Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

Avsnitt

• Translate Anything, Tame Your Desktop, and Dodge the Plex Price Hike 01.06.2026 1h 16min

  This week you’ll learn to lean on Apple Intelligence to translate almost any text on the fly, lock down and hide sensitive apps on iOS, and finally tame your Desktop by remembering it’s just part of the Finder: flip on Stacks and/or let Hazel do the sorting for you. You’ll dig into why a 4K monitor looks different on your Mac than it does on Windows or Linux, hear how a BenQ display stacks up against a beloved LG, and grab Mirror Mode and BetterDisplay tricks for when you power down an external screen. Cracked your MacBook screen? Hook up an external display to rescue your data, or give that machine new life as a headless server. You’ll also get Siri reminding you the moment you arrive somewhere, and discover why your robot vacuum deserves an annual reset. Then it’s your questions: whether you actually need a Plex Pass, and how to not get caught off guard when the lifetime price leaps to $749.99 on July 1st! Plus how to wrangle your @mac.com, @me.com, and @icloud.com addresses and confirm a cable is truly PD-qualified before you trust it. Cool Stuff Found rounds things out with a color-screen USB cable tester, single-purpose apps that nail one job, agentic coding adventures, a Logitech Combo Touch case for your iPad Pro, and Mole’s brand-new macOS app. And when your Mac finally screams that it’s out of space? You’ll know exactly what to do. Don’t Get Caught missing it. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1144 for Monday, June 1st, 2026 June 1st: Flip a Coin Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to SaneBox Quick Tips 00:00:01 Clif-QT-Use Apple Intelligence to translate (almost) any text 00:03:33 Pilot Pete-QT-iOS Secure Apps & Hide Apps iOS Mac Geek Gab YouTube Channel Shorts 00:05:41 Ben-QT-Reminder that the Desktop is part of the Finder 00:06:33 Using Stacks on the Desktop Finder, move to Desktop, then View > Use Stacks Use Hazel to keep your Desktop, Downloads, and more organized 00:12:39 Albert-QT-Why a 4K Monitor is Different on Mac vs. Windows/Linux 00:16:01 BenQ MA270UP 27” 4K Display looks (to Dave) as good as his former LG Display 00:20:04 Drewski-QT-Mirror Mode helps when powering off a connected external monitor BetterDisplay LG 27UP850K-W 27-inch Ultrafine 4K UHD that Adam uses 00:23:55 What to do when your MacBook screen is broken? PrismCast 00:27:11 Pilot Pete-QT-Ask Siri to Remind you to do something when you arrive at a location 00:29:31 Dave-WWDC week vs. a Red Barchetta Nerdtacular 00:32:34 Dave-QT-Reset all your robot vacuum once a year Sponsors 00:35:02 SPONSOR: CarGurus. Buy or sell your next car today with CarGurus. Check it out at https://cargurus.com/ 00:36:44 SPONSOR: NordLayer Browser. The business browser built for how modern work actually happens — giving IT the visibility and control to secure SaaS, stop phishing, and prevent data leaks right at the source. 00:38:06 MGG’s Longest Continually-Running Sponsor: Bare Bones released BBEdit 16! MGG Reviews 00:39:11 Jeff Murphy-MGG Review-Favorite podcast for when I’m mowing the lawn 00:39:45 NYCSteph18-MGG Review-True! At least five new things learned every week Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:40:56 Brian-Do I need a Plex Pass? 00:42:34 Lifetime Plex Pass jumping to $749.99 on July 1st 00:46:19 Kirit-How best to manage @mac.com @me.com and @icloud.com addresses? 00:53:32 Brian-How can I tell if my cable is PD Qualified? Search UL Database Search USB.org certified database Describe what you have and ask your favorite LLM to do the legwork Cool Stuff Found 00:57:57 Tom-CSF-1143-Treedix USB Cable Tester with Color Screen – $49 01:00:27 Dave-CSF-MacPaw one-use-case apps 01:05:33 Agentic Coding with Claude Code and more 01:08:15 Pilot Pete-CSF-Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard Case for iPad Pro 13-inch (M4, M5) 01:11:49 Dave-CSF-Mole now has a macOS GUI App 01:13:34 I ran out of space on my Mac! 01:14:43 MGG 1144 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  
• How Do We Say G? 25.05.2026 1h 17min

  Geek Pride Day kicks off an episode packed with the kind of tips you’ll actually use. You’ll learn why Shift+Tab is your fastest escape from a runaway numbered list, how holding the lower-left CarPlay button summons Siri, and why copy/paste (and drag-and-drop) between apps still beats exporting and re-importing every time. You’ll also get the real story on Comcast’s email migration (spoiler: it’s not mandatory), discover why the Screenshot app blows past Command-Shift-5 (and -4), and figure out how to shut down the fake browser notifications hijacking your Mac. Then it’s into the meaty stuff: whether those no-name fast chargers are quietly cooking your devices, and the brands the guys actually trust to plug in without worry. Public charging stations look innocent until they aren’t, so the crew breaks down power-only cables, data blockers, and the chillingly clever O.MG Cable from Hak5: Don’t Get Caught handing a stranger the keys to your iPhone over a free USB port. You’ll get strategies for sharing organized photo libraries with the non-Mac humans in your life, dock recommendations for driving external monitors from your laptop, and a stacked Cool Stuff Found run featuring Gifski for gorgeous animated GIFs, WhatCable.uk for decoding that mystery USB-C cable in your drawer, Talk For Me v3 piping text-to-speech into FaceTime calls, and free GigSky eSIM data for Visa Signature cardholders heading abroad. Press play, take notes, and keep your gear (and your data) yours. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1143 for Monday, May 25th, 2026 May 25th: Geek Pride Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a Function101 Apple TV Button Remote The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Ben-QT-Use Shift+Tab to back out of a numbered list 00:03:31 Todd-QT-Hold Lower-Left CarPlay button to invoke Siri 00:04:39 QT-Remember you can copy/paste images between apps Drag-and-Drop often works, too, even while switching apps 00:07:02 Eric-QT-1142-The Comcast Email switch isn’t mandatory Upgrade your comcast.net email experience to Yahoo Mail 00:16:15 J-QT-Use the Screenshot app for more screenshot flexibility Store your screenshots on a shared drive (iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Synology Drive, etc) OnyX Sponsors 00:20:05 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. 00:22:06 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! 00:23:37 Rick-How do I stop fraudulent notifications on my Mac? Check your browser’s notifications Check your browser extension 00:30:54 Joe-Are No-Name-Brand Fast Chargers Safe? An incomplete list of brands we trust Anker Chargers Baseus Chargers Ugreen Chargers Satechi Chargers 00:40:15 Adam Savage’s Tested Channel Power Only Cables for “Public Charging Stations” Hak5 – O.MG Cable Data Blocker Pass Through Connectors 00:49:50 Kenneth-Sharing organized photos with all my family, including non-Mac-users Flickr Pro Or your cloud-based USB stick options: Dropbox (for Photo Sharing) Google Drive (for Photo Sharing)  00:57:32 Brent-What docks do you recommend for my laptop with external monitors? Cool Stuff Found 01:03:47 Ben-CSF-Gifski, a free, full-featured Movie-to-Animated GIF converter 01:08:12 Gary-CSF-WhatCable.uk to learn what your USB-C Cables can do 01:09:32 Darrin-CSM-Talk For Me v3.0 allows Text To Speech to be routed into FaceTime and voice calls 01:12:01 J-CSF-Free GigSky eSIM plans with Visa Signature Cards US Mobile’s Unlimited plan comes with an included Apple Watch plan, too! 01:14:04 ATC-Darknet Diaries Podcast EP 161: MG – With the developer of the O.MG Cable from Hak5 01:15:30 MGG 1143 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  
• Must-Know AirPods, Screen Sharing & Smart Home Wins for Apple Users 18.05.2026 1h 26min

