Apple's dropping a wave of new products this week — and Tom and Jeff break down everything that's expected: a budget MacBook starting around $600, an iPhone 16E follow-up, iPad updates for the non-Pro models, and possible MacBook Pro upgrades with M5 Pro and Max chips. It's a preview packed with speculation, opinions, and the occasional tangent about fingerprints on laptop screens. Then things get analog. Tom just joined Jeff in the Field Notes notebook club, and they talk abo…
Tom flies solo this week and welcomes first-time guest Nate Gorby for a conversation about Apple’s ongoing Siri delays, the state of Apple Intelligence, and what it all means for everyday users. “At this point, I would be gre...
Jim Eagar joins Tom Anderson and Jeff Battersby for a thoughtful, experience-driven conversation about productivity, tools, and the often-tempting urge to switch apps. Drawing on decades of professional experience—from Air Fo...
In this episode of Basic AF, Tom Anderson and Jeff Battersby kick off the year by digging into some of the biggest Apple stories in early 2026—starting with the news that Apple is partnering with Google to have Gemini power a...
Happy New Year! Everyone expects Apple to release its first foldable iPhone later this year and the rumors and “leaks” are heating up. Tom and Jeff discuss the latest, including the 3D printed model that looks nothing like cu...
Happy Holidays! Joe Moyer returns and joins Tom and Jeff for a fun and festive discussion in the third-annual “These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things” show! Picks range from backpacks to iPhone accessories, books, apps, and m...
In this episode of Basic AF, Tom and Jeff revisit all the Apple hardware they use every single day, 18 months after their last gear rundown. From Macs to iPads, Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePods, and even a brief Vision Pro conf...
This episode starts with listener feedback on window management in iPadOS 26, then Jeff opens up about his recent stroke. He walks through the initial symptoms, the frustrating EMS response, his time in the hospital and rehab...
Jeff returns to the show 🥳 and Riley Hill joins us again to talk all things iPad. Riley and Tom have new M5 iPad Pros (11” and 13” models) and share their experiences. Did Apple make the right call with the current iPad Pro d...
Jeff is taking a break from the show to recover from his recent stroke. He's recovering well and is working his butt off in rehab and hopes to return before long. His family has set up a GoFundMe to help out a bit while he's in rehab kicking ass. If you'd like to throw a few bucks his way, here's the link, and it's all appreciated. https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-jeff-battersbys-stroke-recovery -- Bill McLean returns to the show to discuss the abundance of riches …
Jeff and Tom are off this week so we're going into the vault! Join us for a rewind of our 2024 Tips & Tricks show with Gannon Nordberg! Over a dozen tips & tricks for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and more! More from Gannon: Li...
In this episode of Basic AF , Tom and Jeff welcome back Chris Freitag and Gannon Nordberg to share their experiences of using the iPhone Air. The guys cover: How impossibly thin and light it feels in the hand The stunning 300...
We dig into the details of Apple’s recent “Awe Dropping” event! We take a look at the innovative features of the new iPhone Air, display improvements on the iPhone 17, and what’s new with the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Get th...
If you’re an Apple Notes user who’s feeling buried in folders, tags, or forgotten ideas — and you’ve struggled to bring order to your notes — this episode is for you. We dive deep into the Forever * Notes system with its crea...
If you’re wondering whether it’s finally safe (or fun) to jump into the Apple public betas, this episode is for you. From iPadOS 26’s dramatic windowing overhaul to macOS Tahoe’s subtle UI tweaks — plus new features in iOS 26...
What happens when hip-hop meets theater, satire, and sibling bond? In this episode, we meet Jacob Battersby — artist, MC, and the man behind Celsius 7 — as he joins his brother Jeff and Tom for a funny and sometimes unfiltere...
If you’re itching to try iPadOS 26, or just curious how far AI has crept into everyday life, this episode is for you. Tom and Jeff share how well (or not) AI played doctor, deliver a first look at the iPadOS 26 developer beta...
We’re in between WWDC and the Public Betas, and it’s the perfect time for a summer vibe check! Tom and Jeff break down what they’re reading, watching, listening to, and playing with this summer. Books, newsletters, podcasts, the new Reply All Time and Top Songs playlists in Apple Music, and more. Additionally, Tom gets nerdy with Claude, Readwise, and MCP, while Jeff plans to dabble in sketching and watercolors. Links: White Noise – Don DeLillo Crudo – Olivia Laing Wellness – Nathan Hil...
Tom and Jeff dive into three fun segments: Tom’s updated Mac recommendations for students, Jeff's update on his Forever Notes system using Apple Notes, and how both hosts are using health tracking apps to better understand their stress and recovery. Tom unpacks how Athlytic and Apple Watch are helping him recognize stress and reduce habitual tension, while Jeff shares how Gentler Streak has helped him optimize sleep and workouts. It’s a mix of tech tips, personal stories, and wellness i…
Tom Anderson and Jeff Battersby are joined by returning guest Joe Moyer for a comprehensive breakdown of Apple's WWDC 2025 keynote: Exploration of the new "Liquid Glass" design language unifying all Apple platforms New Apple ...
Riley Hill returns to the show to join Jeff and Tom for a preview of WWDC 2025. What's coming from Apple? What kind of AI company should Apple be? And is there less hype than normal for this year's event? The guys also throw ...
Tom’s queued up an AI podcast app experiment, and Jeff’s wondering if it’s really worth the $85 price tag. This week, the guys dive into Snipd’s AI-powered podcast magic, how it pairs with Readwise for smart highlights and sp...
It’s easy to lose track of subscriptions, and Tom and Jeff are feeling it too. In this episode, they unpack the apps, services, and streaming platforms they’re paying for — the good, the bad, and the ones they forgot they eve...
We sit down with writer and user researcher Leah Reich to explore the complex relationship between technology and the humans who use it. Leah shares insights from her newsletter and writing career before diving into the evolv...