system when other methods fail Checking for device-specific issues: Ensuring your Bluetooth devices are fully charged and running the latest firmware can eliminate connectivity troubles Minimizing interference: Keeping potential sources of interference, like microwaves, away from your Bluetooth devices can improve stability By following these troubleshooting steps, you'll be well-equipped to tackle most Bluetooth problems on your Mac and keep your wireless peripherals connected and working reliably. Bluetooth settings on Mac - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/bluetooth-settings-on-mac-blth8111/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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• HOM 168: The Apple Invites App

  This episode sees Mikah Sargent walking through the newly announced Apple Invites app. This event invitation tool allows one to invite friends and family to an occasion (like a BBQ) even if the recipients don't have an iPhone. Importantly, a user needs to have an iCloud+ subscription in order to create an event. 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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