  You’ll sharpen your daily tech game this week: add names directly to Mail recipient fields, kill those sneaky iOS nickname pop-ups before they embarrass you, and stay alert to Low Power Mode. Long-press your steering wheel button to summon Siri faster, welcome ChatGPT and Perplexity to CarPlay, untangle Apple’s App Entitlements, and stream HLS video right inside the updated MGG iOS app. Don’t Get Caught treating your LLM like a glorified search bar—re-task it as a brainstorming partner, let agents check each other’s work, troubleshoot stubborn email issues, and have it build its own skills using Claude Code and CoWork. Your questions and tips drive the back half: disconnect AirPods from your Mac in one tap with ToothFairy or Control Center, dial in rock-solid remote screen sharing using Jump Desktop, Zoom, and Tailscale, stop your iPhone ringer from accidentally flipping, and plan your escape from Comcast email by grabbing a real domain through Cloudflare, Namecheap, or GoDaddy. Then it’s Cool Stuff Found season—Bartender 6 reclaims your menu bar, the Syntech case protects your Apple Vision Pro, and the Mila Air3 and Honeywell HEPA purifiers clean up your air. Plus a heap of love for Eufy lawnmowers, vacuums, and doorbells, all wired together with Homebridge and Home Assistant. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1142 for Monday, May 18th, 2026 May 18th: Send an Electronic Greeting Card Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a Function101 Apple TV Button Remote The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Ben-QT-Add a name to the Mail recipient field 00:03:43 Beware of Nicknames showing on iOS You can disable this! 00:08:08 The lessons we learn about our tech when traveling 00:08:49 QT-Be aware of Low Power Mode. Also App Tamer 00:13:56 Larry-QT-Long Press Steering Wheel Voice Command to activate Siri 00:16:14 ChatGPT and Perplexity are allowed to use CarPlay now 00:18:00 Apple’s App Entitlements 00:19:26 Mac Geek Gab iOS App adds HLS video 00:22:35 David-QT-Use an LLM to troubleshoot your email 00:24:33 Re-assign your LLM, re-task it. Treat your LLM like a brainstorming assistant. Claude CoWork (and Claude Code) 00:29:45 Let your agents check one another 00:33:16 Have your LLM create skills for you Reviews 00:36:26 Jamcycler-MGG Review-My Favorite Podcast Sponsors 00:38:02 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! 00:39:41 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/MGG 00:41:28 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at https://gusto.com/MGG Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:43:07 Gino CO-How can I easily disconnect my AirPods from my Mac? ToothFairy Or Control Center Or Sound Menu Opt-plus-Mute/Volume keys will bring you to System Settings Sound Pane 00:49:09 Paul-Best Method for Screen Sharing? Jump Desktop Tailscale 00:55:04 Barb-How can I stop from accidentally toggling my iPhone ringer on and off? 00:57:13 Roger-What to do about Comcast email going away? Cloudflare Registrar Namecheap GoDaddy Cool Stuff Found 01:02:21 DLH-CSF-Bartender 6 / Pro / Mega 01:04:53 ATC/PP-CSF-Syntech Apple Vision Pro Case 01:09:25 CSF-Mila Air3 Purifier 01:11:37 n-Greg-CSF-Honeywell Allergen Plus HEPA Large Room Air Purifier 01:12:41 Some love for Eufy Eufy Lawnmower Eufy Vacuums Eufy Doorbells Homebridge Home Assistant 01:24:36 MGG 1142 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
• The eSIM Showdown, Sync Mysteries, and Must-Know Mac Tricks 11.05.2026 1h 10min

  Buckle up, geeks! This week’s Quick Tips have you refreshing the App Store like a pro, turning Finder’s Quick Actions into a PDF-combining powerhouse, swiping that iOS cut/copy/paste bar like a power user, and finally taming horizontal scrolling on your non-Apple mouse. Then it’s tales from the road: Adam wrestles eSIMs into submission with a Starlink cameo, Linda accidentally invents her own ISP, Mint Mobile’s tablet plan steps into the spotlight, and Dave shares what he learned from TP-Link about the FCC saga you’ll want in your ears before your next router purchase. Your questions get the full treatment, too. VaShaun learns how to keep his SSID intact when switching providers (including travel router magic!), Jim battles a stubborn Trash with rm, lsof, and fuser so you Don’t Get Caught staring at undeletable files, and GW finally gets a straight answer on why sync is so hard. Cool Stuff Found rounds it out with WhiteScreen.Online turning your devices into panel lights, Zenringer landing at half price, the Basic Bookmark Checker tidying your digital life, the Flipper Zero cloning whatever’s clonable, and the OBDEleven gen 3 unlocking your car’s hidden settings. Hit play and geek out. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1141 for Monday, May 11th, 2026 May 11th: National Technology Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a Function101 Apple TV Button Remote The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Michael-QTR-Refresh Appstore Update 00:03:00 Bill-QT-Making a PDF with “Quick Actions” Menu in Finder Apple Support Combine PDFs 00:05:30 Lucas from Chicago-QT-Swipe the bar/menu of cut/copy/paste options on iOS 00:07:16 ACTUALLY combining PDFs on the Mac in the Finder Combine files into a PDF on Mac (in Finder) 00:09:12 David-QT-Horizontal Scrolling with a Non-Apple Mouse! Stories from Travels 00:11:43 Adam and The eSIM Starlink Internet eSIMDB US Mobile 00:21:51 LindaNET (because Linda had a DSL line and resold her high speed internet) 00:22:32 Mint Mobile Tablet Plan 00:26:04 Dave vs. TP-Link and The FCC Sponsors 00:28:00 SPONSOR: CarGurus. Meet CarGurus Discover, a new search feature where you can look for vehicles based on the way you think—using your own words. No more being boxed in by filters. Check it out at https://cargurus.com/ 00:29:11 SPONSOR: NordLayer Browser. The business browser built for how modern work actually happens — giving IT the visibility and control to secure SaaS, stop phishing, and prevent data leaks right at the source. 00:30:08 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use our code MACGEEK for 20% off at clnmy.com/MACGEEK Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:31:30 VaShaun-Can I Keep my SSID when I get a new provider? Use your home’s same SSID/password on your travel router so everything connects all the time 00:39:01 Jim-How do I empty a stubborn Trash on my Mac? rm vs. rmdir vs. rm -rf sudo lsof +D /path/to/folder sudo fuser -v /path/to/folder Command-Shift-Period in Finder shows hidden files 00:50:27 GW-Why is Sync “Hard?” Cool Stuff Found 00:58:11 Stephen-CSF-WhiteScreen.Online turns your device into a panel light 01:01:12 Michael-CSM-Zenringer (link gets you half price for MGG listeners) 01:02:16 Donald-CSM-1128-Basic Bookmark Checker to clean things up! 01:03:13 Rob in STL-CSF-Flipper Zero for cloning (your?) badges and more 01:06:34 Richard-CSF-1111-ODBEleven gen 3 for tweaking your car’s settings 01:09:11 MGG 1141 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
• Long-Press, Click, Recover: iPhone Tricks You'll Actually Use 04.05.2026 1h 24min

  Pilot Pete and Dave open Episode 1140 with a rapid-fire round of quick tips you’ll wish you’d known sooner: long-press the App Store icon to jump straight to Updates, long-press a folder to break down its notifications, push iOS updates to your iPhone through your Mac, and delete apps before they auto-update. You’ll also discover that iPad status bar elements respond to mouse clicks, that not every airline demands a passport scan for TSA Touchless, and where to grab a free customizable QR code generator. Then Javier drops by the Don’t Get Caught segment with a warning: run a beta macOS on your daily driver only with your eyes wide open to what could break. In the mailbag, you’ll troubleshoot a Notes folder that keeps un-deleting itself, get walked through iCloud Data Recovery, plan a Fastmail migration and a clean EarthLink exit, weigh OneNote and Apple Notes as Evernote alternatives, decode why your copyright date is stuck in the past, and figure out how much life remains in a 2019 MacBook Pro. Angel cues up the question everyone’s asking: what is an MCP server? And Cool Stuff Found delivers right on cue with the new Fastmail MCP Connector, a Keyword Navigation extension for Chromium browsers, and the I Love a Piano app that turns your iPhone into a pocket keyboard. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1140 for Monday, May 4th, 2026 May 4th: Star Wars Day (and Dave Brubeck Day) MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a Function101 Apple TV Button Remote Congrats to March’s SoundSource winners: Ian, Robert, and Jeff The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 WillRun4Fun-QT-Long press on the App Store for Updates 00:03:27 Ventmore-Long press on a folder with multiple notifications to see a breakdown 00:07:33 Dan DCZDB-QT-Update your iPhone’s iOS via your Mac iOS Version History iMazing 00:09:57 JanLandy-QT-Delete apps from your iPhone before they update 00:10:58 Ben-QT-You can mouse-click iPad status bar elements 00:11:59 Terry-1138-Not every airline requires your passport to be scanned for TSA Touchless 00:15:37 Nora-QT-Free Customizable QRCode Generator Don’t Get Caught 00:18:04 Javier-DGC-Run a beta OS on your daily driver with your eyes open to the possibilities of problems Sponsors 00:26:36 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 Reviews 00:29:24 SleepyCBR-MGG Review-Best podcast Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:30:00 Wallace-Notes keeps un-deleting my folder! 00:35:45 iCloud Data Recovery 00:38:09 Steve-Fastmail Migration and EarthLink Exit Strategy 00:51:09 Judy-What non-Evernote options do I have? Microsoft OneNote Apple Notes 00:53:57 Todd-Why the Out of Date Copyright Date? 00:59:06 Marty-How much life does my 2019 MacBook Pro have left in it? 01:08:32 Angel-What is an MCP server/interface? Cool Stuff Found…and Made! 01:11:27 Stephen-CSF-Fastmail MCP Connector 01:14:53 Bram-CSM-Keyword Navigation for Chromium Browsers 01:18:32 Max-CSM-I Love a Piano iPhone piano 01:22:23 MGG 1140 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  
• Cool Stuff Found Marathon: 20+ Must-Know Mac Tools, Gadgets & AI Hacks 27.04.2026 1h 24min

