Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

Dave Hamilton, Pilot Pete & Adam Christianson
  • 4.8 (866)
  • Technology
  • 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. 4d ago

    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

    Seventeen Hours to Save Five Minutes

  2. Oct 26

    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

    Wake Up, It’s Time to Go to Sleep

  3. Oct 19

    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

    Cool Stuff Made for an Audience of One

  4. Oct 12

    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

    Emphatically Kind Requests

  5. Oct 5

    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

    Chromations or Aberrations or a Sheen

  6. Sep 28

    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

    Naked In Public

  7. Sep 21

    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

    Old Contact, Who Dis?

  8. Sep 14

    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
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4.8
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866 Ratings

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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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