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Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

Dave Hamilton, Pilot Pete & Adam Christianson

Get answers to your Apple tech questions every week! Dave Hamilton, Adam Christianson, and Pilot Pete share tips, tricks, and troubleshooting advice for your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and more — all delivered in a fun, friendly way that helps geeks and everyday users alike. Don’t Get Caught without your tech working right!

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  • Avg 1 hr 21 min
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  • #1167
    Yesterday · 1 hr 8 min· Video

    Your Data Took the Scenic Route

    Bring back a tap-to-stop button for alarms and timers in iOS 26 with one Accessibility setting, then let Siri do the math when you ask for a timer that ends at a specific time. You’ll also learn how tapping the time in Apple Podcasts shows when your episode will actually finish at your listening speed, why your Apple Watch’s suggested replies suddenly got smarter, and how your cursor can glide between two Macs sitting side by side. Plus, fix shared external drives that refuse to let you write by checking the volume’s permissions, and find out why Siri AI can fail when Tailscale routes you through an exit node. Then it’s your questions: get Migration Assistant to see your old Mac (you have to run it on both) or skip it and just move your mail, decide whether an iPhone 18 Pro really makes Siri AI better than your 16 Pro, and get two-factor codes to auto-fill in Chrome with a simple click-away-and-back trick. You’ll hear why browsing Time Machine backups on a NAS crawls and what to look for in a UPS for your Mac mini. And in Cool Stuff Found, add a ring light to any Mac with LightBuddy, Webcam Ring Light or RingLight, snooze your reminders with Unforgetful, confirm your security patches with SilentKnight, and clean up a noisy mic with Waves NS1. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1167 for Monday, November 9th, 2026 November 9th: Carl Sagan Day MGG Monthly Giveaway The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Bring back tap-to-stop alarms and timers in iOS 26 (Ben) 00:03:07 Ask Siri for a timer that ends at a specific time (NibsUK) 00:04:58 Tap the time in Apple Podcasts to see when an episode ends (Stanley) 00:09:23 Apple Watch now suggests smarter replies to texts (G. Wallace) 00:13:12 Move your cursor between two Macs without thinking about it (Chris) 00:15:19 Check the permissions on your shared drives (Badger) 00:16:47 Siri AI fails when using Tailscale exit nodes (Doug) Sponsors 00:23:50 SPONSOR: Hostinger. Hostinger builds your vision step by step. Create your website today. Go to https://Hostinger.com/MGG and use code MGG for 10% off now. 00:25:18 SPONSOR: Stio. Ski season’s almost here. Gear up now, the way the locals do. Go to https://stio.com/mgg for 20% off your order. 00:26:42 SPONSOR: Base44. Build the real thing with Base44. Describe the software you need in your own words and get a working build. Get 30% off the Builder plan for your first year: Go to https://base44.com/MGG. Your Questions Answered 00:28:26 Why Pete’s Chrome froze on the ad video 00:31:54 Why won’t Migration Assistant see my old Mac? (Badger) 00:35:34 Does an iPhone 18 Pro make Siri AI better than a 16 Pro? (James) 00:40:54 How much do the iPhone camera upgrades matter? 00:45:06 Get two-factor codes to auto-fill in Chrome by clicking away and back (TNPAPA) 00:47:52 Why is browsing Time Machine backups on a NAS so slow? (NASANut) 00:52:14 Choosing a UPS for your Mac mini (JDSmith) TrugyTex PwrMini P1 Cool Stuff Found 00:59:52 LightBuddy, Webcam Ring Light and RingLight add a ring light to any Mac (Andrew) 01:03:00 Unforgetful adds snooze to your reminders (WillRun4Fun) 01:04:25 SilentKnight checks your Mac’s security patches (Steve) 01:06:19 Waves NS1 to filter noise 01:07:06 MGG 1167 Outro 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1166
    November 2 · 1 hr 21 min· Video

    Seventeen Hours to Save Five Minutes

    Hold Option while you drag a window edge and your Mac resizes around its center, and that’s just the start of what the Option key unlocks, from hidden Wi-Fi diagnostics to extra Bluetooth details in your menu bar. You’ll also learn how to update every Apple TV in the house straight from the Home app, why toggling Cellular Data revived an iPhone after iOS 27.2 when a reboot didn’t, what Reset Network Settings really costs you, and how a few well-named Notes give Siri’s new personal context something worth remembering. Plus the gang compares how they’re actually using AI right now, from Claude skills to coding agents that review each other’s work, then runs through Apple’s big week: the touchscreen MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR display, the M6 MacBook Pro and iMac, and an OLED iPad mini. Then it’s your questions: find a medication reminder that bends around shift work (and count what vibe coding your own costs you in time), make Apple Mail always put attachments at the end, have your iPhone read your daily affirmations aloud with one simple Shortcut, and reach your NAS securely with Tailscale Serve or Cloudflare Tunnels instead of opening ports. And before you trust your left-behind alerts, open each AirTag in Find My and check its exceptions list, because Find My may have quietly added places you never picked. Don’t Get Caught! 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1166 for Monday, November 2nd, 2026 November 2nd: All Souls Day MGG Monthly Giveaway Quick Tips 00:00:01 Option-drag a window edge to resize around its center (Chris) 00:03:28 Update your Apple TV’s tvOS from the Home app (Rich W) 00:05:09 Option-click your Wi-Fi menu (and everything else) 00:07:53 Toggle Cellular Data to bring back service after iOS 27.2 (Doug) 00:09:56 Beware Reset Network Settings 00:12:48 Use Notes as persistent memories for Siri AI (Robb) 00:17:26 Toggle Siri’s ChatGPT extension and give it its own voice 00:19:36 How are you using AI today? (Andy) Sponsors 00:31:10 SPONSOR: Stio. Ski season’s almost here. Gear up now, the way the locals do. Go to https://stio.com/mgg for 20% off your order. 00:32:41 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at https://gusto.com/MGG. New Apple Stuff 00:34:03 Apple’s big week of announcements 00:35:33 The new touchscreen MacBook Pro MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display New M6 MacBook Pro Apple adds more AI features to Creator Studio 00:43:47 New M6 iMac 00:44:51 OLED iPad mini…and more! Your Questions Answered 00:47:23 What’s the best app to remind me to take medication? (Colin) 00:53:48 Beware the time sink of vibe coding 00:55:13 Due app for customizable due dates 00:57:19 How do I make Mac Mail insert attachments at the end by default? (David) 00:59:54 How can my iPhone read my daily affirmations to me in its own voice? (Roy) 01:03:27 Use Tailscale Serve or Cloudflare Tunnels to reach your NAS securely (Scott, following up on MGG 1164) 01:10:09 Why is Adam’s Facebook not showing him the time? Don’t Get Caught 01:14:41 Check your AirTags’ left-behind exceptions in Find My (Andrew) 01:19:42 MGG 1166 Outro 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1165
    October 26 · 1 hr 18 min· Video

    Wake Up, It’s Time to Go to Sleep

    Kick off Mac Geek Gab 1165 with a stack of Quick Tips: find the four new options hiding in iOS 27’s jiggly-icon mode, see how Messages remembers where you were when you jump back through a thread, and control which direction Photos moves after you delete a shot. You’ll keep a stubborn printer visible just by leaving Print Center open, play your favorite podcasts through your Mac with iPhone Mirroring, and turn StandBy into a desk-side HomePod remote. Then it’s AI time: update the model on your scheduled agents before they quietly run on last year’s brains, get Siri AI’s full answers on iPhone and Mac, and size up Instinct, Muse, Dots, and Grok Bot as Apple’s assistant falls behind (again). You’ll also learn about the API credits hiding in Claude Max plans and a double-click trick that snaps any window to full size, with a Siri swear jar to keep the tips honest. Then your two geeks and a pilot answer your questions. Find out why your Mac’s scheduled shutdown never fires and which apps fix it without Terminal, run the flashlight test that tells you whether a dying display is worth saving, and pick the right webcam for your Zoom calls, from Insta360 and Obsbot to the Continuity Camera already in your pocket. Finally, tackle the macOS 27 Finder change that grabs your file extension along with the file name, plus the keyboard workaround that brings your muscle memory back. Press play, get your answers, and whatever you do, Don’t Get Caught! 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1165 for Monday, October 26th, 2026 October 26th: National Pumpkin Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a MGG T-Shirt! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 iOS 27 adds four new options to jiggly-icon mode (Dr. Martin) 00:03:44 The iPhone Duo order experience 00:08:26 Jumping back in Messages remembers where you were (NASANut, following up on MGG 1163) 00:11:27 Choose which way Photos moves after you delete a photo (Daymon) 00:13:03 Leave Print Center open to keep pesky printers available (Michael) VueScan Sponsors 00:20:09 SPONSOR: Stio. Ski season’s almost here. Gear up now, the way the locals do. Go to https://stio.com/macgeekgab for 20% off your order. 00:21:46 SPONSOR: Hims is changing men’s healthcare by providing convenient, quality care, 100% online. Start your free online visit today at https://Hims.com/MGG. More Quick Tips 00:24:12 Listen to podcasts on your Mac by mirroring your iPhone (Henry) Belkin Continuity Camera Mount NightStand Mode == StandBy 00:27:19 Update the model on your scheduled agents 00:30:30 See Siri AI’s complete responses on iPhone and macOS (Bill) 00:35:12 Instinct and Muse vs. Siri AI And Dots and Grok Bot 00:43:37 Claude API credits on Max plans 00:44:47 Quickly expand the window you’re working in (Bruce) 00:46:34 Start a Siri Swear Jar (Mark) Sponsors 00:47:45 SPONSOR: Origin is endpoint AI observability. See what a trace looks like at https://originhq.com/macgeekgab 00:49:06 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software at https://barebones.com … now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. Your Questions Answered 00:50:19 Why won’t my Mac shut down automatically? (Karl) To schedule a daily shutdown at 11 PM and wake or power on at 6 AM: sudo pmset repeat shutdown MTWRFSU 23:00:00 wakeorpoweron MTWRFSU 06:00:00 To see the current schedule: pmset -g sched Prefer an app? BAM 01:00:12 My monitor is failing. Should I repair it? (Mike) Which 5K monitor for my Mac? (MGG 1136) 01:04:39 Which webcam should I get for Zoom calls? (John) Insta360 Link 2 Pro Insta360 Link 2C – $150 Obsbot Meet Flip Continuity Camera 01:12:20 Did macOS 27 change how Finder selects file names? (Todd) 01:15:59 MGG 1165 Outro 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1164
    October 19 · 1 hr 21 min· Video

