Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

You’re about to spend an hour geeking out about the moments when your tech life goes sideways and how to keep it all under control. You’ll hit World Backup Day prep, tame your email with smart rules and categories, turn your AirPods into stealth earplugs, and learn Mac power tricks like killing stubborn processes and using Reminders so your birthday rewards never slip by. Along the way, you’ll hear from listeners about pre-emptively swapping NAS drives, upsizing your Synology, and the best way to get your movie library playing cleanly on your iPad. Then you’ll dive into the fun stuff that happens when the internet spits you out in the wrong place, from working around VPN restrictions to making sure you Don’t Get Caught when networks get weird. You’ll remember John Martellaro and his dents in the universe, plus load up on Cool Stuff Found like AirTag sleeves for your Apple TV remote, faster AirDrop-style sharing with Blip and LocalSend, and even AI that can drive your car with Comma 4. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1135 for Monday, March 30th, 2026 March 30th: National Pencil Day Pentel Twist Erase MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of SoundSource from Rogue Amoeba! 00:05:05 World Backup Day is tomorrow! Fastmail backs up your email! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Bill-QT-1134-Set macOS to always open new documents in tabs 00:09:09 P2-QT-use noise cancellation with AirPod in one ear Using AirPods as earplugs Comply Foam Tips for AirPods 00:14:00 SXSW: Shokz OpenDots One Shokz OpenFit Pro 00:18:46 David-QT-Host your own cloud mail rules Spark Mail SaneBox Claude CoWork and Dispatch 00:24:48 n-Ben-QT-1131–Train Apple’s Mail Categories for your own emails 00:26:17 John-QT-Use killall -9 if you really need to kill a process killall -9 “[process name]” killall -KILL “[process name]” Check Activity Monitor’s View menu 00:37:17 Tim-QT-Use Reminders to remember your birthday rewards Sponsors 00:38:30 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. 00:39:41 SPONSOR: Stamps.com With Stamps.com you can send from your computer or phone 24/7. No long lines, no low supplies, open any time. Go to stamps.com and use code mgg to get sixty days risk-free! Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:41:01 JP-Should I Replace Drives Pre-emptively in my NAS? Synology Monthly Disk Health Report Synology Hot Spare 00:47:14 How about adding larger drives to your NAS? 00:51:06 Roger-What’s a better way to display and play movies on my iPad? VLC Infuse Plex 00:55:42 Mark-How can I use a VPN and bypass VPN restrictions 01:00:02 CSF-GoodReader for playing movies 01:00:43 GW-Glowing MacBook Apple Logo 01:03:00 Remembering John Martellaro and the dents he put in the universe Finding John Martellaro’s Space Shuttle Lander Simulator for Apple ][ Cool Stuff Found 01:08:04 James-CSF-Elago AirTag sleeve for AppleTV 4K remote 01:09:45 -n-Ahkeens-CSF-1132-Blip is reliable, AirDrop-style replacement Allison-CSF-Blip to give a better AirDrop-like experience LocalSend 01:11:53 Greg-CSF-Comma 4 uses AI to drive your car 01:18:05 MGG 1135 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly More shows Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab iOS app Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You’ll come away from this episode with a faster, smarter iPhone and Mac workflow dialed in. You learn how to boss Siri around for brightness, Dark Mode, CarPlay directions, and per‑source audio levels, so your phone actually behaves in the car and on the couch. You tap into power‑user gestures like two‑finger‑tap to open links in a new Safari tab, Quick Actions to spin anything into a PDF, and Option‑click display rotation on the Mac. You even get sneaky with ad‑supported games by flipping Airplane Mode, and peek at where on‑device AI is heading with tools like Locally AI from the SXSW “more personal computer” session. Then you shift into solving real listener problems so your Apple gear finally stays in sync with you. You clean up contact groups, fix that iPad Mail inbox that doesn’t match your other devices, and fight back against toll‑free robocalls. You hear which iPhone cases and glass protectors the geeks actually trust, plus protection options like Verizon Home Protect and automation tools like Crank to trigger actions based on what you’re doing. The whole way through, you’re reminded of the Mac Geek Gab mantra: Don’t Get Caught missing the tweaks, tricks, and Cool Stuff Found that make your Apple life smoother. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1134 for Monday, March 23rd, 2026 March 23rd: World Math Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of SoundSource from Rogue Amoeba! Congrats to February’s winners! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Ian-QT-Hey Siri, turn up the brightness 00:03:50 Scott-QT-1133-Tell Siri to toggle Dark Mode 00:10:08 Vira-CSF-Locally AI – run models on your iPhone locally SXSW: A More Personal Computer: How AI is Transforming Desktops 00:11:58 Bill-QT-Spoken Directions in CarPlay Adjusting the volume of the different sources on your iPhone (Siri, Music, Maps, more) “Hey Siri, speak louder” 00:17:06 Henry-QT-Two-finger-tap to open links in a new Mobile Safari tab 00:18:03 ETC-QT-Use Quick Actions to create a PDF 00:22:44 Mickey-QT-Hold Option to get Display Rotation options in System Settings 00:23:40 Adam’s wife-Stop Ads with Airplane Mode in ad-supported games Sponsors 00:28:37 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG 00:29:53 SPONSOR: Pocket Hose. For a limited time, you can get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Just text MGG to 64000. 00:31:23 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/MGG 00:32:49 SXSW: Phil Schiller & David Pogue Fireside Chat David Pogue Apple: The First 50 Years Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:43:49 Joe-Question about Contact groups 00:48:32 Bill-How come my iPad shows different Mail than everything else? 00:54:45 Craig-Robo Calls showing up from Toll Free Numbers 00:59:52 Scott-What iPhone cases does everyone use? OpenCase Mujjo Leather Case Tempered Glass Screen Protectors Cool Stuff Found 01:14:02 Steve-CSF-Verizon Home Protect for $25/month is a great AppleCare+ alternative 01:16:35 Joe-CSF-1133-Crank can launch actions based upon user-configurable criteria 01:19:23 MGG 1134 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab iOS app Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You get dropped right into geek therapy this week as you bounce from cult-favorite movies to Pixar shorts, then straight into practical Mac and iOS wins. You learn how to use the twenty-minute rule to bail on bad movies guilt-free, long-press your iPhone’s brightness to reveal Dark Mode and other hidden controls, and turn Live Listen into your stealth superpower for staying connected in noisy rooms. You also tighten up your iOS workflow by wrangling multiple photos, files, and links at once, and even rethink how often you actually need to say “Hey” to your devices. Don’t Get Caught missing the little system tweaks that make your Apple gear feel brand new again. From there, you dig into real-world listener problems and come away with a cleaner network, a smarter Mac, and a more resilient data setup. You troubleshoot eerie eero behavior and learn how to coax stubborn 2.4 GHz-only devices onto your Wi-Fi, then set your Mac to auto-launch apps on wake with tools like Keyboard Maestro and Advanced SleepWatcher. You untangle VPN weirdness, then go full NAS-ty with guidance on migrating to a new Synology and choosing the right model using MGG’s comparison as your roadmap. You wrap it all with Cool Stuff Found: Setapp’s new plans, rock-solid MailBackupX, US Mobile for nerdy cellular control, ForeverNotes for wrangling your brain, Titanium Software utilities, AppleCare+ plus Apple One savings, and TP-Link’s Wi-Fi Toolkit turning your iPhone or iPad into a pocket network analyzer. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1133 for Monday, March 16th, 2026 March 16th: Robert Goddard Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of SoundSource from Rogue Amoeba! Congrats to February’s winners! The MGG Merch Store is Live! 00:03:39 Movie Reviews and Ratings RocketMan with Harland Williams Hoppers from Pixar Twenty Minute Rule for Movies Project Hail Mary Lego Quick Tips 00:00:01 Si-QT-Long press brightness to toggle Dark Mode and more 00:09:17 Joel-QT-Use Live Listen to stay in touch 00:11:25 Pilot Pete-QT-Multiple Photos, Files, Links handling in iOS 00:15:55 Do you still say Hey? Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:19:30 Larry-Eerie things going on with the Eero 00:29:04 Setting up eero for 2.4GHz devices 00:31:32 Father John-How can I launch an app when my Mac wakes up? Desktop Icon Manager Advanced SleepWatcher for macOS 00:38:04 Michael-Why US VPN issues? 00:41:05 Revelations During Geek Therapy Sponsors 00:47:38 SPONSOR: Pocket Hose. For a limited time, you can get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Just text MGG to 64000. 00:49:10 SPONSOR: Sundays for Dogs. Every bite of Sundays is clean and made from real meat, fruits, and veggies, with no kibble. Stanley loves it! Go right now to sundaysfordogs.com/MGG50 and get 50% off your first order. Or, you can use code MGG50 at checkout. 00:50:43 SPONSOR: Tempo. For a limited time, Tempo is offering my listeners SIXTY PERCENT OFF your first box! Go to TempoMeals.com/MGG. Gettin’ NAS-ty 00:51:58 Patrick-How do I migrate my data to a new Synology? 01:00:47 Mike-Which Synology NAS should I buy? Comparing MGG-focused Synology NAS Cool Stuff Found 01:09:35 CSEvolved-Setapp adds new single-app purchase and subscription plans 01:12:07 Mark-CSF-MailBackupX to backup your Mail 01:13:01 Tony-CSF-US Mobile is built for nerds (Tony’s Referral Code: 6B9EAD23) 01:14:32 bbwerner on Threads-CSF-ForeverNotes for getting your notes in order 01:15:28 Niceville Steve-CSF-Titanium Software Utilities other than OnyX 01:16:41 Use AppleCare+ with Apple One to get bulk savings on AppleCare+ 01:20:21 CSF-Wi-Fi Toolkit from TP-Link for iPhone and iPad 01:21:24 MGG 1133 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab iOS app Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network  

You start this episode by supercharging your daily Apple workflow with rapid-fire Quick Tips: speaking the time from your wrist, taming screenshot previews, unzooming a stuck iPhone screen, batch‑moving iOS apps, and sharpening Live Text and document photos so you can capture, control, and share exactly what you want without friction. You also learn how to keep Chrome from quietly hijacking your mic levels before Zoom calls, plus clever ways to organize appliance manuals using NotebookLM and Apple’s Books app so that the answers you need are always a quick search away—Don’t Get Caught hunting for docs or fighting your own settings again. From there, you dive into Mac Developer Gab with the MGG iOS app as a living example of how AI‑assisted coding becomes a collaborative partner instead of a replacement, including practical use of Claude Code’s Plan Mode to map changes before writing a line of code. Then you pivot into Apple’s newly “affordable‑first” lineup—MacBook Neo, Air, and Pro, the new Studio Displays, iPhone 17e, and iPad Air M4—breaking down which model actually fits your real‑world use and budget, before wrapping with fixes for flaky AirDrop using the NFC “boop” trick and remote‑controlling Apple TV via hubs so your gear does what you want, when you want it. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1132 for Monday, March 9th, 2026 March 2nd: National Banana Cream Pie Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of SoundSource from Rogue Amoeba! Congrats to February’s winners! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Dave C-QT-Hold two fingers on your watch screen to speak the time 00:07:16 Todd-QT-Turn Off Full Screen Preview ScreenShot change 00:09:18 Gary-QT-Three-finger triple-tap to unzoom your iPhone 00:15:10 Pilot Pete-QT-Move Multiple iOS Apps at Once! Mac Developer Gab 00:16:57 Updating the Mac Geek Gab iOS app Developing with AI Assisted Coding is a Collaborative Process 00:29:46 Using Claude Code’s Plan Mode Back to Quick Tips 00:31:33 Gene-QT-Live Text Made Better 00:36:14 Pilot Pete-QT-Level Your Phone e.g. for Document Photos 00:37:59 Dave-QT-In Chrome, Disallow WebRTC to adjust the input volume to keep your mic set for Zoom calls 00:40:16 Joe-QTRevisited-1071-Use NotebookLM to store Appliance Manuals 00:43:00 Tony-QT-1131-Put User Manuals in the Books app Sponsors 00:43:58 SPONSOR: Stamps.com With Stamps.com you can send from your computer or phone 24/7. No long lines, no low supplies, open any time. Go to stamps.com and use code mgg to get sixty days risk-free! 00:45:24 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use our code MACGEEK for 20% off at clnmy.com/MACGEEK 00:46:56 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/MGG Reviews 00:48:29 Happy Camper-MGG Review-It’s what you learn after you know it all 00:49:17 digger4-MGG Review-Excellent show 00:49:29 StillRiverEditions-MGG Review-Makes the Apple universe fun, as it should be. 00:50:11 Neo-Wombat-MGG Review-Five Stars 00:51:25 New Macs and More! Affordability seems to matter to Apple today! Comparing the MacBook Neo, Air, and Pro Where are the updates to the Mac mini and more desktops? MacBook Neo – $599 – This is essentially macOS on an iPad MacBook Air M5 – $1099 MacBook Pro M5 – $1699 27-inch Studio Display and Studio Display XDR – $1599 iPhone 17e – $599 iPad Air M4 – $599 Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 01:07:35 Dan-How to Tame AirDrop Wonkyness Use the iPhone NFC “Booping” Trick 01:15:21 Clif-Can I control my Apple TV remotely? Jubilee Hub Harmony Hub 01:21:45 MGG 1132 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You drop into an iMessage quick tip and quickly branch into a whole toolkit for running your Apple life smarter. You learn faster ways to edit messages, how Slack’s up-arrow muscle memory carries over, and why platforms limit your edit window. From there, the show rolls into clever NFC and QR workflows for appliance manuals, Time Machine fixes over SMB on Synology, and a deep dive on spam and email hygiene: Fastmail’s undelete safety net, SaneBox’s smart filtering, Apple Mail’s categories, plus when to reach for SpamSieve or even your own chatbot to watch junk folders so you Don’t Get Caught losing important mail. The crew also compares real‑world email providers, DNS setups (Cloudflare, Google, Quad9), and router‑level changes that stabilize your network. You get a reality check on legacy cruft—Trip Mode, MacFUSE, ancient launch agents—still loading after years of Migration Assistant, and how tools like Lingon and CleanMyMac help you audit what’s secretly running. On the fun-and-productivity side, you hear honest impressions of Apple Vision Pro: tabletop-style multiplayer games like Demeo, surprisingly usable virtual desktops, the importance of dual straps and decent cases, and when to skip hotel Wi‑Fi in favor of hotspots or a UniFi travel router so your Macs, iPads, and headsets all “think” they’re at home. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1131 for Monday, March 2nd, 2026 March 2nd: National Banana Cream Pie Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of SoundSource from Rogue Amoeba! Congrats to February’s winners! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Fernando-QT-Command+E lets you edit your most recent iMessage on the Mac 00:07:39 Ian-QT-Put NFC Tags or QR Codes on your tools with links to user manuals iFixIt Repair Guides and Manuals 00:11:03 That’s not Multitasking, That’s Cheating 00:13:16 Ben-QT-Select & Move Junk Mail Without Displaying its Content Private Internet Access hides you from spammers 00:15:03 Ernesto-How do you deal with spam email? SaneBox 00:25:20 Fastmail DOES offer a restore-from-backup option 00:27:13 Build domain-specific rules to filter spam SpamSieve 00:31:34 David-Which email provider do you use? Dave – Fastmail and Gmail Adam – Gmail/Google and iCloud Pete – Bluehost and iCloud 00:34:42 Migrating mail to a new provider Sponsors 00:38:24 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG 00:39:54 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. Audit your apps, Login Items, and Launch Agents 00:41:22 Pilot Pete-QT-MacOS 26 How I Fixed My Time Machine Backups on Synology after Tahoe 00:44:53 Tanel-DGC-Be aware of what you installed years ago MacFUSE CleanMyMac Lingon 00:54:10 Will-QT-DNS Adjustment fixes Hinky Internet (That’s a Technical Term!) Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 Quad9: 9.9.9.9 OpenDNS What do you use for Wi-Fi in Hotel Rooms? 01:00:13 UniFi Travel Router 01:02:15 Tethering to your iPhone Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 01:06:40 Rob-How do you like your Apple Vision Pro? How do you use it? Demeo on Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest, and more Syntech Apple Vision Pro Case Belkin Case for Apple Vision Pro 01:22:06 MGG 1131 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You start this episode leveling up your daily workflows with fast, memorable tweaks: styling text in Notes with a long press, dropping today’s date into Google Sheets with a quick shortcut, testing your real-world network speed from the Mac, and turning any clipboard grab into a Preview window so you can annotate or export in a flash. You also learn that canceling an in‑app subscription doesn’t instantly nuke Family Sharing, why Safari’s pinned tabs might be quietly chewing resources, and how to right-size your browser use so it serves you instead of hijacking your Mac. From there, you dive into practical tools for real life: apps to tame your family’s book library, a screensaver utility that slows things down, and current router picks spanning UniFi, TP-Link Wi‑Fi 7 options, Eero, and Orbi so your network actually matches your workloads. You hear how to orchestrate multiple AI agents, safely archive and truly back up your mail, and keep your own chatbot from eating your inbox, plus Cool Stuff Found like Omerta, YouTube on Apple Vision Pro, and more—because in the Apple tech world, as in life, Don’t Get Caught without the right tools and backups in place. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1130 for Monday, February 23rd, 2026 February 23rd: Pinocchio Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a Copilot Money! Congrats to January’s winner, Amanda Colyer! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Tom-QT-Long-press Aa in iPhone Notes to choose text styles 00:05:03 Avraham-QT-Use Command-Semicolon to enter current date into Google Sheets 00:06:46 Russell-QT-Use your Mac’s networkQuality to test your speed 00:10:30 Rob-QT-Paste Clipboard into Preview with Command-N 00:11:54 QT-You don’t immediately lose Family Sharing when you cancel an in-app subscription On the subject of browsers… 00:13:28 Allison-1128-Safari’s Pinned Tabs can be resource hogs 00:17:18 How much are you using your browser these days, anyway? Sponsors 00:19:30 SPONSOR: Tempo. For a limited time, Tempo is offering my listeners SIXTY PERCENT OFF your first box! Go to TempoMeals.com/MGG. 00:20:58 SPONSOR: Sundays for Dogs. Every bite of Sundays is clean and made from real meat, fruits, and veggies, with no kibble. Stanley loves it! Go right now to sundaysfordogs.com/MGG50 and get 50% off your first order. Or, you can use code MGG50 at checkout. 00:22:30 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/MGG Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:23:58 Alan-What software exists to catalog my family’s book library? CLZ Books Libib BookBuddy Sofa Tap Forms Pro Goodreads 00:31:22 Ken-How do I slow down my Mac’s screensaver? ArtSaver 00:34:54 Phillip-Which router do you recommend today? UCG Max TP Link Wi-Fi 7 Deco BE67 (or BE68 at Best Buy) TP Link BE63 (also Wi-Fi 7) Eero Pro 7 Orbi Wi-Fi 7 Reviews 00:45:40 Manhattan Glen-MGG Review-Great Show AI Learned Something! … or … AIn’t It Cool? (Ok, obviously we need a segment name for our AI talk) 00:48:49 William-How do I set up multiple AI agents for my task? 00:55:05 Todd-QT-Use Perplexity’s website to download files it has created 00:57:09 Your mail might not be as backed-up as you think MailSteward 01:06:57 My Chatbot ate my Inbox OpenClaw Cool Stuff Found 01:16:53 ATC-CSF – Omerta – Don’t Get Caught 01:19:42 Eakster-CSF-YouTube for Apple Vision Pro is here! 01:23:18 MGG 1130 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You get a firehose of genuinely useful Apple tips this week, starting with new muscle-memory moves you’ll actually use: cycling app windows with Cmd + `, nodding or shaking to answer AirPods, dragging apps straight from iOS search, and building Focus-specific home screens so the right icons appear at the right time. Edge Light turns your Mac into a cleaner on‑camera rig, Display Buddy tames external monitor brightness, and custom macOS keyboard shortcuts plus Dock CPU meters give you fast, surgical control over your Mac. Then you level up your living room: master the Apple TV remote’s scrub wheel, undo accidental scrubs, jump in precise increments, push video from iPhone to Apple TV, and fling audio to HomePod with a tap. Even Reminders gets a glow‑up so you can punt a pile of alerts in one shot instead of playing whack‑a‑mole. From there, you zoom out to “meta” geekery: backing up critical Notes (or moving to OneNote, Ulysses, or Obsidian), even flirting with a git repo to sync prefs and personal data like a developer. On the road, you learn how to keep CarPlay tappable with gloves, and in the cloud you explore why chatbots forget context, when to bring in tools like Claude, Perplexity’s Comet, Atlas, Gemini, or Claude’s Chrome extension, and how having an always‑on troubleshooting assistant changes how you work. Listener reviews cap it off by framing the show as a kind of PhD in troubleshooting, all so you can experiment, push your tech harder, and, of course, don’t get caught.​ 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1129 for Monday, February 16th, 2026 February 16th: Innovation Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a Copilot Money! Congrats to January’s winner, Amanda Colyer! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Michael Ilin-QT-Press Cmd + ` to cycle all windows of that app 00:03:06 PilotPete-QT-Nod or Shake to answer your AirPods 00:05:49 Clif-QT-Relocate iOS apps by dragging from search results Eufy Smart Scale Withings Sleep Pad 00:07:47 Different home screens for different Focus Modes 00:11:16 QT-Use Edge Light for video calls in macOS 26.2-and-later 00:16:17 Use Display Buddy to control the brightness of your screen 00:18:09 Russell-QT-Map your own keyboard shortcuts in macOS settings Brave Browser’s LEO AI 00:23:03 The value of an always-on troubleshooting assistant Eney 00:26:32 Doug-QT-Set Activity Monitor to show CPU Usage in Dock 00:30:40 Apple TV Remote Quick Tip Masterclass EyeDentify-QT-Undo Accidental Scrubs on Apple TV Using the Apple TV remote’s scroll-wheel emulator to scrub in a fine-tuned way Double-tap scroll wheel edges to jump forwards or backwards Use Siri Commands, too 00:35:16 Dom Bettinelli-QT-Tap iPhone to Apple TV remote to transfer video to Apple TV 00:37:15 Tap your iPhone to your HomePod to transfer audio 00:37:45 Jeepster-QT-Procrastinate Multiple Reminders at Once Sponsors 00:41:17 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use our code MACGEEK for 20% off at clnmy.com/MACGEEK Don’t Get Caught 00:43:56 Steve-DGC-1128-Duplicate important Notes as backup Microsoft OneNote Ulysses Obsidian 00:54:56 What about a git repo to sync… prefs, notes, whatever? Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:55:53 Steve Hammond-How can I control CarPlay with gloves on? Capacitive Gloves for Screens and Phones 01:00:30 DJ Mac-ChatGPT and others regularly forget what I’ve told them Try claude.ai/giggab for half-price Claude Pro 01:08:16 William-1128-How do I get my browser to surf for me? Perplexity – Comet browser ChatGPT – ChatGPT Atlas browser Gemini – Gemini in Chrome Claude – Claude in Chrome extension Reviews 01:15:08 gdubs-MGG Review-A PhD in troubleshooting 01:16:08 michaefs-MGG Review-A great podcast 01:16:57 d32bus-MGG Review-Excellent show 01:17:39 MGG 1129 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network  