  This week’s episode is a Cool Stuff Found marathon, packed with gems you need to bookmark. You’ll get a launcher upgrade with TinyStart, a slick dual-pane file manager in VoidCommander, T-Mobile router control via HINTControl, and a borescope camera Pilot Pete can’t stop talking about. Dave hauls in a clamp-on desk power strip, the Levoit EverestAir-P purifier, and the Airversa AP2, while Adam fires up his Pit Boss combo grill. You’ll also hear about AirPod foam tips that actually stay put, a surprising detour into the evolution of lifetime warranties, and why LTT’s TrueSpec USB cables might finally end your “does this cable do everything?” guessing game. On the AI front, you’ll dig into building SKILLS.md files for your agents, a HomeAssistant MCP server, and the Plaud NotePin S for capturing ideas on the go. Round it out with the Audigo pocket recording studio, a new Steve Jobs biography covering the NeXT years, leather DavisCase iPhone cases, the Smartlet One dual watchband, and Akko Insurance for when things go sideways. Don’t Get Caught missing a single tip. Hit play, take notes, and grab your chance at a free year of Plex Pass in this month’s giveaway. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1139 for Monday, April 27th, 2026 April 27th: World Pinhole Photography Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a Plex Pass for a Year Congrats to March’s SoundSource winners: Ian, Robert, and Jeff The MGG Merch Store is Live! Cool Stuff Found 00:00:01 Dan DXZDB-CSF-TinyStart, a launcher and emoji picker 00:04:05 MenuMeters 00:04:29 Istvan-CSM-VoidCommander, a dual-pane file manager for Mac Use VOID40 for 40% off 00:06:35 Paul-CSF-1138-HINTControl to control your T-Mobile Home Internet router 00:07:44 Uncle Jamie-CSF-CalCs adds Calendar Complications for Apple Watch 00:09:13 Steven-CSF-Blip for Dropbox File Transfer to External Drives 00:11:43 Adam-CSF-Pit Boss Competition Series 1230CS1 Combo Grill 00:15:40 Pilot Pete-CSF-Teslong Borescope Camera 00:19:25 Dave-CSF-Anker Clamp-on-Desk Power Strip 00:23:54 Ben-CSF-CharJenPro Air Foam Airpod Ear Tips Comply Foam Tips for AirPods 00:27:49 The Evolution of Lifetime Warrantees LLBean Craftsman 00:29:32 Dave-CSF-Levoit EverestAir-P purifier 00:32:52 Dave-CSF-Airversa AP2 00:33:36 AirDoctor 00:32:20 Hector D. Byrd 00:37:34 Sensibo Smart HEPA Filters Sponsors 00:38:31 SPONSOR: NordLayer Browser. The business browser built for how modern work actually happens — giving IT the visibility and control to secure SaaS, stop phishing, and prevent data leaks right at the source. 00:39:48 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG 00:41:02 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. MOAR Cool Stuff Found 00:42:18 Chris-CSF-Plaud NotePin S note-taker 00:45:14 Steve Hammond-CSF-HomeAssistant MCP server 00:47:45 Todd-CSF-Mac Power Users 841 re: teaching AI skills Robot Assistant Field Guide 00:52:07 Building SKILLS.md files for your AI Agents 00:54:34 QT-Google Docs will show you Google-search-suggested links only if you’re logged in Even MORE CSF 00:55:42 CSF-Audigo – Pocket-sized recording studio. Single mic: $249, and you can use up-to-four at once 01:00:49 Eddie-CSF-LTT TrueSpec USB Cables Dave’s The USB/Thunderbolt cables Dave travels with that support “everything” 01:09:17 Andrew-CSF-Steve Jobs in Exile – The Untold Story of NeXT, and the Remaking of an American Visionary 01:11:08 Hans-CSF-DavisCase leather iPhone cases 01:13:39 Kent-CSF-Prestige iPhone Case ESR Screen Protector 01:16:16 Bob-CSF-Smartlet One Classic dual watchband to wear Apple Watch and another watch 01:19:36 Jeff-CSF-Akko Insurance Recommended by a Repair Professional – CrackedGadgets.com 01:22:09 MGG 1139 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
• Mesh Networks, iCloud Bandwidth Fixes, and Must-Know Mac Tips 20.04.2026 1h 19min

  This week on Mac Geek Gab 1138, Pilot Pete, Adam, and Dave tackle your burning questions and deliver the tips that keep your tech humming. You’ll learn how to properly delete images from your iPhone, sort out mesh networking headaches with T-Mobile, and decide whether Updatest and HomeBrew belong in your app-updating toolkit (spoiler: brew install topgrade is a game-changer). Struggling with limited bandwidth? TripMode lets you pause iCloud downloads on demand. Plus, the crew digs into why Plex Remote Access suddenly quit working and how Claude Code can help you recompile apps on the fly. The quick tips are stacked this week: skip the remount dance by using Finder Sidebar for network shares, generate QR codes straight from your clipboard, and tap Show Highlights in Notes to track edits. Listener Dave’s keyboard shortcut (Left-Control + Left-Command + Right-Shift…and then power) will save your Mac from accidental restarts while cleaning the keyboard, and a Synology power supply swap might save your wallet. Don’t Get Caught slipping on the latest Apple Pay hack that drains accounts from locked iPhones, or blindsided by Backblaze now excluding iCloud Drive from backups. Round it out with tickIQ for tracking your mechanical watches, and you’ve got another solid episode in the books. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1138 for Monday, April 20th, 2026 April 20th: National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a Plex Pass for a Year Congrats to March’s SoundSource winners: Ian, Robert, and Jeff The MGG Merch Store is Live! Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:03:42 Gary-How do I delete images from my iPhone? 00:09:05 Jim-Which Mesh setup will work with my home and TMobile? 00:21:20 Ian-Is Updatest (and HomeBrew) good for updating apps? 00:23:35 Using Claude Code to recompile apps brew upgrade brew install topgrade 00:29:05 GW-How to Pause an iCloud Download when bandwidth is limited? TripMode 00:38:02 Dr. Brad-Why did Plex Remote Access stop working Plex Support Forum – for Plex Media Server Sponsors 00:45:22 SPONSOR: CarGurus. Meet CarGurus Discover, a new search feature where you can look for vehicles based on the way you think—using your own words. No more being boxed in by filters. Check it out at https://cargurus.com/ 00:46:41 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 00:48:19 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/MGG Quick Tips 00:00:01 Jeff-QT-Instead of remounting network shares, just use the Finder Sidebar 00:49:56 Peter-QT-Shortcut to create a QR Code from Clipboard Contents. 00:51:51 QT-Show Highlights in Notes.app to see who edited the Note and when 00:54:09 Dave-Use Left-Control, Left-Command, + Right-Shift to keep your Mac from accidentally restarting KeyboardCleanTool 00:57:50 JP-QT-Synology Power Supply May Be Cheaper Repair Option Don’t Get Caught 01:02:05 DGC-Can you steal $$ from a locked iPhone? This Apple Pay Hack Can Drain Your Account Without Unlocking Your iPhone 01:11:03 Paul-DGC-Backblaze now excludes iCloud Drive Cool Stuff Found 01:14:13 DLH-CSF-tickIQ to measure and track your mechanical watches 01:18:26 MGG 1138 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
• Why Your AI App Matters, What's Draining Your iPad & How TSA Digital ID Works 13.04.2026 1h 21min