    Cool Stuff Made for an Audience of One

    Mac Geek Gab 1164 is all about Cool Stuff Made, the apps you built and sent in, starting with Tap2Click, which finally gives your Magic Mouse a quiet tap-to-click. You’ll hear why rough-draft coding with AI is changing who gets to build Mac software, and how Dave’s own Ottograph fixed per-alias signatures in Apple Mail in a single evening. Then Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton show you BAM for auto-quitting idle Mac apps and scheduling shutdowns, HEVCut for shrinking iPhone videos to reclaim storage, and WatchBlocks, a full sandbox survival game that runs on your Apple Watch. Next, Apple’s Welcome Home lineup gets the once-over: the new HomeView smart display with Siri AI and multi-user support, the HomePod mini 2, the new Apple TV 4K with far-field mics and AV1 decoding, and the Apple Home Collection built with LG and Schneider. You’ll find out who should upgrade and who should stay put. Then the listener-built apps keep coming. Sundrop turns your photo library into a time-lapse of your kids growing up, Odie logs your mileage automatically for tax time, and MailRules sorts your inbox with rules you write in plain English. Discrity shows you which apps are using your Mac’s camera and microphone, NotchPop turns your MacBook notch into a dashboard, and Faro helps you pick tonight’s movie. You’ll also get MailKeys for Gmail shortcuts in Apple Mail, Driftlog for a self-building travel map, LidKeeper for finishing jobs after you close the lid, Floodtide as a Mac Updater replacement before that database goes dark, and ThreadSaver for backing up your Messages. Press play to find your next favorite indie app, and whatever you do, Don’t Get Caught! 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1164 for Monday, October 19th, 2026 October 19th: National New Friends Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a MGG T-Shirt! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Cool Stuff Made 00:00:01 Tap2Click adds tap-to-click to the Magic Mouse (Michael) 00:03:37 Ottograph adds per-alias signatures to Apple Mail 00:04:37 Rough-draft coding has taken on new life 00:12:08 BAM closes the Mac apps you’re not using (JT) 00:15:04 HEVCut shrinks videos and photos on iPhone (Alejandro) 00:17:31 WatchBlocks, a sandbox game for Apple Watch Sponsors 00:20:56 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at https://gusto.com/MGG 00:22:20 SPONSOR: Hostinger. Hostinger builds your vision step by step. Create your website today. Go to https://Hostinger.com/MGG and use code MGG for 10% off now Welcome Home, Apple! 00:23:45 Apple’s Welcome Home smart home lineup 00:28:09 New Apple HomeView Smart Speaker with Screen and Siri AI 00:38:31 Apple HomePod mini 2 with Siri AI, better Sound 00:43:49 New Apple TV 4K with Siri AI 00:57:23 Apple Home Collection with LG and Schneider More Cool Stuff Made 00:59:36 Sundrop turns your photos into a time-lapse of your kids growing up (Ben) 01:01:30 Odie, an automatic iPhone car mileage tracker (@n-Taylor) 01:03:00 MailRules sorts your inbox with plain-English rules (Tilak) 01:04:45 Discrity shows which apps are using your Mac’s camera and microphone (Jiaming) 01:06:08 NotchPop turns your MacBook’s notch into a dashboard (Tejas) 01:07:50 Faro helps you decide what movie to watch (Phil) 01:09:10 MailKeys adds Gmail shortcuts to Apple Mail (Jason) 01:10:23 Driftlog, a self-populating travel map for your iPhone (Aki) 01:12:28 LidKeeper lets your Mac finish its jobs after you close the lid (Saif) 01:14:22 Floodtide updates your Mac’s apps (Raffi) 01:17:23 ThreadSaver backs up your Messages (Donald) 01:19:22 MGG 1164 Outro 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1163
    October 12 · 1 hr 17 min· Video

    Emphatically Kind Requests

    Customize your Finder icons for instant recognition, stretch your Apple Watch battery on long workouts with Low Power Mode, and jump months back in your Messages history with a single tap. You’ll also learn how to force macOS 27 to download from Terminal when Software Update won’t show it, and how to run separate Claude Desktop apps for work and home. Then your two geeks and a pilot tackle whether you can migrate to a new iPhone from an iOS beta, whether you need Mail.app running to feed Apple Intelligence, and the one Search setting that might be keeping Siri from your data. The big revelation is that you can now ask Siri why something failed, and she might actually tell you. No yelling required, though an emphatically kind request helps. You’ll get the best ways to connect to your Synology DiskStation without certificate warnings, and find out why Apple Watch battery service may get you a whole new watch, possibly with blood oxygen intact. Cool Stuff Found brings SetShot for tracking macOS settings changes, Marked QL for previewing Markdown in Quick Look, a folding case for iPhone Duo, and news that Apple will replace the Duo’s screen layer when the crease shows up. Press play, ask better questions, and Don’t Get Caught! 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1163 for Monday, October 12th, 2026 October 12th: National Gumbo Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a MGG T-Shirt! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Customize your macOS Finder icons (Pilot Pete) 00:03:37 Put your Apple Watch in Low Power Mode during long workouts (Jonathan) 00:06:00 Jump to earlier messages quickly (Pilot Pete) 00:09:14 Can’t see macOS 27 in Software Update? Try Terminal (NASANut) List the available full installers: softwareupdate --list-full-installers Download a specific version: softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 27.0.1 Dash for macOS 00:16:32 Run multiple Claude Desktop apps for work and home (PorthosJon) Launch a second instance with its own account: open -n -a "Claude" --args --user-data-dir="$HOME/.claude-instances/work" Sponsors 00:20:50 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use our code MACGEEK for 20% off at https://clnmy.com/MACGEEK 00:22:06 SPONSOR: Proton VPN. Unlike most VPNs, Proton is backed by strong European privacy laws, and, right now, Proton VPN is offering our listeners 70% off a two year plan when you go to https://ProtonVPN.com/MGG Your Questions Answered 00:23:41 Can I migrate to a new iPhone from one running an iOS beta? (Terry) 00:27:48 Are Pete and Dave still getting iPhone Duo? 00:29:14 Should I be running Mail.app to take advantage of Apple Intelligence? (Barry) hybridsearchd high CPU usage is often triggered by Smart Mailboxes using “Entire Message” criteria 00:35:21 Don’t Get Caught: make sure Siri can see your apps’ data (Robb) 00:37:22 Siri can answer tech support questions about your Mac Try asking “Why did that fail?” and it might just tell you! Sponsors 00:45:51 SPONSOR: Shopify. If you’re ready to stop putting off your business and start selling, sign up for your free trial and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/MGG 00:46:58 SPONSOR: Origin is endpoint AI observability. See what a trace looks like at https://originhq.com/macgeekgab More Questions and Tips 00:48:13 How do you connect to your Synology DiskStations? (NASANut) MariusHosting.com 00:55:32 Follow-up to MGG 1161: Apple replaced our Apple Watches when we had the batteries serviced (James) 00:57:35 Follow-up to MGG 1161: Apple Watch warranty replacements might display blood oxygen (Martin) Cool Stuff Found 00:58:48 SetShot tracks macOS Settings changes (Andrew) 01:01:59 Marked QL previews Markdown in Quick Look (also in Setapp) (Allison) Marked 3 01:05:47 Limitless iPhone Duo Case (Terry) 01:10:12 Apple will replace the iPhone Duo’s folding screen layer 01:12:23 MGG 1163 Outro 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1162
    October 5 · 1 hr 21 min· Video