This week on Mac Geek Gab 1128, you dive into a treasure chest of Cool Stuff Found with Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton. From DockLock Lite keeping your Dock in check to Backdrop 2.0’s animated lock screens and BookMacster’s bookmark magic, you’ll uncover smart Mac tricks you didn’t know you needed. The geeks take a nostalgic tangent into podcasting history before jumping into the now: Agentic browsers like ChatGPT’s Atlas and Perplexity’s Comet that are reshaping how you browse today. Safari killing your Tahoe? Find out why Apple’s AI choices might change how your Mac thinks. Then it’s back to more gems: Bootable clones return with SuperDuper, World Clock Widget makes global time simple, and Fastmail’s new desktop app joins BusyCal and Fantastical in taming your digital life. You’ll also learn how not to get caught with Apple Notes overwriting your data (keep the app open until it syncs!). Wrapping up, apps like Pixeldrop, Shutter Declutter, and Brick help you tidy photos, redact safely, and silence distractions. Plus, creative NFC tag hacks that make your smart home even smarter. As always, the MGG crew makes sure you Don’t Get Caught. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1128 for Monday, February 9th, 2026 February 9th: National Clean Out Your Computer Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a Copilot Money! Congrats to January’s winner, Amanda Colyer! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Cool Stuff Found 00:00:01 Bruce-CSF-Neo Network Utility 00:03:30 Oskar-CSM-Backdrop 2.0 adds Custom Live Wallpapers to the macOS Lock Screen 00:04:53 Pensacola Craig-CSF-DockLock Lite to keep your Mac’s Dock from jumping 00:06:11 Jim-CSF-1118–BookMacster by Sheep Systems to edit, sort, and sync bookmarks across browsers 00:08:26 Tangent: A discussion about how podcasting (and Maccast and Mac Geek Gab) got started 00:13:35 PilotPete-CSF-ChatGPT Atlas Browser Comet from Perplexity 00:15:00 Using Agentic Browsers is not the future…it’s the present! 00:26:04 And Safari might be killing your Tahoe 00:28:48 AI integrated into your operating system Apple needs to choose wisely 00:35:47 CSF-Eney Beta from MacPaw Sponsors 00:37:21 SPONSOR: Sundays for Dogs. Every bite of Sundays is clean and made from real meat, fruits, and veggies, with no kibble. Stanley loves it! Go right now to sundaysfordogs.com/MGG50 and get 50% off your first order. Or, you can use code MGG50 at checkout. 00:39:42 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/MGG MOAR Cool Stuff Found 00:41:32 Bruce-CSF-1127–ClipGrab to download YouTube videos (free download) 00:42:54 Kirschen-CSF-KeyClu replaces CheatSheet Use Brew! brew install –cask keyclu 00:45:25 Larry-CSF-SuperDuper WILL do bootable Clones on macOS 26 Using CCC Backup to create legacy bootable copies of macOS Idea: create a bootable external and stop once macOS is installed, leaving it ready for Migration Assistant (or anything else) 00:52:36 Andrew-CSF-World Clock Widget app UTC=Universal Time Coordinated Swatch Internet Time 00:56:33 David-CSF-Fastmail Desktop App for Mac BusyCal Fantastical Spark Mail Cardhop Don’t Get Caught with notes Syncing 01:01:42 DGC-Apple Notes only syncs when the app is open on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. This can lead to sync overwrites if one device makes a change without having the latest copy. Back to Cool Stuff Found 01:04:58 Bob-CSF-1107-Shutter Declutter helps process photos 01:11:00 rnDoug-Mole, a system maintenance tool 01:12:18 DanDXZDB-Pixeldrop for selectively redacting part of a photo Don’t Get Caught with your data buried in PDFs 01:14:20 DGC-Save redacted PDFs as a single layer so people can’t see your layers Back on Track with CSF 01:14:50 CSF-Brick to block distracting apps and notifications on your iPhone 01:19:38 Creatively Using NFC Tags Use NFC Tags with the Home app 01:21:48 QT-Re-use NFC Tags that other people send you! 01:24:04 MGG 1128 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You move fast in this episode, stacking Quick Tips that shave friction off your day almost immediately. You tell Siri to take notes on command, record audio directly inside Notes with native transcripts, and pull off smarter gestures in CarPlay Maps and iOS 26 Safari that feel hidden in plain sight. You tame the Camera side button, rename files faster from Finder and app toolbars, and generally remind yourself that small muscle-memory tweaks compound into real time saved. This is the kind of workflow polish that keeps you ahead instead of catching up. Then the conversation sharpens. You dig into why troubleshooting advice can be too eager to fix the wrong problem, unpack what “absolute mode” thinking really means, and react to Apple’s acquisition moves and fresh AirTag releases. Listener questions take you into practical territory like grabbing a single frame from video, sharing iCloud calendars with Android users, and understanding how features get quietly “nerfed,” leading to Pilot Pete’s perfectly named Newly Effectuated Reduced Functionality. You wrap with Cool Stuff Found that spans Vision Pro accessories, immersive gaming, and travel-ready power. The throughline is clear: know what still works, notice what’s been taken away, and adapt before it costs you time. Don’t Get Caught. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1127 for Monday, February 2nd, 2026 February 2nd: The Record of a Sneeze Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of Copilot Money! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Gene-QT-Hey Siri, Take a Note 00:03:48 Ian-QT-In Notes, Record Audio and Save the transcript natively! (Use the paper clip icon) 00:06:52 rnDoug-QT-1126-Zoom in CarPlay Maps with a special double-tap (and Peter, too) 00:10:32 Tom-1126-Hold down on URL Bar to close tab (and more) on iOS 26 00:11:13 Bill-QT-1126-Swipe Up on URL bar for All Tabs View on iPhone 00:12:53 Todd-QT-Camera Settings to Get Side Camera Button to do your bidding! 00:17:44 Bill-QT-1126-Rename files in Finder and from apps’ Toolbar Sponsors 00:21:24 SPONSOR: Tempo. For a limited time, Tempo is offering our listeners SIXTY PERCENT OFF your first box! Go to TempoMeals.com/MGG. 00:22:52 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG We Need To Talk 00:24:12 Craig-ChatGPT is too hasty to troubleshoot my tech issues ChatGPT Absolute Mode Hey, Did You Hear? 00:41:23 Apple acquires secretive Q․ai startup for $2 billion 00:45:40 New AirTags from Apple Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:50:21 Rob-How can I copy one frame from a video? yt-dlp (install with ‘brew install yt-dlp’) PullTube and Downie (also available in Setapp) What does NERF stand for when someone kills functionality Newly Effectuated Reduced Functionality 01:03:04 Larry-How can I share my iCloud calendar with an Android user? OneCalendar Sync for iCloud Cool Stuff Found 01:09:04 Adam-CSF-Apple Vision Pro Dual Knit Band Demeo on Vision Pro 01:12:29 DLH-CSF-Anker Prime 25W 3-in-1 Travel charger 01:16:36 MGG 1127 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You start with deceptively simple wins that immediately clean up your digital life. You batch-rename files in Finder, unlock hidden gestures on both Mac and iPhone, and speed yourself up with small but mighty keyboard and touch tricks. Along the way, a nostalgic detour into Lotus 1-2-3 sparks a surprisingly intense discussion about competitive spreadsheeting, airline safety systems, and how that thinking naturally leads to a bigger question: when does “Car as a Service” stop being a punchline and start being reality? Even the travel hacks stay practical, from surviving cruises without surprise data charges to resetting your internal clock before you even land. Then you shift into defense mode. You learn where password chaos actually comes from, why panic-resetting devices is sometimes the worst move, and how to spot bugs masquerading as personal failure. Listener questions take you deep into Lightroom quirks, CarPlay gesture mysteries, app safety checks, and Contacts behaving badly, with calm, methodical ways to unweird your setup instead of burning it down. It’s classic Mac Geek Gab: curiosity, experimentation, and real-world fixes that keep your tech working for you. Stay sharp, stay efficient, and Don’t Get Caught. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1126 for Monday, January 26th, 2026 January 26th: Lotus 1-2-3 Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of Ecamm Live or Carbon Copy Cloner 7! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Craig-QT-You can batch rename files in Finder 00:05:01 January 26th: Lotus 1-2-3 Day 00:06:40 Competitive Spreadsheeting Full Contact Spreadsheeting TCAS System in airplanes Tangent: Car as a service 00:13:11 When can we move to Car As A Service? MOAR Quick Tips 00:19:30 Steve-You can also three finger pinch on the Mac! 00:22:56 Todd-Pinch iPhone Screen in Safari to reveal the All Tabs display 00:24:16 Time hack: when flying across time zones, start your day on the time zone you will be ending on 00:25:11 Craig-QT-Use Fn to bring up the Mac emoji picker 00:27:48 Jim-QT-For cruisers, disable cellular data on the ship Sponsors 00:30:35 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/MGG 00:31:48 SPONSOR: Copilot Money. Your money, beautifully organized, now across every device. For a limited-time, get 26% off your first year when you sign up at https://try.copilot.money/macgeekgab. Get two months free with code ‘macgeekgab’. 00:33:12 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. Don’t Get Caught 00:34:24 Michael-DGC-Password Hell is a Real Place Bitwarden Access became Uplock 00:53:17 Larry-DGC-Known Bug in Apple Search in Settings – Don’t Nuke-n-Pave Your iPad just yet Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:54:26 Bob-?-Why Lightroom + DropBox TidBits Article Won’t Let me Put Files in the Trash Bin? 01:00:18 DLH-Where is CarPlay Maps pinch to zoom? Maybe in iOS 26 01:04:49 Eric-Is MacUpdater still safe for now? 01:06:17 Sandy-Contacts is being weird…how do I unweird it? 01:17:55 MGG 1126 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You start with Quick Tips that tighten up your daily Apple workflow fast. You learn how CarPlay scrubbing actually works while driving, how Siri can jump forward or back in precise time chunks, and why Apple’s vision for Siri, Gemini, and personal intelligence matters more than the hype suggests. You unlock practical wins like copying Voice Memos transcripts, using Continuity for clipboard magic across devices, mastering iPhone copy and paste gestures, and understanding when dragging photos quietly converts them to JPEGs. Along the way, you revisit Apple Newton roots, discover why tools like Yoink still matter, and pick up slick tricks for prepping images in Messages and pausing voice recordings mid-thought. Then you move into real-world problem solving. You figure out how to record a selfie video on iPhone while reading a script without breaking your flow, why Sign in With Apple is still worth using, and how to monitor drive health without guessing. You finally get clarity on weird Trash behavior, stop your mouse from waking your Mac, and understand why green bubble RCS and SMS sometimes fail on macOS. The episode wraps with a discussion about Apple Creator Studio tools like Logic Pro, Final Cut Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Compressor, MainStage, and premium content across Apple’s productivity apps. Listen to sharpen your instincts so when it counts, you Don’t Get Caught. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1125 for Monday, January 19th, 2026 January 19th: Brew a Potion Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of Ecamm Live or Carbon Copy Cloner 7! The MGG Merch Store is Live! MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)! Eero Ecamm for Zoom integration MacPaw CCC Backup Quick Tips 00:00:01 Chris-QT-CarPlay lets you scrub while driving 00:04:01 QT-Use Siri to skip forwards and backwards in specific time increments 00:06:18 The future of Siri, Gemini, and Personal Intelligence 00:14:33 QT-See and copy transcripts from Voice Memos 00:15:44 QT-Continuity works for Clipboard Too 00:18:21 iPhone Copy/Paste Gestures 00:21:55 Doug-QT-Dragging photos on iPhone converts them to JPEG Copying/Pasting on the Apple Newton Yoink 00:27:01 Jeff-QT-Dragging an image into Messages preps it to send 00:28:15 Pete-QT-Pause Voice Recording on iOS 00:29:54 How do I record a selfie video on my iPhone while being able to read a script? Teleprompter for Video for iPhone Also Teleprompter is free with in app purchases 00:34:43 GW-QT-Don’t forget about Sign in With Apple Sponsors 00:38:50 SPONSOR: Tempo. For a limited time, Tempo is offering my listeners SIXTY PERCENT OFF your first box! Go to TempoMeals.com/MGG. 00:40:22 SPONSOR: Stamps.com. Try Stamps dot com risk-free for sixty days at stamps.com and use code mgg! Sixty days gives you plenty of time to see exactly how much time and money you’re saving on every shipment. 00:41:42 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use our code MACGEEK for 20% off at clnmy.com/MACGEEK Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:43:12 Andy-What should I use to monitor drive health? Disk Drill DriveDx Techtool Pro for repairing APFS volumes 00:48:52 Gary-Why Sometime Trash? Why Sometimes NO Trash? 00:59:37 Andrew-How can I keep my mouse from waking up my Mac? 01:03:25 Caleb-Why can’t I send green bubble RCS/SMS messages from my Mac? Cool Stuff Found 01:07:19 CSF? Apple Creator Studio Logic Pro Pixelmator Pro Final Cut Pro Compressor MainStage Premium content for Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Freeform, Motion and more 01:18:31 MGG 1125 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You walk the CES 2026 floor with Pete and Dave and quickly realize this episode is about practical gear that earns its place in your life. You hear about clever headphones, smarter thermostats, compact travel tech, and simple photo organization that fixes real annoyances without overthinking them. The crew cuts through the hype, calling out what feels thoughtful versus what just looks flashy, so you can spot the difference between tools that solve problems and gadgets that will gather dust. Then things get broader and more futuristic without losing focus. You explore consumer health tech that is finally becoming accessible, modular controllers that rethink how you interact with devices, and open-ear audio that fits real-world use. Robots take over yards and floors, smart calendars and water sensors aim to reduce daily friction, and networking gear shrinks without giving up power. It is a fast tour of ideas that are close enough to touch, if not already shipping, with one consistent reminder guiding the whole conversation: stay curious, stay selective, and Don’t Get Caught chasing shiny things that do not actually improve your day. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1124 for Monday, January 12th, 2026 January 12th: National Curried Chicken Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of Ecamm Live or Carbon Copy Cloner 7! The MGG Merch Store is Live! MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)! Eero Ecamm for Zoom integration MacPaw CCC Backup Cool Stuff Found at CES 2026 00:03:41 TDM Twist Headphones 00:06:36 Eve Thermostat 00:08:08 FotoStax – $25 for a 10-pack 00:11:09 Targus Voyager EXP – $89.99 00:14:04 NOMATIC Travel Pack 00:15:52 Eloquens Email AI Autoresponder 00:21:25 Consumer-focused Blood Glucose Monitors Abbott Lingo, Stelo by Dexcom, Isaac from PreEvent, Y-Brush Halo, Actxa Core Smart Ring Sponsors 00:27:27 SPONSOR: Copilot Money. Your money, beautifully organized, now across every device. For a limited-time, get 26% off your first year when you sign up at https://try.copilot.money/macgeekgab. Get two months free with code ‘macgeekgab’. 00:28:49 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/MGG 00:30:25 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG MOAR Cool Stuff Found at CES 2026 00:31:33 Modue – Modular controllers for gamers, creators, and more 00:35:00 Shokz OpenFit Pro Earbuds 00:38:58 Robot Lawn Mowers Yarbo M-Series, Segway Navimow, Worx, Lymow 00:43:58 Robot Vacuums Eureka E10 Evo Plus – $299 Eureka Z50 $799 Roborock Saros Rover 00:51:13 Skylight Calendar 2 00:53:28 Droplet Smarthome Water Sensor from Hydrific 00:58:04 TP-Link Aireal Digital in-app assistant 01:00:31 TP-Link BE3600 Wi-Fi 7 Portable Travel Router TL-WR3602BE 01:03:21 CubicScreen.com 01:06:22 MGG 1124 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network The Mac Geek Gab iPhone app Follow us on Mastodon Mac Geek Gab on Mastodon Adam Christianson on Mastodon Dave Hamilton on Mastodon Pilot Pete on Mastodon Mona for Mastodon (for Mac, iPhone, iPad) Adam Christianson on X/Twitter  