  You’ve got quick tips galore this week: if your iPad battery’s draining mysteriously, your Apple Pencil might be the culprit, so pop it off when you’re not using it. Want custom emoji? Now you can create your own. LaunchBar fans, there’s a slick way to jump straight into System Settings, and if you’re self-hosting Bitwarden, the guys walk you through adding a local server with Cloudflare Tunnels. Pilot Pete also breaks down getting your digital ID working at TSA — and makes a compelling case that it’s actually more secure than handing over your physical license — plus there’s a look at TSA’s new Touchless ID system. On the AI side, if agentic browsing still makes you nervous, Dave and Pete have practical advice for easing in, and they dig into why the app you use matters just as much as the LLM behind it — including a look at Claude’s upcoming Mythos model. You’ll hear how to tighten your AI agent’s security awareness (Don’t Get Caught slipping on that one), use Comet to become the ultimate “Reply Guy,” let your LLM tell you which apps are available in Setapp, and even have your chatbot generate QR codes . Wrapping up, there’s a fix for Mail not seeing updated Contacts Groups, a cost breakdown of building your own 2026 27-inch iMac, and an honest conversation about whether Plex is getting worse. Press play and enjoy learning at least five new things, folks! 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1137 for Monday, April 13th, 2026 April 13th: National Scrabble Day The MGG Merch Store is Live! MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a Plex Pass for a year! Congrats to March’s SoundSource winners: Ian, Robert, and Jeff Quick Tips 00:00:01 Ian-QT-1136-Apple Pencil can drain an iPad battery 00:03:37 PilotPete-QT-Create Your Own Emoji 00:06:24 Ben-1136-CSF-Use LaunchBar to launch System Settings 00:08:22 Adding a local Bitwarden server Cloudflare Tunnels Cloudflare Workers Uplock app for Apple Passwords 00:21:39 PilotPete-QT- getting digital ID to work at TSA & why it’s likely more secure than your license 00:25:59 TSA Touchless ID Sponsors 00:30:28 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use our code MACGEEK for 20% off at clnmy.com/MACGEEK 00:32:01 SPONSOR: Pocket Hose. For a limited time, you can get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Just text MGG to 64000. AI Side Quest 00:33:40 The Flora-Bama Club 00:35:59 Andy-What can I do if I’m not yet comfortable with agentic browsing? 00:41:20 Your AI app matters as much as the LLM 00:45:08 What’s up with Claude’s new Mythos LLM? 00:48:42 Jason-QT-Tighten Your AI Agent’s Security Awareness! 00:51:32 Using Comet to help you be “Reply Guy” 00:53:46 Todd-QT-Let your LLM tell you which apps you can get in Setapp 00:55:49 Roy-QT-Let your chatbot create QR codes iQR for QR Codes Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:58:33 Joe-Why is Mail not seeing my updated Contacts Group? 01:04:12 Brent-Cost breakdown of the 2026 27″ iMac 01:06:16 Matt-Is Plex getting worse? If so, can it get better? Emby Jellyfin 01:19:31 MGG 1137 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
• Healthier Than Doomscrolling 06.04.2026 1h 20min

  You get a rapid-fire run of Mac tips that actually make your daily workflow smoother instead of noisier. From finally being able to change your Gmail address and using Markdown to escape Apple Notes, to smarter ways to attach glass screen protectors, auto-mount network shares, prune that graveyard of old Bluetooth devices, and squeeze better battery life from your iPad Pro, this episode keeps you moving instead of doomscrolling. If you’re shopping monitors for a Mac mini, curious why Find My wants light, or looking to travel with the right iPhone car mount, you’ll walk away with practical, field-tested ideas you can apply immediately. Then you dive into a real-world warning shot: Adobe quietly touching your /etc/hosts file and what that means for taking control back on your own Mac so you Don’t Get Caught. You’ll also hear listener-vetted iPhone cases—from rugged bumpers and leather shells to newer clear cases that don’t yellow—so you can carry your iPhone with confidence and a bit more style. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1136 for Monday, April 6th, 2026 April 6th: New Beer’s Eve MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a Plex Pass for a Year Congrats to March’s SoundSource winners: Ian, Robert, and Jeff The MGG Merch Store is Live! 00:03:01 Grappling With The Weather Quick Tips 00:00:01 QT-You can now change your Google/Gmail username 00:04:47 Todd-QT-Use Markdown to migrate from Apple Notes Bear app’s instructions for migrating from Apple Notes 00:06:46 Clif-QT-Install Glass screen protectors in a steamy bathroom 00:09:33 Chris Powers-QT-Connect (more) Reliably to Network Shares on Startup Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:13:38 Greg in NC-How do I bulk-clean-up my Bluetooth devices? ToothFairy for macOS 00:20:17 QT-Bluetooth name changes are saved on the Bluetooth device, not on your iPhone 00:23:57 Randy Walker-How long should my iPad Pro 11″ M2 be able to hold a charge? CoconutBattery Low Power Mode Is it iCloud Syncing? 00:30:02 Larry-Which 5K monitor for my new Mac mini? Refurb LG UltraFine 5K – $799 ViewSonic VP2768-4k – $549 ViewSonic VP2788-5K – $929 Philips 4K UHD 27” – $499 (unavailable) BenQ PD2730S – $1,099 KTC 5K 27” – $549 LG 27UP850K-W 4K – $334 00:46:25 Joe-Why does Find My need light? 00:48:09 Leveraging Claude Code 00:50:08 Uncle Jamie-What iPhone car mount do you travel with? USB A to USB C Adapters iPhone Dash-mount Cradle Sponsors 00:56:39 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG Don’t Get Caught 00:57:59 Adam-DGC-Adobe Messed with My /etc/hosts file…and yours, too! Your Favorite iPhone Cases 01:06:09 Chris-CSF-Incipio Duo iPhone Case 01:07:17 NASANut-CSF-Spigen iPhone cases and screen protectors 01:09:20 Clif-The new, cheap clear cases don’t yellow like they used to 01:10:35 Dan-Wuwedo is a bumper/open case for $13 01:12:40 Thad-CSF-Check out Bullstrap Leather Cases 01:13:43 Todd-CSF-Nomad Leather Case and the case for screen protectors 01:15:26 Tony-CSF-Fierre Shann Leather iPhone Cases 01:17:18 CSF-Mujjo Leather iPhone Case 01:18:36 MGG 1136 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 the Internet Spits You Out 30.03.2026 1h 19min