    Chromations or Aberrations or a Sheen

    Kick off Mac Geek Gab 1162 with a stack of quick tips. You’ll stop your iPhone’s Camera Control from firing on every accidental squeeze, flip the Mac app switcher into reverse without lifting a finger, and ask Safari to describe an extension and build it for you. You’ll snooze your alarm with S-Lady and get (a little) relief from macOS 27’s hybridsearchd CPU hog. You’ll also borrow a brilliant Shortcuts automation that swaps eSIMs the moment your plane leaves the gate. Then you’ll add your kids’ vital details to your own Medical ID, bring back every closed tab with Command-Shift-T, share contacts despite Apple’s Family Sharing limits, and learn why a quarterly check of your firewall, privacy, and notification settings keeps you from getting blindsided. Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton also dig into the iPhone 18 Pro color controversy to find out whether it’s chromations, aberrations, or just a sheen. Then your questions get answered. You’ll fix macOS 27 Golden Gate headaches like broken login items, a Hazel that’s gone on strike, and a Spotlight index that needs a fresh start. You’ll turn your Apple Health data into a readable report your doctor can actually use, and you’ll learn how to make your AirPods Pro work as real hearing protection at your next concert. Finally, you’ll find the best path to building Shortcuts, whether that’s a trusted field guide or letting AI write one for you. Press play, tune up your settings, and whatever you do, Don’t Get Caught! 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1162 for Monday, October 5th, 2026 October 5th: National Do Something Nice Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a MGG T-Shirt! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Set Camera Control to double-click to open the Camera app (Todd) Nomad Traditional Leather Case 00:06:26 Cmd-Shift-Backtick runs the app switcher right to left (Paul) 00:09:13 Hey Safari, describe an extension (Stephen) Stephen’s prompt: Produce four sliders to adjust the brightness (50-200%), contrast (50-200%), saturation (0-200%) and hue of all images. Label sliders B, C, S, H. Include a minimize button labelled -. Put the panel half way up the window. Include a reset button to return values to 100, 100, 100 and 0. Minimise after 10 seconds since last use. Reduce empty space in panel. When minimized only show standard brightness and contrast icons (black and white versions) side-by-side. Tap on those to restore panel. Save the values. 00:12:22 macOS 27 (developer beta 2) begins to resolve hybridsearchd high CPU usage 00:13:21 Hey S-Lady, Snooze! (Adam) 00:16:21 Shortcuts to travel by: switch eSIM networks automatically (Kevin) Sponsors 00:20:18 SPONSOR: Eleven Labs: ElevenAgents can help build experiences that your customers will actually love. If you handle customer interactions, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/MGG 00:22:06 SPONSOR: Hims is changing men’s healthcare by providing convenient, quality care, 100% online. Start your free online visit today at https://Hims.com/MGG. More Quick Tips 00:23:34 Add your children’s details to your own iPhone Medical ID (Marcelo) 00:26:22 Cmd-Shift-T reopens multiple closed browser tabs (Jeff) History > Reopen Last Closed [Window|Tab] 00:28:25 Check and confirm your presumed system settings (Andrew) 00:32:32 Managing notification settings 00:37:05 Share contacts in spite of Apple’s restrictions (SarasotaSteve) 00:40:50 iPhone 18 Pro color controversy Sponsors 00:46:43 SPONSOR: Origin is endpoint AI observability. See what a trace looks like at https://originhq.com/macgeekgab 00:48:02 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at https://gusto.com/MGG Your Questions Answered 00:49:20 How do I fix macOS 27 Golden Gate woes with login items, Hazel and Spotlight? (Jeremy) Rebuild the Spotlight index: sudo mdutil -a -E Bartender for macOS 27 00:58:23 How do I share iPhone Health app data with my doctor? (Michael) Vitalina app 01:04:37 Can AirPods Pro provide hearing protection? (Rob) 01:13:05 What’s the best way to build a Shortcut? (Mark) MacSparky’s Shortcuts Field Guide 01:19:55 MGG 1162 Outro 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1161
    September 28 · 1 hr 22 min· Video

    Naked In Public

    Kick off Mac Geek Gab 1161 with a round of Quick Tips: flip through browser tabs with Command-Shift-[ and ], kill your iPhone flashlight with one tap, and learn iOS 27’s new swipe-down layout, where notifications, Siri, and Control Center each get their own corner. You’ll also bring CarPlay widgets back into your life, compare the apps on all your Macs with one Terminal command (and a little AI help), and find the Identity Documents collection hiding in iOS 27 Photos. Then Don’t Get Caught by SIM protection blocking your new iPhone setup, a watch battery “replacement” that quietly swaps your Apple Watch and takes blood oxygen readings with it, or a GPS-only Apple Watch that can’t call for help when you need it most. Next, your two geeks and a pilot figure out why iCloud Drive won’t keep your files local, share how they juggle iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Synology Drive, and help a caregiver limit an iPhone’s outgoing calls to a trusted few. You’ll get the right way to speed test your internet from your router, a fix for Siri AI that won’t leave, and an update on hybridsearchd eating your Mac’s CPU in macOS 27. Stick around for Cool Stuff Found, where Adam finally ends years of naked-iPhone with a screen protector (and a dose of shame) that goes on perfectly every time. Press play and get your answers before your gear gets you! 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1161 for Monday, September 28th, 2026 September 28th: National Family Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to SuperDuper! 4 The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Follow-up to MGG 1160: Command-Shift-[ and ] switch between browser tabs (Todd) 00:04:45 Turn off the iPhone flashlight with a quick tap of the icon (Martin) 00:07:37 iOS 27 swipe-down has a third option now (Dr. Dream) 00:08:47 Use CarPlay widgets again in iOS 27 (Andrew) 00:13:08 Compare the apps on all your Macs (Andrew) Save a list of your installed apps: ls /Applications > ~/Desktop/apps-list.txt 00:17:51 iOS 27 Photos has an Identity Documents collection (Manhattan Glen) 00:21:50 Genius Scan to scan documents Sponsors 00:23:38 SPONSOR: Hostinger. Hostinger builds your vision step by step. Create your website today. Go to https://Hostinger.com/MGG and use code MGG for 10% off now 00:25:01 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software at https://barebones.com … now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. Don’t Get Caught 00:26:14 Disable SIM Lock before transferring to your new iPhone (Bill) 00:28:27 Follow-up to MGG 1159: replacing the battery might replace your Apple Watch and lose features (Brian) 00:34:42 Think carefully before buying a GPS-only Apple Watch (Doug) Your Questions Answered 00:35:47 Why is iCloud Drive not syncing all of my files? (Joe) Cirrus & Bailiff from Eclectic Light Dropbox OneDrive Google Drive Synology Drive Resilio Sync 00:45:38 How do I limit an iPhone’s outgoing calls to only certain people? (HiFiGMan) Sponsors 00:55:52 SPONSOR: Origin is endpoint AI observability. See what a trace looks like at https://originhq.com/macgeekgab 00:57:18 SPONSOR: Private Internet Access VPN – Save 82% off your VPN service PLUS four free months with a two-year plan at https://PIAVPN.com/mgg. Follow-Ups 00:58:40 Follow-up to MGG 1160: use your router’s speed test app (Andrew) Netgear Orbi Eero UniFi Cloud Gateway Max 01:01:19 Siri AI hangs around too long (Larry) 01:04:50 More about hybridsearchd CPU usage in macOS 27 Cool Stuff Found 01:10:00 Spigen GLAS.tR EZ Fit screen protector (ATC) AILUN iPhone Screen Protectors 01:21:18 MGG 1161 Outro 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1160
    September 21 · 1 hr 18 min· Video

    Old Contact, Who Dis?