You kick off the year by tightening your Apple habits, starting with smart Quick Tips that actually stick. You build year-based music playlists for offline listening, flip on Airplane Mode when you’re out of service to save serious battery, and let the Health app handle reminders for meds and eye drops so nothing slips. You’re reminded of power-user staples like Cmd-Shift-5 for screenshots, learn how Google Sites can double as a surprisingly effective bookmark manager, and get clarity on when and how to disable VPNs properly, including on Apple TV for region-locked content. Along the way, you discover tools that reliably track Apple refurb inventory and dig into the oddly fascinating logic behind Safari’s tab close order. Then it’s time to not get caught. You hear why Time Machine now warns you when your backup drive is too small, why storing Notes “On My Device” can bite you later, and how increasing cloud storage often means increasing local storage, too. Listener questions keep things practical, from tracking a missing Apple TV remote to deciding when an iPad beats a laptop. A deep dive into strange Safari tab behavior brings it all home, followed by Cool Stuff Found that helps you update Macs more intelligently, evaluate startup risks, replicate Mac setups with Ansible, and even capture insights from podcasts using AI. It’s a fast, practical reset that helps you start the year sharper, safer, and a little more in control. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1123 for Monday, January 5th, 2026 January 5th: National Whipped Cream Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of Ecamm Live or Carbon Copy Cloner 7! The MGG Merch Store is Live! MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)! Eero Ecamm for Zoom integration MacPaw CCC Backup Quick Tips 00:00:01 Joe-QT-Make Year-based Music playlists for offline listening 00:04:44 John-QT-Use Airplane Mode to save your battery when you’re out of service 00:06:53 Steve-QT-Use the iPhone Health app to remind you about medications, eye drops, and more! CES 2026 Sponsor: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)! 00:12:26 Avraham-QT-Remember to use Cmd-Shift-5 for Screenshots 00:17:36 Andrew-QT-1115-Use Google Sites as your Bookmarks manager 00:21:32 Jason-QT-1122-Shut off your VPN from within the app, not Settings 00:23:03 Joe-QT-Use AppleTV VPN for region-locked content 00:28:51 Ben-1121-Refurb Tracker reliably tracks Apple refurb inventory 00:30:22 Ben-QT-There’s Logic to Safari Tabs Close Order…right? Don’t Get Caught 00:32:11 Doug-DGC-Time Machine now warns you if your drive is too small CES 2026 Sponsor: CCC Backup CES 2026 Sponsor: MacPaw 00:41:29 Jose-DGC-1104-Be aware if you’re storing Notes On My [Device] 00:43:50 Doug-DGC-Increasing cloud storage means increasing local storage Reviews 00:46:37 Apv9-MGG Review-Absolutely Essential LIstening for Apple Users! Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:47:41 Skylar-Can I track my Apple TV remote? 00:50:17 Which remote control do you use? 00:53:27 Glenn-When do you reach for your iPad vs. your laptop? OmniOutliner 01:02:54 Juergen-Why the crazy tab behavior? 01:09:20 CES 2026 Coverage Sponsors Eero Ecamm for Zoom integration Cool Stuff Found 01:11:39 Steve-CSF-Latest for updating your Mac’s software SwitchGlass 01:13:01 Arvydas-CSF-MacPersistenceChecker to risk-score all your startup items 01:14:17 Alan-CSF-1121-Use Ansible to replicate user preferences between Macs 01:15:16 Dan-CSF-SnipD AI-powered Podcast app for capturing and learning from episodes 01:17:09 MGG 1123 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You dive straight into practical macOS and workflow wins, starting with macOS 26’s new ability to record video by window and moving quickly into keeping your Homebrew setup clean, current, and fast. You learn how simple display resolution tweaks can hide the MacBook notch or eliminate it entirely, and why audio problems like AirPods mic failures often come down to overlooked system behavior. Along the way, you’re reminded to stay alert to sneaky gotchas like expiring Tailscale devices, VPNs that never fully disconnect, and cables that quietly become the weakest link. Don’t Get Caught assuming the obvious is working as expected. Then it’s on to listener questions that hit real-world pain points: avoiding international cell charges even when using an eSIM, understanding why not all MVNOs are equal, and keeping vacation photos manageable by killing duplicates before they pile up. You dig into OS version mismatches, whether AI actually helps tech support when used correctly, and why asking AI to explain the “why” matters. Cool Stuff Found rounds things out with tools for sleep and stress tracking, app update management, USB speed visibility, smarter System Settings navigation, notch-aware utilities, nostalgic screen savers, and shortcut mastery. It’s a fast-moving episode packed with ways to tighten your setup, reduce friction, and stay one step ahead. Happy new year, y’all! See you in 2026! (don’t worry, that’s next week, right on schedule!) 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1122 for Monday, December 29th, 2025 December 29th: Still Need To Do Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of OpenIn! The MGG Merch Store is Live! MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)! Eero Ecamm MacPaw CCC Backup Quick Tips 00:00:01 Ben-QT-macOS 26 now adds video recording by window 00:04:47 Pilot Pete-QT-Upgrade Your Homebrew Install! brew upgrade brew install topgrade brew install speedtest-cli 00:10:37 Michael-QT-1121-Use a different Display Resolution to hide the notch 00:11:39 Antony-CSF-1121–Say No To Notch to disable your MacBook’s Notch entirely Don’t Get Caught 00:12:23 Andrew-DGC-AirPods Mic Failure 00:18:37 Chris-DGC-Be aware Tailscale device expiration 00:21:02 Tom S-DGC-Your VPN might still be connected! 00:23:48 Pilot Pete=DGC-Really! Try Different Cables Sponsors 00:29:14 SPONSOR: Copilot Money. Your money, beautifully organized, now across every device. For a limited-time, get 26% off your first year when you sign up at https://try.copilot.money/macgeekgab. Get two months free with code ‘macgeekgab’. 00:30:45 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG Reviews 00:31:58 BobCleaver-MGG Review-Thanks for the excellent info Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:32:56 Greg-How to avoid International Charges on Cell Phone while Traveling eSIMdb for finding eSIMs 00:39:42 Not all MVNOs are created equal 00:43:22 Robert-How do you manage your photos on vacation? Remove duplicate photos and videos on Mac 00:49:21 Todd-Any Issues with iOS 26 and Not macOS 26? 00:53:42 Joe-Does AI make tech support’s job easier? Ask the AI to teach you WHY a proposed solution is good Cool Stuff Found 01:01:48 Bob-CSF-AutoSleep for sleep and stress tracking Heart Analyzer 01:04:20 Jeepster 8675309-CSF-Updatest for keeping your Mac’s apps up-to-date MacUpdater 01:08:26 Dan-CSM-USB Connection Information puts USB speeds in your menu bar 01:09:40 Allison-CSM-Mind Map of System Settings 01:11:51 CSF-AirNotch Pro Dual 01:13:55 SccrHallways-CSF-Flying Toasters Screensaver is back! 01:16:28 DJ Mac-CSF-CheatSheet to see all your keyboard shortcuts 01:17:54 MGG 1122 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You dig into the little things macOS quietly does for you, starting with the surprising truth about Clipboard History and why macOS 26 might feel slower than you’d expect. You explore ways to rein things in, from taming runaway apps to making better use of iPhone Mirroring and clever video capture tricks. Along the way, you’re reminded that old hardware still has value if you give it purpose, and that blind trust in AI troubleshooting can lead you astray faster than it helps. This is where staying curious beats staying complacent, and where “Don’t Get Caught” is more than a catchphrase. Then you move into the real-world problem solving that defines Mac Geek Gab: networking quirks that break expectations, WiFi settings that ignore reservations, and router updates that change the rules midstream. You also get clear, practical guidance on buying the right Mac, migrating only what you actually need, hunting down duplicate files, and reclaiming menu bar space from the notch. Even photo libraries get a reality check, helping you decide what truly needs to live inside Photos. It’s a fast-moving episode packed with answers you can use immediately, designed to keep your setup efficient, intentional, and frustration-free. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1121 for Monday, December 22nd, 2025 December 22nd: International Day of Mathematics MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of OpenIn! The MGG Merch Store is Live! MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)! Eero Ecamm MacPaw CCC Backup Quick Tips 00:00:02 QT-Turns out macOS keeps your Clipboard History? 00:04:59 macOS 26 is slowing down Dave’s Macs App Tamer helps a little bit 00:15:00 Adam-QT-Use your iPhone Mirroring on your Mac 00:17:59 Dale-QT-Video capture your devices’ “I’m Charged” states 00:19:27 Kent-QT-CSF, or One Thing To Do With an Old iPad DAKboard.com Sponsors 00:22:27 SPONSOR: Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/mgg #rulapod 00:23:41 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support Don’t Get Caught 00:24:57 Beware of Troubleshooting with ChatGPT and Gell-mann Amnesia 00:27:59 Pilot Pete-DGC-Private WiFi Address doesn’t honor DHCP Reservation 00:32:36 Craig-DGC-Updated my Orbi and it won’t let me set DHCP Reservations within the Dynamic DHCP Pool IP Range MGG Reviews 00:43:36 NYCkRon-MGG Review-Learn new things 00:44:29 Scotty Southard-MGG Review-Outstanding Mac Tips, New Stuff Found and Great Knowledge Sponsors 00:46:33 SPONSOR: Copilot Money. Your money, beautifully organized, now across every device. For a limited-time, get 26% off your first year when you sign up at https://try.copilot.money/macgeekgab. Get two months free with code ‘macgeekgab’. Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:48:18 Elbert-How much Mac shall I buy? Refurb.me 00:58:40 Jose-Can I migrate just my user settings to a new Mac without migrating an entire account? 01:05:13 Gary-How can I easily find duplicate files on my Mac? MacPaw’s Gemini 2 (it’s in Setapp!) Find Any File Scripts for Duplicate Finding 01:08:04 David-How do I keep Fantastical (or any app) from being hidden by my menu bar notch! Command-Drag that menu bar icon! Set a keyboard shortcut for it 01:13:27 Donald-Do I have to import all my photos into a library? 01:16:58 MGG 1121 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You jump straight into a rapid-fire run of Quick Tips that quietly level up how you use your devices every day. You learn how iOS 26 now shows charging time right on the lock screen, how to build polished collages in Pages or Canva without paying a dime, and how to finally extract and archive your full iMessage history using proper database tools instead of hacks. Along the way, you tweak haptics for better feedback, realize the iOS Stocks app works just fine on a Mac, and discover how a simple Command-Shift-2 move inside ChatGPT can instantly pull screenshots into your workflow. The throughline is efficiency without sloppiness, because convenience is great until it compromises control. Don’t Get Caught. Then things get deeper, and more fun. You wrestle with real-world troubleshooting, from intermittent freezing in Tahoe to why subjective sleep scores still matter if you want to manage what you monitor. Siri’s growing confusion about dates and times turns into a full-blown intercontinental misunderstanding, and the team breaks down the alphabet soup of 5G variants so you know what your phone is actually using. The final stretch becomes a live, unscripted tech support jam session, digging into creative AirTag placement, pasting clipboards as keystrokes, and reorganizing applications with surgical precision. It’s messy, methodical, and exactly how real problem-solving happens when the mics are on and the answers are not obvious. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1120 for Monday, December 15th, 2025 December 15th: International Tea Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of OpenIn! The MGG Merch Store is Live! MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)! Eero Ecamm MacPaw CCC Backup Quick Tips 00:00:01 QT-iOS 26 lock screen has charging time 00:04:38 Jim-QT-Use Pages to Make a Collage! Don’t Pay! Canva, too. 00:07:37 Chris-QT-Get a useable complete iMessage History DB Browser for SQLite Base for SQLite on Setapp 00:09:33 Robert-CSF-1118–iMessage-Exporter to archive your iMessages 00:12:46 Todd-QT-1119-Increase Haptic Prominence 00:14:15 Bill-QT-Stocks App iOS QT Works on a Mac too! 00:15:52 QT-Command-Shift-2 in ChatGPT immediately adds a screenshot of your most-recent window Shottr A discussion about using ChatGPT, et al, and finding your place on the continuum between privacy and convenience. One year free Perplexity subscription if you have PayPal VS Code CoPilot ChatGPT integration Google Antigravity 00:26:16 QT-ChatGPT, use these screenshots to help me build a formula for Google Sheets Sponsors 00:27:27 SPONSOR: Udacity is an online learning platform with courses in AI and Tech. For 40% off your order, head to Udacity.com/MGG and use code MGG. 00:28:44 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use our code MACGEEK for 20% off at clnmy.com/MACGEEK Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:29:59 Kirit-Tahoe, freezing from time to time 00:34:19 Bob, MD-1119-If sleep score is so subjective, why use it? That which is monitored is managed 00:41:17 Antony-Does Siri Know What Day It Is? 00:48:19 What’s the difference between 5G, 5G+, 5G UC, and 5G UW? 00:51:48 Time For an Intercontinental Misunderstanding Sponsors 00:53:32 SPONSOR: Aura Frames. Relive your favorite holiday traditions—every day. Visit AuraFrames.com and get $45 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames – named #1 by Wirecutter – by using promo code MGG at checkout. MOAR Quick Tips 00:55:30 Scott-QT-Creative Air Tag Locations 00:57:42 Pilot Pete-QT-Paste Clipboard as Keystrokes – Native to Mac OS 01:09:20 Chris-QT-Add folders to label Applications 01:19:43 MGG 1120 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You dive into a packed Cool Stuff Found episode this week, moving fast from sensor-powered tinkering with phyphox to smarter dictation using Wispr Flow, altitude readouts in CarPlay, and Emby’s upgraded media management. You get practical wins too: safer file sharing with MetaWipe, smoother workflows through PopClip, a road-tested Nomatic backpack, and Picmal for quick local media conversions. Then the conversation flips to your questions: which sleep score app you can trust, how the new Journals app handles multiple journals, and how to make notifications behave when your Apple Watch is on your wrist. Don’t Get Caught missing the deep cuts. You also hear clear guidance on backup safety, with SuperDuper, Carbon Copy Cloner, ChronoSync, and Backblaze each playing a different role depending on how you protect your data. To wrap things up, the crew tackles border ID differences between REAL ID and passports, whether upgrading to macOS Tahoe or Sequoia is the smarter move, and a listener warning about bottom-filled beers that’s both funny and useful. It’s a full tour of tech insight and practical nerd wisdom, delivered at MGG speed. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1119 for Monday, December 8th, 2025 December 8th: Take it in the Ear Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of OpenIn! The MGG Merch Store is Live! MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)! Eero Ecamm MacPaw CCC Backup Cool Stuff Found 00:00:01 Ian-CSF-phyphox gives you ALL the Sensors on your Phone to play with! 00:07:44 David-CSF-Wispr Flow for Dictation 00:10:02 Bob-CSF-Altimeter & Barometer Pro shows your altitude in a CarPlay widget 00:11:56 P2-CSF-Emby Media Server Emby Metadata Enhanced Plugin Plex 00:16:29 Michael-CSF-1117–MetaWipe to safely send files 00:20:17 Tony-GG-Popclip app is super handy and affordable 00:22:04 Dave-GG-Nomatic Travel Backpack been using all year 00:27:58 Alberto-CSMade-Picmal converts and compresses images, videos, and audio files locally on your Mac Sponsors 00:30:11 SPONSOR: Framer. Ready to design, iterate, and publish all in one tool? Start creating for free at Framer.com/design, and use code MGG for a free month of Framer Pro. 00:31:51 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:33:10 Tony-Which App’s sleep score is best? Sleep++ Withings Sleep Apple Sleep Score 00:48:33 Journals app now supports multiple journals Sponsors 00:49:31 SPONSOR: Superhuman. Get AI that works where you work. Unlock your Superhuman potential. Learn more at Superhuman.com/PODCAST 00:50:54 SPONSOR: AG1. Head to DrinkAG1.com/MGG to get a FREE Welcome Kit with an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3 plus K2, when you first subscribe. MOAR Questions 00:52:23 Brian-How to Get Notifications on my Phone With an Apple Watch on My Wrist 00:59:25 Raptor-Is it OK to run backups in the background on your Mac? SuperDuper! CCC Backup ChronoSync Backblaze 01:03:57 WPooka-MGG Review-Great show Don’t Get Caught 01:08:49 Dave-DGC-Differences between REAL ID and US Passport at Land Borders 01:12:12 SonoMacGuy-DGC-Update Sequoia -v- Upgrade to Tahoe 01:16:20 Gray-DGC-Beware the bottom-filled beers! 01:17:30 MGG 1119 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You kick off this episode with a rapid-fire blast of Quick Tips that sharpen how you use your Mac, iPhone, and apps every day. You learn how to tame iOS typing quirks, get the most out of dictation in ChatGPT’s Mac app, clean up Safari’s sidebar, and jump straight into System Settings with an alphabetical view. Then you dive into the spam-text battlefield, where forwarding to 7726, filtering, and blocking help you stay ahead. And because it’s Mac Geek Gab, you’re reminded: Don’t Get Caught letting your smart TV monitor more than you expect. From there, you get practical answers to real listener questions: backing up external Photos Libraries, deciding whether you trust Tailscale (and your relatives!), keeping network drives mounted in macOS 26, and dealing with the fact that Messages aren’t included in your Apple Data Archive. You round things out with a strong Cool Stuff Found segment covering tools to clean your menu bar, manage your watch history, secure your Mac, replace Bento, and more. It’s a full week of tips that tighten your workflow and expand what your Apple gear can do for you. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1118 for Monday, December 1st, 2025 December 1st: Eat a Red Apple Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of OpenIn! The MGG Merch Store is Live! MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)! Eero Ecamm MacPaw CCC Backup Quick Tips 00:00:01 Darrin-QT-Set Amazon Auto Buy 00:04:47 Susan-QT-Maybe disable “slide to type” to tame iOS typing? 00:07:09 QTR-Dictating to ChatGPT’s Mac App is really handy 00:07:59 Bruce-QT-1116-Manage Safari’s Sidebar to your liking 00:09:11 Gene-QT-System Settings Alphabetical List 00:13:28 DGC-Dealing with those SPAM Text Messages Forwarding to 7726 Reports SPAM to your carrier Screen, filter, report, and block text messages on iPhone Don’t Get Caught 00:18:09 Todd-DGC-Beware of your TV selling data about you 00:22:45 ATC-DGC-Know about Mouse Keys Sponsors 00:27:02 SPONSOR: Aura Frames. Relive your favorite holiday traditions—every day. Visit AuraFrames.com and get $45 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames – named #1 by Wirecutter – by using promo code MGG at checkout. 00:28:39 SPONSOR: Shopify. For anyone to sell anywhere, sign up for a one-dollar-per month trial period at Shopify.com/MGG and upgrade your selling today! Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:29:48 Larry-How to back-up an external Photos Library? Task Organization – Bombich Software 00:33:25 Allison-How MUCH do you believe in Tailscale…and your relatives? Splashtop 00:37:23 DLH-1117-Messages are not a part of your Apple Data Archive iMazing 00:44:14 Uncle Jamie-Keep Network Drives Mounted on MacOS 26? Automounter for macOS MGG Discord 00:46:45 SccrHallways-CSF-Google Antigravity agentic IDE for coding Sponsors 00:54:32 SPONSOR: Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/mgg #rulapod 00:56:14 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. Cool Stuff Found 00:57:36 Terry-CSF-Moonlock Security Suite by MacPaw (Setapp) 01:00:43 Allison-CSF-Ice for managing your Mac’s menu bar 01:02:00 n-Greg from LA-CSF-Vanilla to Manage your Mac’s Menubar 01:04:44 TheDaveAbides-CSF-Plex Universal Watchlist and Channels Stream Links Stream Link Manager for Channels 01:06:53 Joe-QT-1115–Trakt only stores your passwords on your local device(s) 01:12:08 Mark M-CSF-1112–Tap Forms Pro as a great Bento/Filemaker replacement AirTable Panorama X 01:14:16 MGG 1118 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You kick off this week’s episode on D. B. Cooper Day with a rapid-fire mix of fresh iOS 26 tricks and Mac power-moves. You learn how iOS 26’s haptic call alerts work, how Alfred can shut down your Mac faster than any menu, and how Forklift’s sync feature rivals DeltaWalker without any hassle. Shortcuts get smarter with automated sleep tracking, Command-P becomes your instant PDF escape hatch, and you get clarity on when you do and don’t need to hand over your phone as a digital ID. Listener follow-ups keep the energy rolling, including a reminder to rethink long-held holiday assumptions and a shoutout to Tailscale for keeping your tech effortlessly connected. Then it’s time to sharpen your defensive instincts so you Don’t Get Caught. You hear how to avoid being stranded without a wireless charger, why sending photos can leak your location, and what to do when the Mac App Store refuses to update your apps. You dig into undeleting Mail quirks, discover where your iPhone hides space-hogging files, and pick up smart workflows for offloading Messages media with CCC, iMazing, and Apple’s GDPR archive. You close with a simple breakdown of SSH so you can finally understand what’s happening when you open that mysterious Remote Login switch. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1117 for Monday, November 24th, 2025 November 24th: D.B. Cooper Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Your own OpenCase! The MGG Merch Store is Live! 00:11:12 MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)! Eero Ecamm MacPaw Quick Tips 00:00:01 Alex-QT-iOS 26 adds haptic vibrations for connected and dropped calls 00:05:18 MoeCoffee-1116-Use Alfred to Shut Down your Mac 00:06:30 Forklift has a Sync Function – Much like Delta Walker 00:07:59 Paul-Create a shortcut to automatically Start Sleep Analysis 00:11:32 Todd-QT-Add Command-P to Save as PDF 00:13:52 Pilot Pete-QT-Follow Up – No Need to Hand Over Phone Digital ID Sponsors 00:17:42 SPONSOR: Aura Frames. Relive your favorite holiday traditions—every day. Visit AuraFrames.com and get $45 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames – named #1 by Wirecutter – by using promo code MGG at checkout. 00:19:44 SPONSOR: Udacity is an online learning platform with courses in AI and Tech. You can try Udacity risk-free for seven days. Head to Udacity.com/MGG and use code MGG for 40% off your order. Follow-ups and Reviews 00:21:10 Paul & Ben-Was the last episode Wednesday or Monday? 00:23:41 MGG Review-T. Hongo-An Apple Geeks home for tips and tricks 00:25:51 Brian-Tell us the story about the Santa mind-shift, Dave! 00:32:22 Joe-Let’s Hear It for Tailscale Don’t Get Caught 00:35:42 ATC-DGC-Without A Wireless Charger 00:43:09 GW-DGC-Sending Photos Sends GeoData! Sponsors 00:47:16 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG 00:48:36 SPONSOR: PAKA makes performance apparel from sustainable alpaca fiber, softer than cashmere, warmer than wool. To grab your PAKA hoodie and free pair of alpaca crew socks, head to PAKAapparel.com/MGG and use code MGG. Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:50:12 Rob-Why doesn’t Mac App Store update all my apps? 00:53:50 ED-Why does mail sometimes undelete my emails? Mail > Mailboxes > Rebuild Mailbox 00:57:58 Steve-How can I clean up my iPhone storage? [home]/Library/Photos/Libraries/Syndication.photoslibrary/ 01:02:48 A solution for offloading your Messages media CCC Backup to sync photos to a new destination iMazing to archive messages Request a data archive from Apple for your data 01:09:49 Steve-What is SSH-ing? System Settings > General > Sharing > Remote Login 01:18:19 MGG 1117 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)! Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You kick off with a blast of rapid-fire tips: instantly saving PDFs from Google Docs, digging photos out of Messages, moving your playlists into Apple Music with iOS 26, tightening up your Digital ID setup, wrangling mail right inside a message, and even retraining Siri when she goes off the rails. Then you dig into listener questions: how to avoid phishing traps, whether segmenting IoT gear actually improves security, and how to bypass that annoying shutdown confirmation. Sleep-tracking follow-ups, auto-opening Safari’s sidebar, and a perfectly absurd detour into fattening up backyard squirrels keep things moving. Through it all, you avoid the pitfalls and, of course, Don’t Get Caught. From there, the next iteration of the Gift Guide rolls out, finding those products that are so embedded into our lives we forget about them: Hue bulbs for whole-home color, the Snap Grip for better shooting on the go, the Olight for serious flashlight needs, AirPods Pro with live translation tricks, single-ear noise canceling, and Comply tips for comfort. You wrap with Cool Stuff Found, including What Three Words for location smarts and the clever NoLongerEvil workaround to resurrect aging Nest thermostats. Punchy, practical, and full of the good bits you can use right now. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1116 for Monday, November 17th, 2025 November 17th: National Homemade Bread Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Your own OpenCase! The MGG Merch Store is Live! MGG CES 2026 Sponsors: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)! Quick Tips 00:00:01 QT-Command+P in Google Docs immediately saves a PDF 00:04:57 P2-QT-Find a Photo in Messages 00:08:45 n-JKDawson-QT-iOS 26 lets you transfer music from other services to Apple Music 00:10:53 QT-Set up your Apple Digital ID 00:16:30 QT-iOS Mail management from within the message 00:18:10 Ben-QT-Retrain Siri if She’s Not working on your Watch Sponsors 00:24:22 SPONSOR: Framer. Ready to design, iterate, and publish all in one tool? Start creating for free at Framer.com/design, and use code MGG for a free month of Framer Pro. 00:26:07 SPONSOR: AG1. Head to DrinkAG1.com/MGG to get a FREE Welcome Kit with an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3 plus K2, when you first subscribe. Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:19:23 Paul-How best to avoid phishing scams? 00:28:27 Dan DXZDB-What are the impacts of putting IOT devices on a separate Wi-Fi network? 00:36:37 Steven-Q-Getting Around the ‘Are You Sure’ prompt when shutting down Shutdown and Restart Keystrokes sudo shutdown -h now 00:41:52 OurStanley-Sleep Cycle Follow-up 00:44:46 Fattening Up The Squirrels 00:45:26 Dick-How to auto-open Safari with the Bookmarks Sidebar visible? Sponsors 00:49:06 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use my code MACGEEK for 20% off at clnmy.com/MACGEEK 00:50:38 SPONSOR: NordLayer. Get an exclusive offer: up to 22% off NordLayer yearly plans plus 10% on top with the coupon code: macgeekgab-10. Try it risk-free—14-day money-back guarantee. Gift Guide 00:52:15 GG-Philips Hue Full Color Bulbs 00:56:15 GG-OhSnap Snap Grip 00:58:41 GG-Olight ArkPro Flashlights 01:02:31 GG-Airpods Pro 3 01:02:49 AirPods Pro Live Translation review 01:04:22 AirPods Pro single-ear noise canceling 01:05:51 Comply AirPods Foam Tips Cool Stuff Found 01:08:08 Jeff-CSF-What Three Words & Some Use Cases 01:10:25 CSF-NoLongerEvil-Thermostat brings Nest thermostats back online 01:19:19 MGG 1116 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

