Mac Geek Gab — Your Questions Answered, Tips Shared, Troubleshooting Assistance Mac Geek Gab

In this week’s Mac Geek Gab, Pilot Pete and Dave Hamilton dive into a treasure trove of quick tips and solutions for Apple enthusiasts. Right off the bat, they explore quirky functionalities like cutting paper out of pictures and plopping it into Notes, crafting stickers with iOS 17, and utilizing the optimized charging mode in watchOS 10.

The duo also delves into the iPhone 15’s new 80% battery optimization feature, while also revealing how a simple battery replacement could rejuvenate an aging iPhone. The discussion transitions into handy tricks for new iPhone users, ensuring they “Don’t Get Caught” in a data drought by re-enabling Low Data Mode, and how updating to tvOS 17 allows your iPhone to locate your elusive Siri Remote.

The second half of the show is a deep dive into listener questions, where the hosts unravel the conundrum of using tags versus folders in Notes and training iCloud’s Junk Mail Filters to behave. They also navigate the maze of password management, debating the merit of frequent password changes.

Tech aficionados will appreciate the segment on the best multi-ended USB-C cables and a roundup of cool finds like the Jellycuts app for writing Shortcuts as code, making VPN apps a reality on Apple TV with Tailscale, and a review of portable, budget-friendly 1080P screens.

The episode wraps up with a look at wireless earbuds with interactive case screens, keeping listeners tuned in to the latest gadgets and gizmos in the Apple ecosystem.

Chapters/Timestamps/Stuff mentioned:



00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1002 for Monday, October 2nd, 2023



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00:02:27 MGG Zoom Hangout on Sunday, 10/8, 7pm EDT: Let’s Talk Email Clients and Service Providers!

Quick Tips



00:00:01 Mac-QT-Cut Paper Out of Picture and Put it in Notes

00:05:06 Todd-QT-Make Stickers with iOS 17 and Store in a Stickers album

00:06:13 JT Ray-QT-watchOS 10’s Optimized Charging Mode for Some Models

00:07:15 DLH-iPhone 15 Battery Optimization Gets New 80% Option



AlDente





00:10:50 Aron-QT-Replace Your Battery for a Faster iPhone

00:12:45 QTs for Bartender

00:15:48 Larry-QT-iMessage Could Take Up To 24 Hours to Propagate on a New iPhone

00:18:46 QT-Re-enable Low Data Mode if you got a new iPhone (or a new eSIM)

00:20:24 QT-Update to tvOS 17 and your iPhone can Find your Siri Remote





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00:25:35 PODCAST: Twit.TV has THREE Apple focused shows: MacBreak Weekly, iOS Today, and Hands-on-Mac. Learn more at Twit.TV/Apple





Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 



00:26:42 Jeepster-Are Tags or Folders better in Notes?

00:35:09 Bill-How to train iCloud’s Junk Mail Filters?



SaneBox





00:42:03 Allison – Changing Passwords Often might not be the best advice



a href="https://kb.synology.

In this weeks Mac Geek Gab, Dave Hamilton and Pilot Pete jump straight into the tech jungle with a myriad of Apple tips and tricks. Starting with a listener’s CarPlay guidance to silence directions, they roll into watchOS 10 tweaks, including the revamped way of switching watch faces. Dennis Jurgensen shares insights about this change, while Doug introduces the ambient light-triggered night mode.

With a nod to “talking nerdy”, your two favorite geeks touch upon Apple Watch’s battery capacities, its waterproof design, and the intricacies of migrating data, especially when it comes to authenticator apps and eSIMs. Their commitment to the audience shines as they delve into iOS 17 features, explore health data syncing, and dissect iCloud settings.

But the tech talk doesn’t stop there. The episode dives deep into home networking, discussing data usage, mesh networks, and the quest for optimal Wi-Fi speeds. They offer router recommendations, troubleshooting pearls, and personal tales of Wi-Fi interference. With a hearty thanks to their loyal listeners and supporters, they underscore the importance of community engagement. And in the spirit of the show, Dave and Pete remind everyone, “Don’t Get Caught” unprepared in the rapidly evolving world of tech.