    You’ll learn how to ask S-Lady to find a family member through Find My so you don’t have to call them, and why Command-Backtick (one key up from Tab) cycles windows inside a single app while Command-1, 2, 3 hops tabs in Safari, Chrome, Comet, and even Mail. You’ll follow Dave down the iPhone system data rabbit hole, where 59GB of mystery storage led to a full wipe, a genuinely useful “keep eSIMs and erase data” option, and then 52GB creeping right back three days later. You’ll turn an always-on Mac mini into an AirPlay music server you drive from the Remote app, so the party keeps playing after you make a beer run. You’ll discover that Terminal’s Secure Keyboard Entry checkbox is why your TextExpander and Rocket Typist snippets quit firing. And you’ll hear the cheapest Wi-Fi fix in history: delete the speed test app. Plus, AI as a genealogy research partner: the kind that surfaces buried leads you verify yourself. Don’t Get Caught after a macOS update wondering why Hazel stopped filing your bank statements: the rules were fine, but Spotlight’s index was in a bad state, so rebuild it with OnyX or Terminal and reboot. You’ll get real numbers on the Apple Upgrade Program: zero percent APR, financed through Klarna, three mandatory choices at the end of your term, and a “good condition” clause nobody defines. You’ll learn the Apple Watch Ultra 4’s screen really is bigger than Series 12’s, and that a 99-cent app called O2 Buddy puts blood oxygen back on your wrist. Then you’ll rethink family contact cards using smart lists built on a keyword in the Notes field, and hear why Contacts is the one thing Dave has ever lost to sync. Watch where new contacts get saved, or you’ll be staring at a text thinking…old contact, who dis? Closing it out: why Siri still wants a data connection for requests that should never leave your phone. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1160 for Monday, September 21st, 2026 September 21st: Wife Appreciation Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to SuperDuper! 4 The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Ask S-Lady to find a family member with Find My (Si) 00:03:05 Cmd-Backtick switches windows; Cmd-[number] switches tabs within an app (Dennis) 00:06:31 Fixing iPhone system data: keep your eSIMs and erase the data (Dave) 00:12:47 Use your Mac as an AirPlay music server (JW Blat) 00:15:43 Terminal’s Secure Keyboard Entry blocks your text expansion snippets (Pilot Pete) TextExpander Rocket Typist 00:18:15 Fix your Wi-Fi by deleting the speed test app 00:25:50 Use AI as a genealogy research assistant (Russ) MGG Reviews at https://macgeekgab.com/reviews 00:32:33 “Best podcast out there” (VirtualStash) Don’t Get Caught 00:33:45 After a macOS update, the Spotlight index was in a bad state (Pilot Pete) OnyX Or rebuild the Spotlight index from Terminal, then reboot: sudo mdutil -a -i off sudo rm -rf /System/Volumes/Data/.Spotlight-V100 /.Spotlight-V100 sudo mdutil -a -i on Sponsors 00:36:49 SPONSOR: Shopify. If you’re ready to stop putting off your business and start selling, sign up for your free trial and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/MGG 00:38:06 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at https://gusto.com/MGG Apple Event Errata and Updates 00:39:16 How does Apple Upgrade Program pricing work? (Tom) 00:51:48 The Apple Watch Ultra 4 has a bigger screen than the Apple Watch Series 12 (Tim A) 00:54:24 O2 Buddy brings blood oxygen data to your Watch anyway (Bob) 00:56:26 What did your geeks order? Your Questions Answered 01:00:16 What’s the best way to manage family contact cards in Contacts? (David) 01:08:40 Why does Siri need a data connection for offline requests? (DJ Val) 01:16:28 MGG 1160 Outro 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1159
    September 14 · 1 hr 34 min· Video

    It's Not a Crease, It's a Wave

    Apple’s September 2026 keynote is in the books, and Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton are here to help you figure out what’s actually worth your money. You kick things off with the big question: what are your three favorite geeks gonna buy? They then dig into the reasons, starting with the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4: battery life, new health sensors, Live Rewind, Siri Recap, and an Audio Intelligence feature that really should’ve been called Audible Intelligence. Then it’s on to the star of the show, the iPhone Duo, where you get the real story on its price, how much storage you actually need, and that crease. And, oh yeah, MagSafe. From there, you’ll size up the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max and find out why Siri AI may be what finally pushes you to upgrade your hardware, and how iCloud+ quietly turned into an AI paywall. Before you sign up for Apple Upgrade, you’ll learn that the fine print calls it a lease. Then you get the lowdown on AirPods 5 and whether AppleCare One Family at $49.99 a month makes sense for your household. By the end, you’ll know whether all this talk changed anyone’s shopping list, and whether it should change yours. Don’t Get Caught overpaying for your next upgrade! 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1159 for Monday, September 14th, 2026 September 14th: National Cream Filled Donut Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to SuperDuper! 4 00:05:08 What are you gonna buy? Pete: AppleCare One Family, iPhone Duo Adam: iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12 Dave: iPhone Duo, Maybe an Apple Watch? 00:07:06 Apple Watch Series 12 / Ultra 4 Battery Life New Health Sensors Audio Intelligence (really should be Audible Intelligence) Live Rewind Siri Recap 00:18:07 Legal implications of tech that is always recording 00:20:38 Pete’s thoughts on the Apple Watch Battery Life S11 Chip Bee app for listening 00:25:49 Cellular on Apple Watch US Mobile uses it Mint Mobile can’t Sponsors 00:30:03 SPONSOR: Proton VPN. Unlike most VPNs, Proton is backed by strong European privacy laws, and, right now, Proton VPN is offering our listeners 70% off a two year plan when you go to https://ProtonVPN.com/MGG 00:31:08 SPONSOR: Hims is changing men’s healthcare by providing convenient, quality care, 100% online. Start your free online visit today at https://Hims.com/MGG. 00:32:21 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use our code MACGEEK for 20% off at https://clnmy.com/MACGEEK 00:33:42 iPhone Duo Linus Tech on iPhone Duo Marques Brown on iPhone Duo The price of the iPhone Duo Storage on an iPhone Duo 00:55:02 iPhone Duo has a crease 00:58:59 iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max 01:04:24 Siri AI is the reason for a hardware upgrade iCloud+ quietly became an AI paywall 01:10:23 “Apple Upgrade” is a lease 01:13:53 AirPods 5 01:18:50 AppleCare One Family $49.99/mo for the Family Plan 01:29:58 Did this discussion change what you’re gonna buy? 01:31:46 MGG 1159 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1158
    September 7 · 1 hr 26 min· Video

    Maybe It's "S-Bot"

    Start Mac Geek Gab 1158 with Quick Tips you’ll actually use: trigger your iPhone’s camera from your Apple Watch, pull a full-quality photo out of any video in iOS 27, and find out why hybridsearchd is quietly eating your CPU in macOS Golden Gate. You’ll also get the right way to set up Homebrew on a brand-new Mac, meet mackup for keeping your settings in sync across every Mac you own, and watch Siri AI turn a business card into a contact without you typing a thing. Then your two favorite geeks and pilot dig into your questions: how much RAM is actually enough, how iOS call screening and spam filtering really behave, which outdoor cameras earn their keep, and how to reconnect to that remote NAS that keeps ghosting you. You’ll finally learn whether you can delete someone from a group text, get the early word on Sonos 27, and settle the great “how do we even say Siri AI?” debate in a lightning round that lands on S.A.I., S-Lady, Papaya, and — maybe — S-Bot. Press play, get the answers before your gear gets you, and whatever you do, Don’t Get Caught! 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1158 for Monday, September 7th, 2026 – https://mgg.fm/1158 September 7th: National Beer Lovers Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to SuperDuper! 4 The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Todd-QT-Use your Apple Watch Camera Remote 00:03:40 Pilot Pete-QT-Save Video Still as Full Quality Photo iOS 27 00:06:10 hybridsearchd in macOS Golden Gate using CPU 00:10:15 Pensacola Craig-Nuke & Dave: using Homebrew on a new Mac 00:11:40 mackup to copy your settings and keep them in sync between your Macs 00:12:40 Dom Bettinelli-Create a new contact from business card with Siri AI MGG Reviews at https://macgeekgab.com/review 00:15:07 iGuy1984-MGG Review-Fantastic 00:18:22 TaiPai59-MGG Review-Great show!! Sponsors 00:19:28 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at https://gusto.com/MGG 00:20:43 SPONSOR: OneSkin. Born from over a decade of longevity research, OneSkin’s OS-01 Peptide is proven to target the visible signs of aging, helping you unlock your healthiest skin now and as you age. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MGG at https://www.oneskin.co/MGG #oneskinpod #ad Your Questions Answered – feedback@macgeekgab.com 00:22:00 Dan-How much RAM is enough? 00:38:10 Mark-Call Screening options and behavior in iOS Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Filtering > Spam 00:45:50 Mike-Which outdoor cameras do you use? Eufy Security Cameras Thermacell LIV 00:56:29 Peer Timo-How can I re-connect to my remote NAS? 01:04:15 Ericka-Can you delete someone from a group text? 01:11:57 Sonos 27mcp in Early Access How to Say Siri AI – The Lightning Round 01:16:33 Bill-1157-Maybe it’s just SAI 01:17:25 Dan-I think S-Lady is the right answer! 01:19:00 Simon-1157–Maybe Just Notch out The Siri Frequencies? 01:20:26 Ben-1157-Papaya! 01:21:09 Adam-1157-Another way to say Siri 01:22:47 Shree AI? …or maybe it’s S-Bot! 01:23:44 MGG 1158 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1157
    August 31 · 1 hr 20 min· Video