  You’re about to spend an hour geeking out about the moments when your tech life goes sideways and how to keep it all under control. You’ll hit World Backup Day prep, tame your email with smart rules and categories, turn your AirPods into stealth earplugs, and learn Mac power tricks like killing stubborn processes and using Reminders so your birthday rewards never slip by. Along the way, you’ll hear from listeners about pre-emptively swapping NAS drives, upsizing your Synology, and the best way to get your movie library playing cleanly on your iPad. Then you’ll dive into the fun stuff that happens when the internet spits you out in the wrong place, from working around VPN restrictions to making sure you Don’t Get Caught when networks get weird. You’ll remember John Martellaro and his dents in the universe, plus load up on Cool Stuff Found like AirTag sleeves for your Apple TV remote, faster AirDrop-style sharing with Blip and LocalSend, and even AI that can drive your car with Comma 4. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1135 for Monday, March 30th, 2026 March 30th: National Pencil Day Pentel Twist Erase MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of SoundSource from Rogue Amoeba! 00:05:05 World Backup Day is tomorrow! Fastmail backs up your email! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Bill-QT-1134-Set macOS to always open new documents in tabs 00:09:09 P2-QT-use noise cancellation with AirPod in one ear Using AirPods as earplugs Comply Foam Tips for AirPods 00:14:00 SXSW: Shokz OpenDots One Shokz OpenFit Pro 00:18:46 David-QT-Host your own cloud mail rules Spark Mail SaneBox Claude CoWork and Dispatch 00:24:48 n-Ben-QT-1131–Train Apple’s Mail Categories for your own emails 00:26:17 John-QT-Use killall -9 if you really need to kill a process killall -9 “[process name]” killall -KILL “[process name]” Check Activity Monitor’s View menu 00:37:17 Tim-QT-Use Reminders to remember your birthday rewards Sponsors 00:38:30 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. 00:39:41 SPONSOR: Stamps.com With Stamps.com you can send from your computer or phone 24/7. No long lines, no low supplies, open any time. Go to stamps.com and use code mgg to get sixty days risk-free! Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:41:01 JP-Should I Replace Drives Pre-emptively in my NAS? Synology Monthly Disk Health Report Synology Hot Spare 00:47:14 How about adding larger drives to your NAS? 00:51:06 Roger-What’s a better way to display and play movies on my iPad? VLC Infuse Plex 00:55:42 Mark-How can I use a VPN and bypass VPN restrictions 01:00:02 CSF-GoodReader for playing movies 01:00:43 GW-Glowing MacBook Apple Logo 01:03:00 Remembering John Martellaro and the dents he put in the universe Finding John Martellaro’s Space Shuttle Lander Simulator for Apple ][ Cool Stuff Found 01:08:04 James-CSF-Elago AirTag sleeve for AppleTV 4K remote 01:09:45 -n-Ahkeens-CSF-1132-Blip is reliable, AirDrop-style replacement Allison-CSF-Blip to give a better AirDrop-like experience LocalSend 01:11:53 Greg-CSF-Comma 4 uses AI to drive your car 01:18:05 MGG 1135 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly More shows Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab iOS app Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network
• Siri Power Moves, CarPlay Smarts, and Phil Schiller's SXSW Stories 23.03.2026 1h 20min

  You’ll come away from this episode with a faster, smarter iPhone and Mac workflow dialed in. You learn how to boss Siri around for brightness, Dark Mode, CarPlay directions, and per‑source audio levels, so your phone actually behaves in the car and on the couch. You tap into power‑user gestures like two‑finger‑tap to open links in a new Safari tab, Quick Actions to spin anything into a PDF, and Option‑click display rotation on the Mac. You even get sneaky with ad‑supported games by flipping Airplane Mode, and peek at where on‑device AI is heading with tools like Locally AI from the SXSW “more personal computer” session. Then you shift into solving real listener problems so your Apple gear finally stays in sync with you. You clean up contact groups, fix that iPad Mail inbox that doesn’t match your other devices, and fight back against toll‑free robocalls. You hear which iPhone cases and glass protectors the geeks actually trust, plus protection options like Verizon Home Protect and automation tools like Crank to trigger actions based on what you’re doing. The whole way through, you’re reminded of the Mac Geek Gab mantra: Don’t Get Caught missing the tweaks, tricks, and Cool Stuff Found that make your Apple life smoother. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1134 for Monday, March 23rd, 2026 March 23rd: World Math Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of SoundSource from Rogue Amoeba! Congrats to February’s winners! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Ian-QT-Hey Siri, turn up the brightness 00:03:50 Scott-QT-1133-Tell Siri to toggle Dark Mode 00:10:08 Vira-CSF-Locally AI – run models on your iPhone locally SXSW: A More Personal Computer: How AI is Transforming Desktops 00:11:58 Bill-QT-Spoken Directions in CarPlay Adjusting the volume of the different sources on your iPhone (Siri, Music, Maps, more) “Hey Siri, speak louder” 00:17:06 Henry-QT-Two-finger-tap to open links in a new Mobile Safari tab 00:18:03 ETC-QT-Use Quick Actions to create a PDF 00:22:44 Mickey-QT-Hold Option to get Display Rotation options in System Settings 00:23:40 Adam’s wife-Stop Ads with Airplane Mode in ad-supported games Sponsors 00:28:37 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG 00:29:53 SPONSOR: Pocket Hose. For a limited time, you can get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Just text MGG to 64000. 00:31:23 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/MGG 00:32:49 SXSW: Phil Schiller & David Pogue Fireside Chat David Pogue Apple: The First 50 Years Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:43:49 Joe-Question about Contact groups 00:48:32 Bill-How come my iPad shows different Mail than everything else? 00:54:45 Craig-Robo Calls showing up from Toll Free Numbers 00:59:52 Scott-What iPhone cases does everyone use? OpenCase Mujjo Leather Case Tempered Glass Screen Protectors Cool Stuff Found 01:14:02 Steve-CSF-Verizon Home Protect for $25/month is a great AppleCare+ alternative 01:16:35 Joe-CSF-1133-Crank can launch actions based upon user-configurable criteria 01:19:23 MGG 1134 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab iOS app Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network
• Geek Therapy 16.03.2026 1h 22min

  You get dropped right into geek therapy this week as you bounce from cult-favorite movies to Pixar shorts, then straight into practical Mac and iOS wins. You learn how to use the twenty-minute rule to bail on bad movies guilt-free, long-press your iPhone’s brightness to reveal Dark Mode and other hidden controls, and turn Live Listen into your stealth superpower for staying connected in noisy rooms. You also tighten up your iOS workflow by wrangling multiple photos, files, and links at once, and even rethink how often you actually need to say “Hey” to your devices. Don’t Get Caught missing the little system tweaks that make your Apple gear feel brand new again. From there, you dig into real-world listener problems and come away with a cleaner network, a smarter Mac, and a more resilient data setup. You troubleshoot eerie eero behavior and learn how to coax stubborn 2.4 GHz-only devices onto your Wi-Fi, then set your Mac to auto-launch apps on wake with tools like Keyboard Maestro and Advanced SleepWatcher. You untangle VPN weirdness, then go full NAS-ty with guidance on migrating to a new Synology and choosing the right model using MGG’s comparison as your roadmap. You wrap it all with Cool Stuff Found: Setapp’s new plans, rock-solid MailBackupX, US Mobile for nerdy cellular control, ForeverNotes for wrangling your brain, Titanium Software utilities, AppleCare+ plus Apple One savings, and TP-Link’s Wi-Fi Toolkit turning your iPhone or iPad into a pocket network analyzer. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1133 for Monday, March 16th, 2026 March 16th: Robert Goddard Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of SoundSource from Rogue Amoeba! Congrats to February’s winners! The MGG Merch Store is Live! 00:03:39 Movie Reviews and Ratings RocketMan with Harland Williams Hoppers from Pixar Twenty Minute Rule for Movies Project Hail Mary Lego Quick Tips 00:00:01 Si-QT-Long press brightness to toggle Dark Mode and more 00:09:17 Joel-QT-Use Live Listen to stay in touch 00:11:25 Pilot Pete-QT-Multiple Photos, Files, Links handling in iOS 00:15:55 Do you still say Hey? Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:19:30 Larry-Eerie things going on with the Eero 00:29:04 Setting up eero for 2.4GHz devices 00:31:32 Father John-How can I launch an app when my Mac wakes up? Desktop Icon Manager Advanced SleepWatcher for macOS 00:38:04 Michael-Why US VPN issues? 00:41:05 Revelations During Geek Therapy Sponsors 00:47:38 SPONSOR: Pocket Hose. For a limited time, you can get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Just text MGG to 64000. 00:49:10 SPONSOR: Sundays for Dogs. Every bite of Sundays is clean and made from real meat, fruits, and veggies, with no kibble. Stanley loves it! Go right now to sundaysfordogs.com/MGG50 and get 50% off your first order. Or, you can use code MGG50 at checkout. 00:50:43 SPONSOR: Tempo. For a limited time, Tempo is offering my listeners SIXTY PERCENT OFF your first box! Go to TempoMeals.com/MGG. Gettin’ NAS-ty 00:51:58 Patrick-How do I migrate my data to a new Synology? 01:00:47 Mike-Which Synology NAS should I buy? Comparing MGG-focused Synology NAS Cool Stuff Found 01:09:35 CSEvolved-Setapp adds new single-app purchase and subscription plans 01:12:07 Mark-CSF-MailBackupX to backup your Mail 01:13:01 Tony-CSF-US Mobile is built for nerds (Tony’s Referral Code: 6B9EAD23) 01:14:32 bbwerner on Threads-CSF-ForeverNotes for getting your notes in order 01:15:28 Niceville Steve-CSF-Titanium Software Utilities other than OnyX 01:16:41 Use AppleCare+ with Apple One to get bulk savings on AppleCare+ 01:20:21 CSF-Wi-Fi Toolkit from TP-Link for iPhone and iPad 01:21:24 MGG 1133 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab iOS app Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network  
• We Are Not The Mickey Mice! 09.03.2026 1h 22min

