Mac Minutes

<p style="font-weight: 400;"> In this episode, we will be talking about the next generation of AirTag — the bestselling item finder — is even easier to locate with more powerful Precision Finding, a longer Bluetooth range, and a louder speaker.  Apple unveiled the new AirPods Jan 26, a powerful accessory that helps users keep track of and find the items that matter most with Apple’s Find My app — now with an expanded finding range and a louder speaker.</p> <figure id="attachment_5825" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5825" style="width: 450px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-5825" src="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0657-300x277.jpeg" alt="" width="450" height="415" srcset="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0657-300x277.jpeg 300w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0657-1024x945.jpeg 1024w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0657-768x709.jpeg 768w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0657.jpeg 1231w" sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5825" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>A side-by-side comparison of the first-and-second generation of AirTags.</strong></figcaption></figure> <figure id="attachment_5826" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5826" style="width: 450px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-5826" src="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0658-e1769902158431-300x182.jpeg" alt="" width="450" height="272" srcset="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0658-e1769902158431-300x182.jpeg 300w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0658-e1769902158431-1024x620.jpeg 1024w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0658-e1769902158431-768x465.jpeg 768w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0658-e1769902158431.jpeg 1170w" sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5826" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>The next generation of AirTag — the bestselling item finder — is even easier to locate with more powerful Precision Finding, a longer Bluetooth range, and a louder speaker. (Courtesy of Apple Inc.)</strong></figcaption></figure> <figure id="attachment_5827" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5827" style="width: 450px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-5827" src="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0659-237x300.jpeg" alt="" width="450" height="570" srcset="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0659-237x300.jpeg 237w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0659-808x1024.jpeg 808w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0659-768x973.jpeg 768w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0659-1212x1536.jpeg 1212w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0659.jpeg 1320w" sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5827" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Powered by the strength of the Find My network, AirTag allows users to keep tabs on their belongings every single day, from keys and wallets to backpacks, luggage, and more.</strong></figcaption></figure> <figure id="attachment_5829" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5829" style="width: 450px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-5829" src="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0660-270x300.jpeg" alt="" width="450" height="500" srcset="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0660-270x300.jpeg 270w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0660-922x1024.jpeg 922w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0660-768x853.jpeg 768w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0660.jpeg 1313w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5829" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Precision Finding guides users through haptic, visual, and audio feedback to their lost items from up to 50 percent farther away than the previous generation, and an updated Bluetooth chip expands the range at which items can be located.</strong></figcaption></figure> <figure id="attachment_5830" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5830" style="width: 450px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-5830" src="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0662-240x300.jpeg" alt="" width="450" height="563" srcset="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0662-240x300.jpeg 240w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0662-819x1024.jpeg 819w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0662-768x960.jpeg 768w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0662-1229x1536.jpeg 1229w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0662.jpeg 1320w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5830" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>The new AirTag incorporates a suite of industry-first protections against unwanted tracking, including cross-platform alerts and unique Bluetooth identifiers that change frequently.</strong></figcaption></figure>

<p style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode, we will be talking about the 2026 Apple &#8216;Ring in the New Year&#8217; Fitness Activity Award — perfect for the Apple Watch and incorporating tech, health, and wearable trends into your fitness program.</p> <figure id="attachment_5810" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5810" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-5810" src="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_0520-300x215.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="359" srcset="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_0520-300x215.jpeg 300w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_0520-1024x735.jpeg 1024w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_0520-768x551.jpeg 768w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_0520.jpeg 1320w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5810" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Apple&#8217;s &#8216;Ring in the New Year&#8221; fitness challenge will begin in January. Participant who achieve the goal will receive this badge and accompanying stickers.</strong></figcaption></figure> <figure id="attachment_5815" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5815" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-5815" src="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Image-1-300x188.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="313" srcset="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Image-1-300x188.jpeg 300w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Image-1-1024x640.jpeg 1024w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Image-1-768x480.jpeg 768w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Image-1.jpeg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5815" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Apple Fitness + is a program that can help motivate you to your physical fitness goals.</strong></figcaption></figure>

<p>In this episode, we’re talking about Apple’s release Dec. 12 of its iOS 26.2 update bringing new features and improvements. We’ll break down what’s new, how it changes your iPhone experience, security upgrades you shouldn’t skip, and what this means for everyday users and power users alike.</p> <figure id="attachment_5799" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5799" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-5799" src="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Image-300x200.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="333" srcset="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Image-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Image-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Image.jpeg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5799" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>iOS 26.2 was updated Dec. 12 and has features and more importantly security updates you and your other iPhone friends should strongly consider.</strong></figcaption></figure>

<p>In this episode, we’re talking about Apple&#8217;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.</p> <figure id="attachment_5785" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5785" style="width: 450px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-5785" src="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0281-e1763178808522-300x166.jpeg" alt="" width="450" height="249" srcset="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0281-e1763178808522-300x166.jpeg 300w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0281-e1763178808522-1024x567.jpeg 1024w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0281-e1763178808522-768x425.jpeg 768w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0281-e1763178808522.jpeg 1287w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5785" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>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.</strong></figcaption></figure> <figure id="attachment_5787" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5787" style="width: 450px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-5787" src="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0286-scaled-e1763179280143-208x300.png" alt="" width="450" height="649" srcset="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0286-scaled-e1763179280143-208x300.png 208w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0286-scaled-e1763179280143-710x1024.png 710w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0286-scaled-e1763179280143-768x1108.png 768w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0286-scaled-e1763179280143-1065x1536.png 1065w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0286-scaled-e1763179280143.png 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5787" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Instructions on how to create a Digital ID on your iPhone and Apple Watch</strong></figcaption></figure> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>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&#8217;re a casual user, a tech enthusiast, or just wondering if you should &#8220;Update&#8221;, we&#8217;ve got you covered in this episode.</p> <figure id="attachment_5758" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5758" style="width: 450px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-5758" src="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0214-288x300.jpeg" alt="" width="450" height="468" srcset="https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0214-288x300.jpeg 288w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0214-984x1024.jpeg 984w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0214-768x799.jpeg 768w, https://macminutes.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_0214.jpeg 1320w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-5758" class="wp-caption-text">i<strong>OS 26.1 is the latest update to iOS 26 which recently came out from Apple.</strong></figcaption></figure>