    SneakerNet Is Real

    Kick off Mac Geek Gab 1157 with a rapid-fire round of Quick Tips: find the new Siri option hiding in your Camera app, tame Archive Utility’s settings to streamline your workflow, and turn your scanner and printer into a DIY copier over FTP. You’ll also learn where macOS quietly stashes your FileVault recovery key (hint: check Passwords) and how to wrangle your files so AI can actually help you, including a listener who let AI sort an entire TV library and another who put Claude Cowork to work as his personal Mac updater. Then it’s time for Apple’s big hardware drop: the M6 and M5 Ultra arrive in a new Mac mini and Mac Studio, with 2.5-gig Ethernet as the buried lede. Your two geeks and a pilot break down what’s worth your money, tackle Apple’s storage pricing problem with Thunderbolt and USB alternatives that won’t drain your wallet, and answer whether you can move your home folder to an external drive to dodge Apple’s SSD tax (spoiler: you can, and maybe it’s time we start endorsing this?). Stick around for Cool Stuff Found: a robot mower that behaves even without fences, a smarter way to peek inside archives, and a slick DMG utility. Press play, get your answers before your gear gets you… and whatever you do, Don’t Get Caught! 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1157 for Monday, August 31st, 2026 August 31st: World Distance Learning Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Yoink, Screenfloat, Transloader, or DeskMat from Eternal Storms The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Pilot Pete-QT-New “Siri” option in Camera 00:02:43 Allan-QT-Use Archive Utility’s Settings to streamline your workflow – From Stephen Robles 00:05:21 Jim-QT-Connect your scanner and printer via FTP to make a copier Also scan to USB for speed 00:08:26 KiwiGraham-QT-FileVault Recovery Key is in Passwords 00:13:10 Beware the stump grinders Call Before You Dig 00:14:05 Eric-CarPlay brings on an ##infinite Siri Loop 00:19:02 Tux-QT-Managing Files for use with Siri AI 00:22:01 Michael-AI Helped me sort my TV Episodes Build Me a Handoff Prompt 00:26:21 Ottograph is coming! 00:32:00 Steve-QT-1156-Using Claude CoWork to Play Mac Updater Sponsors 00:35:34 SPONSOR: Helix Sleep makes premium mattresses and bedding that are customized to fit your personal needs, and conveniently shipped to your door. Go to https://helixsleep.com/MGG for 27% Off Sitewide. 00:37:14 SPONSOR: Proton VPN. Unlike most VPNs, Proton is backed by strong European privacy laws, and, right now, Proton VPN is offering our listeners 70% off a two year plan when you go to https://ProtonVPN.com/MGG 00:38:38 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. Your Questions Answered – feedback@macgeekgab.com 00:39:46 New M6, M5Ultra New Mac mini M6 and M5 Pro New Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra Ian-All with 2.5GB Ethernet as standard! 00:48:12 Pensacola Craig-Apple has a pricing problem Thunderbolt Drives SABRENT Rocket XTRM 5 2GB (TB5) – $400 SABRENT Rocket Nano XTRAM (TB3) – $340 USB 10G drives SANDISK 2TB – $290 Lexar 2TB – $270 00:56:51 Josh-Can I move my home folder to an external drive to save on storage costs with a new computer? Cool Stuff Found 01:05:38 PIlot Pete-CSF-Worx Landroid WR320.1 Robot Mower Works with no fences between you and neighbor 01:13:35 ATCCSF-BetterZip Quick Look Generator and Extension 01:16:18 rndoug-csf-EasyDMGapp (also courtesy of Stephen Robles) 01:17:48 MGG 1157 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1156
    August 24 · 1 hr 21 min

    Maslow vs. The Finder

    Ever fire off a text that never actually sent? You’ll learn how to clear those stale unsent iMessages out of the More menu, move your Dock between displays using nothing but your cursor, and set exactly how long you share your location with iOS 27 (anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 days), plus a quiet hide that doesn’t tip the other person off. You’ll also grab videos out of Messages with a simple click-and-drag, and build a TextExpander snippet that pastes as plain text into those maddening web forms that block Command-V in the name of “security.” Then it’s your questions. Why does the Passwords app crawl on one Mac while syncing fine on everything else? And how do you safely peek inside its SQLite database without breaking it? You’ll find out how to get your Recents folder to actually reflect recent, what’s really happening when an app disables TextExpander expansion, where to turn now that MacUpdater’s databases have gone stale, and what your options are when OneNote crashes on launch and holds years of research hostage. Stick around for all three of us on long-term storage: Synology, cloud archives, and the two-layer approach that keeps your irreplaceable stuff off-site. Adam’s the cautionary tale: a migration he was sure he’d finished, a Drobo powered off for a year, and files that aren’t where he swore he put them. Don’t get caught assuming your backup ran. Go check. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1156 for Monday, August 24th, 2026 August 24th: National Waffle Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Yoink, Screenfloat, Transloader, or DeskMat from Eternal Storms Quick Tips 00:00:01 Clifton-QT-Delete Stale Unsent Messages 00:05:08 Jim-QT-Move the Dock between displays with your mouse Disable Click on Desktop to Expose 00:10:00 Pete-Customize Location Sharing in iOS 27 00:13:54 Aron-QT-1149-Save iMessage Videos with Click-and-drag 00:14:32 Bruce-QT-1148-Setup TextExpander Snippets for Pasting as Text Sponsors 00:19:13 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at https://gusto.com/MGG 00:20:47 SPONSOR: Hims is changing men’s healthcare by providing convenient, quality care, 100% online. Start your free online visit today at https://Hims.com/MGG. Your Questions Answered – feedback@macgeekgab.com 00:22:29 Bruce-Troubleshooting a slow passwords database Base to open sqlite database SQLite Browser 00:35:03 Jim-How do I get my Recents folder to behave? 00:42:35 Harvey-How to deal with TextExpander stopping expansion 00:48:44 Eric-MacUpdater replacement options? Updatest CleanMyMac’s Application Updater 00:56:25 Heidi-How can I get OneNote to stop crashing without losing all my data? Obsidian 01:06:02 Roy-What are your long-term storage plans? Cloud Backups – BackBlaze, iDrive E2, iCloud Local Storage – Drobo (RIP), Synology (Adam has DS423+) Hyper Backup and Arq Backup New SuperDuper 4 01:20:30 MGG 1156 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1155
    August 17 · 1 hr 26 min

    When Your Group Chat Tells You to Fork Off

    Command+Comma jumps you straight into any well-coded Mac app’s settings, no menu-hunting required, and Option+Return reveals the formula in any Numbers cell (Command+Return puts the result back). If your cross-platform Logitech keyboard has its Command and Option keys backwards, hold Fn+Shift+O for three seconds to flip the firmware into Mac mode — Fn+Shift+P sends it back to PC. While you’re at it, download the PDF manual for every new piece of gear today and stash it in Books so it syncs everywhere, because that manual won’t be on the manufacturer’s site three years from now. You’ll also hear why Siri AI in the iOS 27 betas is genuinely iterative: you can follow up, edit, and append without starting over. Plus the best quick tip anyone’s sent in: go listen to the old episodes. Then you’re into your questions. Skipping Tahoe on your way to Golden Gate? You pay the re-indexing tax either way, so make the one jump instead of two. You’ll get the cable-bag answer (mesh zipper pouches you can see through, plus a slim organizer case that slides in next to your laptop), the 4K travel monitor that earns its space, and how one listener had Claude Cowork build an exhaustive Mac migration checklist. You’ll hear why consolidating into a single password manager makes your next nuke-and-pave dramatically less painful, and whether an app that vets every link before you click it could actually exist, because knowing where a link really goes is how you Don’t Get Caught. Plus: build and sideload your own single-use iOS apps for free with your Xcode personal team (AltStore and Sideloadly make it stick), why Messages keeps splitting your family group thread and what actually works, and a long-overdue robot mower update covering stereo vision versus LiDAR, all-wheel drive, and what your yard size really costs you. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1155 for Monday, August 17th, 2026 August 17th: Black Cat Appreciation Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Yoink, Screenfloat, Transloader, or DeskMat from Eternal Storms The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Christopher-QT-Command+Comma gets to App Settings NOW! 00:03:50 Wayne-QT-1151-Option+Return in Numbers shows Formula for current cell 00:05:21 Jimmy-QT-Use Fn+O to switch a Logitech Keyboard into Mac mode Bonus Quick Tip: System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts… > Modifier Bonus Bonus QT: Download PDFs of your user manuals and save them in Books (which syncs!) 00:11:26 Paul-Siri AI is transformative and iterative, even with local apps 00:15:16 Pilot Pete-If you’re on the iOS 27 Betas: Settings > Siri > Try Siri AI Beta 00:21:47 Joe-QT-The Best Quick Tip Ever…Listen to old episodes! Sponsors 00:24:09 SPONSOR: Helix Sleep makes premium mattresses and bedding that are customized to fit your personal needs, and conveniently shipped to your door. Go to https://helixsleep.com/MGG for 27% Off Sitewide. 00:25:50 SPONSOR: Shopify. If you’re ready to stop putting off your business and start selling, sign up for your free trial and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/MGG Your Questions Answered – feedback@macgeekgab.com 00:27:18 Harvey-Long Jump to Golden Gate or Tahoe First? 00:30:48 Rod-Which cable organizer bags do you use? Mesh Zipper Pouches Cable organizer travel case ViewSonic VX1655-4K 00:40:15 Alexander-Using Claude Cowork to build a Mac migration checklist 00:42:58 Patrick-QT-1154-Using a password manager makes Nuke-and-Pave simpler 00:48:14 Clif-What about an app that checks every link I click? 00:53:57 Joe-Can I create my own single-use iOS apps without paying for a developer account? 00:58:59 Kim-Why Messages is Splitting Groups and What to do about it? Cool Stuff Found 01:05:48 ATC-Altstore or Sideloadly AltStore Sideloadly 01:09:24 Robot Mowers Revisited eufy Robot Mower e15 – $1,199.99 Segway Navimow i215 LiDAR Robot Mower – $1,599 Mammotion LUBA mini 2 AWD – $1,799.00 Navimow X4 Robotic Lawn Mower – $2,499.00 01:24:26 MGG 1155 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1154
    August 10 · 1 hr 20 min