Chapters/Timestamps/Stuff mentioned:



00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1001 for Monday, September 25th, 2023



The MGG Discord Server is Live!

The MGG Merch Store is Live!





Quick Tips



00:00:01 Jeff-QT-Tap Next Turn in iOS 17 CarPlay to Toggle Voice Directions

00:02:21 Dan Bach the Math Jock-Fun Math with 1001

00:04:29 Tony-QT-Use Double-Tap on Older Watches

00:05:38 Dennis-QT-Long Press to Switch Watch Faces in watchOS 10

00:07:33 RnDoug-QT-watchOS 10’s “Modular Ultra” face has ambient-light triggered night mode

00:09:27 Ben-QT-Check your Watch’s Battery Capacity (because we keep them for a long time)



Settings > Battery > Battery Health





00:10:31 Deborah – Waterproof Watches

00:13:30 MGG Hangouts

00:14:36 Gary-Backup and Restore your Authenticator Apps when Getting a new iPhone

00:17:30 Does an eSIM migrate to a new phone?

00:18:11 Jon-QT-Reactivate Facetime and iMessage after switching your SIM

00:19:09 CarPlay Fixes the “Alerts Only” vs. “Go” bug with sound

00:20:43 Andrew-QT-Long Press CarPlay’s AppBlock Icon for Siri





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New TiPhones, iOS 17, and Upgrading



00:23:35 PorthosJon-QT-1000-Use a Lightning to USB-C Cable to Migrate iPhones

00:27:11 Michael-Can I keep Health Data if I start from scratch with a new iPhone?

00:30:44 Makenz-How do I control iOS 17’s Featured Photos Lock Screen?

00:34:51 Bill-What Should I Do With My Old Physical SIM When I Upgrade to eSIM?





Show Business



00:39:28 Thanks to our MGG Premium Members



Fountain.fm









Networking Questions Answered and Tips Shared!



00:43:11 Joe-How can I see my monthly bandwidth usage by device at home?



a href="https://www.synology.

In this, the 1000th episode of Mac Geek Gab, Pilot Pete and Dave Hamilton dive into the realm of iOS 17, shedding light on offline map downloads, storage optimization, and Apple’s music recognition. They tackle a barrage of listener questions, discussing solutions for Spotify users with Shazam’s Apple Music default and quick tips for text shortcuts.

As your two favorite geeks venture deeper, they uncover iOS 17 and CarPlay intricacies, Siri’s limitations, and valuable electronics maintenance hacks. With a keen eye on innovation, they spotlight apps like Al Dente and iStat Menus and share discoveries such as Zoom’s new AI summarization feature and a fun smart wifi lamp.

As they always say, “Don’t Get Caught” missing out on the latest tips from your fellow audience members.  Hitting quadruple digits is no small feat, and this is all thanks to you for listening, engaging, and staying involved. Thank you for 1,000! Here’s to even more to come!

Chapters/Timestamps/Stuff mentioned:



00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1000 for Monday, September 18th, 2023



The MGG Discord Server is Live!

The MGG Merch Store is Live!





Quick Tips



00:00:01 QT-Download Offline Apple Maps as soon as you get iOS 17

00:03:21 QT Kent – iOS / iPadOS text suggestion phrase

00:06:25 Stephen-QT-Long-Press Shazam in Control Center for Music History

00:07:47 JT Ray-998-Can I link Shazam to Spotify instead of Apple Music?

00:09:19 QT – Clif – Quick Flight Info in Messages

00:11:37 QT-iOS 17 Settings > Control Center > Add “Ping My Watch”

00:12:13 JT Ray-QT-iOS 17 Shortcuts lets you control Cellular Data

00:14:36 QT-iOS 17 Spotlight can bring you to specific Settings panes

00:18:23 QT-Enable iOS 17 Advanced Tracking and Fingerprint Protection for ALL Browsing in Settings > Safari > Advanced

00:19:35 QT-In iOS 17, You can tap the AA button in Safari and Listen To Webpage. Pause with Now Playing widget in Control Center

00:21:57 Siri Gets Better!