  You start this episode by supercharging your daily Apple workflow with rapid-fire Quick Tips: speaking the time from your wrist, taming screenshot previews, unzooming a stuck iPhone screen, batch‑moving iOS apps, and sharpening Live Text and document photos so you can capture, control, and share exactly what you want without friction. You also learn how to keep Chrome from quietly hijacking your mic levels before Zoom calls, plus clever ways to organize appliance manuals using NotebookLM and Apple’s Books app so that the answers you need are always a quick search away—Don’t Get Caught hunting for docs or fighting your own settings again. From there, you dive into Mac Developer Gab with the MGG iOS app as a living example of how AI‑assisted coding becomes a collaborative partner instead of a replacement, including practical use of Claude Code’s Plan Mode to map changes before writing a line of code. Then you pivot into Apple’s newly “affordable‑first” lineup—MacBook Neo, Air, and Pro, the new Studio Displays, iPhone 17e, and iPad Air M4—breaking down which model actually fits your real‑world use and budget, before wrapping with fixes for flaky AirDrop using the NFC “boop” trick and remote‑controlling Apple TV via hubs so your gear does what you want, when you want it. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1132 for Monday, March 9th, 2026 March 2nd: National Banana Cream Pie Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of SoundSource from Rogue Amoeba! Congrats to February’s winners! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Dave C-QT-Hold two fingers on your watch screen to speak the time 00:07:16 Todd-QT-Turn Off Full Screen Preview ScreenShot change 00:09:18 Gary-QT-Three-finger triple-tap to unzoom your iPhone 00:15:10 Pilot Pete-QT-Move Multiple iOS Apps at Once! Mac Developer Gab 00:16:57 Updating the Mac Geek Gab iOS app Developing with AI Assisted Coding is a Collaborative Process 00:29:46 Using Claude Code’s Plan Mode Back to Quick Tips 00:31:33 Gene-QT-Live Text Made Better 00:36:14 Pilot Pete-QT-Level Your Phone e.g. for Document Photos 00:37:59 Dave-QT-In Chrome, Disallow WebRTC to adjust the input volume to keep your mic set for Zoom calls 00:40:16 Joe-QTRevisited-1071-Use NotebookLM to store Appliance Manuals 00:43:00 Tony-QT-1131-Put User Manuals in the Books app Sponsors 00:43:58 SPONSOR: Stamps.com With Stamps.com you can send from your computer or phone 24/7. No long lines, no low supplies, open any time. Go to stamps.com and use code mgg to get sixty days risk-free! 00:45:24 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use our code MACGEEK for 20% off at clnmy.com/MACGEEK 00:46:56 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/MGG Reviews 00:48:29 Happy Camper-MGG Review-It’s what you learn after you know it all 00:49:17 digger4-MGG Review-Excellent show 00:49:29 StillRiverEditions-MGG Review-Makes the Apple universe fun, as it should be. 00:50:11 Neo-Wombat-MGG Review-Five Stars 00:51:25 New Macs and More! Affordability seems to matter to Apple today! Comparing the MacBook Neo, Air, and Pro Where are the updates to the Mac mini and more desktops? MacBook Neo – $599 – This is essentially macOS on an iPad MacBook Air M5 – $1099 MacBook Pro M5 – $1699 27-inch Studio Display and Studio Display XDR – $1599 iPhone 17e – $599 iPad Air M4 – $599 Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 01:07:35 Dan-How to Tame AirDrop Wonkyness Use the iPhone NFC “Booping” Trick 01:15:21 Clif-Can I control my Apple TV remotely? Jubilee Hub Harmony Hub 01:21:45 MGG 1132 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network
• That’s Not Multitasking, That’s Cheating 02.03.2026 1h 23min

  You drop into an iMessage quick tip and quickly branch into a whole toolkit for running your Apple life smarter. You learn faster ways to edit messages, how Slack’s up-arrow muscle memory carries over, and why platforms limit your edit window. From there, the show rolls into clever NFC and QR workflows for appliance manuals, Time Machine fixes over SMB on Synology, and a deep dive on spam and email hygiene: Fastmail’s undelete safety net, SaneBox’s smart filtering, Apple Mail’s categories, plus when to reach for SpamSieve or even your own chatbot to watch junk folders so you Don’t Get Caught losing important mail. The crew also compares real‑world email providers, DNS setups (Cloudflare, Google, Quad9), and router‑level changes that stabilize your network. You get a reality check on legacy cruft—Trip Mode, MacFUSE, ancient launch agents—still loading after years of Migration Assistant, and how tools like Lingon and CleanMyMac help you audit what’s secretly running. On the fun-and-productivity side, you hear honest impressions of Apple Vision Pro: tabletop-style multiplayer games like Demeo, surprisingly usable virtual desktops, the importance of dual straps and decent cases, and when to skip hotel Wi‑Fi in favor of hotspots or a UniFi travel router so your Macs, iPads, and headsets all “think” they’re at home. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1131 for Monday, March 2nd, 2026 March 2nd: National Banana Cream Pie Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of SoundSource from Rogue Amoeba! Congrats to February’s winners! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Fernando-QT-Command+E lets you edit your most recent iMessage on the Mac 00:07:39 Ian-QT-Put NFC Tags or QR Codes on your tools with links to user manuals iFixIt Repair Guides and Manuals 00:11:03 That’s not Multitasking, That’s Cheating 00:13:16 Ben-QT-Select & Move Junk Mail Without Displaying its Content Private Internet Access hides you from spammers 00:15:03 Ernesto-How do you deal with spam email? SaneBox 00:25:20 Fastmail DOES offer a restore-from-backup option 00:27:13 Build domain-specific rules to filter spam SpamSieve 00:31:34 David-Which email provider do you use? Dave – Fastmail and Gmail Adam – Gmail/Google and iCloud Pete – Bluehost and iCloud 00:34:42 Migrating mail to a new provider Sponsors 00:38:24 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG 00:39:54 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. Audit your apps, Login Items, and Launch Agents 00:41:22 Pilot Pete-QT-MacOS 26 How I Fixed My Time Machine Backups on Synology after Tahoe 00:44:53 Tanel-DGC-Be aware of what you installed years ago MacFUSE CleanMyMac Lingon 00:54:10 Will-QT-DNS Adjustment fixes Hinky Internet (That’s a Technical Term!) Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 Quad9: 9.9.9.9 OpenDNS What do you use for Wi-Fi in Hotel Rooms? 01:00:13 UniFi Travel Router 01:02:15 Tethering to your iPhone Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 01:06:40 Rob-How do you like your Apple Vision Pro? How do you use it? Demeo on Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest, and more Syntech Apple Vision Pro Case Belkin Case for Apple Vision Pro 01:22:06 MGG 1131 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network
• My Chatbot Ate My Inbox 23.02.2026 1h 24min