    Don't Start Half Fresh

    You’ll start with a travel charger that swallows 200-plus countries into one brick, then find out that macOS Tahoe 26.6 is quietly rebuilding your Spotlight index to get ready for macOS 27…and hear the theory on why Apple wants that churn finished before you upgrade. You’ll get talked into finally looking at Raycast (with a nostalgia lap through Quicksilver, LaunchBar, and Alfred), meet Brett Terpstra’s TerminalWidget as the GeekTool replacement you’ve been waiting a decade for, and learn how Paperless-ngx in Docker can run your entire paperless workflow off a Mac or a Synology. There’s Type Switch for anyone living in two keyboard layouts, LibraryThing for the book hoarders, Nixbook for putting an operating system with guardrails on an old Mac, wallet tracker cards that double as digital business cards, and Tailscale Grants so the family you added to your tailnet can’t go wandering your whole network. You’ll also stop fighting the Sonos app and just AirPlay to your speakers, and pick up the Siri fix that ends the “did you mean” death spiral: answer “the first one,” not by repeating yourself. Then it gets real. You’ll sit in on the question every geek eventually faces: Migration Assistant or nuke and pave? You’ll hear why a half-fresh install is the worst of both worlds, how keeping the old machine alive on your network turns a scary afternoon into a safe one, and where to log in and reclaim those third-party licenses when you hit your device limit. You’ll learn what those “free credit monitoring after a breach” offers are actually worth, why freezing your credit at all three bureaus costs nothing by law no matter how hard they upsell you, and the surprise bonus that a credit lock also blocks buy-now-pay-later signups. And when your Synology Assistant app goes Intel-only, finds.synology.com finds your NAS from the browser. Five new things, minimum, so whatever this week throws at you, don’t get caught. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1154 for Monday, August 10th, 2026 August 10th: National Spoil Your Dog Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Yoink, Screenfloat, Transloader, or DeskMat from Eternal Storms Cool Stuff Found 00:00:01 John-CSF-Anker Nano Travel Plug Adapter for over 200 Countries 00:02:27 Hey there, Pilot Pete! 00:03:28 Allen-CSF-Raycast is the best app launcher, and it’s free! Alfred QuickSilver 00:07:11 macOS Tahoe 26.6 optimizes the Spotlight index to prepare for macOS 27 00:12:26 Jessi-CSF-TerminalWidget to replace GeekTool 00:14:58 Max-CSM-Type Switch for people who regularly type in more than one language 00:16:15 Paul-CSF-Paperless-NGX runs in a docker container 00:18:43 Mike-CSF-Pause Take9 00:19:57 Also…beware of recurring in-app purchases from scammy apps. 00:22:58 KingKelson-CSF-1130-LibraryThing for organizing books (and Kevin, too) 00:23:53 Don’t sleep on Sonos with AirPlay 00:28:02 Does Siri on HomePod get smarter with Apple Intelligence? 00:30:22 You can tell Siri AI “the first one” or “the third one” when it gives you an audible list of options for its (potential) translation of your commands 00:33:33 Siri AI is still misgendering people despite the update to their Contact record 00:35:42 Joel-CSF-Ridge Wallet Tracker Card Rolling Square AirCard 00:38:44 CSF-TOS 7.0 for TNAS— Full Native AI NAS OS (leveraging OpenClaw) 00:44:36 WillRun4Fun-CSF-Nixbook for putting linux on older Macs 00:47:04 Jonathan-Tailscale Grants allows you to control what your family can do Sponsor 00:50:13 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use our code MACGEEK for 20% off at https://clnmy.com/MACGEEK Your Questions Answered – feedback@macgeekgab.com 00:52:29 Mark-Nuke and Pave vs. Partial Migration? 01:06:46 Andy-Should I take the credit monitoring service offers? PIlot Pete says: freeze your credit bureau accounts TransUnion Freeze Equifax Freeze Experian Freeze 01:13:21 Joe-How do I find my Synology server? 01:17:40 MacPaw and Liquid AI bring On-Device AI to Millions of Mac Users 01:18:48 iNET App for local scanning 01:19:47 MGG 1154 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1153
    August 3 · 1 hr 28 min

    Take a Photo to Find Your Photos

    Your quick tips run deep this week. Learn why snapping a throwaway photo is the fastest route to every picture you’ve ever taken at that spot, then rediscover Libby for free ebooks and audiobooks from your public library. You’ll find the hidden Attachments Browser in Notes (Command-3) that filters your notes by scans, documents, maps, and websites — plus a reminder that tagging still beats foldering. Drag the items in the Messages plus menu into the order you actually use them, right-click your Activity Monitor column headers to surface the data you’re missing, and open two windows on the same Excel or FileMaker document so building formulas stops feeling like guesswork. Scott explains why he left Mint Mobile for US Mobile and put his two lines on two different networks, and Ron shows you how VoiceOver can read the date the moment your iPhone wakes. Don’t Get Caught assuming your QR scans are saved: the Code Scanner app throws away your link history when you close it, so use the Camera app or tap through to Safari. Then things get interesting. Dave walks through migrating to a new M4 mini without Migration Assistant, using Homebrew casks to reinstall apps cleanly instead of dragging years of cruft along. Adam reports from the iOS 27 public beta where the new Siri is finally delivering — except it keeps misgendering his kids based on their first names, and the fix might live in your contact records. Paul shares first impressions of the Golden Gate beta, and Ron’s question sparks a real conversation about whether a VPN or iCloud Private Relay deserves the spot on your device (spoiler: they don’t play nicely together). You’ll get honest advice on whether to buy the next iPhone or wait, plus clarity on encrypted drives, exFAT, and why moving to APFS is the safer bet: back up first, because you will lose data. Cool Stuff Found closes it out with Nib for fully on-device transcription and apfel, which gives you command-line access to the LLM already sitting on your Mac. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1153 for Monday, August 3rd, 2026 August 3rd: Big Forehead Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Yoink, Screenfloat, Transloader, or DeskMat from Eternal Storms The MGG Merch Store is Live! MGG Monthly Giveaway Quick Tips 00:00:01 Todd-QT-1150-Take a Photo to easily find past photos at the same location 00:05:13 Deborah-QT-1148-Don’t forget about Libby for free book rentals Dungeon Crawler Carl 00:09:10 Adam-QT-Notes, View > Show Attachments Browser for a filtered look at your Notes data And also don’t forget about #tagging your notes 00:11:48 Managing notes and tags and lists and reminders 00:14:54 Ron-QT-Rearrange iPhone Messages + menu 00:17:22 Ben-QT-1149-Right-Click Activity Monitor Headers to add columns 00:19:25 Todd-QT-Use Multiple Windows for the same document in Excel, FileMaker, and more 00:21:35 Scott-QT-1151-The reason I switched from Mint Mobile to US Mobile 00:25:09 Ron-QT-Setup your iPhone and iPad to read the date upon wake 00:26:19 Todd-DGC-1152-Code Scanner app doesn’t save link history Sponsors 00:29:00 SPONSOR: OneSkin. Born from over a decade of longevity research, OneSkin’s OS-01 Peptide is proven to target the visible signs of aging. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MGG at https://www.oneskin.co/MGG #oneskinpod #ad 00:30:30 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at https://gusto.com/MGG 00:31:55 SPONSOR: Hims is changing men’s healthcare by providing convenient, quality care, 100% online. Start your free online visit today at https://Hims.com/MacGeekGab. Migrating without Migration Assistant 00:33:15 Dave-Migrating to a new M4 Mini: The benefits of installing your apps with homebrew Updatest Beta Thoughts 00:36:54 ATC-On the Public iOS 27 beta…with an issue? Siri AI is beginning to live up to (at least some of!) the hype Except (at least in the public beta) Siri keeps misgendering people based upon their first names 00:50:27 Paul-Initial thoughts on the Golden Gate beta 00:55:26 iOS 27 Liquid Glass Enhancements Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:56:39 Ron-Should I use A VPN or Apple’s iCloud Private Relay? PIAVPN.com/MGG 01:05:39 Wi-Fi incompatible with iCloud Private Relay 01:07:17 James-Seeking Advice and Opinions for Upcoming iPhone Upgrade 01:15:43 Galen-?-Clarification on HFS+ Encryption Support Dropping in 2027 Lexar 2TB Armor 700 SSD Cool Stuff Found 01:20:55 Yuki-CSM-Nib – transcribe audio locally on your Mac 01:23:16 Todd-CSF-apfel uses your Mac’s free, local LLM 01:26:38 MGG 1153 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1152
    July 27 · 1 hr 20 min