00:24:05 iOS 17 – Deep Links in Spotlight

00:25:02 QT-Split Screen View in CarPlay (not new) (and iOS 17’s “layered” view for CarPlay where you can still see what’s behind)





Sponsor



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MGG Hits Quadruple Digits



00:29:31 MGG Ep1 wasn’t MGG: TMOToGo Intro



Rich-Thank You For Teaching Us To Fish

Kent-The Value of Bullheaded Persistence









Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 



00:47:52 Joe-Should I setup my new iPhone wirelessly or from a local backup?

00:54:38 Gary – Does Photos App need to be open to find duplicates?



Remove Duplicate Photos in Photos on Mac





00:57:13 Brian-Best advice for conditioning an old battery?





Cool Stuff Found



01:00:33 CSFR-AlDente

01:02:51 JFB-CSF-MenuMeters … from MGG Ep1 (and a fork that works up to at least Big Sur)



iStat Menus





01:04:55 Saurabh-CSF-DotFiles to Automate a Clean Mac Setup

01:06:05 PorthosJon-CSF-a href="https://www.amazon.

Jeff Gamet joins Dave Hamilton today to dissect and share reactions to Apple’s iPhone and Apple Watch announcements at their Wonderlust event. Topics include the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, changes to cables, thinner bezels, titanium, and more.

Listen as your two favorite geeks for the week share whether or not they’re going to be buying any of this gear and, if so, which…and why. Press play, enjoy, and don’t get caught!

Chapters/Timestamps/Stuff mentioned:



00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 999 for Tuesday, September 12th, 2023

00:02:13 Apple Wanderlust Event, 2023

00:03:34 Thinner Bezels on iPhone 15

00:08:42 iPhone 15

00:22:42 USB4 Cables work like Thunderbolt cables – Mac Geek Gab 996

00:27:01 iPhone 15 Pro

00:37:52 Will you be buying an iPhone this year and, if so, which one?

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00:44:22 iOS and iPadOS 17 & watchOS 10 Due on 9/18



macOS Sonoma due 9/26

Birkin Bag





00:47:00 Apple Watch S9



Eliza on Apple ][… on your Mac!

Double-Tap: AssistiveTouch becomes tap gestures on watch





01:00:18 Apple Watch Ultra 2

01:02:39 Will you be buying an Apple Watch this year and, if so, which one?

01:08:22 AirPods Pro 2nd Gen (USB-C)



iCloud+ adds 6TB and 12TB plans.





01:10:17 Mac Geek Gab 999 Outtro



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This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors

In this episode of Mac Geek Gab, Pilot Pete and Dave Hamilton take you on a tour of Cool Stuff Found and answers to pesky questions…with a little story time thrown in for good measure!

Kicking off Cool Stuff Found, MarkM introduced a savvy shortcut, allowing users to harness the power of the Shazam widget on the Apple Watch to identify songs swiftly. Walter stepped into the limelight with his endorsement of ChronoAgent. This tool is a must-have for those keen on syncing Logic files between two Macs, be it locally or remotely. Andrew, not to be outdone, shone a light on NETGEAR LTE modems, providing users with a reliable solution for internet failover protection. TNPapa’s praise for ShareMouse resonated with listeners, especially for those eager to share their keyboard and mouse effortlessly between a Mac and PC. Meanwhile, Dave piqued interests with his discovery of a CarPlay app, offering real-time weather maps for drivers. He also captivated audiences with a memorable anecdote about Steve Jobs, who personally ensured the inclusion of Mac Geek Gab in the iTunes podcast directory during its initial phase.

As the episode unfolds, Rosemary Orchard’s company, Snailed It, took center stage. The tech community will be thrilled to hear that they plan to honor the legacy of the late iOS developer Alex Hay. They pledge to continue the development of his essential Mac apps, ensuring his innovations live on. Jeepster then discussed the wonders of the OpenCore Legacy Patcher, a tool that breathes new life into older, unsupported Macs by allowing them to run new macOS versions.

