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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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