    A Wonderful Opportunity to Get Super Confused

    Your Quick Tip arsenal gets a serious upgrade this week: use the Live Text button to make scanning QR codes easier, resurrect Apple Mail’s Predicted Mailbox when it mysteriously grays out, and run softwareupdate –history in Terminal to see every macOS update your Mac has ever installed. You’ll also hear how one listener’s Shortcuts automation fixes AirPods auto-play, why BBEdit is your secret weapon for editing Excel formulas and tailing log files, and how Safari’s Show Reader option strips the junk from cluttered pages — plus a bonus riff on the real trade-offs between convenience, privacy, and the content you actually want. And yes, Siri AI in the iOS 27 betas is finally impressing people, with real-world examples to prove it. Then Dave Hamilton and Adam Christianson dig into your questions: why Safari drops website connections (and how ping helps you diagnose it), whether those archive drives sitting in your drawer need regular care (spoiler: don’t get caught trusting a single backup you never spin up), and the smartest path for migrating your custom email domain from Google Workspace to iCloud. You’ll also get the scoop on replacing the aging Paperless app before Rosetta vanishes with macOS 28, and a challenge worth taking: get your AI out of the chat window and into doing actual work for you. Press play, take notes, and Don’t Get Caught. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1152 for Monday, July 27th, 2026 July 27th: Gary Gygax Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Mole Quick Tips 00:00:01 Todd-QT-Use the Live Text button to make QR codes easier 00:06:43 Steve-QT-Using Apple Mail’s Predicted Mailbox Bonus QT: Connect your inbox to your favorite LLM (via an MCP Connector?) and ask it “please tell me the ten most important emails requiring my action today.” 00:09:55 Stephen-Some of Siri AI’s improvements in the iOS 27 betas 00:17:54 Mike-QT-1151-Solve AirPods auto-play issues with Shortcuts 00:19:15 Craig-QT-Use ‘softwareupdate –history’ to see every macOS update your Mac’s ever done. Adam’s Safe Download Version for XProtect 00:22:41 Mike-QT-You can still buy StyleWriter II cartridges at Staples! 00:24:11 Todd-QT-1151-Edit Excel Formulas in BBEdit 00:25:47 Kiwi Graham-QT-View log tails with BBEdit 00:29:01 Andy-QT-Use Safari’s “Show Reader” option to force reader view And a bonus conversation about the balance between convenience, privacy, and the entertainment we want Sponsors 00:38:18 SPONSOR: Private Internet Access VPN – Save 83% off your VPN service PLUS four free months with a two-year plan at https://PIAVPN.com/mgg. 00:39:32 SPONSOR: Decagon. Ready to transform your customer support? Decagon helps companies create personalized, concierge-style customer experiences with AI agents across chat, email, voice, and SMS. Go to https://decagon.ai/MGG to get a personalized demo and see what Decagon can do for your team. 00:40:59 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. https://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/ Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:42:17 David-Why does Safari drop website connections? ping -t 5 website.com 00:51:44 Using location to help deliver content 00:54:15 GW-Do I need to care for my archive drives? 01:02:30 Jonathan-How do I migrate my email domain from GSuite to iCloud? 01:09:45 Kim-Which Paperless replacement and migration path are you using? macOS loses Rosetta in 2027 with macOS 28 softwareupdate –install-rosetta 01:16:03 Get out of Chat with your AI 01:18:51 MGG 1152 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1151
    July 20 · 1 hr 20 min

    The Green Light Never Lies

    Fresh off Macstock, you get the full debrief on this year’s gathering before diving into a stacked round of Quick Tips. You’ll learn how to disable Summarize Notification Previews to stop needless battery churn, clear every unread Apple Watch notification in one shot, and weigh whether it’s finally time to move to macOS Tahoe. There’s a heads-up that Mac minis and Mac Studios are back in Apple’s Refurbished Store, a slick Control-Tilde trick to reveal formulas in Excel, Google Sheets, and LibreOffice, the case for a USB-only cable when you’re heading into DFU recovery mode, and clever moves like stretching a Kindle book loan with an old iPad, building reusable packing-list templates, and scheduling an automatic weekly reboot to keep your Macs running clean. Then you tackle your questions: setting the default audio app on your iPhone, when prepaid mobile data might be the smarter play (and when it’s not!), and a big Don’t Get Caught warning that macOS 28 is dropping support for encrypted HFS+ drives, so decrypt or reformat those external volumes before you upgrade next year. You’ll also hear how Claude Code can become your new macOS troubleshooting partner, including some honest thoughts on leaning on AI to fix your machine. Cool Stuff Found rounds it out with UDM14 for Google results minus the AI summaries, Backdrop for live macOS wallpaper, Clock Rings for tracking time in decimal, and a cheap camera lens cover that works across your MacBook, iPad, and iPhone. As always, come learn at least five new things. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1151 for Monday, July 20th, 2026 July 20th: National Fortune Cookie Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Mole 00:02:00 Macstock Debrief Some new-for-the-first-time attendees David Pogue Ken Case Ken Ray Paul Conaway Quick Tips 00:00:01 DLH-QT-Disable Summarize Notification Previews to save battery churn 00:06:16 Pilot Pete-QT How to clear all your unread Apple Watch notifications 00:08:34 Is it time to update to Tahoe? 00:09:25 Mac minis and Mac Studios available again in Apple’s Refurb Store 00:12:31 Companies safeguarding your data 00:16:46 Marina-QT-Control-Tilde shows the formulas in Excel (and Google Sheets, and LibreOffice, but not Numbers) 00:20:03 Tony-QT-Use a USB-only cable for DFU Recovery Mode 00:21:49 Harvey-QT-Use your old iPad to extend your Kindle Book loan period 00:24:40 Todd-QT-1150-Create Packing List Templates and Sections 00:27:50 Don-QT-Schedule a weekly reboot for your Macs sudo pmset repeat restart U 05:00:00 (“U” means sUnday) 00:33:40 Pilot Pete-QT-Green light Means the Camera is On Sponsors 00:36:56 SPONSOR: Coveron. One scam can cost you everything – use code “macgeekgab” for up to 76% off at https://coveron.com/macgeekgab to safeguard your identity. 00:38:10 SPONSOR: Shopify. If you’re ready to stop putting off your business and start selling, sign up for your free trial and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/MGG Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:39:33 Dave-How can I set the default audio app on my iPhone? 00:45:30 Doug-Why go prepaid for mobile data? US Mobile (allows network flexibility) Get $25 to join America’s Super Carrier, plus get 30 days free when you transfer your number! 00:53:10 Gary-DGC-macOS 28 to drop support for encrypted HFS+ drives 00:58:10 Dave-QT-Use Claude Code for macOS troubleshooting 01:03:57 Some thoughts on Troubleshooting with AI Cool Stuff Found 01:05:35 Mike-CSF-UDM14 to get Google results sans AI summaries 01:09:34 Javier-CSF-1128–Backdrop – Live MacOS Wallpaper 01:11:34 -n-Eric-CSM-Clock Rings to track time in decimal 01:15:39 Pilot Pete-CSF-Camera Lens Cover Macbook, iPad, iPhone 01:18:48 MGG 1151 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1150
    July 13 · 1 hr 19 min· Video

    Reclaim Your Storage: iCloud, RAM & Space-Saving Secrets

    This week on Mac Geek Gab 1150, Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton pack an Embrace Your Geekness Day episode with Quick Tips you’ll put to work immediately. You’ll learn how to schedule birthday messages so you never miss one, silence those pesky automatic Shortcuts notifications, and give Apple Intelligence the context it needs to actually help. From automating Theater Mode the moment CarPlay connects, to using your iPhone to check for ticks, to texting “Marco” so your lost iPhone sings until you find it, these are the tips that keep you sharp. You’ll also dig into searching Safari history to retrace your steps, building Smart Folders to hunt down space-hogging files, and using Photos’ Map utility to surface shots from wherever you are. Then it’s your questions, answered. You’ll find out how to identify and clear runaway RAM, where Messages in the Cloud actually lives, and how to reclaim iCloud storage with tools like PowerPhotos and Gemini 2. You’ll get the real story on Time Machine drives and Spotlight, plus how to speed up sluggish Notes syncing. In Cool Stuff Found, the crew serves up Catchin’ Sync, the OBSBOT Tiny 3 webcam, Hyperspace for reclaiming space with file clones, and imessage-exporter to back up your texts. It’s an hour-plus of geek gold, and if you tune in every week, you Don’t Get Caught missing the fix you needed. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1150 for Monday, July 13th, 2026 July 13th: Embrace Your Geekness Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Mole Quick Tips 00:00:01 Jim-QT-Schedule Sending of Birthday Messages 00:04:16 JT Ray-QT-Disable automatic Shortcuts notifications 00:06:33 QT-Apple Intelligence and its context 00:09:26 Todd-Automate Theater Mode when CarPlay is enabled 00:10:44 Troy-QT-Use your iPhone to check for ticks 00:12:49 Larry-QT-Text Marco to your lose iPhone and have it play a song until you find it 00:18:31 Andy-QT-Search Safari’s History to find places you’ve visited 00:20:12 KiwiGraham-QT-Setup Smart Folders to find large files 00:23:38 Greg-QT-Use Photos > Utilities > Map to find photos in your current location (and elsewhere) Sponsors 00:26:42 SPONSOR: Helix Sleep makes premium mattresses and bedding that are customized to fit your personal needs, and conveniently shipped to your door. Go to https://helixsleep.com/MGG for 27% Off Sitewide. 00:27:50 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use our code MACGEEK for 20% off at https://clnmy.com/MACGEEK 00:29:02 SPONSOR: OneSkin. Born from over a decade of longevity research, OneSkin’s OS-01 Peptide is proven to target the visible signs of aging, helping you unlock your healthiest skin now and as you age. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MGG at https://www.oneskin.co/MGG #oneskinpod #ad Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:30:31 Bill-1148-How do you identify and clear up RAM usage? iStat Menus Marco Arment’s Quitter 00:39:23 Gary-1149-Where can I see Messages In The Cloud? 00:44:17 Roy-How can I clean up my iCloud storage? PowerPhotos Gemini 2, the duplicate finder (and “similar finder”) 00:53:25 Bill-1148-Turns out you can’t exclude Time Machine drives from Spotlight 00:56:51 Henry-1148-Speeding Up Notes Syncing Cool Stuff Found 01:01:20 Andy-1149-CSF-Catchin’ Sync 01:02:15 Andy-CSF-Obsbot Tiny3 Webcam 01:08:53 Harvey-CSF-Hyperspace to use file clones to save space 01:11:44 Chris-CSF-1149–imessage-exporter to export your iMessages 01:17:42 MGG 1150 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1149
    July 6 · 1 hr 20 min· Video