This week on Mac Geek Gab, you, Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton dive headfirst into a whirlwind of Quick Tips and real-world Apple wisdom. You’ll learn how to clean up those pesky “recovered” Messages folders, fine-tune your Apple TV profiles, and even adjust the contentious “Liquid Glass” effect on your devices. Apple might be making the iPhone feel more Android-like, but you’ll still stay one step ahead with tips like checking your Apple Watch battery health directly from your wrist, tightening up that Mac menu bar spacing, and using ChatGPT safely in CarPlay (just remember to ask it, “Are you sure?”). From mastering sleep tracking apps to making Mail behave across devices, you’ll find out exactly how to fix what’s bugging you—and how to keep your tech life running smooth. Then it’s on to your questions and Cool Stuff Found, where the crew reveals clever AirTag hiding spots, bookmark-organizing tricks, and gift-worthy gear like LED light strips and power inverters for your car. Whether you’re fine-tuning your sleep cycle or supercharging your workflow with Obsidian, there’s always a shortcut, hack, or hidden feature to uncover. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and—most importantly—you’ll make sure you Don’t Get Caught by the next digital dilemma. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1115 for Monday, November 10th, 2025 November 10th: Marine Corps Birthday (and World Science Day!) MGG Monthly Giveaway – Your own OpenCase! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Joe-QT-Stocks App – Find Delta of Stock Price for any two points in time! 00:03:44 Dave-QT-26.1 Lets You Adjust Liquid Glass on iOS, macOS…but not watchOS. Here’s a workaround. 00:06:21 Apple has Android-ized the iPhone Palm Treo 650 00:09:24 Pilot Pete-QT-Delete “recovered” Messages Folders to clean up and gain (a little) space 00:12:34 Harvey-QT-Setting Default Apple TV Profiles (and Bill, too!) 00:14:26 Andrew-QT-Check your Apple Watch battery health…only on your Watch Withings Sleep Pad from MGG 1114 00:17:36 Heart rate discussion 00:18:56 Bill-QT-Adjusting the white space in menu bar! 00:20:10 ChatGPT widget in CarPlay 00:23:41 But ChatGPT lies sometimes: ask it “Are you sure?” Sponsors 00:25:04 SPONSOR: Zapier – Zapier is the easiest way to automate your tasks. Transform how you work with Zapier and AI. Get started for free today by visiting Zapier.com/macgeekgab 00:26:34 SPONSOR: PAKA makes performance apparel from sustainable alpaca fiber, softer than cashmere, warmer than wool. To grab your PAKA hoodie and free pair of alpaca crew socks, head to PAKAapparel.com/MGG and use code MGG. Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:28:47 Bob-Fixing Non-Syncing Mailboxes 00:35:28 Raptor-Why does Mail on my iPhone default to Trash and my wife’s is Archive? Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts > [account name] > Account Settings > Advanced and then under “Move Discarded Messages Into” you can choose “Deleted Mailbox” or “Archive Mailbox”. 00:39:58 James-Are there any devices or apps that wake you during light sleep? Beautyrest Sleep Tracker AutoSleep Sleep Cycle app 00:47:54 CSF: Ringconn gen 2 air Sponsors 00:44:57 SPONSOR: Superhuman. Get AI that works where you work. Unlock your Superhuman potential. Learn more at Superhuman.com/PODCAST 00:46:19 SPONSOR: Shopify. For anyone to sell anywhere, sign up for a one-dollar-per month trial period at Shopify.com/MGG and upgrade your selling today! MOAR Questions Answered 00:49:26 Steve-How do I organize my Safari Bookmarks? Obsidian 00:58:27 John-What is the Mail icon that appears near the trash can in my Dock? System Settings > Desktop & Dock > “Minimize windows into application icon” 01:01:55 Roy-Where are some good AirTag locations in my car? Gift Guide 01:05:06 Dave-GG-Cync LED Strip 01:07:52 Pilot Pete-GG-Pro Chaser Vehicle Power Inverter Car Jump Starter Cool Stuff Found 01:13:23 Dan-CSF-1114–Trakt for Apple TV will help you know what to watch next 01:17:12 MGG 1115 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

In Mac Geek Gab 1114, you’ll uncover a ton of real-world Apple wisdom — from mastering Apple TV’s hidden control center to supercharging your Mac keyboard shortcuts. Learn how to re-enable Low Data Mode on your new iPhone, control-click your way into Terminal, and even get an alphabetical list from your Dock. Then, dive into listener-shared “Don’t Get Caught” moments like why people don’t always receive your calendar invites, CarPlay’s uncertain future at GM, and AirTag stealth hacks. And don’t miss the Cool Stuff Found segment, packed with geek-approved tools like Hidden Bar, OVMS for your car, and the Withings Sleep Pad. It’s all here — tips, tricks, and the occasional gotcha — so you can stay ahead of your tech. Don’t Get Caught. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1114 for Monday, November 3rd, 2025 November 3rd: Give Someone a Dollar Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Your own OpenCase! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Tom-QT-Apple TV Control Center by Pressing and Holding TV button 00:03:23 Apple tvOS 26 adds profiles to every startup 00:06:50 Sharp TVs use TiVo interface now 00:09:30 Thoughts on TV interfaces JustWatch TV Time 00:14:52 QT-Re-enable Low Data Mode on your new iPhone 00:17:01 Bill-QT-1113-Control-Click to Open in Terminal 00:18:12 Gene-QT-Toggle Between Function and Standard Keys Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts… > Services > Shortcuts > Toggle Function Keys WordService CalcService Settings > Keyboard > Services > Text 00:20:22 Bill-QT-1113-Right click on Settings in Dock to get Alphabetical Listing Sponsors 00:22:25 SPONSOR: NordLayer. Get an exclusive offer: up to 28% off NordLayer yearly plans with coupon code: macgeekgab-28. Try it risk-free—14-day money-back guarantee. 00:23:55 SPONSOR: Shopify. For anyone to sell anywhere, sign up for a one-dollar-per month trial period at Shopify.com/MGG and upgrade your selling today! Don’t Get Caught 00:25:33 Scott-DGC-Invitations to iCloud-calendar events are only sent to iCloud accounts 00:31:26 Mark UK-DGC-Be aware of which port is the DFU port on your Mac 00:34:54 Terry-DGC-GM will be dropping CarPlay (and Android Auto) from Future Vehicles 00:38:30 Chris-DGC-Hide your AirTags in your car 00:40:58 KiwiGraham-DGC-Copy as Pathname doesn’t escape the special characters 00:41:40 DGC-Shortcuts “Match” Fails in macOS 26 until recreated Sponsors 00:45:05 SPONSOR: AG1. Head to DrinkAG1.com/MGG to get a FREE Welcome Kit with an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3 plus K2, when you first subscribe. 00:46:43 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:48:23 John-Which AirPods should I get for my wife…and where? AirPods 4 Check Refurbished AirPods But they’re less expensive at Amazon for the AirPods Pro 2 Comply Tips for AirPods Pro 00:56:42 Kirit-Tahoe vs. the Third Party Utilities Cool Stuff Found 01:02:50 Scott-CSF-1112–Hidden Bar for managing your menu bar 01:04:55 Chris from Malta-1111–OVMS OBD Adapter for your Car 01:06:22 Terry-CSF-AAA Auto Club app adds CarPlay features GasBuddy 01:10:10 DLH-CSF-Withings Sleep Pad 01:12:32 Scott-CSF-1112–prettyJSON for Safari makes JSON look…prettier! 01:13:37 Bryan-1112-Logitech Brio 500 with Show Mode for your on-desk whiteboard Gift Guide 01:15:00 Adam-GG-10-Year Battery Adhesive Mount for AirTag TagVault – AirTag Security Mount 01:18:50 MGG 1114 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

This week, you roll right into another round of Quick Tips, laughs, and lessons learned with Dave, Pilot Pete, and Adam! From macOS Tahoe’s alphabetized Settings to Spotlight searching everything—including those hidden menus—you’ll uncover new tricks that keep your Mac life humming. The crew digs into Apple and Google Maps’ smart intersection awareness, shares shortcuts to open Terminal right where you are in Finder, and explores accessibility superpowers like controlling your screen with your eyes and using full voice control across macOS and iOS. Of course, there’s time for listener questions, from fixing calendar syncs and Mail zoom quirks to selecting inverse text the geeky way. You’ll even get their latest Gear Picks, like the Scosche ScoVac mini vac, Sifely smart door lock, and Matias Tactile Pro keyboard—all topped off with a detour into absurdity: Polka on a Flatbed. Stay sharp, have fun, and as always—Don’t Get Caught! 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1113 for Monday, October 27th, 2025 October 27th: National American Beer Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Your license to PowerPhotos! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Bill-QT-macOS Tahoe Settings in Alphabetical Order 00:03:30 Spotlight searches Settings, too 00:05:47 A welcomed detour for some love for the show…and all of you! 00:07:39 TheDaveAbides-QT-Apple and Google Maps understand intersections Fantastical’s “magic” parsing of text 00:09:51 Polka On a Flatbed 00:11:58 David-QT-Open Terminal To The Folder Path You’re in, in Finder 00:12:58 In Finder Copy Pathname to Clipboard 00:17:52 Harvey-QT-Enhancing Assistive Touch 00:20:57 Accessibility-Control the screen with your eyes forScore app 00:24:30 Using full voice control on macOS and iOS 00:25:32 Barb-QT-1111-Bluetooth Menu Bar item shows Mouse Battery Percentage Sponsors 00:26:30 SPONSOR: Framer. Ready to design, iterate, and publish all in one tool? Start creating for free at Framer.com/design, and use code MGG for a free month of Framer Pro. 00:28:31 SPONSOR: NordLayer. Get an exclusive offer: up to 22% off NordLayer yearly plans plus 10% on top with the coupon code: macgeekgab-10. Try it risk-free—14-day money-back guarantee. Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:30:00 Mark-My Books App Won’t Launch, how can I resolve this? 00:38:22 Robert-How do I select the inverse of my selected text? 00:40:55 QT-Close other tabs in your browser 00:41:43 QT-Command-Shift-T Reopens Last Closed 00:43:22 Fist shake about mis-interpreted clicks, taps, and keystrokes! 00:45:24 Peter-How to change the zoom level when composing in macOS Mail.app? 00:50:44 Scott-How do I fix calendar syncing? 00:55:00 The AWS East-Coast Outage Sponsors 00:56:23 SPONSOR: PAKA makes performance apparel from sustainable alpaca fiber, softer than cashmere, warmer than wool. To grab your PAKA hoodie and free pair of alpaca crew socks, head to PAKAapparel.com/MGG and use code MGG. Gift Guide 00:57:57 Pete-GG-Scosche ScoVac 4 in 1 Mini Vac & Duster $69.99 (with the $10 coupon) 01:00:07 Dave-GG-Sifely Fingerprint Smart door lock 01:07:35 Adam-GG-iFixit Essential Electronics Toolkit 01:10:17 Dave-GG-Matias Tactile Pro Keyboard for Mac 01:12:00 The Severance Keyboard 01:15:17 MGG 1113 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MOAR Geeks Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network  

This week, you’re diving deep into a treasure trove of quick tips and practical geekery with Dave, Pilot Pete, and Adam! From setting iOS call-back reminders to connecting keyboards to your iPhone or iPad, you’ll learn how to make Apple’s ecosystem work smarter for you. Discover why Numbers might finally replace Excel, how to share spreadsheets with non-Mac users, and why FileMaker still rules the database world. macOS Tahoe brings a few surprises too—automatic FileVault encryption and a slick new SSH remote unlock feature—plus Docker tricks for keeping MariaDB safe across installs and smarter audio control for Zoom with SoundSource. Then, it’s time for MGG’s signature blend of news and gear: Synology loosens its drive rules, Apple’s M5 chip and Vision Pro refresh redefine what’s “next-gen,” and the hosts roll through this year’s first Gift Guide—packed with clever, affordable gadgets from wireless CarPlay screens to flight-ready Bluetooth transmitters. Finally, listener questions hit hard: should you upgrade to macOS 26, and what’s the real story behind its indexing bugs? Tune in, geek out, and remember—Don’t Get Caught without your tech homework done! 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1112 for Monday, October 20th, 2025 October 20th: Information Overload Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Your license to PowerPhotos! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Kiwi Graham-QT-Set a Call-Back Reminder in iOS 26 00:03:06 Jim-QT-Cmd+Space works on iPad too Using a keyboard with your iPad or iPhone Adam connected a keyboard to his iPhone with a USB-C Cable Dictate to ChatGPT when starting a project to give it a blob of information 00:05:53 GW-QT-Started Using Numbers Instead of Excel 00:07:00 FileMaker is *still* crushing it! 00:09:13 Sharing Numbers documents with non-Apple users Use iCloud for Numbers LibreOffice Synology Office 00:11:37 QT-macOS Tahoe upgrade automatically enables FileVault 00:13:28 SccrHallways-QT-Tahoe adds a way of using SSH to remotely unlock 00:14:44 Dave-QT-1110-Run MariaDB in Docker to preserve it across installs Portainer Docker Desktop 00:19:13 QT-Use Soundsource for those Zoom meetings 00:22:10 Heidi-QT-Hold Option in 1Password to reveal hidden fields How do you have your password manager configured? Is it super-secure, or super-convenient, or somewhere in-between? 00:26:57 Tony-QT-Taming Liquid Glass (ChatGPT Summary) Sponsors 00:30:36 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG Vendor News 00:32:19 Bob, et al-QT-Synology no longer requiring first party drives Christopher-Synology DSM 7.3 is out, and relaxes drive restrictions) 00:34:28 Apple TV & Peacock Bundle 00:37:02 Apple’s new M5 Chip New M5-based MacBook Pro 00:43:11 New M5-based Apple Vision Pro The way Apple upgraded this is more like the way they upgrade computers vs. iPhones and Watches 00:49:14 The M5 is only the M5 for now (no Pro or Max) Sponsors 00:51:49 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. MGG Gift Guide 00:53:32 Dave-GG-7” Aftermarket Wireless CarPlay Screen ($49) 00:56:24 Adam-GG-CarLinkIt 5.0 Wireless CarPlay adapter ($55) 00:59:52 Pete-GG-Air Tags on Sale $64.99 / 4-pack 01:02:07 Dave-GG-Quartet Glass Dry Erase Desktop Computer Pad ($28) 01:03:51 Pete-GG-UGREEN Airplane Bluetooth 6.0 Transmitter Receiver for 2 Flight, TV, Car Stereo ($19) 01:06:04 Pete-GG SARISUN Airplane Head Strap with Eye Mask for Sleep Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 01:07:16 Paul-Should I upgrade macOS 26? Bartender 6 for macOS 26 01:14:45 Michelle-1110-Safari indexing was broken until 26.0.1 01:18:52 MGG 1112 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network  

