Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

Dave Hamilton, Pilot Pete & Adam Christianson
  • 4.8 (865)
  • Technology
  • Updated Weekly

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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  1. Sep 21 • MGG Premium Early Access

    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 Si-QT-Find my person with S lady 00:03:05 Dennis-QT-Cmd+` to Change Windows Cmd+[n] (n=number) to change tabs within an App 00:06:31 DLH-Keep your sims and erase the data 00:12:47 JW Blat-Using your Mac as an AirPlay music server 00:15:43 Pilot Pete-QT-Kill Secure Input Quickly if Terminal is Open TextExpander Rocket Typist 00:18:15 QT-Fix your WiFi by deleting the SpeedTest app 00:25:50 Russ-QT-Using A/I As a Genealogy Research Assistant MGG Reviews at https://macgeekgab.com/reviews 00:32:33 VirtualStash-MGG Review-Best podcast out there Don’t Get Caught 00:33:45 Pilot Pete-DGC-After a macOS update Spotlight Index was in a Bad State OnyX Or one way from Terminal: 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 Tom-Feedback / Question: Apple Upgrade Program Pricing Structure 00:51:48 Tim A-The Apple Watch Ultra 4 has a bigger screen than the Apple Watch 12 00:54:24 Bob-CSF-O2 Buddy brings Data On Your Watch Anyway! 00:56:26 What did your geeks order? Your Questions Answered - feedback@macgeekgab.com 01:00:16 David-What’s the best way to manage Family Contact Cards in Contacts? 01:08:40 DJ Val-Why does Siri need a data connection for offline requests 01:16:28 MGG 1160 Outtro

    Old Contact, Who Dis?

  2. 4d ago

    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

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

  3. Sep 7

    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

    Maybe It's "S-Bot"

  4. Aug 31

    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

    SneakerNet Is Real

  5. Aug 24

    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

    Maslow vs. The Finder

  6. Aug 17

    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

    When Your Group Chat Tells You to Fork Off

  7. Aug 10

    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

    Don't Start Half Fresh

  8. Aug 3

    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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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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