    Save Room For Your iCloud Dessert

    You learn at least five new things every episode, and this one stacks them fast. Roll your Apple Watch crown instead of tapping it to keep Sleep mode from searing your eyes, then hit Command-Shift-F in the Finder to jump straight to Recents when a saved file vanishes into the void. When a listener asks how to archive iMessages, you’ll meet iMazing, Shottr’s scrolling screenshots, privacy.apple.com, and a public-key-encryption rabbit hole that explains why even Apple can’t hand your texts back. You’ll also learn to Control-click the Printers list to reset the entire CUPS printing system, and to check every app’s Rosetta versus Apple Silicon status before sluggish performance quietly fools you, because Rosetta survives macOS 27 but finally bows out in fall 2027, so audit those Intel holdouts now. Then the questions roll in. You’ll troubleshoot a PDF that downloads on one Mac but stalls on another (think DNS blocks, CDN handoffs, stale session cookies, and a fast browser swap), wrestle Apple TV lip-sync into line by killing soundbar processing and matching frame rates, and chase a self-dimming iPad back to its ambient-light sensor and screen protector. Cool Stuff Found delivers a Beelink dock that sidesteps Apple’s storage surcharges and Pixette for reviving an ancient iPad as a photo frame. And when refurb Mac minis sell out in two hours and Apple nudges prices up overnight? Don’t Get Caught letting hope prevail like Dave did, grab it the moment you see it, because that cart won’t hold it for you. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1149 for Monday, July 6th, 2026 July 6th: National Air Traffic Control Day 00:02:47 A quick video from Dave’s daughter’s wedding MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Mole Quick Tips 00:00:01 Jan Landy-QT-Roll Your Apple Watch crown in Sleep Mode to go easy on your eyes 00:06:36 Claire-QT-To Find something you just added, Command-Shift-F in Finder for your Recents list 00:11:02 GW-I wish Apple had a way to archive Messages iMazing (and formerly PhoneView) Remember privacy.apple.com 00:19:09 Message in iCloud and Public Key Encryption Shottr’s scrolling screenshots 00:23:33 WillRun4Fun-QT-Control-click in Printers list to Reset Printing System Enable CUPS web page on your Mac Visit https://localhost:631/printers/ If that fails, open Terminal and run “cupsctl WebInterface=yes” to enable it 00:26:14 TheDaveAbides-QT-Check your apps’ Rosetta/Apple Silicon status 00:35:28 Andrew-QT-Buy your refurbs immediately…don’t just leave in your cart Refurb Tracker RefurbMe AppTamer Sponsors 00:40:49 SPONSOR: Keeper. Right now, Keeper is offering our listeners 60% off personal and family plans at https://Keepersecurity.com/MGG. This offer is only for podcast listeners! 00:42:10 SPONSOR: Even Realities G2. Use promo code MGG at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order. 00:43:48 SPONSOR: Decagon. Ready to transform your customer support? Decagon helps companies create personalized, concierge-style customer experiences with AI agents across chat, email, voice, and SMS. Go to https://decagon.ai/MGG to get a personalized demo and see what Decagon can do for your team. Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:45:16 Mike-Why can I download a pdf on ONE computer, but not another? 00:53:01 David-How do I resolve Apple TV lip sync issues? YouTube A/V sync videos AWOL 2500 Projector Sonos Soundbars 01:04:52 Larry-iPad Dims When I don’t want it to Cool Stuff Found 01:12:44 Mike-CSF-Belkin Beelink Mac mini storage dock (and others like it) 01:14:24 Greg-CSF-1147-Pixette for displaying photos on an old iPad 01:16:55 MGG 1149 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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  • #1148
    June 29 · 1 hr 20 min· Video

    There’s No Two Hands About It

    Mac Geek Gab 1148 hands you a fresh stack of Quick Tips you’ll actually use. You’ll find out how Mark recovered every one of his accidentally deleted iMessages with Control-Command-4 (or the Recently Deleted view), undo a botched Finder rename with a casual Command-Z, and automate Theater Mode on your Apple Watch so it goes dim and quiet at night without Sleep Focus. You’ll pick up several ways to email a Safari webpage or just its link, learn to strip out distracting page clutter before you share, and finally understand why Apple Music can hijack your Mac’s default speaker output. Then you’ll hear why speakers deserve real thought before you buy a Mac mini, how to coax a stubborn Time Machine disk into ejecting cleanly, and a low-tech trick for AirTags too slippery to grip at battery-change time. When Doug’s M4 Pro MacBook Pro started beach balling and pausing apps from low memory, you’ll get the full playbook for clawing back storage, from spotting the culprits in your menu bar to pruning Downloads and clearing out bloated Messages and Apple media. You’ll walk through Adam’s step-by-step approach to slimming down iMessage storage, learn how to stop copying and pasting invisible white-on-white text that haunts Contacts and email, and speed up a sluggish macOS Contacts app with a clean iCloud re-sync. Keep these moves in your back pocket and don’t get caught with a full drive and a spinning beach ball. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1148 for Monday, June 29th, 2026 June 29th: National Bacon Burnt End Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to SaneBox Quick Tips 00:00:01 Mark-QT-You can recover recently deleted iMessages ^Cmd-4 (not 5) 00:03:45 Scott-QT-Cmd-Z works to undo Finder Renames, too! 00:05:06 Larry-QT-Automate Theater Mode on Apple Watch 00:06:36 Hans-QT-Email a Safari Webpage to Someone 00:08:17 Russ-QT-Apple Music can override the Mac’s default speaker output Volumio 00:11:42 Adam-QT-More on Cmd-I (and Cmd-Shift-I) in Safari to mail a webpage (or the link) Likely based upon the web page’s print.css Also File – Export as PDF 00:17:39 Safari – Hide Distracting Items The (no-longer-actively-developed) Printliminator 00:21:33 Doug-QT-Think about speakers when buying a Mac mini Insta360 Link 2 Pro 00:28:02 Bill-QT-Try Jettison, Mole, and more to eject resistant volumes 00:30:36 Dom-QT-Use tape or thimbles for slippery AirTags Sponsors 00:32:06 SPONSOR: Coveron. One scam can cost you everything. Tools reduce risk, Coveron reduces loss. Use code “macgeekgab” for up to 76% off at https://coveron.com/macgeekgab 00:33:55 SPONSOR: OneSkin. Born from over a decade of longevity research, OneSkin’s OS-01 Peptide is proven to target the visible signs of aging, helping you unlock your healthiest skin now and as you age. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MGG at https://www.oneskin.co/MGG #oneskinpod #ad 00:35:22 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! 00:36:49 Doug-Beach balling apps made me realize I ran out of storage…what do I do? iStat Menus to see free disk space in my menubar How to free up space on your Mac Run mole…regularly! Hazel to keep your downloads folder pruned Run CleanMyMac – Space Lens, especially Clear out your Apple media Manage your Email attachments Clean out Messages CCleaner Clean up local snapshots 00:50:51 Adam’s process for cleaning up iMessage storage use 00:56:21 Steven-How can I avoid pasting white text on a white background on my iPhone? 01:02:55 Mark-Speed up macOS Contacts with an iCloud re-sync ~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook/Sources/<UUID>/AddressBook-v22.abcddb Cool Stuff Found 01:13:18 Adam-CSF-Dungeon Crawler Carl 01:18:36 MGG 1148 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 feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network

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