You’ll come out smarter — and maybe even safer — after this week’s Mac Geek Gab with Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, Dave Hamilton, and a triumphant return from John F. Braun. From unlocking hidden gems in iOS 26’s Health app and securing your Mint Mobile account with Number Lock to setting up ChatGPT Tasks like it’s your own personal Knowledge Navigator, you’ll pick up tricks to stay ahead. Printer drivers got you down? John’s got fixes. Want to finally make your Apple TV remote work right or unlock secret iOS 18 controls? Done. And yes, migrating to Apple Silicon? Don’t Get Caught without Go64. For the gearheads, you’ll find Cool Stuff Found like the FIXD car scanner (a modern Automatic replacement), QuickLook folder previews, AirBattery to track your mouse’s juice, and Parachute Backup to wrangle your iCloud data. Got a Brother printer? Scan straight to USB — no computer needed. Oh, and HomePods as stereo TV speakers? Surprisingly great even though you’re skipping the center channel. With AirTags, shortcuts, OBD2 adapters, and even blood oxygen data hacks, this episode’s got something for every geek in your galaxy. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1111 for Monday, October 13th, 2025 October 13th: National Train Your Brain Day (and also National No Bra Day) MGG Monthly Giveaway – Your license to PowerPhotos! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 n-Bryan-QT-Tap Search Magnifying glass in iOS 26 Health to get to the menu of categories 00:04:50 JFB-QT-Check your printer drivers if you have paper selection issues Canon iX6820 Large Paper Printer 00:08:04 Uncle Jamie-QT-Enable Mint Mobile’s Number Lock to prevent SIM-swapping 00:10:42 QT-Setup ChatGPT Tasks to stay on top of your projects It’s like the Knowledge Navigator *could* have been 00:15:41 Tell us how you’re using AI at [email protected] 00:17:48 X/Twitter client will let you summarize with Grok 00:20:37 JFB-QT-If your Apple TV remote is being finicky, try un-pairing and re-pairing it 00:23:17 Ben-QT-1110-iOS 18 added remote control 00:25:45 Robert-QT-Create a Shortcut to Toggle Liquid Glass Effects Sponsors 00:27:53 SPONSOR: Zapier – Zapier is the easiest way to automate your tasks. Transform how you work with Zapier and AI. Get started for free today by visiting Zapier.com/macgeekgab 00:29:36 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use my code MACGEEK for 20% off at clnmy.com/MacGeekGab On the subject of trade-ins 00:30:59 JFB-2018 i7 Mac mini trade-in with Apple went smoothly “I’m no prevaricator” 00:35:11 If migrating from Intel to Apple Silicon, check Go64 00:39:53 Bill-QT-In-person Apple Trade-Ins are More Reliable 00:40:57 Bill-QT-1109-Apple’s Trade-ins hold value for me 00:42:20 Do you put a case or a screen protector on your watch Do HomePods work as TV sound? 00:43:50 Andy-1110-Stereo Speakers can work for TV 00:49:09 n-Blake-1110-I Switched from a Center Channel to 2 HomePods and love it! Cool Stuff Found 00:49:49 JFB-CSF-FIXD Car Scanner Kinda like the old Automatic OBD2 adapter 00:54:39 Fist shake for Mercedes! 00:56:23 JFB-QT-Put an AirTag in your car Just don’t let it fall into the suckwich! 00:58:00 Check OBD Fusion for open source OBD-software 00:59:36 Tony-CSF-Folder Quick Look BetterZip’s QuickLook Extension 01:03:17 Avraham-CSF-AirBattery shows your Mouse’s battery level 01:05:27 Another fist shake for Mercedes – No battery warning for FOB 01:08:18 Terry-CSF-O2 Buddy: Blood Oxygen brings Blood Oxygen data back to Apple Watch 01:13:20 Tom-CSF-Parachute Backup for iCloud 01:15:14 JFB-CSF-Brother DCP-L2550GW Brother HL-L2460DW Quick Tip: Scan directly to USB on your printer 01:19:40 MGG 1111 Outtro Find JohnFBraun on X! MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

This week on Mac Geek Gab, you’re climbing to new heights—literally and geekily—with Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton. With big, 6,000-foot energy, you’ll inhale knowledge (not bear spray!) with Quick Tips like disabling auto-return to apps, blazing through iPhone setup using a wired Phone-to-Phone connection, and printing photo books via third-party tools. You’ll also learn how to save iPhone pics directly to an SD card and how macOS 26’s Notes app now exports Markdown—yes, really. And don’t forget to check those “Notify When Left Behind” settings in Find My, unless you want to get caught. Dig deeper with listener questions about upgrading to iOS/macOS 26, tracking down mystery image libraries, and setting up lossless audio with Spotify Premium. There’s also a nod to the new “Carrot, the Musical,” and a reminder that on this show, We Don’t Personality Shame. Need to help your family remotely? You’ve got Tailscale, Jump Desktop, and even Messages’ built-in screen sharing. This episode is packed with practical answers, absurd moments, and the classic Mac Geek Gab motto: Don’t Get Caught. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1110 for Monday, October 6th, 2025 October 6th: Zero Inbox Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Your license to PowerPhotos! The MGG Merch Store is Live! 00:02:45 Pete’s high! About 6,000 feet DGC-Don’t inhale bear spray by accident! Quick Tips 00:00:01 QT-Disable Return to App if apps like workout are on screen too much AllTrails 00:06:43 Joe-QT-Phone-2-Phone Connection = Fastest new setup! USB-C to Lightning worked for me! Use a wired connection to transfer data to a new iPhone or iPad ​​00:13:02 Ben-QT-1108-Photos can create printed books with third party extensions Mac Mondays Mimeo Photos Motif Photos PrestoPhoto MILK Books Friedmann print 00:16:16 Tim-QT-Save pictures from your iPhone to an SD Card iPhone Lightning to USB-C Camera Adapter USB-C to SD Card Reader Sponsors 00:22:46 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG 00:24:15 SPONSOR: Shopify. For anyone to sell anywhere, sign up for a one-dollar-per month trial period at Shopify.com/MGG and upgrade your selling today! MOAR Quick Tips 00:25:56 QT-Check your “Notify when left behind” Find My settings 00:28:31 Kiwi Graham-QT-Notes in macOS 26 now supports Markdown export! 00:31:40 Roger-When is it safe to upgrade to iOS 26 and macOS 26? App Tamer Apple’s Workout Buddy 00:43:06 DLH-Syndication.photoslibrary appears in my home folder and holds images and videos from Messages Sponsors 00:48:16 SPONSOR: AG1. Head to DrinkAG1.com/MGG to get a FREE Welcome Kit, including a bottle of Vitamin D and free AG1 Travel Packs, when you first subscribe! That’s DrinkAG1.MGG. 00:49:39 SPONSOR: Coda, the one Doc to rule them all. Bring your text and tables together! Get six months of the team plan for startups for FREE at Coda.io/mgg. 00:51:03 Pete got caught! Cool Stuff Found 00:52:47 Alex-QT-Use Quinn Nelson’s Shortcut to Open Settings from Current App 00:55:39 ScottS-CSF-Spotify Brings Lossless Listening to Premium Lossless with Spotify Premium ABX Tester app for macOS 01:02:14 What’s your home audio setup? 01:03:58 Carrot, the Musical (from Carrot Weather) We Don’t Personality Shame Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 01:07:18 What to use for remote screen sharing with my parents? TailScale with Apple’s Screen Sharing Jump Desktop 01:12:56 Initiating Screen Sharing from within Messages/Facetime MGG 1110 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network  

Pete and Dave admit they couldn’t resist ordering new iPhones—though Adam stayed strong—but the catch is they haven’t even received them yet. That doesn’t stop the crew from diving into the best ways to buy and sell your old gear, plus a slew of Quick Tips you’ll actually use. From setting your default calling app to snagging Amazon’s free photo storage, updating contact images in seconds, and taking smaller HEIC screenshots, you’ll come away sharper than ever. They even explain why sticking with developer betas can sometimes be more stable than waiting on the public release. Don’t Get Caught missing these shortcuts. You’ll also learn how to dodge surprise roaming charges after a Canada trip, fix stubborn RCS issues with one iCloud toggle, and disable carrier locks before upgrading. Listener questions bring even more depth, like whether APFS is worth it on spinning drives, how to troubleshoot iCloud sync quirks, and why Apple’s “Clear” case isn’t so clear. Sprinkle in Apple Intelligence tricks, AI-powered cocktail recipes, and smart audio bug warnings in macOS Tahoe, and you’ve got an episode stacked with must-know Apple wisdom. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1109 for Monday, September 29th, 2025 September 29th: National Biscotti Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber and U7 Pro XG The MGG Merch Store is Live! 00:03:23 We’re liars…well, at least two of us are. Pete and Dave bought iPhones Gazelle.com Swappa.com eBay.com Facebook Marketplace Quick Tips 00:00:01 QT-Settings > Apps > Phone for Default Calling App, Spam handling, more 00:15:47 QT-Don’t reset the iPhone until money is in-hand Sponsors 00:17:15 SPONSOR: PAKA makes performance apparel from sustainable alpaca fiber, softer than cashmere, warmer than wool. To grab your PAKA hoodie and free pair of alpaca crew socks, head to go.PAKAapparel.com/MGG and use code MGG. 00:18:49 SPONSOR: Insta360 GO Ultra. About the size of an Oreo and does 4K @ 60fps! To bag a free Sticky Tabs with your Insta360 GO Ultra purchase use code “MGG” at store.insta360.com. 00:20:18 Pete uses the Insta360 Link 2c…and Alpaca wool is the most fantastic clothing MOAR Quick Tips 00:21:15 JoeM-QT-iOS 26 Preview App is Feature Rich! 00:23:27 Terry-QT-ChatGPT CarPlay widget requires phone face up 00:26:07 QT-System Settings – Apple Intelligence & Siri – ChatGPT Extension – Sign In if you like 00:27:30 JK Dawson-QT-Amazon Prime members get unlimited photo storage 00:29:34 Uncle Jamie-Quickly Update Logo / Image in Contacts Yoink is great for moving files from app to app The Apple Newton had a great copy/paste user interface 00:33:44 Use Expose to drag and drop to a new window 00:34:41 Alex-QT-Take screenshots in HEIC format on macOS defaults write com.apple.screencapture type heic; killall SystemUIServer 00:38:05 Connection Troubles! 00:40:24 CSF-OnyX 4.9.x for macOS 26 is out Beware that HEIC might not be supported by everyone to whom you send screenshots 00:42:08 Is it more stable to stay on the Developer Betas for a couple of months? You get bug fixes faster! Sponsors 00:45:38 SPONSOR: Zapier – Zapier is the easiest way to automate your tasks. Transform how you work with Zapier and AI. Get started for free today by visiting Zapier.com/macgeekgab 00:47:04 SPONSOR: Constant Contact makes marketing easier and more effective for small businesses like yours. Try Constant Contact free for 30 days at ConstantContact.com Don’t Get Caught 00:48:26 QT-Disable Data Roaming when you return from Canada (especially if you’re on Mint Mobile or another prepaid plan) 00:51:58 Pensacola Craig-QT-Disable Carrier SIM Lock before upgrading 00:52:55 QT-If you Mac can’t send RCS with macOS 26, toggle “Enable Messages in iCloud” off and on. Unstick The Stuck Bit 00:54:56 DGC-macOS 26 (Tahoe) has significant audio-related bugs 00:57:20 Joe-DGC-Beware Apple’s “Clear” Case isn’t so clear It’s a Clear Case of Lying! 00:59:29 Mark-iCloud Files were found in iCloud Drive (Archive) folder 01:03:37 Jessica-DGC-1108-The episode was late to Apple Podcasts…and it’s Dave’s fault! Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 01:05:40 Louis from Montreal–Is APFS good these days or something else for external drives? APFS speeds on Rotational Drives 01:09:27 Bill-1107-How to troubleshoot file syncing issues? 01:13:47 JK Dawson-1108-Using AI for Recipes Cocktail recipes with ChatGPT: Take a picture of what’s in your bar and let IT decide! 01:16:20 DJ Mac-1108-More AI for Recipes 01:17:43 ChatGPT: Make us a travel itinerary in the city we’re visiting 01:21:31 MGG 1109 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week

You kick things off with a stack of Quick Tips that make your Apple gear feel smarter. From getting a free year of Perplexity Pro, to turning on CarPlay widgets in iOS 26, to using ChatGPT itself to search for Mac Geek Gab answers (like which dash cam Pilot Pete prefers), you’re reminded how powerful the tools you already have can be. You’ll also learn how Apple Maps saves your recent routes, how to grab a full-res screenshot from a video, and why buying an AirPrint-capable printer is always the move. The point: these bite-sized tweaks add up fast, and you don’t want to miss them. Don’t Get Caught overlooking the simple wins. From there, you dive into Cool Stuff Found and listener Q&A that blend everyday utility with future-facing tech. MGG-listener vibe-coded StockTrackr helps you spot Apple Store inventory, GoodSync makes backups painless, and UGreen’s clever AirTag key accessories keep your essentials trackable. You also face the reality of e-waste, the looming Nest thermostat cutoff, and how AI is evolving from assisted coding to assisted living—crafting web pages, logic, and even graphics on command. Questions push you deeper: swapping eSIMs, nuking stubborn trash files, using Tailscale exit nodes for Netflix, and preserving family photos for generations. The thread through it all? Practical hacks that save your time, money, and sanity. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1108 for Monday, September 22nd, 2025 September 22nd: Hobbit Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber and U7 Pro XG The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Shannon-QT-Get Perplexity Pro free for 1 year 00:04:11 Terry-QT-iOS 26 Allows you to enable Widgets in CarPlay 00:06:25 Todd-QT-Use ChatGPT to search for MGG answers ChatGPT Prompt: on the Mac Geek Gab podcast what dash cam does pilot Pete like 00:09:25 Joe from Raleigh-QT-Apple Maps saves your Recent Routes 00:11:10 Dave-QT-Grab a full-res screenshot from a video with QuickTime Player 00:13:20 Pilot Pete-QT-1090-Create a Focus Mode “On a Call” details 00:16:26 DataForNothinAndBitsForFree-QT-1105-Always buy an AirPrint-capable printer Sponsors 00:17:36 SPONSOR: Mint Mobile. Cut your wireless bill to just $15 per month at MintMobile.com/MGG 00:19:15 SPONSOR: OWC’s Express 1M2 80G SSD is now shipping. Bus powered, pocket-sized, with a USB4 cable in the box. Cool Stuff Found 00:20:25 Barry-CSM-StockTrackr for Apple Stores It’s AI Assisted Coding…and AI Assisted Living! Some AI prompts “Can you provide more context to this?” “Please explain this piece of code to me.” “Are there any third-rails to be aware of before partnering with this brand?” “Create me a webpage…with logic AND graphics.” 00:29:32 David-CSF-GoodSync is working very well for me 00:31:35 Andrew-CSF-UGreen AirTag Key with keyring and wallet card 00:34:05 e-Waste is an unfortunate reality Nest 1st and 2nd gen Thermostats Go Offline on October 25th, 2025 Ember Charger 00:35:28 Tom-CSF-1106-DoubleTake – App for multicam video on your iPhone Sponsors 00:37:26 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG 00:38:55 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:40:12 Steve-How can I quickly swap eSIMs between two iPhones? Apple supports eSIM Quick Transfer with selected carriers 00:45:44 Father John-How do I erase things that are stuck in my trash? Use lsof and filtering by those files to see if you can identify the process holding on to those files Recovery Terminal on macOS 00:50:36 Joe-How do I use TailScale’s Exit Nodes to make Netflix think I’m at home? 00:58:07 Amazon Prime free shipping limited to your home address 01:03:35 James-How can we preserve our photos for future generations? What about all my photos on my Zip disks? How to Add Legacy Contact for your Apple Account A thought: Make physical copies of the important ones Shutterstock Photo Book Quick Tip: Favoriting your actual favorites, then create a smart album and organize your favorites (by year, by location, etc) 01:16:47 MGG 1108 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

