iOS Today 781: What & Where to Watch
Date: December 11, 2025
Hosts: Micah Sargent & Rosemary Orchard
Episode Overview
In this episode, Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard explore the best ways to keep track of what you want to watch—and where you can watch it—across iOS and Apple devices. They review top apps and services for organizing your TV and movie viewing (including Apple TV, JustWatch, Letterboxd, Trakt, and more), share personal tips, and discuss recent tech launches, plus festive app picks for the holiday season. This episode is rich with practical advice and friendly banter, making it ideal for Apple enthusiasts looking to make the most of their streaming experiences.
Main Discussion: Tracking What & Where to Watch
1. Apple TV’s “Up Next” & Built-In Tracking
[02:54 – 08:02]
- Micah opens with a common struggle: “Sometimes it’s a matter of knowing what you want to watch but forgetting over time … There are just so many different ways to go about this.”
- Apple TV’s built-in “Up Next” queue is praised for consolidating shows, tracking progress, and sending notifications for new episodes — but not all apps (notably Netflix) integrate:
- “Netflix is one of the services that here in the US does not integrate and so you don’t get to keep track of what you're watching on Netflix there.” – Micah [05:29]
- Tips for Apple TV Users:
- If a show won’t load from “Up Next,” force quit and relaunch the app, or use “Go to episode” by holding the remote’s middle button.
- The availability of a show may shift depending on current subscriptions.
- Micah: “I’m very much a curator of that experience ... I’m very quick to say remove this.”
- Purchasing Content:
- Rosemary: Highlights that you can still buy movies/shows digitally via Apple TV, safe for content you love:
- “What if they change the terms … but I’ve never had an issue with anything I’ve bought through Apple TV, and I really recommend that people, you know, have a look.” [08:02]
- Rosemary: Highlights that you can still buy movies/shows digitally via Apple TV, safe for content you love:
2. Devices & Content Aggregation
[11:26 – 14:00]
- Micah: Discusses the patchwork of streaming service integration on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV:
- “On the iPad, that is where the experience seems a little bit better … On the iPhone and the Mac, those experiences are different.”
- “Channels” within Apple TV for one-stop subscription management.
- Comparison with other ecosystems like Roku and Google TV.
Search vs. Browsing Habits
[14:00]
- Rosemary: Her approach depends on mood—sometimes browsing, sometimes directly searching.
- Suggests using third-party services for broader coverage, as not all content is easy to find on Apple platforms.
3. Cross-Platform Apps & Services
a) JustWatch
[14:00 – 17:32]
- Rosemary: “It works really well because you can send your friends the link to it, and it doesn’t matter where they are in the world.”
- Allows users to see where content is available, including prices for rentals/purchases, with filtering based on your own subscriptions.
- Quote:
- “It’s useful to be able to see where you can watch something because stuff does move around streaming services. That is an unfortunate fact of licensing Life.” – Rosemary [16:30]
b) Letterboxd
[17:32 – 22:05]
- Micah: Explains the cultural prominence of Letterboxd, especially among film buffs:
- “Literally everyone that I talk to here is like, ‘What’s your Letterboxd?’ … They want to know your Letterboxd.”
- Focuses on tracking what you've watched, reviewing films, and sharing top lists.
- Memorable moment: Story of a friend giving Wicked 2 a “half star” on Letterboxd, sparking fitting debate.
- Letterboxd’s value is as a “fun conversation starter” and social tool.
c) Trakt
[22:05 – 25:58]
- Rosemary: Long-time user; tracks both what you want to watch and what you’ve seen.
- Supports “scrobbling” from Plex for unified tracking.
- Custom lists (e.g., shows to watch with friends, kids’ content, Hallmark movies).
- Helpful calendar view to track airing/release dates.
- Quote:
- "You can build lists, share those lists with other people … mark things as watched. I can review things if I want to.” [23:18]
- Trakt’s IMDb-like features help discover related content and extras.
d) IMDB and Apple’s ‘Insight’
[25:58 – 27:49]
- Micah: Notes Apple TV’s new “Insight” (similar to Amazon’s X-Ray), providing details on actors and music in real-time.
