Basic AF: a (mostly) tech podcast
Apple makes incredible products. The tips and insights that actually help are harder to find. Basic AF cuts through the hype cycles and gets straight to what matters for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch users. Plus, app recommendations, gear reviews, AI tools, and the everyday tech that actually shows up in your life. Every other Monday, Tom Anderson and Jeff Battersby bring 25+ years of real-world Apple experience to practical, insightful conversations for people like you.
Episodes
89 episodes
Mac Mini Gets Pricier, Siri Payout, and iOS 27 Rumors
There's a lot happening in Apple land right now. Mac mini prices just went up, a Siri class action settlement might land in your inbox soon, and a fresh iOS 27 rumor has some good news for anyone who'd rather talk to Claude than ChatGPT. Tom an...
AI Tools: What's Actually Working (and What Isn't) with Bill McLean
Big news out of Cupertino: Tim Cook is stepping down as CEO, with hardware engineering chief John Ternus set to take the helm this September. Tom and Jeff spend a few minutes on the transition — then welcome back guest Bill McLean for an honest...
Mac Mini & Mac Studio Shortages, Kindle Cutoffs & Four Things Worth Knowing About iOS 26.4
Tom and Jeff dig into why it's getting harder and harder to buy a Mac mini or Mac Studio in anything beyond a base configuration — and what that might mean about upcoming M5 refreshes. Plus, Jeff gives a six-month health update (he's at 92% and...
MacBook Neo Real-World Review with Nate Gorby
Nate Gorby is back — and this time he's got two weeks of daily MacBook Neo use to report on. Coming from an M2 MacBook Air he'd already sold, Nate picked up the Neo on day one and has been using it the way most people actually use computers: br...
MacBook Neo, Apple’s First 50 Years, and the Weirdest Wearable Yet
Tom and Jeff are back with a packed episode that wanders from Apple hardware to Apple history to Apple TV+ sports to, well, a scientific fart study. If that sounds like a lot, it is.Topics covered this episode:MacBo...
A Budget MacBook, iPad Updates & Going Analog with Field Notes
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 w...
Siri Delayed Again — And a Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Review with Nate Gorby
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.They discuss the latest report that Apple’s...
When You Should (and Shouldn’t) Switch Productivity Apps with Jim Eagar
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 Force chaplain to att...
Apple Teams Up With Google (Again) & A Look at Apple Creator Studio
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 revamped Siri and ...
The Latest iPhone Fold Rumors and a Fix (of sorts) for Poor Battery Life in iOS 26
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 current iPhones.<...
These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things (2025 Edition) with Joe Moyer
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 more. Fi...
The Apple Gear We're Using in Late 2025
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 confession, they break ...
Stroke!: An Account of Jeff’s Symptoms, Recovery, and What You Should Trust in a Medical Emergency
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, and what recovery...
New iPad Pros and iPadOS 26 with Riley Hill (And Jeff's Return!)
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 design b...
Apple Notes, Obsidian, Notion, Craft, and Bear (Oh My!) with Bill McLean
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 kick...
BAF Rewind: Tips & Tricks with Gannon Nordberg
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: <...
The iPhone Air Experience with Chris Freitag and Gannon Nordberg
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 ...
Apple Event Recap: iPhone Air, iPhone 17 series, Apple Watch Series 11 & Ultra 3, Plus AirPods Pro 3
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 the scoop on the Appl...
Chaos to Clarity in Apple Notes: Forever * Notes with Matthias Hilse
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 creator, Matthias...
Beta Tested: Apple’s Big Software Updates
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 and watchOS 26 — w...
Psychokinetics, Celsius 7, Brother, MC, Friend: Jacob Battersby
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 unfiltered journey through d...
An AI Diagnosis, iPadOS 26 First Look, and How to Beta Test Without Breaking Everything
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, and break d...
Our Summer Vibes Check
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...
90 Days of Forever*Notes and Stress Awareness with Athlytic & Apple Watch
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 reco...