  You start this episode leveling up your daily workflows with fast, memorable tweaks: styling text in Notes with a long press, dropping today’s date into Google Sheets with a quick shortcut, testing your real-world network speed from the Mac, and turning any clipboard grab into a Preview window so you can annotate or export in a flash. You also learn that canceling an in‑app subscription doesn’t instantly nuke Family Sharing, why Safari’s pinned tabs might be quietly chewing resources, and how to right-size your browser use so it serves you instead of hijacking your Mac. From there, you dive into practical tools for real life: apps to tame your family’s book library, a screensaver utility that slows things down, and current router picks spanning UniFi, TP-Link Wi‑Fi 7 options, Eero, and Orbi so your network actually matches your workloads. You hear how to orchestrate multiple AI agents, safely archive and truly back up your mail, and keep your own chatbot from eating your inbox, plus Cool Stuff Found like Omerta, YouTube on Apple Vision Pro, and more—because in the Apple tech world, as in life, Don’t Get Caught without the right tools and backups in place. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1130 for Monday, February 23rd, 2026 February 23rd: Pinocchio Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a Copilot Money! Congrats to January’s winner, Amanda Colyer! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Tom-QT-Long-press Aa in iPhone Notes to choose text styles 00:05:03 Avraham-QT-Use Command-Semicolon to enter current date into Google Sheets 00:06:46 Russell-QT-Use your Mac’s networkQuality to test your speed 00:10:30 Rob-QT-Paste Clipboard into Preview with Command-N 00:11:54 QT-You don’t immediately lose Family Sharing when you cancel an in-app subscription On the subject of browsers… 00:13:28 Allison-1128-Safari’s Pinned Tabs can be resource hogs 00:17:18 How much are you using your browser these days, anyway? Sponsors 00:19:30 SPONSOR: Tempo. For a limited time, Tempo is offering my listeners SIXTY PERCENT OFF your first box! Go to TempoMeals.com/MGG. 00:20:58 SPONSOR: Sundays for Dogs. Every bite of Sundays is clean and made from real meat, fruits, and veggies, with no kibble. Stanley loves it! Go right now to sundaysfordogs.com/MGG50 and get 50% off your first order. Or, you can use code MGG50 at checkout. 00:22:30 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/MGG Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:23:58 Alan-What software exists to catalog my family’s book library? CLZ Books Libib BookBuddy Sofa Tap Forms Pro Goodreads 00:31:22 Ken-How do I slow down my Mac’s screensaver? ArtSaver 00:34:54 Phillip-Which router do you recommend today? UCG Max TP Link Wi-Fi 7 Deco BE67 (or BE68 at Best Buy) TP Link BE63 (also Wi-Fi 7) Eero Pro 7 Orbi Wi-Fi 7 Reviews 00:45:40 Manhattan Glen-MGG Review-Great Show AI Learned Something! …  or … AIn’t It Cool? (Ok, obviously we need a segment name for our AI talk) 00:48:49 William-How do I set up multiple AI agents for my task? 00:55:05 Todd-QT-Use Perplexity’s website to download files it has created 00:57:09 Your mail might not be as backed-up as you think MailSteward 01:06:57 My Chatbot ate my Inbox OpenClaw Cool Stuff Found 01:16:53 ATC-CSF – Omerta – Don’t Get Caught 01:19:42 Eakster-CSF-YouTube for Apple Vision Pro is here! 01:23:18 MGG 1130 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network
• Shaving With Occam's Razor 16.02.2026 1h 24min

  You get a firehose of genuinely useful Apple tips this week, starting with new muscle-memory moves you’ll actually use: cycling app windows with Cmd + `, nodding or shaking to answer AirPods, dragging apps straight from iOS search, and building Focus-specific home screens so the right icons appear at the right time. Edge Light turns your Mac into a cleaner on‑camera rig, Display Buddy tames external monitor brightness, and custom macOS keyboard shortcuts plus Dock CPU meters give you fast, surgical control over your Mac. Then you level up your living room: master the Apple TV remote’s scrub wheel, undo accidental scrubs, jump in precise increments, push video from iPhone to Apple TV, and fling audio to HomePod with a tap. Even Reminders gets a glow‑up so you can punt a pile of alerts in one shot instead of playing whack‑a‑mole. From there, you zoom out to “meta” geekery: backing up critical Notes (or moving to OneNote, Ulysses, or Obsidian), even flirting with a git repo to sync prefs and personal data like a developer. On the road, you learn how to keep CarPlay tappable with gloves, and in the cloud you explore why chatbots forget context, when to bring in tools like Claude, Perplexity’s Comet, Atlas, Gemini, or Claude’s Chrome extension, and how having an always‑on troubleshooting assistant changes how you work. Listener reviews cap it off by framing the show as a kind of PhD in troubleshooting, all so you can experiment, push your tech harder, and, of course, don’t get caught.​ 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1129 for Monday, February 16th, 2026 February 16th: Innovation Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a Copilot Money! Congrats to January’s winner, Amanda Colyer! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Michael Ilin-QT-Press Cmd + ` to cycle all windows of that app 00:03:06 PilotPete-QT-Nod or Shake to answer your AirPods 00:05:49 Clif-QT-Relocate iOS apps by dragging from search results Eufy Smart Scale Withings Sleep Pad 00:07:47 Different home screens for different Focus Modes 00:11:16 QT-Use Edge Light for video calls in macOS 26.2-and-later 00:16:17 Use Display Buddy to control the brightness of your screen 00:18:09 Russell-QT-Map your own keyboard shortcuts in macOS settings Brave Browser’s LEO AI 00:23:03 The value of an always-on troubleshooting assistant Eney 00:26:32 Doug-QT-Set Activity Monitor to show CPU Usage in Dock 00:30:40 Apple TV Remote Quick Tip Masterclass EyeDentify-QT-Undo Accidental Scrubs on Apple TV Using the Apple TV remote’s scroll-wheel emulator to scrub in a fine-tuned way Double-tap scroll wheel edges to jump forwards or backwards Use Siri Commands, too 00:35:16 Dom Bettinelli-QT-Tap iPhone to Apple TV remote to transfer video to Apple TV 00:37:15 Tap your iPhone to your HomePod to transfer audio 00:37:45 Jeepster-QT-Procrastinate Multiple Reminders at Once Sponsors 00:41:17 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use our code MACGEEK for 20% off at clnmy.com/MACGEEK Don’t Get Caught 00:43:56 Steve-DGC-1128-Duplicate important Notes as backup Microsoft OneNote Ulysses Obsidian 00:54:56 What about a git repo to sync… prefs, notes, whatever? Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:55:53 Steve Hammond-How can I control CarPlay with gloves on? Capacitive Gloves for Screens and Phones 01:00:30 DJ Mac-ChatGPT and others regularly forget what I’ve told them Try claude.ai/giggab for half-price Claude Pro 01:08:16 William-1128-How do I get my browser to surf for me? Perplexity – Comet browser ChatGPT – ChatGPT Atlas browser Gemini – Gemini in Chrome Claude – Claude in Chrome extension Reviews 01:15:08 gdubs-MGG Review-A PhD in troubleshooting 01:16:08 michaefs-MGG Review-A great podcast 01:16:57 d32bus-MGG Review-Excellent show 01:17:39 MGG 1129 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network  
• Cool Stuff Found While Surfing with Agentic Browsers 09.02.2026 1h 26min

