iOS 823: It's About Time (Apps) - Hidden Clock, Timer, and WatchOS Tools You Never Use

As iOS Today wraps its remarkable 828-episode run, the hosts reveal the essential apps and smart home tweaks that have powered their digital lives and productivity. Discover the personal tech picks that shaped the show's legacy. Celebrating iOS Today's legacy and its final palindrome episode Drafts and OmniFocus: deep dive into top productivity winners Fantastical and Due: calendar and reminder essentials for daily organization CARROT and Crouton: the ultimate weather and recipe app picks Fastmail and Home Assistant: privacy-focused email, next-level smart home automation PCalc, Dice, and Dark Noise: utility favorites for calculation and focus News: iOS 27.3 beta highlights redesigned Health app and new features Feedback: Focus modes and app management tips using iOS and iMazing Shortcuts Corner: automating masked Fastmail emails and health data charting App Caps: Elgato Stream Deck XL and Pedal supercharge Mac productivity Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard Contact iOS Today at [email protected]. Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

The iPhone Duo is changing how apps, productivity, and even daily habits fit in your hand. Get a firsthand look at which apps are ready to transform with Apple's newest foldable, and what features might make you rethink your tech routine. Join the conversation on cutting-edge folding devices and where form meets function. iPhone Duo shipping delays and ordering frustrations shared Apple support guides highlight iPhone Duo poses and folding features Discussion of Duo productivity boosts: Split View, multitasking, app pairing Early third-party Duo-optimized apps showcased, major developers lag behind Fantastical, Things 3, OmniFocus, and other productivity apps get Duo upgrades Concerns about durability, foldables in daily life, and preciousness of new Duo Standout Duo apps: NYT Cooking, Sky Guide, Wakeout!, TypeDraw, Fineliner Skeuomorphic design returns: vinyl, cassette, and Polaroid-style apps for Duo News: iOS 27.2 update with Siri AI improvements and new TV/Music app changes. Plus, unoptimized apps on Duo display awkwardly Feedback: Private podcast RSS feeds and tvOS 27 compatibility issues addressed Shortcuts Corner: iPhone Duo adds automation triggers for open/close actions App Caps: Tiny Computers museum app and 3D printing slicer tools Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard Contact iOS Today at [email protected]. Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

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Are you drowning in notifications before you even finish your morning coffee? This episode explores clever Focus tweaks and next-level notification controls that can reclaim your sanity and protect your attention. • Managing device distractions: Do Not Disturb and Focus basics • Apple Watch and iPhone notification mirroring explained • Customizing Focus modes for work, sleep, and driving • Sharing Focus status and syncing settings across devices • Letting important contacts break through Focus barriers • When to create custom Focus modes beyond Apple's defaults • Vacation Focus workaround to silence Microsoft Teams notifications • Experiences and pros/cons with Apple Intelligence Reduce Interruptions • Tiered approach to notifications across iPhone, Apple Watch, and Notification Center • How to triage and silence notifications for sanity • Screen Time insights for adjusting Focus and habits • News: Focus features boost automation and Siri Shortcut integration • iOS 27 gesture changes—Siri AI vs Notification Center in Control Center • App Caps: Apple's Invites app and Brick device for strong app blocking Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard Contact iOS Today at [email protected]. Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord. Sponsor: PaloAltoNetworks.com/Idira

Is your digital life a scattered mess or a finely tuned "second brain"? This episode reveals how Rosemary and Mikah may organize everything from 3D printer hacks to family chaos using iOS power tools and apps you've never tried. Building a "second brain" for knowledge management on iOS Comparing digital note-taking systems: OmniFocus, Notion, Craft, Obsidian Importance of cross-referencing and linking between apps Notion deep dive: databases, AI features, and integration tips Craft as an alternative for flexible, visual note organization Drafts as a staging ground for notes and quick capture Daily journaling and agenda apps: Parchment and Kan Do highlights Community discussion: Using TextEdit, Notes, and minimal scratchpad workflows iPhone Duo preorder chaos: launch supply snags and shipping delays News: iOS 27 Reminders and Notes app updates App Caps: Scrappy digital scrapbook and Everlog journaling app picks Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard Contact iOS Today at [email protected]. Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

Apple finally steps into the smart home display race with HomeView, shakes up its HomeKit lineup, and partners with major brands for "second-party" devices. Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard break down what these big changes mean for everyday users and power tinkerers alike. Apple debuts major Home app updates in iOS 27 HomeKit Secure Video gets AI-powered descriptions, smarter notifications, and search New HomeKit features: Thread, Matter support, energy monitoring, 4K streaming Apple reveals HomeView: smart display for the home with speaker or wall-mount options HomeView's features, FaceTime, and multi-user support Apple TV 4K updated with better Siri AI, microphones, and Find My remote Four-speaker HomePod/HomePod mini surround sound with latest Apple TV HomePod mini 2 announced: new sounds, color-matched features, and Siri AI caveats Apple's "second-party" Home accessories line launches with LG, Schneider Electric Overview of new cameras, video doorbell, floodlight, thermostat, and smart lock Matter support in Apple Home devices: features, pitfalls, and real-world advice Shortcuts Corner: Advanced HomeKit automations, weather integration, and triggers App Caps: HomePass for HomeKit and Signals for HomeKit automate and simplify smart homes Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard Contact iOS Today at [email protected]. Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