This week’s Mac Geek Gab kicks off with quick tips you’ll actually use: from setting custom backgrounds in iOS 26 Messages to automating iPhone restarts with Shortcuts, spotting hidden savings on AppleTV+, and even using freezer bags to tame cable chaos. You’ll also learn the power of politeness, how Adaptive Power Mode can stretch your battery, why Spotlight Cmd-1 is your new macOS shortcut, and how to scroll CarPlay garages with a simple swipe. The crew dives into running Apple betas—developer vs. public—and the gotcha lurking in Apple’s (relatively) new cloud sync rules. Don’t Get Caught moving your home folder or syncing Dropbox without knowing the risks. Then it’s all about gear and listener wisdom. Discover stress-relief spirals and right-angle cables that save your chargers, a sleeper hold travel pillow that kills the head-bobble, and eero’s signal upgrades coming in 2026. Adam shares how his Jackery solar generator kept him connected, plus the team breaks down backup internet options. Questions cover the smart way to prep your iPhone before trade-in, managing iMessage when moving to Android, and choosing a mesh system that won’t break the bank. From tri-band Deco deals to stubborn deleted files, you’ll walk away with practical fixes and clever finds ready to put to use today. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1107 for Monday, September 15th, 2025 September 15th: National Online Learning Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber and U7 Pro XG The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Frank-QT-iOS 26-Set background images in Messages 00:04:24 Todd-QT-AppleTV+ still only $99/year! (Savings $56.88) 00:07:46 Ben-1104-You can (semi-)Automate an iPhone Restart with Shortcuts 00:09:05 Jim in Alaska-QT-Use Quart or Gallon Freezer Ziplocks to store cables 00:11:13 Be polite…it costs nothing, and can buy you so much! 00:15:55 Running Apple operating system betas 00:16:58 QT-iOS 26 Adaptive Power Mode 00:18:24 QT-macOS 26 Spotlight Cmd-1 to see Applications 00:19:31 Developer betas vs. Public betas 00:20:53 Lucas-QT-You can swipe up and down in CarPlay to scroll through garages Meross HomeKit Garage Door Opener Don’t Get Caught 00:23:36 Robert-DGC-Apple is forcing cloud sync providers to use the internal drive Dropbox External drive support with Apple’s File Provider Move your macOS home folder to an external drive Sponsors 00:27:31 SPONSOR: OpenCase. Designed for MagSafe accessories. The result is more secure, thinner, lighter, optimizes charging and more. Code MGG saves you 10%. 00:29:15 SPONSOR: Insta360 GO Ultra. About the size of an Oreo and does 4K @ 60fps! To bag a free Sticky Tabs with your Insta360 GO Ultra purchase use code “MGG” at store.insta360.com. 00:30:50 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use my code MACGEEK for 20% off at clnmy.com/MacGeekGab 00:32:10 If Adam were going to use a case…OpenCase would be the case he used! (But he will instead remain naked and not afraid!). 00:34:59 Adam’s Monitor Update Cool Stuff Found 00:38:55 n-Bob-CSF-iPhone Charging Cable Stress Relief spirals Anker Right Angle USB-C Cable 00:43:32 Avoid head-bobble with airplane Head Strap with Eye Mask for Sleep Sleeper Hold Travel Pillow 00:47:06 CSF-eero Signal coming in 2026 00:48:40 Using a backup internet connection? 00:49:27 Adam used his Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit (6kWh) Show Business 00:52:07 TallEarthling-MGG Review 8/28/2025 00:52:52 EarthSaver-MGG Review Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:54:37 Will-Things to Consider when buying a new iPhone Mint Mobile (Pete and Dave use for themselves and their families!) What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad If moving from iPhone to Android, Deregister iMessage 01:03:21 Jim from metro Detroit-What’s the best affordable wireless mesh? TP-Link Deco Wireless Mesh Deco XE75 Tri-Band 3-pack for $220 (at the moment we built these shownotes) 01:11:51 Terry-Why do deleted files keep reappearing after reboot? 01:19:08 MGG 1107 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You dive right into the Apple event fallout with Pilot Pete, Adam, and Dave weighing their wish lists against reality. The iPhone 17 shines with its blistering 3000-nit display, always-on ProMotion, liquid-cooling in the Pro models, and a storage bump to 256GB minimum. The real curveball? The iPhone Air. Sleek, light, and maybe a proof-of-concept for what comes next, it’s got you asking if this is Apple’s new MacBook Air moment. Should you upgrade from your 16 Pro? The geeks debate it all while reminding you: Don’t Get Caught without considering who Apple is really building these devices for. You also get the lowdown on AppleOS 26 releases. The crew breaks down when to hit update on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, with practical advice on what to install day one and what to hold back, especially if you rely on finicky menu bar apps. Then it’s AirPods Pro 3 with better fit, bass, and active earplug performance, Apple Watch 11 and Ultra 3 with expanded always-on features, and a sneak peek at what Apple didn’t announce: Macs, displays, maybe even a revamped Apple TV. The conversation closes with the big reveal: who’s ordering what and who’s sitting this one out. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1106 for Wednesday, September 10th, 2025 September 10th: National Anti-Junk Light Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber and U7 Pro XG The MGG Merch Store is Live! Thank you, Todd Cochrane 00:04:26 What do we each think we’re ordering? Adam: Nothing Pete: AirPods Pro 3, iPhone Air (for xmas?) Dave: AirPods Pro 3, no iPhone (right?). 00:09:41 New iPhones iPhone 17 New Display with ProMotion and Always-On with 3000 Nits New Front-Facing Cameras 256GB storage minimum MacTracker 00:19:30 iPhone Pro/Pro Max It’s Liquid-Cooled with a Vapor Chamber 00:26:33 iPhone Air (no number!) Will it throttle? It sure is sexy! Who is it for? [email protected] Is this a proof of concept like the MacBook Air? Paving the way for future generations of iPhone Air? 00:36:10 Scott-Is it worth Upgrading from a 16 Pro to a 17 Pro? Sponsors: 00:38:52 SPONSOR: Coda, the one Doc to rule them all. Bring your text and tables together! Get six months of the team plan for startups for FREE at Coda.io/mgg. 00:40:13 SPONSOR: Fireflies AI. Fireflies is the number one AI teammate that transcribes, summarizes, and analyzes your conversations so you can get the most out of every meeting. Get 2 months free at Fireflies.ai/mgg. 00:41:30 PODCAST: The 5 AM Miracle. Every Monday morning, The 5 AM Miracle is here to help you dominate your day before breakfast, create powerful lifelong habits, and tackle your grandest goals with extraordinary energy. 00:42:35 When Should I Upgrade to [x]OS 26? All new AppleOS 26 updates come out on Monday, September 15th. iOS 26: Adam & Dave: Release Day macOS 26: Dave: Release Day (but watch your third-party menu bar items and hardware), Pete: Wait a week Bartender for macOS iPadOS 26: Casual use, release day. Daily use, wait a month. watchOS 26: Release Day tvOS 26: Release Day 00:52:17 There’s a reason studio and front of house engineers delay a LONG time before you update your macOS 00:53:43 New copy/paste gestures with iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 00:54:39 New AirPods Pro 3 New silicone/foam fusion tips (better seal and fit) Better active noise canceling Better bass response Better Active Earplug performance 01:01:31 Note: Live Translation comes to AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and AirPods Pro 2 and later 01:05:38 New Apple Watches Always On for Everyone Series 6 and later gets Sleep Score Apple Watch 11 Apple Watch Ultra 3 Apple Watch SE 3 01:11:51 What didn’t they announce? Is there an October event brewing? Apple TV (does that morph into a home control center?) MacBooks / Macs-in-general New Displays? 01:14:42 Buried…Final Cut Camera 2.0 01:18:35 What are we each actually ordering? Adam: Still nothing Pete: AirPods Pro 3 Dave: Joined team Adam – Nothing! 01:23:38 MGG 1106 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

This week’s Mac Geek Gab is packed with quick tips and clever workarounds you can actually use. You’ll learn how to silence your partner’s alarm with Siri, calm down watchOS 26’s Liquid Glass by reducing transparency, and keep your AirPods secure with Croakies or a magnetic strap. You’ll even pick up tricks like delaying Low Power Mode automation, grabbing CarPlay screen captures, and—yes—using your nose to turn off your Apple Watch alarm. Along the way, the crew reminds you: don’t get caught making common mistakes like letting Wi-Fi calling charges sneak up on you or letting toxic content hijack your online focus. From cool gear like LG’s Ultrafine 4K monitor to smart app swaps like Notion over Notes, you’ll discover fresh tools to boost productivity. Listener questions spark sharp advice, too—whether it’s saving corrupted data volumes, choosing the right budget Mac mini, or bringing an old scanner back to life. And as Apple Intelligence hype builds, the takeaway is clear: we’re not there yet. Stay sharp, stay curious, and don’t get caught missing the hacks that make your tech work smarter for you. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1105 for Monday, September 1st, 2025 September 1st: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber and U7 Pro XG The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Rick-QT-Ask Siri to turn off your partner’s alarm 00:06:07 QT-Tame Liquid Glass by using Accessibility – Reduce Transparency 00:10:15 Mike-QT-Use Croakies to retain the AirPods AirPods Magnetic Lanyard and Strap 00:17:15 QT-Add a delay to the automatic Low Power Mode Shortcut A Mango-Shaped Space 00:23:10 Mr. Ed-QT-CarPlay Screen Capture 00:24:21 Turn off your Watch alarm with your nose Don’t Get Caught 00:25:32 Paul-DGC-1103-WiFi Calling might cost you 00:27:24 Mint Mobile – T-Mobile Home Internet for $35/month 00:29:56 Apple TV+ Pricing Increase 00:34:04 Don’t Get Caught engaging with incendiary content online Tips on tuning social feed and news algorithms to your advantage Sponsors 00:38:17 SPONSOR: Strawberry.me. Own Your Future. Discover what’s possible with a professional coach by your side. Visit Strawberry.me/MGG or use code MGG to claim your $50 credit today. 00:39:44 SPONSOR: Quince. Elevate your closet, get free shipping, and 365 day returns at Quince.com/MGG. 00:41:11 SPONSOR: Private Internet Access VPN – Save 82% off your VPN service PLUS four free months with a two-year plan at PIAVPN.com/mgg. Cool Stuff Found 00:42:58 Jerry-CSF-LG 27-inch Ultrafine 4K UHD is the best bang for the buck 00:47:28 Bram-CSF-1104-Use Notion instead of Notes 00:48:17 Donald-I Vibe-Coded California State Landmarks app GitHub CoPilot (into VSCode) Show Business 00:56:46 MGG Premium Listener Contribution Appreciation Moment Fountain.fm Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 01:00:38 Ron-My Data Volume is Corrupted…what should I do? 01:05:38 Paul-1104-Is Restart the same as TOTO? 01:08:04 Dan-Mac-Mini 16Gb/256Gb <$500 worth it? Apple Intelligence: Are We There Yet? No, kids, we’re not there yet. 01:13:04 Rob-What do I do when my MFC won’t scan anymore? VueScan 01:23:47 MGG 1105 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

Learn how to use hyphens for strike-through in Messages, schedule a Mac restart, and even tell Siri or Alexa to run one-time automations. Master plus-addressing in iCloud Mail for cleaner inboxes and privacy with Hide My Email, and keep Safari’s tab bar neat by ditching Favorite Icons. And of course, Don’t Forget TOTO—Turn it Off, Turn it On again—to solve more problems than you think. Don’t Get Caught missing these fixes, including ways to recover from a too-dim iPhone screen or undo accidental changes in Notes. Then it’s a flood of Cool Stuff Found: from an AI-built Coffee Finder app to the Scosche PBJ2000 jump starter, US Mobile’s pick-your-network option, and ViewSonic’s 27” 5K Thunderbolt display. Discover tools like vFlat for clean scans, WATTBOX for remote gear reboots, and GL-iNET’s Brume VPN appliance. Add in Braxley Bands for Apple Watch, EVapo-Rust for metal cleanup, and Treedix’s USB Cable Tester, and you’ve got an arsenal of gear to make your life easier. This episode is packed with shortcuts, hidden features, and gadgets you didn’t know you needed. Press play and enjoy, folks! 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1104 for Monday, August 25th, 2025 August 25th: National Banana Split Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Default Folder The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Ben-QT-Use hyphens to create strike-through text on iPhone Messages 00:03:33 Robert-QT-Don’t forget to try the restart Don’t Forget TOTO! (Turn it Off and Turn it On) Schedule a Restart Of Your Mac 00:06:54 QT – Tell A-Lady or S-Lady to do something at a set time 00:10:30 Where does it store those one-time automations 00:12:40 Scott-QT-Use plus-addressing for your iCloud email (and also iCloud’s Hide My Email) RFC for email plus-addressing Duck.com/email 00:20:46 SteveHammond-QT-Disable Favorite Icons to clean up Safari’s tab bar Sponsors 00:22:31 SPONSOR: Function Health gives you access to the kind of data most people never see—and the insights to actually take action. Visit www.functionhealth.com/MGG. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership. 00:24:00 SPONSOR: Webroot. Get 50% off Webroot Total Protection or Webroot Essentials when you go Webroot.com/MGG. 00:25:27 SPONSOR: Constant Contact makes marketing easier and more effective for small businesses like yours. Try Constant Contact free for 30 days at ConstantContact.com Don’t Get Caught 00:26:40 Stephen-DGC-You can’t delete custom-created Stations in Apple Music 00:29:59 Ed-DGC-Don’t turn your iPhone brightness all the way down…and some fixes if you do! Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap 00:32:37 David-DGC-Apple Notes doesn’t have a undo revisions Cool Stuff Found 00:39:47 Brian8944-Stephen Robles Coffee Finder app that he built with ChatGPT-5 PayFinders’ Brian Roemmele on Maccast 00:43:43 Ben-CSF-HomeCare for Troubleshooting HomeKit 00:45:00 CSF-Scosche PBJ2000 Portable Car Battery Jump Starter (Scosche PBJ2000 @ Walmart) Sponsors 00:50:24 SPONSOR: OWC’s Thunderbolt 5 Dock It’s now shipping and it’s built for serious connectivity! 00:51:39 SPONSOR: Fireflies AI. Fireflies is the number one AI teammate that transcribes, summarizes, and analyzes your conversations so you can get the most out of every meeting. Get 2 months free at Fireflies.ai/mgg. MOAR Cool Stuff Found 00:53:08 PorthosJon-CSF-US Mobile lets you choose your own network for your mobile 00:55:45 CSF-ViewSonic VP2788-5K 27” 5K Thunderbolt Display 01:03:15 John-CSF-vFlat Scanner takes page roll and fingers out of scans 01:05:05 Dan-CSF-WATTBOX to remotely reboot equipment from anywhere OvrC.com 01:07:42 n-Ben-CSF-Braxley Bands for Apple Watch 01:11:14 CSF-EVapo-Rust rust remover 01:13:26 Rich-CSF-GL-iNET Brume VPN Network Appliance 01:15:42 Andrew-CSF-Treedix USB Cable Tester 01:18:07 Quick follow-up on the Eufy E15 01:19:29 MGG 1104 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

This week’s Mac Geek Gab with Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton packs in quick tips, clever hacks, and gear finds to level up your Apple life. You’ll learn how to instantly turn screenshots into PDFs, scan docs like a pro, and understand why most Macs can’t handle 20Gbps USB. Get smarter about CarPlay cables, unlock better wireless GPS performance, and discover menu bar magic with tools like uBar, Sketchybar, and Looking Glass. Don’t Get Caught missing the debates over Apple Music vs. Spotify—plus which one wins for playlists and which takes the crown for audio quality. When it comes to troubleshooting, you’ll see how to fix blank Mail previews, keep your number abroad for iMessage, and squeeze the most out of budget carriers. Round it out with negotiation strategies to lower your mobile and ISP bills, plus Wi-Fi service order tweaks and DHCP reservation tips to keep your Mac running smooth. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1103 for Monday, August 18th, 2025 August 18th: National Fajita Day The MGG Merch Store is Live! MGG Monthly Giveaway – Default Folder Quick Tips 00:00:01 Pogo Kelly-QT-Turn Screenshots into a PDF in the Finder 00:02:50 Karl-QT-CHiPs taught us some police 11-codes! 00:04:34 Kiwi Graham-QT-Apple devices use randomized serial numbers 00:07:36 Mike-QT-Files.app document scanning maxes out at 24 pages 00:10:59 CSF-Genius Scan (free version) 00:12:10 Peg-QT-Scanning using Image Capture 00:13:48 Craig-1101-QT-Most Macs can’t support USB 20Gbps Sponsor 00:16:37 SPONSOR: Caldera Lab. Guys, don’t settle for drugstore junk or steal your partner’s products—elevate your routine with skincare made for you. Head to CalderaLab.com/MGG and use MGG at checkout for 20% off your first order. 00:17:59 SPONSOR: K12 can help your child start reaching their full potential in life now – and give you the support you need to get them there! Go to K12.com/MGG today to find a tuition-free K12-powered school near you and enroll now 00:19:29 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. Don’t Get Caught 00:20:50 RandyWalker-DGC-Change Out Your CarPlay Cable Coiled cable for CarPlay 00:24:09 Wireless CarPlay and GPS Passthrough CarLinkIt 5.0 Wireless CarPlay Adapter Cool Stuff Found 00:30:16 PorthosJon-CSF-uBar, a Dock Enhancer 00:32:16 Ben-CSF-Sketchybar to customize your menubar (video instructions!) 00:34:30 Andrew-CSF-Looking Glass for Apple Music (or Spotify) to control Apple Music from your Mac’s Menu Bar Some Cage Matches A discussion of playlists, Apple Music vs. Spotify… Spotify wins A discussion of audio quality… Apple Music wins 00:42:44 Bob-CSF-Zip-Tie Cable Labels Sivet Coffee 00:46:35 Ben-CSF-Access: Passwords Companion 00:47:44 CSF-Kris Black-Sidebar is a Setapp alternative to Ubar Sponsor 00:49:05 SPONSOR: Wix puts incredible website creation at your fingertips with their AI site builder. It’s fun and it’s drag-and-drop easy. Go to Wix.com to start building your website today. Click this link https://bit.ly/43XQ3JB to start your free trial with Wix 00:50:14 SPONSOR: Webroot. Get 50% off Webroot Total Protection or Webroot Essentials when you go Webroot.com/MGG. Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:51:40 Mark-Mail Preview isn’t showing text Rebuild Mail Indexes with Mailbox > Rebuild Rebuild Mail’s Envelope Index Or use OnyX 00:58:46 JKDawson-How to Maintain Tel. # while abroad for iMessage / AppleID? Tello plans to maintain your phone number 01:06:09 Which budget carrier makes sense to use? Mint Mobile Verizon’s Visible (but you don’t get 5G) 01:10:55 Tips for renegotiating your mobile phone plan …and your home ISP plan, too! 01:13:12 Grumpy Mike-1101-WiFi can be enabled but not associated Setting service order for your Mac’s networks Settings DHCP Reservations in your router 01:22:33 MGG 1103 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