Dave returned to the spotlight with his recommendation of SODI’s adjustable MagSafe mount, an ingenious device for those wishing to use their iPhone as a Continuity Camera. Paul, an aficionado of the entertainment world, championed Callsheet, a platform that provides a deep dive into intricate movie and show details. And for the photography enthusiasts, Pete’s suggestion of the Aureday flexible tripod is a game-changer, transforming iPhones into versatile webcams.

Answering your questions, Dave and Pete joined forces to provide crucial tips for the Mac community, offering insights on keyboard shortcuts and target disk mode. Their expertise was evident when they assisted Mr. Ed with extracting data from an older Mac. Kirit’s inquiry about integrating Xfinity’s Storm Ready Wi-Fi with personal routers led to a pivotal piece of advice: there are times where it makes sense to opt for a double NAT setup over bridge mode. Interestingly, it was highlighted that Sonos requires a Wi-Fi password to operate, a welcome requirement in today’s tech landscape. Pete, always vigilant about security, underscored the importance of disabling router default admin accounts. Lastly, Gary’s quest for an efficient way to scan QR codes on the Mac culminated in the recommendation of the QR Scan app.

Tune into Mac Geek Gab for these insights and immerse yourself in the riveting world of tech!

Chapters/Timestamps/Stuff mentioned:



00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 998 for Monday, September 4th, 2023



The MGG Discord Server is Live!

The MGG Merch Store is Live!





Cool Stuff Found



00:00:01 MarkM-CSF-997–Shazam Shortcut for Apple Watch

00:02:23 Walter-CSF-ChronoAgent to Auto-Sync Directly Between Two Macs, locally or remote

00:06:03 Andrew-CSF-NETGEAR 4G LTE Broadband Modems for Failover Protection – LM1300 (USA-only, $85) and a href="https://www.amazon.

In the latest Mac Geek Gab episode, Pilot Pete and Dave Hamilton share nifty Quick Tips like how to quickly check your iPhone storage when apps act up, and the trick to tweak Weather app’s Location settings for widgets. They tackle listener questions head-on, offering solutions for cleaning up the Photos library, understanding Siri’s mysterious search history, navigating old versions of Pages with newer Apple IDs, and choosing the perfect Apple Watch.

Your two favorite geeks also navigate the ins and outs of Apple’s watchOS 10 user experience and compare live TV options, breaking down costs and features of major providers. Wrapping things up with a “Cool Stuff Found” segment, they highlight the multifunctional Flighty app and a new eSIM compatibility tool. Press play, enjoy, and Don’t Get Caught!

Chapters/Timestamps/Stuff mentioned:



00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 997 for Monday, August 28th, 2023

00:03:05 Podcast Movement Denver 2023

Quick Tips



00:00:01 Ben-QT-See Tapbacks in Mac Messages with a Single Click

00:06:37 Rico-QT-Check Your iPhone’s Storage, Especially if Apps are Forgetting their Place

00:07:53 Bradley-QT-Set Weather App Location Privacy Settings to Allow Widgets

00:11:35 Dan-QT-Use Option+Command to Solo Specific Calendars

00:13:51 Ben-QT-996-Change Mouse Pointer Color and Fill in Accessibility

00:16:10 Mark M-QT-Buy Your Next iPhone with Rewards



Chase Unlimited Card









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Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 



00:19:23 Larry-Best way to clean up my Photos library?



PowerPhotos





00:27:16 Andrew Siri Search History

00:31:01 Shazam Origin Story

00:38:20 Paul – Getting & Running Prev. ver of Pages on a New Apple ID Account



Downloading an old version of Pages and other iWork apps





00:42:37 GBurlile-Limiting Wi-Fi Data Usage When Tethering?



TripMode





00:45:45 Sean-Which Apple Watch Should I Buy?

00:50:09 New UX with Apple watchOS. 10

00:52:15 Comparing Options for Live TV (with DVR)



With Local Channels



YouTube TV ($73)

DirecTV Stream ($100)

Fubo ($75)

Hulu + Live TV ($70)





Without Local Channels



Sling TV ($55)

Philo ($25)













Cool Stuff Found



01:02:35 Chris – Daisy Disk Non-App Store ver. Scan as Admin

01:04:13 CSF-Flighty app has fantastic Apple integrations



FlightAware

TripIt

FlightRadar24