Discover how iOS and watchOS are quietly transforming the way you track, customize, and automate every second, from modular lock screens to Siri-powered alarms. Plus, hear why third-party apps are still running circles around Apple's timer tools. Customizing lock screen time display and widgets on iOS Apple's system clock app features: timers, alarms, world clock Multiple timers and AlarmKit integration for developers Timer controls, volume settings, and kitchen use tips Handling time zones, world clock widgets, and third-party time apps Apple Watch faces, complications, and ongoing third-party face debate Accessibility tools: haptic feedback, chimes, and clock customization Third-party timer apps: Just Timers, (Not Boring) Timer, Timer+, Overlap Frustrations with time zone selection in clock apps Time drift, manual clock changes, and device sync issues iPhone Duo preorder details and Apple's "get ready" system Shortcuts Corner: calendar event alarms and automation tricks App Caps: Tiimo planner for ADHD/time blindness, Signal for group messaging Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard Contact iOS Today at [email protected]. Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.

Not all classic apps fade away—some quietly evolve and solve problems the giants can't touch. This episode with Dan Moren and Rosemary Orchard digs up the overlooked utilities, the surprising longevity of certain favorites, and the need to update to iOS 26.7! PCalc: The enduring iOS calculator favorite gets its due TV Forecast and the rise of TV tracking apps IMDb as a must-have for movie and show info The longevity of NetNewsWire Wikipanion and Wikipedia as research tools Lose It and iOS-era health habit trackers iFirstAid: Offline emergency help apps stand the test of time iExit: Find highway exits and services, even in 2026 Angry Birds' legacy, Red's First Flight, and early iOS gaming memories Shakespeare app: The Bard's works in your pocket iOS 27 and iOS 26.7 released, over 100 security fixes Apple Watch band milestone: Over 1,000 released, tracking collections iOS 27 feature delays: Messaging suggestions and auto password change postponed Picks of the Week: Organizing with label makers and retractable cables Hosts: Rosemary Orchard and Dan Moren Contact iOS Today at [email protected]. Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord. Sponsors: joindeleteme.com/twit-biz netsuite.com/ios

Apple's new Siri AI is finally turning digital assistant hype into real, practical power, letting users speak naturally and control their apps in ways that were impossible a year ago. Matthew Cassinelli, a Siri automation expert, is here to break down what's genuinely working, what's missing, and why this matters for your iPhone right now. Early experiences: Siri's improved world knowledge and real-time actionability Developer shift: New Siri relies on app actions and App Intents for integration Beta rollout details: Supported devices, region restrictions, language support Apple's foundation models, on-device AI, and privacy-focused execution App actions at launch, incoming third-party app support, and developer adoption hurdles Siri AI's limitations: Domains not supported and why Technical evolution: Transition from SiriKit to App Intents framework and its challenges for devs NSSpain XIV recap and developer readiness strategies App Intents Optimization (AIO): Why it matters as the new SEO for apps Shortcuts Corner: Testing Siri AI's ability to build complex automation workflows Host: Mikah Sargent Guest: Matthew Cassinelli Contact iOS Today at [email protected]. Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord. Sponsors: trustedtech.team/twit scribe.how/ios

Apple finally enters the foldable fray with the iPhone Duo, packing unexpected features and a lower-than-expected price. Find out what's actually inside and if it's worth leaving your classic iPhone behind. iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max colors, pricing, and 1st impressions Variable aperture camera tech benefits, marketing, and durability concerns Battery life and ultra-fast charging impress for Pro iPhones A20 Pro processor with advanced neural engine and vapor chamber cooling Dynamic Island hardware and software upgrades iPhone Duo: Apple's first folding phone, hardware, and price iPhone Duo durability, hinge design, dust/water resistance, and case compatibility Camera features on Duo: under-display camera, selfie tricks, and photography upgrades iOS 27 on Duo: Side dock, split view, app pairs, and standby mode Battery stats, charging, eSIM, and cases on the Duo Apple Watch Series 12/Ultra 4: new health sensors, improved heart tracking, and battery Live Rewind and Siri Recap: AI-driven audio/smartwatch features and privacy Apple Health app redesign: insights, movement evaluations, and proactive alerts AirPods 5: ANC for all models, color, pricing, and battery App Caps: Athlytic and Splitwise Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard Contact iOS Today at [email protected]. Download or subscribe to iOS Today at https://twit.tv/shows/ios-today Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord. Sponsors: trustedtech.team/twit horizon3.ai/iostoday