- Acknowledges IMDB’s role; contrasts neutrality of JustWatch for finding streaming availability.
Quick Tips & Personal Experiences
- Both hosts recommend creating curated lists and leveraging automation (like integrating Plex or using Apple TV notifications) for keeping organization simple and up-to-date.
- Rosemary’s practical advice: Don’t forget snacks and company over the holidays! [27:49]
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “I love the Up Next queue ... being updated when new episodes are available right there in the app and not having to go and hunt for them in third party apps.” – Micah [06:25]
- “In the age of streaming is you can still buy digital media now ... I really recommend that people, you know, have a look.” – Rosemary [08:38]
- “It’s called JustWatch … and it doesn’t matter where they are in the world.” – Rosemary [14:26]
- “Letterboxd is one of the places to be … it’s more a fun conversation starter.” – Micah [18:54]
- “Thanks to Trakt, I discovered there is an extended cut of A Knight’s Tale!” – Rosemary [25:55]
Featured Apps and Services (with brief descriptions)
- Apple TV “Up Next”: Tracks your queue and new episodes (integration varies by service).
- JustWatch: Aggregator showing where you can stream or buy content, with filtering by your subscriptions.
- Letterboxd: Social film diary for sharing, rating, and discovering movies.
- Trakt: Movie/TV tracker with custom lists, scrobbling (e.g., from Plex), calendar features, discoverability.
- IMDB/Apple ‘Insight’: Lookup actor/song info while watching.
App Picks (App Cap Segment)
Micah’s Pick: SwitchBot Smart Candle Warmer
[36:55 – 42:39]
- Matter-enabled device for safely heating candles (or keeping drinks warm!).
- Controlled via HomeKit and automations.
- “You can just have it heat the candle … you could put a little cup underneath here and keep your beverage warm … so that's quite nice too, because then I can set up all the automations that I want.”
Rosemary’s Pick: Festivitas
[42:53 – 46:12]
- Mac & iOS app by Simon Støvering for adding virtual seasonal lights and snowy effects to device screens.
- Customizable colors, effects & widgets for extra holiday cheer.
- “You could theoretically get it for free. His recommended fair price is €4 or more … Throw a little bit more his way because he spends so much time working on this.” – Rosemary [44:57]
Community Feedback & Updates
- Shout-out to indie developer Matthias for the “Transloader” app, enabling remote downloads from iOS to Mac.
- “Have an awesome week!” – Matthias, in listener feedback email [35:35]
Final Thoughts
- The episode closes with an invitation to share your own favorite tracking apps and viewing habits with the hosts via email [28:00].
- Holiday advice:
- “Make sure to spend some time eating wonderful snacks and watching lovely films with your friends and family over the next period of time.” – Rosemary [27:49]
How to Connect
- Rosemary Orchard: rosemaryorchard.com for apps, books, podcasts, socials
- Micah Sargent: chihuahuacoffee.com for social links
Timestamps of Key Segments
- [02:54] Apple TV Up Next, notifications, integration quirks
- [08:02] Buying/owning digital media; limitations on iPhone
- [14:00] Using JustWatch for global availability
- [17:32] Letterboxd and cultural trends
- [22:05] Trakt for deep tracking and lists
- [25:58] Apple’s “Insight” for Apple TV
- [36:55] App Cap picks (SwitchBot, Festivitas)
- [44:57] Festivitas and developer support
Episode Tone
Friendly, knowledgeable, and practical—the hosts blend detailed technical know-how with personal stories, making streaming organization accessible for beginners and power users alike. There’s plenty of humor, especially around app-culture quirks and holiday nostalgia.
In Summary
If you want to make sense of your ever-expanding watch lists, discover what to watch next, and streamline subscriptions across Apple devices, this episode delivers actionable advice—plus a dose of festive fun.