Mirrors killing your Wi-Fi? You’re not imagining it. This week on Mac Geek Gab 1102, you’ll learn how metal surfaces sabotage your signal…and what to do about it. From smarter ways to manage your Apple Watch unlocks (hint: avoid accidental calls) to clearing your iPhone’s keyboard dictionary without going full nuclear, the Quick Tips are flying fast. Want your Dock to behave on multi-monitor setups? There’s an AppleScript for that. Don’t Get Caught thinking “Until Tomorrow” actually means tomorrow…battery limits may surprise you. And if AirPlay is acting up, you might be powering off your speaker in the wrong order. Plus, you’ll discover data-blocking USB-C gadgets, secret vaults for your passwords, and whether SMB is a safe bet now that Time Machine is ditching AFP. All that, and more listener questions answered with your three favorite geeks leading the charge. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1102 for Monday, August 11th, 2025 August 11th: National Align Your Teeth Day MGG Monthly Giveaway 00:04:13 Your Opinions on MGG’s Titular Methodology? PowerPress from Bluberry Quick Tips 00:00:01 Craig-QT-Mirrors are WiFi’s mortal enemy! 00:13:04 Andrew-QT-Clear iPhone keyboard dictionary without Nuke and Pave 00:13:49 Craig-QT-Inspector is better than Get Info 00:16:21 Bruce-QT-1101-Don’t Unlock with Apple Watch to Avoid Dialing! 00:18:58 Steve-QT-1101-Require FaceID for Phone app to avoid butt-dialing Sponsors 00:20:45 SPONSOR: Webroot. Get 50% off Webroot Total Protection or Webroot Essentials when you go Webroot.com/MGG. 00:22:08 SPONSOR: Strawberry.me. Own Your Future. Discover what’s possible with a professional coach by your side. Visit Strawberry.me/MGG or use code MGG to claim your $50 credit today. 00:23:49 SPONSOR: Eternal Storms Productivity Bundle includes ScreenFloat, Transloader, Yoink, and DeskMat. Go get it! MOAR Quick Tips 00:25:14 Joe-QT-1100-Use Pill Organizers for holding screws during a teardown iFixit – FixMat 00:27:52 David-QT-1099-AppleScript to move the Dock back to primary monitor do shell script "defaults write com.apple.dock orientation -string left; killall Dock; sleep 1; defaults write com.apple.dock orientation -string bottom; killall Dock” Don’t Get Caught 00:30:55 Antony-DGC-Battery Limit Changed “Until Tomorrow” doesn’t always mean “tomorrow” 00:33:04 DGC-Apple’s Calendar.app doesn’t always send invites through Google. 00:36:32 Scott-DGC-Turning Off a Speaker Before Disabling Airplay Can Prevent Normal Function of your Mac Audio Cool Stuff Found 00:39:21 Seth-CSF-Access: Private Vault for Passwords 00:40:05 What Password Manager do you use? 1Password Apple Passwords Bitwarden 00:45:52 Kevin-CSF-1101–USB-C (and USB-A) Data Blocker Sponsors 00:51:53 SPONSOR: Coda, the one Doc to rule them all. Bring your text and tables together! Get six months of the team plan for startups for FREE at Coda.io/mgg. 00:53:21 SPONSOR: IDEO U. Practical, relevant courses designed to seamlessly transition you from theory to practice. Get 15% off at IDEOU.com/mgg. Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:54:48 Bjørn-Why won’t music play through my phone’s speaker? 01:01:19 Craig-Apple is dropping AFP support for Time Machine Backups. Is SMB OK to use? “Future versions of macOS will no longer support AFP network disks to Time Machine backups” 01:04:44 David-Why Cardio Recovery Data Not syncing from Watch to Health App 01:17:04 MGG 1102 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You’ll pick up quick wins this week with smart Mac tips you can use right now. Color-code your USB and Thunderbolt cables so you always grab the right one, and stash them in mesh zipper pouches or a travel organizer so you’re never digging for the right connection. Add Apple Music playlists right to your Mac’s menu bar, trigger Time Machine backups with macOS 26 Shortcuts, and even have ChatGPT read answers aloud to you. Learn how to suss out the speed of your USB-C cables, avoid accidental calls, and know when a higher‑wattage charger is perfectly safe. And remember: when moving from Intel to Apple Silicon, migrate your Homebrew setup properly—Don’t Get Caught re‑installing from scratch. From troubleshooting with AI without “leading the witness” to discovering that High Sierra is still getting (at least some!) security updates, you’ll walk away sharper than before. We dig into Cool Stuff Found like Dory, a frictionless Mac app switcher, and VueScan, which resurrects old, unsupported scanners. Clean up your cloud clutter, auto‑paste from Messages into any app, and explore apps like Dialed AI to keep your motivation up. Whether you’re traveling, upgrading, or just tidying your digital life, these tips keep you efficient, organized, and ready for anything. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1101 for Monday, August 4th, 2025 August 4th: National Clouded Leopard Day MGG Monthly Giveaway Quick Tips 00:00:01 Tom-QT-Color code your USB/Thunderbolt cables for easy identification 00:04:01 Andrew-QT-Add Apple Music Playlists, Albums, and Artists to Your Mac’s Menu Bar 00:05:45 Karl-QT-Apple Music needs to be installed to get audio out of your Lightning port https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone/ 00:10:36 Advice when troubleshooting with AI: Don’t lead the witness! 00:14:43 Tom-QT-1097-Fix the perpetually-incrementing System name numbers 00:17:01 Don’t Get Caught: when migrating from Intel to Apple Silicon you need to reset up all your homebrew stuff Migrate Homebrew from Intel to Apple Silicon Sponsors 00:20:27 SPONSOR: Caldera Lab. Guys, don’t settle for drugstore junk or steal your partner’s products—elevate your routine with skincare made for you. Head to CalderaLab.com/MGG and use MGG at checkout for 20% off your first order. 00:21:59 SPONSOR: K12 can help your child start reaching their full potential in life now – and give you the support you need to get them there! Go to K12.com/MGG today to find a tuition-free K12-powered school near you and enroll now 00:23:40 SPONSOR: Fireflies AI. Fireflies is the number one AI teammate that transcribes, summarizes, and analyzes your conversations so you can get the most out of every meeting. Get 2 months free at Fireflies.ai/mgg. MOAR Quick Tips 00:25:14 QT-On a Mac ChatGPT will Read the answer to you 00:26:18 Doug-QT-macOS 26’s Shortcuts Automations can be used to trigger Time Machine and more Amphetamine 00:29:46 macOS 26 allows auto-paste-from-Messages/Mail into any app, not just Safari 00:31:31 Phil-1099-High Sierra still gets security updates SilentKnight 00:34:03 Tony-1100-Recently Saved Photos might be tricked by migrations Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:35:50 Andy-How do you organize your cables and such in your backpack? Mesh Zipper Pouches Travel Organizer Case 00:44:13 Kaz-How do I know how fast my USB-C cables are? 00:50:57 Robert-CSF-USB-C Couplers that support 240W and Thunderbolt 4 speeds Sponsors 00:55:25 SPONSOR: Constant Contact makes marketing easier and more effective for small businesses like yours. Try Constant Contact free for 30 days at ConstantContact.com 00:57:06 SPONSOR: Webroot. Get 50% off Webroot Total Protection or Webroot Essentials when you go Webroot.com/MGG. MOAR Questions Answered 00:58:26 Roger-Q-How to stop making inadvertent calls? 01:03:40 Paul-Will I hurt my battery using a higher-wattage charger? Cool Stuff Found 01:11:03 Segev-CSF-Dory, a zero-config, lower-friction app switcher for the Mac 01:13:12 Jenn-CSF-CleanMyMac’s Cloud Cleanup launches 01:14:26 Richard-CSF-VueScan Scanning Software for Out Of Date – Non supported hardware and more 01:18:36 Marlon-CSF-Dialed AI Motivation app 01:20:10 MGG 1101 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network  

You’re diving into Mac Geek Gab 1100, where quick tips flow faster than USB-C power. Learn how dragging files into a blank Finder space automatically creates folders, and why AppleCare One’s $20/month plan might be worth a look. You’ll get hacks for AirPods Pro as earplugs, scanning docs to a thumb drive, and managing your Mac’s noisy notification overload. Curious about how to bulk scan like a pro or fix TestFlight Apple ID merge issues? Adam, Pete, and Dave have you covered. Things get deeper with listener questions—from phantom iMac reboots to the clever use of dry-erase markers when fixing hardware. You’ll also get practical ways to manage family passwords and discover why teaching someone to fish (figuratively, of course, though fish can be yummy, too!) beats fixing their tech woes every time. Cool Stuff Found includes compression tools, trackable flashlights, and ChromeOS Flex as a Mac revival trick. Don’t Get Caught missing this one—it’s packed with geeky gold. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1100 for Monday, July 28th, 2025 July 28th: National Milk Chocolate Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Victrola Turntable Quick Tips 00:00:01 David-QT-Drag files to a blank space and Finder creates a folder for you 00:06:05 Gary-QT-Apple released a new AppleCare One plan for $20/month Apple Support App 9to5 Mac’s Article about AppleCare One 00:14:34 Rob-1099-Phonetic vs. Pronunciation Contact Fields Sponsors 00:16:48 SPONSOR: OpenPhone is the #1 business phone system that streamlines and scales your customer communications. Get 20% off your first 6 months at OpenPhone.com/MGG 00:18:17 SPONSOR: TransLoader. Initiate downloads on your Macs, remotely from your iPhone, iPad, and other Macs. 00:19:50 SPONSOR: OWC’s Thunderbolt 5 Dock is now shipping! MOAR Quick Tips 00:21:07 Adam-Bulk Scanning Quick Tip – Use your all-in-one printer’s direct-to-thumb drive scanning option Using ChatGPT’s summarization feature to jog your memory for public performance and public speaking Apple’s Files app scanning option 00:25:00 For AirPods Pro as earplugs, AirPods > Accessibility > Loud Sound Reduction needs to be on AirPods Magnetic Strap 00:33:41 David-TestFlight can get in the way of merging Apple accounts…and there’s a fix! 00:37:19 Andrew-QT-Some USB-C devices need a USB-A to USB-C cable to properly charge 00:43:05 Chris-QT-Turn Off Notification Sounds on Mac & iPad to Avoid Notification Overload (aka MacProCT) Sponsors 00:46:05 SPONSOR: Mint Mobile. Cut your wireless bill to just $15 per month at MintMobile.com/MGG 00:47:37 SPONSOR: Private Internet Access VPN – Save 82% off your VPN service PLUS four free months with a two-year plan at PIAVPN.com/mgg. Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:48:50 Tim-My 2019 iMac intermittently reboots without warning every few days Reset SMC on Intel Mac 00:56:50 QT-Remembering where screws go when removing them from a computer Dry Erase is better than Permanent Marker Speaking of things you might need alcohol for 00:59:36 Managing passwords for our extended family members It’s all about learning how to fish! 01:07:41 Randy-WHY Thousands of Photos in “Recently Saved?” Cool Stuff Found 01:13:21 Andrew-CSF-Compress for videos and photos on iPhone and iPad 01:14:32 Kirschen-CSF-FlashFinder combo flashlight and FindMy device 01:17:46 Scott-1099–ChromeOS Flex instead of OCLP 01:20:42 MGG 1100 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway – Victrola Turntable Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

Recorded LIVE at Macstock 2025, this episode of Mac Geek Gab is a true “Stump The Geeks” showdown! With zero prep and a crowd full of curveballs, Dave, Pete, and Adam tackled real-time questions and Quick Tips on the fly. You’ll hear how to enable iPhone Mirroring for Mac notifications, rescue iMessages, and stabilize that wandering Dock. From Drobo debates and Apple Maps silence to VPNs with Tailscale and quirky Apple TV issues—this is geek troubleshooting in its rawest form. Desktop icons shifting, login cert errors, Siri forgetting your name—nothing was off-limits. The crowd kept the trio on their toes with Mac mysteries and clever hacks, like Doc Rock’s red/green card video editing trick. You’ll even find out what wine your favorite geeks prefer. Whether it’s legacy Macs, lost phonetics, or wild goose chases through Apple’s system status, this one’s packed with fast answers and deep dives. Don’t Get Caught unprepared—this episode is live, unscripted, and all in. Mac Geek Gab 1099 for Monday, July 21st, 2025 July 21 – Invite an Alien to Live with You Day. Also National Junk Food Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Victrola Turntable Stump The Geeks Live from Macstock 2025! QT: Enable iPhone Mirroring on your Mac, and then you can get iPhone app notifications on your Mac QT: Pete’s trip from Judy about undeleting iMessages Rachel: Is Pete’s toga the only thing he’s wearing? Jill, from the North Woods: Why does my dock keep moving from screen to screen? Mike: How and when should I replace my Drobo 5D? Troy: multiple spaces, finder never opens in the space I’m in Allison: QT: Drobos are worth money to sell on eBay John F. Braun: What VPN should I use to connect to Tailscale You’re a 10.10 Dan: it’s called Subnet Routing Sponsors Caldera Lab. Guys, don’t settle for drugstore junk or steal your partner’s products—elevate your routine with skincare made for you. Head to CalderaLab.com/MGG and use MGG at checkout for 20% off your first order. K12 can help your child start reaching their full potential in life now – and give you the support you need to get them there! Go to K12.com/MGG today to find a tuition-free K12-powered school near you and enroll now BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. More Stump The Geeks Live from Macstock 2025 Lynda: Why does Apple Maps no longer speak? Dave: Why does my Apple TV not Appear in HomeKit anymore? Patrick: Why do my drive icons move when my Mac wakes up Father John – CSF – Desktop Icon Manager will fix desktop icons in their locations Lynda: Follow-up on Apple Maps. Sometimes the icon appears Blair: what to do with a 2010 iMac? OCLP: Open Core Legacy Patcher Elementary OS Sponsors Wix puts incredible website creation at your fingertips with their AI site builder. It’s fun and it’s drag-and-drop easy. Go to Wix.com to start building your website today. Click this link https://bit.ly/43XQ3JB to start your free trial with Wix Function Health gives you access to the kind of data most people never see—and the insights to actually take action. Visit www.functionhealth.com/MGG. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership. And yes…it’s Stump The Geeks live from Macstock 2025! Messages Family Group Chat keeps getting affected by one person with new eSIMs Brian: should I get a switch with my vDSL connection or use my AirPorts Extreme Charles: A second follow-up to Apple Maps Allison & Adam (and half the other people in the room): Why are my Apple devices telling me there’s a login/certificate issue with my Apple Account? Many Wild Gooses Chase? www.apple.com/support/systemstatus Lynda: Siri lost my phonetic pronunciation of my last name. How do I get it back? QT: Doc Rock’s green/red card (or scene!) tip for producing video. Put red up after each one that is crap, green after a good take. Makes it easy to edit. Barry: What color wine do our three favorite geeks like? Thanks to Brian Henson & Roger Harmon! MGG 1099 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway – Victrola Turntable Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You’re swimming in Quick Tips this week on Mac Geek Gab 1098! You’ll learn how to fix flaky Apple TV Wi-Fi, make your AirPods fit better (hint: flip ’em), and finally tame Hot Corners with a smart modifier key. Discover the secret to custom routes in Apple Maps on iOS 18 and why renaming flags in Mail might be the power move you didn’t know you needed. Oh—and don’t forget: July 14th is National Tape Measure Day, so measure twice before you trigger that accidental corner action. Then it’s your questions answered, from routers with nerdy flexibility to iCloud alias issues and Apple Music migration woes. We dive into why not all USB-C cables are created equal—seriously, Don’t Get Caught with the wrong one—and help you vet display brightness before buying. Plus, Cool Stuff Found brings Raspberry Pi Time Machine backups, Copilot Money, and Setapp’s killer image tools. Always be learning, always be tweaking—just don’t get stuck with bad cables. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1098 for Monday, July 14th, 2025 July 14th: National Tape Measure Day Police Code 10-98 – Assignment Completed…or…JailBreak! (why can’t both be true?) MGG Monthly Giveaway – Victrola Turntable Quick Tips 00:00:01 Jim-QT-Add a modifier key to hot corners to keep from accidentally triggering them 00:02:12 Chicago Tom-QT-Renaming Flags in Apple Mail 00:04:54 rnDoug-QT-Flip your AirPods upside down to resolve fit issues 00:08:36 MySpoonIsTooBig & ChicagoTom-QT-Possible fixes for flaky Apple TV Wi-Fi connections 00:10:32 Chicago Tom-QT-Apple Maps lets you do custom routes in iOS 18, too…kinda Sponsors 00:13:33 SPONSOR: K12 can help your child start reaching their full potential in life now – and give you the support you need to get them there! Go to K12.com/MGG today to find a tuition-free K12-powered school near you and enroll now 00:15:04 SPONSOR: Coda, the one Doc to rule them all. Bring your text and tables together! Get six months of the team plan for startups for FREE at Coda.io/mgg. 00:16:21 SPONSOR: Constant Contact makes marketing easier and more effective for small businesses like yours. Try Constant Contact free for 30 days at ConstantContact.com Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:17:54 Michael-Should I consolidate Dropbox into iCloud to save $$? Mint Mobile (it’ll cut your “big three” cell phone bill in half) 00:25:28 Eddie-I need a good, standalone router with some nerdy flexibility Synology WRX560 GL.iNet Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) UniFi Cloud Gateway Max (doesn’t have Wi-Fi, so you’d need to add that) 00:30:28 Ian-Why can’t I receive to my new iCloud aliases? Check out NosillaCast 00:34:02 Michael-New iPhone and watch craziness Sponsors 00:41:29 SPONSOR: Function Health gives you access to the kind of data most people never see—and the insights to actually take action. Visit www.functionhealth.com/MGG. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership. 00:42:53 SPONSOR: OpenPhone is the #1 business phone system that streamlines and scales your customer communications. Get 20% off your first 6 months at OpenPhone.com/MGG Don’t Get Caught 00:44:22 Paul-DGC-Some inexpensive USB-C cables aren’t equal on both sides Mac Geek Gab 996 (“What’s the Difference Between USB4 vs. Thunderbolt (3/4) Cables?” starts at 47:50) 00:51:06 Bob-DGC-You can’t migrate accounts that ever had Apple Music profiles 00:54:25 RusselG-DGC-Check your nits before you buy a display DisplayBuddy Cool Stuff Found 01:00:30 Joel-CSF-1096–Use Raspberry Pi for Time Machine backups 01:02:51 Cory-CSF-Copilot Money Using Apple Card (and Apple Savings) as one’s primary card 01:07:52 JanLandy-CSF-Clop to auto optimize images, video, PDFs (also in Setapp) Permute Downie yt-dlp from the Terminal Show Business 01:12:15 MGG Premium Listener Contribution Appreciation Moment 01:16:44 MGG 1098 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway – Victrola Turntable Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You’re in for a fast-paced ride with Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton as they dive into power-user Quick Tips that’ll change your Apple game. From lightning-fast navigation in Notes to creating Spotify-style stations in Apple Music, and securing your Time Machine volumes inside encrypted APFS containers, this episode is loaded. You’ll rearrange CarPlay apps like a pro, check your battery with Siri, and streamline iCloud Mail aliases. And if you haven’t played with ChatGPT’s new voice mode recently, you’re missing out—it’s weirdly friendly. Then it’s a hard turn into real-world snags, like when JP’s HomePod stopped being a Home Hub—Don’t Get Caught like he did. Adam tries—and fails—to merge his Apple IDs, raising red flags for developer account holders. Cool Stuff Found includes retro-modern turntables from Victrola (this month’s MGG giveaway!) and a handy AirPods noise guide. Listener questions dig into hostname quirks and CarPlay glitches, and the crew weighs in on Apple’s 2026 OS betas. Pilot Pete gives iOS 26 a solid 95%, so maybe it’s time to test the waters—maybe just not on your main device? 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1097 for Monday, July 7th, 2025 July 7th: World Chocolate Day Police Code 10-97 – Arrived at Scene MGG Monthly Giveaway – Victrola Turntable The MGG Merch Store is Live! We’ll be doing MGG Live at Macstock on Saturday, July 12th! Join us, and use our coupon code: MACGEEKGAB50 to save $50! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Dan-QT-Tab from Notes List to get to Start of Note 00:04:44 Tony-QT-Apple Music Create Station – Spotify also 00:06:06 Allen-QT-Encrypt your Time Machine Volumes inside an APFS container 2TB Crucial X9 Pro SSD 00:08:18 Joe-QT-Apple iCloud Mail Aliases 00:11:08 Steve-QT-With CarPlay (or not) you can ask Siri for your iPhone’s battery percentage 00:13:24 Who is using Alexa+ Early Access? 00:17:39 ChatGPT’s voice mode…is friendlier 00:18:40 Gary-QT-ReArrange Apps in CarPlay to suit your needs! 00:19:59 Tim-QT-Show alternate directions in Apple Maps CarPlay Sponsors 00:21:06 SPONSOR: Fireflies AI. Fireflies is the number one AI teammate that transcribes, summarizes, and analyzes your conversations so you can get the most out of every meeting. Get 2 months free at Fireflies.ai/mgg. 00:22:34 SPONSOR: Strawberry.me. Own Your Future. Discover what’s possible with a professional coach by your side. Visit Strawberry.me/MGG or use code MGG to claim your $50 credit today. Don’t Get Caught 00:23:53 JP-I got caught with my HomePod stopping acting as a HomeHub 00:30:49 Fr-John-DGC Follow Up-CleanMyMac Not as effective as MacUpdater 00:31:48 Bob-CSF-Latest lets you check for software updates on your Mac On Merging Your Apple IDs 00:33:11 Adam could NOT merge his two Apple IDs, possibly because he has a developer account? Sponsors 00:44:07 SPONSOR: Caldera Lab. Guys, don’t settle for drugstore junk or steal your partner’s products—elevate your routine with skincare made for you. Head to CalderaLab.com/MGG and use MGG at checkout for 20% off your first order. 00:45:45 SPONSOR: K12 can help your child start reaching their full potential in life now – and give you the support you need to get them there! Go to K12.com/MGG today to find a tuition-free K12-powered school near you and enroll now 00:47:19 PODCAST: The 5 AM Miracle. Every Monday morning, The 5 AM Miracle is here to help you dominate your day before breakfast, create powerful lifelong habits, and tackle your grandest goals with extraordinary energy. Cool Stuff Found 00:48:12 CSF-Victrola Stream Onyx Turntable 00:52:18 CSF-Victrola Revolution GO 3-Speed Bluetooth Portable Rechargeable Record Player with Built-in Speakers 00:54:35 PJ-CSF-AirPods Noises Reference Page 00:56:06 Deborah-CSF-1096-OWC’s Thunderbolt Dual DisplayPort Adapter Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:59:36 Alan-Why does my Mac’s local hostname keep adding and increasing numbers at the end? 01:06:06 Tim-Why Cellular Connectivity Issue with CarPlay iDoing Android Head Unit Apple’s Upcoming 2026 OSes 01:11:37 rnDoug-Before you install iPadOS 26 beta… 01:13:32 Adam’s having a good iPadOS 26 beta experience…for the most part 01:14:23 Pilot Pete gives iOS 26 beta a 95% rating 01:17:27 MGG 1097 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway – Victrola Turntable Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network  