  This week on Mac Geek Gab 1128, you dive into a treasure chest of Cool Stuff Found with Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton. From DockLock Lite keeping your Dock in check to Backdrop 2.0’s animated lock screens and BookMacster’s bookmark magic, you’ll uncover smart Mac tricks you didn’t know you needed. The geeks take a nostalgic tangent into podcasting history before jumping into the now: Agentic browsers like ChatGPT’s Atlas and Perplexity’s Comet that are reshaping how you browse today. Safari killing your Tahoe? Find out why Apple’s AI choices might change how your Mac thinks. Then it’s back to more gems: Bootable clones return with SuperDuper, World Clock Widget makes global time simple, and Fastmail’s new desktop app joins BusyCal and Fantastical in taming your digital life. You’ll also learn how not to get caught with Apple Notes overwriting your data (keep the app open until it syncs!). Wrapping up, apps like Pixeldrop, Shutter Declutter, and Brick help you tidy photos, redact safely, and silence distractions. Plus, creative NFC tag hacks that make your smart home even smarter. As always, the MGG crew makes sure you Don’t Get Caught. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1128 for Monday, February 9th, 2026 February 9th: National Clean Out Your Computer Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a Copilot Money! Congrats to January’s winner, Amanda Colyer! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Cool Stuff Found 00:00:01 Bruce-CSF-Neo Network Utility 00:03:30 Oskar-CSM-Backdrop 2.0 adds Custom Live Wallpapers to the macOS Lock Screen 00:04:53 Pensacola Craig-CSF-DockLock Lite to keep your Mac’s Dock from jumping 00:06:11 Jim-CSF-1118–BookMacster by Sheep Systems to edit, sort, and sync bookmarks across browsers 00:08:26 Tangent: A discussion about how podcasting (and Maccast and Mac Geek Gab) got started 00:13:35 PilotPete-CSF-ChatGPT Atlas Browser Comet from Perplexity 00:15:00 Using Agentic Browsers is not the future…it’s the present! 00:26:04 And Safari might be killing your Tahoe 00:28:48 AI integrated into your operating system Apple needs to choose wisely 00:35:47 CSF-Eney Beta from MacPaw Sponsors 00:37:21 SPONSOR: Sundays for Dogs. Every bite of Sundays is clean and made from real meat, fruits, and veggies, with no kibble. Stanley loves it! Go right now to sundaysfordogs.com/MGG50 and get 50% off your first order. Or, you can use code MGG50 at checkout. 00:39:42 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/MGG MOAR Cool Stuff Found 00:41:32 Bruce-CSF-1127–ClipGrab to download YouTube videos (free download) 00:42:54 Kirschen-CSF-KeyClu replaces CheatSheet Use Brew! brew install –cask keyclu 00:45:25 Larry-CSF-SuperDuper WILL do bootable Clones on macOS 26 Using CCC Backup to create legacy bootable copies of macOS Idea: create a bootable external and stop once macOS is installed, leaving it ready for Migration Assistant (or anything else) 00:52:36 Andrew-CSF-World Clock Widget app UTC=Universal Time Coordinated Swatch Internet Time 00:56:33 David-CSF-Fastmail Desktop App for Mac BusyCal Fantastical Spark Mail Cardhop Don’t Get Caught with notes Syncing 01:01:42 DGC-Apple Notes only syncs when the app is open on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. This can lead to sync overwrites if one device makes a change without having the latest copy. Back to Cool Stuff Found 01:04:58 Bob-CSF-1107-Shutter Declutter helps process photos 01:11:00 rnDoug-Mole, a system maintenance tool 01:12:18 DanDXZDB-Pixeldrop for selectively redacting part of a photo Don’t Get Caught with your data buried in PDFs 01:14:20 DGC-Save redacted PDFs as a single layer so people can’t see your layers Back on Track with CSF 01:14:50 CSF-Brick to block distracting apps and notifications on your iPhone 01:19:38 Creatively Using NFC Tags Use NFC Tags with the Home app 01:21:48 QT-Re-use NFC Tags that other people send you! 01:24:04 MGG 1128 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network
• Newly Effectuated Reduced Functionality 02.02.2026 1h 18min

  You move fast in this episode, stacking Quick Tips that shave friction off your day almost immediately. You tell Siri to take notes on command, record audio directly inside Notes with native transcripts, and pull off smarter gestures in CarPlay Maps and iOS 26 Safari that feel hidden in plain sight. You tame the Camera side button, rename files faster from Finder and app toolbars, and generally remind yourself that small muscle-memory tweaks compound into real time saved. This is the kind of workflow polish that keeps you ahead instead of catching up. Then the conversation sharpens. You dig into why troubleshooting advice can be too eager to fix the wrong problem, unpack what “absolute mode” thinking really means, and react to Apple’s acquisition moves and fresh AirTag releases. Listener questions take you into practical territory like grabbing a single frame from video, sharing iCloud calendars with Android users, and understanding how features get quietly “nerfed,” leading to Pilot Pete’s perfectly named Newly Effectuated Reduced Functionality. You wrap with Cool Stuff Found that spans Vision Pro accessories, immersive gaming, and travel-ready power. The throughline is clear: know what still works, notice what’s been taken away, and adapt before it costs you time. Don’t Get Caught. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1127 for Monday, February 2nd, 2026 February 2nd: The Record of a Sneeze Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of Copilot Money! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Gene-QT-Hey Siri, Take a Note 00:03:48 Ian-QT-In Notes, Record Audio and Save the transcript natively! (Use the paper clip icon) 00:06:52 rnDoug-QT-1126-Zoom in CarPlay Maps with a special double-tap (and Peter, too) 00:10:32 Tom-1126-Hold down on URL Bar to close tab (and more) on iOS 26 00:11:13 Bill-QT-1126-Swipe Up on URL bar for All Tabs View on iPhone 00:12:53 Todd-QT-Camera Settings to Get Side Camera Button to do your bidding! 00:17:44 Bill-QT-1126-Rename files in Finder and from apps’ Toolbar Sponsors 00:21:24 SPONSOR: Tempo. For a limited time, Tempo is offering our listeners SIXTY PERCENT OFF your first box! Go to TempoMeals.com/MGG. 00:22:52 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG We Need To Talk 00:24:12 Craig-ChatGPT is too hasty to troubleshoot my tech issues ChatGPT Absolute Mode Hey, Did You Hear? 00:41:23 Apple acquires secretive Q․ai startup for $2 billion 00:45:40 New AirTags from Apple Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:50:21 Rob-How can I copy one frame from a video? yt-dlp (install with ‘brew install yt-dlp’) PullTube and Downie (also available in Setapp) What does NERF stand for when someone kills functionality Newly Effectuated Reduced Functionality 01:03:04 Larry-How can I share my iCloud calendar with an Android user? OneCalendar Sync for iCloud Cool Stuff Found 01:09:04 Adam-CSF-Apple Vision Pro Dual Knit Band Demeo on Vision Pro 01:12:29 DLH-CSF-Anker Prime 25W 3-in-1 Travel charger 01:16:36 MGG 1127 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network
• Car As a Service 26.01.2026 1h 18min

  You start with deceptively simple wins that immediately clean up your digital life. You batch-rename files in Finder, unlock hidden gestures on both Mac and iPhone, and speed yourself up with small but mighty keyboard and touch tricks. Along the way, a nostalgic detour into Lotus 1-2-3 sparks a surprisingly intense discussion about competitive spreadsheeting, airline safety systems, and how that thinking naturally leads to a bigger question: when does “Car as a Service” stop being a punchline and start being reality? Even the travel hacks stay practical, from surviving cruises without surprise data charges to resetting your internal clock before you even land. Then you shift into defense mode. You learn where password chaos actually comes from, why panic-resetting devices is sometimes the worst move, and how to spot bugs masquerading as personal failure. Listener questions take you deep into Lightroom quirks, CarPlay gesture mysteries, app safety checks, and Contacts behaving badly, with calm, methodical ways to unweird your setup instead of burning it down. It’s classic Mac Geek Gab: curiosity, experimentation, and real-world fixes that keep your tech working for you. Stay sharp, stay efficient, and Don’t Get Caught. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1126 for Monday, January 26th, 2026 January 26th: Lotus 1-2-3 Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of Ecamm Live or Carbon Copy Cloner 7! The MGG Merch Store is Live! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Craig-QT-You can batch rename files in Finder 00:05:01 January 26th: Lotus 1-2-3 Day 00:06:40 Competitive Spreadsheeting Full Contact Spreadsheeting TCAS System in airplanes Tangent: Car as a service 00:13:11 When can we move to Car As A Service? MOAR Quick Tips 00:19:30 Steve-You can also three finger pinch on the Mac! 00:22:56 Todd-Pinch iPhone Screen in Safari to reveal the All Tabs display 00:24:16 Time hack: when flying across time zones, start your day on the time zone you will be ending on 00:25:11 Craig-QT-Use Fn to bring up the Mac emoji picker 00:27:48 Jim-QT-For cruisers, disable cellular data on the ship Sponsors 00:30:35 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/MGG 00:31:48 SPONSOR: Copilot Money. Your money, beautifully organized, now across every device. For a limited-time, get 26% off your first year when you sign up at https://try.copilot.money/macgeekgab. Get two months free with code ‘macgeekgab’. 00:33:12 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. Don’t Get Caught 00:34:24 Michael-DGC-Password Hell is a Real Place Bitwarden Access became Uplock 00:53:17 Larry-DGC-Known Bug in Apple Search in Settings – Don’t Nuke-n-Pave Your iPad just yet Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:54:26 Bob-?-Why Lightroom + DropBox TidBits Article Won’t Let me Put Files in the Trash Bin? 01:00:18 DLH-Where is CarPlay Maps pinch to zoom? Maybe in iOS 26 01:04:49 Eric-Is MacUpdater still safe for now? 01:06:17 Sandy-Contacts is being weird…how do I unweird it? 01:17:55 MGG 1126 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast! Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network
• This Will All Be On The Test 19.01.2026 1h 21min

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