You’re about to level up your tech game with Quick Tips and Cool Stuff Found that’ll make you wonder how you ever lived without them. From keeping tabs on low AirPods battery via the Today view widget to renaming your Spaces for better Mac workflow, it’s all here. Discover magnetic AirTag mounts, a Zulu Time converter, a portable vac/blower combo, and even a 10Gbps SSD that’s thinner than your AirPods case. And if you’ve been craving better backups, networked Time Machine options from Synology and Buffalo make an appearance, too. Don’t Get Caught without them. Ever thought of doing a clean install straight from macOS Settings? You can. Migrating from Intel to Apple Silicon? Yeah, it “just works.” Plus, we answer listener questions on fixing autocorrect quirks, exporting text replacements, and balancing podcast audio using tools like Overcast and Levelator. Got a slow-booting iMac? Try verbose mode and dive deep with the Terminal. And if you’re monitor shopping, we’ve got budget picks ranging from Sceptre to Philips. This episode’s packed—just the way you like it. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1096 for Monday, June 30th, 2025 June 30th: Social Media Day What is “Wook Flu”? Police Code 10-96 – Mental patient / Detain suspect MGG Monthly Giveaway – 1MORE Sonoflow Headphones We’ll be doing MGG Live at Macstock on Saturday, July 12th! Join us, and use our coupon code: MACGEEKGAB50 to save $50! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Scott-QT-Use the Batteries widget in Today view to see low AirPods Cool Stuff Found 00:03:29 Richard-CSF-AirTag Magnetic Aero 00:05:02 Ben-CSF-Spaces Renamer to assign names to your Mac’s spaces 00:06:25 Andrew-CSF-Time Zone Converter for Zulu Time 00:09:01 CSF-Ampace Andes 1500 Power Station 00:13:18 CSF-Scosche Portable Vac / Blower Sponsors 00:16:16 SPONSOR: Wix puts incredible website creation at your fingertips with their AI site builder. It’s fun and it’s drag-and-drop easy. Go to Wix.com to start building your website today. Click this link https://bit.ly/43XQ3JB to start your free trial with Wix. 00:17:34 SPONSOR: Surfshark. Secure your privacy with SurfShark. Go to https://surfshark.com/mgg or use code MGG at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Cool Stuff Found for backups and more 00:18:51 CSF-Crucial 2TB SSD – 10GBps USB-C – $121 (about the size than an AirPods case) CSF-Anker 4-in1 USB-C Hub Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI) 00:24:18 Partitioning vs. Multiple Volumes with APFS 00:30:25 Brian-What device for simple networked Time Machine? Buffalo LinkStation LinkStation Time Machine support Synology BeeStation (also with TimeMachine support) 00:39:27 What about a WiFi NAS? 00:41:12 Darrin-QT-Clean Install right in macOS Settings 00:45:47 Peter-QT-1095-Migrating from Intel to Apple Silicon “just works” Sponsors 00:49:09 SPONSOR: ScreenFloat 2. From the folks who brought us Yoink comes ScreenFloat 2, the Mac’s Screen Capture All-Rounder. Capture screenshots & recordings, then trim/crop/cut to your heart’s content. 00:50:38 SPONSOR: Constant Contact makes marketing easier and more effective for small businesses like yours. Try Constant Contact free for 30 days at ConstantContact.com. Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:52:01 TonyB-How do I stop macOS from correcting a single word/name? 00:54:07 Right-click on your Mac to export your text replacements 00:55:58 Hinches-How can I balance podcast audio when one person is louder than the other? Overcast Levelator AES “Recommendation for Loudness of Audio Streaming & Network File Playback.” 01:01:48 Bob-My 2019 iMac started booting very, very slowly MacPaw – How to boot your Mac in verbose mode sudo nvram boot-args=”-v” 01:07:21 Dan-Which 27″ Display should I get? Samsung for $250 Sceptre for $180 Monoprice (refurbished) for $250 Dell for $280 LG for 399 Philips Creator Series for $433 01:14:43 MGG 1096 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway – 1MORE Sonoflow Headphones Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

Ready to upgrade or migrate your Mac? You’ll learn the smartest way to do it from Adam’s shiny new M4 MacBook Pro to migration tips that help you avoid the dreaded cruft. Whether you’re going Mac-to-Mac over Thunderbolt or restoring from Time Machine, we’ve got you covered. Don’t forget those “On My Mac” Mail folders, and hey—CleanMyMac’s SpaceLens is back. If you’re rocking the MacBook Air vs. the Pro, brightness matters (hint: 500 nits vs. 1600 nits!), and we break it down so you don’t get burned. This week’s quick tips hit hard: from iPhone Mirroring on your Mac to binder clips as minimalist wallets (yes, really). We’ve got AirTags, Apple Music hacks, and a live activity trick to boost your focus. Need image compression or automation tools? Retrobatch and Lingon Pro 10 make the list. As always, Don’t Get Caught—like we did when our episodes wouldn’t even play on Apple Podcasts in some cases. From Flipper Zero hotel tricks to your iPhone’s audio quirks in the car, it’s all here. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1095 for Monday, June 23rd, 2025 June 23rd: International Women in Engineering Day Police Code 10-95 – Officer’s Residence MGG Monthly Giveaway – 1MORE Sonoflow Headphones We’ll be doing MGG Live at Macstock on Saturday, July 12th! Join us, and use our coupon code: MACGEEKGAB50 to save $50! 00:03:59 Adam’s New M4 MacBook Pro It’s all about the nits (and ProMotion) MacBook Air = 500nits MacBook Pro = 1600nits 1TB/24GB RAM 00:07:33 Adam’s Migration Path to his new Mac First, Update all backups Then Migration Assistant from a USB Time Machine Backup For direct computer-to-computer migrations, start handshake over Wi-Fi, then plug-in Thunderbolt 00:12:41 Gary-What’s the best Mac-to-Mac migration path while avoiding cruft Don’t forget about Mail that’s only “On My Mac” Or Migration Assistant then CleanMyMac CleanMyMac gets SpaceLens back! Sponsors 00:22:04 SPONSOR: Surfshark. Secure your privacy with SurfShark. Go to https://surfshark.com/mgg or use code MGG at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! 00:23:23 SPONSOR: OWC’s Envoy Ultra, their super-fast Thunderbolt 5 SSD. 00:24:41 SPONSOR: IDEO U. Practical, relevant courses designed to seamlessly transition you from theory to practice. Get 15% off at IDEOU.com/mgg. Quick Tips 00:00:01 n-DLH-QT-Setup iPhone Mirroring and get all Notifications on your Mac 00:26:12 P2-QT-AirTags are Magnetic…Why? 00:30:02 QT-Use a binder clip as your wallet High-end binder clip wallet 00:32:08 Andrew-QT-Use iCloud.com if you’re concerned about putting your iCloud account on a work device 00:33:22 Andrew-QT-Use Favorite Playlists for Apple Music 00:36:51 Michael-QT-Tap the Now Playing Live Activity on iPhone to see more detail…and focus! 00:37:35 Greg-QT-Updating ‘Home’ in Maps App 00:40:09 Kirit-QT-1094-Compress Images with Quick Actions in macOS Finder (and Allison) Large: 1280×960 Medium: 640×480 Small: 320×240 00:42:06 Allison-CSF-Retrobatch for Converting Images Sponsors 00:44:38 SPONSOR: Caldera Lab. Guys, don’t settle for drugstore junk or steal your partner’s products—elevate your routine with skincare made for you. Head to CalderaLab.com/MGG and use MGG at checkout for 20% off your first order. 00:46:02 SPONSOR: OpenPhone is the #1 business phone system that streamlines and scales your customer communications. Get 20% off your first 6 months at OpenPhone.com/MGG Don’t Get Caught 00:47:32 Gordon-DGC-MacUpdater sunsets at end of 2025…what’s next? Possible alternative: MacUpdate.com’s Desktop App Another: CleanMyMac 00:50:29 Andy-DGC-Check your HomePod’s Apple ID after you merge IDs 00:52:35 MGG Got Caught: This episode can’t be played on this device Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:56:55 Jason-Unable to Get Type -v- Paste Shortcut working. 01:00:14 Ben-naming appleOS 26 01:02:22 Larry-My new iPhone skips when playing audio in my car’s bluetooth 01:07:32 William-Will my iPhone actually tell me when my AirPods are low? Cool Stuff Found 01:11:27 DLH-CSF-Lingon Pro 10 adds Apple Intelligence and more 01:12:29 Chris-CSF-Clic for Sonos 01:13:38 Michael-CSF-Flipper Zero for hotel rooms 01:16:29 DLH-CSF-Logic Pro 11.2 adds Flashback Capture, Stem Splitter, and ChatGPT writing tools 01:18:29 MGG 1095 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway – 1MORE Sonoflow Headphones Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

You’re gonna love this jam-packed episode of Mac Geek Gab! Dive in with a barrage of Quick Tips, like turning your wonky circle sketches into perfect shapes, compressing image sizes with Mail and Squash, and even tricking Safari into showing you paywalled content. Your fellow geeks also bring sharp insights—from switching Night Stand clocks from UTC to local time, to using OnyX for nuking Time Machine snapshots. And yes, CleanMyMac’s Space Lens is back! But that’s just the warm-up. This week’s geek-fueled highlight? Custom Focus Modes. Listeners share brilliant ways to reclaim their attention—like silencing politics, syncing modes to time and place, and creating modes for everything from church to live sports. You’ll also get answers to smart questions about iMessage quirks, 5G Standalone, and whether your IoT network is friend or foe. Stay ahead of the curve with a peek into visionOS 26 and the next Podcasts app update—and remember, Don’t Get Caught. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1094 for Monday, June 16th, 2025 June 16th: Take Your Cat to Work Day Police Code 10-94 – Street Racing MGG Monthly Giveaway – 1MORE We’ll be doing MGG Live at Macstock on Saturday, July 12th! Join us, and use our coupon code: MACGEEKGAB50 to save $50! 00:06:23 Ad feedback? Quick Tips 00:00:01 BoyMax-QT-Hold your finger down after drawing a circle with MarkUp, and it will make it a perfect oval/circle 00:08:11 Bill-QT-Use Apple Mail to Quickly Reduce Photos Squash (for Mac) ImageOptim Permute 00:13:44 Joe-QT-Hide Distracting Items to read (some) paywalled content in Safari 00:18:05 QT-Night Stand Mode Clock on UTC – Fix to Local 00:22:24 Shannon-QT-1092-OnyX can delete Snapshots en masse 00:25:34 Jenn-QT-Space Lens is BACK in Clean My Mac 00:26:56 SPONSOR: Fireflies AI. Fireflies is the number one AI teammate that transcribes, summarizes, and analyzes your conversations so you can get the most out of every meeting. Get 2 months free at Fireflies.ai/mgg. 00:28:38 SPONSOR: Surfshark. Secure your privacy with SurfShark. Go to https://surfshark.com/mgg or use code MGG at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Your Custom Focus Modes 00:30:01 Randy-Custom Focus Mode: Church 00:31:05 Derek-Custom Focus Mode: No Politics! 00:32:43 Brian-1092-Triggering work focus mode by time and location 00:34:06 Harvey-1092-Use Focus Modes with the Action button…and when watching Live Sports 00:36:17 Steve-1092-Using Focus Modes to manage notifications and let me know what mode I’m in 00:39:04 Henry-1092-Focus modes for night vision, inspiration, sleep, and more 00:41:44 Adam’s Audio Issues…Continue 00:44:51 Darrin-Custom Focus Modes: Morning, Daytime, Evening, Sleep 00:46:15 SPONSOR: Yoink from Eternal Storms. Yoink is a temporary “shelf” that makes drag-and-drop easier for your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It’s one of Dave’s “must-have” apps. 00:47:33 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:50:36 Tom-How do I set more-granular focus modes? 00:52:50 Judy-Using alias’ and question about keeping Messages… 01:01:45 JP-Why can’t I search in Recently Deleted Messages? 01:03:33 JT-What is 5G Standalone and do I want it? 01:09:59 Mike-Will adding an IOT network solve my headaches…or add more? WiFi Explorer Apple’s Upcoming 2026 OSes 01:14:23 New features coming to Apple’s Podcasts app 01:15:49 Adam installed visionOS 26 01:22:18 MGG 1094 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway – 1MORE Headphones Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

In this week’s Mac Geek Gab, you, Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton dig deep into everything Apple announced for macOS 26 “Tahoe” and beyond. Get the scoop on which Macs make the cut, how Spotlight finally grows up into a proper launcher—with clipboard history—and why Shortcuts just became your new automation best friend. iPadOS 26 is the surprise hero with windowed multitasking, background tasks, audio input selection, and full-on live translation across the board. This update shifts iPads closer to Mac territory than ever before. Don’t Get Caught sleeping on these power features. From Apple Intelligence to Xcode 26’s Swift Assist, it’s clear Apple’s leaning hard into AI and dev tools. You’ll hear why Craig Federighi says they delayed some of this to keep the quality bar high—and why that might be a good thing. Over on iOS 26, Hold Assist and group chat polls offer real upgrades, and Apple Maps now lets you set preferred routes. You’ll also learn what’s new in Apple Wallet, visionOS (yes, widgets and PS VR2 support!), and watchOS 26’s Wrist Flick and Workout Buddy. It’s a whirlwind tour of what’s next—served with your favorite geeky insights. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1093 for Monday, June 9th, 2025 June 9th: National Dark ’n’ Stormy Day Police Code 10-93 – Blockage MGG Monthly Giveaway – 1MORE 00:02:32 Liquid Glass Remembering Bill Atkinson – Round-Rects are Everywhere 00:08:23 macOS 26 “Tahoe” Which Macs will run macOS 26? Spotlight becomes a launcher WITH a Clipboard History Shortcuts automations can trigger when you add a file to a folder 00:23:00 SPONSOR: Storyworth uses quick, weekly email prompts to create a unique keepsake hardcover book for you or your loved ones. Save $10 on your first purchase at StoryWorth.com/MACGEEKGAB. 00:24:18 iPadOS 26 iPad gets windows!! iPad gets audio input selector Background tasks come to iPad Live translation comes to all ‘26 Apple OSes 00:33:50 SPONSOR: Caldera Lab. Guys, don’t settle for drugstore junk or steal your partner’s products—elevate your routine with skincare made for you. Head to CalderaLab.com/MGG and use MGG at checkout for 20% off your first order. 00:35:36 Apple Intelligence “This work needed more time to reach our high-quality bar” – Craig Federighi on June 9th, 2025 00:42:50 Visual Intelligence 00:44:39 Xcode 26 Swift Assist 00:52:06 SPONSOR: Coda, the one Doc to rule them all. Bring your text and tables together! Get six months of the team plan for startups for FREE at Coda.io/mgg. 00:53:28 iOS 26 Hold Assist Polls in Group Messages Preferred Routes in Apple Maps 01:07:26 Apple Services Apple Wallet additions with Digital ID and Order Tracking 01:09:45 visionOS 26 Logitech Muse Playstation VR 2 Sense Controller Insta360 Widgets coming to visionOS…and CarPlay! 01:17:12 watchOS 26 Workout Buddy Wrist Flick 01:20:40 MGG 1093 Outtro Check out Robert Scovill talking about mixing sound at Sphere on Gig Gab MGG Monthly Giveaway – 1MORE Headphones Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

This week on Mac Geek Gab, you’ll learn how to outsmart your tech before it tries to outsmart you. Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton deliver a barrage of Quick Tips, including reviving dead notifications by force-quitting Notification Center, rethinking your Dock layout for remote desktops, and leveraging iOS’s default translate app setting. You’ll also discover how to scrub orphaned system extensions from your Mac, and how Shortcuts can turn your Apple TV into a photo gallery masterpiece. Of course, you know the drill—Don’t Get Caught skipping the smart stuff. Got questions? We’ve got answers. Dig into iPhone VPN conflicts with CarPlay, backup reliability with Carbon Copy Cloner, and the surprising value of an AirTag in your car. You’ll learn about com.apple.asr snapshots, decluttering your Lock Screen, choosing the right Focus modes, and comparing Wi-Fi mesh systems like Eero, Deco, and Orbi. We even tackle the Nvidia SHIELD vs. Apple TV Plex showdown, then wrap it up with Cool Stuff Found like the BoostHero flashlight/jump starter, MailMaven, and a solar car battery. It’s everything your inner geek craves—and more. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1092 for Monday, June 2nd, 2025 June 2nd: National Leave Work Early Day Police Code 10-92 – Subject in custody / Parking violation MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win an eero Outdoor 7 WWDC Is Next Week. Got any Predictions? Also, show will be about 17 hours late! We’ll be doing MGG Live at Macstock on Saturday, July 12th! Join us, and use our coupon code: MACGEEKGAB50 to save $50! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Brad-QT-When Notifications Cease, force-quit Notification Center in Activity Monitor 00:06:29 Hans-QT-Set up your Dock for your remote desktop on the opposite side for a visual reference 00:07:40 QT-Set a default translate app in iOS 18.4 or later 00:08:48 Scott-QT-1091-Use Shortcuts and ArtCast to create custom Apple TV photo galleries 00:10:38 Brad-QT-Remove Orphaned System Extensions with systemextensionsctl systemextensionsctl list systemextensionsctl gc – garbage collect orphaned system extension(s) 00:15:26 SPONSOR: Square. Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/mgg. #squarepod #ad Don’t Get Caught 00:17:12 Michael-DGC-Your iPhone’s VPN Might Interfere with CarPlay 00:21:16 Val-DGC-An AirTag in your car might just help the police locate it if stolen! Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:23:21 Shannon-What is com.apple.asr in Snapshots? 00:28:44 Hans-How do I keep my iPhone lock screen free of notifications? 00:34:01 What Focus modes do you use? 00:39:30 SPONSOR: Insta360 X5 Camera. To bag a free invisible selfie stick worth US$24.99 with your purchase, head to store.insta360.com and use the promo code “mgg”, available for the first 30 purchases only. Show Business 00:41:28 MGG Review-BenTsuki from USA 00:42:28 MGG Review-Gary-Goo-69 – Too Much Gab, Not enough geek! 00:44:56 MGG Review-Ed-Houston THE Best Mac/Apple product-related podcast 00:46:00 MGG Review-Moe Coffee 00:46:48 MGG Premium Listener Contribution Appreciation Moment MOAR Questions Answered 00:50:38 Steve-Reliability of CCC Backup for a wipe and restore? 00:56:25 Jedd-Which Wi-Fi mesh system(s) do you suggest today? Eero TP-Link Deco Mesh NETGEAR Orbi 01:02:46 Chris-Is the Nvidia SHIELD TV really best for Plex? Infuse from Firecore for Plex on Apple TV Plex Pass Cool Stuff Found 01:08:37 CSF-Limitless BoostHero flashlight and jump starter 01:12:37 CSF-MailMaven from SmallCubed 01:14:48 Sunway Solar Car Battery 01:17:00 MGG 1092 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway – 1MORE Headphones Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews [email protected] 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network