Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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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

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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

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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

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You learn at least five new things every episode, and this one stacks them fast. Roll your Apple Watch crown instead of tapping it to keep Sleep mode from searing your eyes, then hit Command-Shift-F in the Finder to jump straight to Recents when a saved file vanishes into the void. When a listener asks how to archive iMessages, you’ll meet iMazing, Shottr’s scrolling screenshots, privacy.apple.com, and a public-key-encryption rabbit hole that explains why even Apple can’t hand your texts back. You’ll also learn to Control-click the Printers list to reset the entire CUPS printing system, and to check every app’s Rosetta versus Apple Silicon status before sluggish performance quietly fools you, because Rosetta survives macOS 27 but finally bows out in fall 2027, so audit those Intel holdouts now.

Then the questions roll in. You’ll troubleshoot a PDF that downloads on one Mac but stalls on another (think DNS blocks, CDN handoffs, stale session cookies, and a fast browser swap), wrestle Apple TV lip-sync into line by killing soundbar processing and matching frame rates, and chase a self-dimming iPad back to its ambient-light sensor and screen protector.

Cool Stuff Found delivers a Beelink dock that sidesteps Apple’s storage surcharges and Pixette for reviving an ancient iPad as a photo frame. And when refurb Mac minis sell out in two hours and Apple nudges prices up overnight? Don’t Get Caught letting hope prevail like Dave did, grab it the moment you see it, because that cart won’t hold it for you.

00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1149 for Monday, July 6th, 2026

July 6th: National Air Traffic Control Day

00:02:47 A quick video from Dave’s daughter’s wedding

MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Mole

Quick Tips

00:00:01 Jan Landy-QT-Roll Your Apple Watch crown in Sleep Mode to go easy on your eyes

00:06:36 Claire-QT-To Find something you just added, Command-Shift-F in Finder for your Recents list

00:11:02 GW-I wish Apple had a way to archive Messages

iMazing

(and formerly PhoneView)

Remember privacy.apple.com

00:19:09 Message in iCloud and Public Key Encryption

Shottr’s scrolling screenshots

00:23:33 WillRun4Fun-QT-Control-click in Printers list to Reset Printing System

Enable CUPS web page on your Mac

Visit https://localhost:631/printers/

If that fails, open Terminal and run “cupsctl WebInterface=yes” to enable it

00:26:14 TheDaveAbides-QT-Check your apps’ Rosetta/Apple Silicon status

00:35:28 Andrew-QT-Buy your refurbs immediately…don’t just leave in your cart

Refurb Tracker

RefurbMe

AppTamer

Sponsors

00:40:49 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!

00:42:10 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.

00:43:48 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.

Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared!

00:45:16 Mike-Why can I download a pdf on ONE computer, but not another?

00:53:01 David-How do I resolve Apple TV lip sync issues?

YouTube A/V sync videos

AWOL 2500 Projector

Sonos Soundbars

01:04:52 Larry-iPad Dims When I don’t want it to

Cool Stuff Found

01:12:44 Mike-CSF-Belkin Beelink Mac mini storage dock (and others like it)

01:14:24 Greg-CSF-1147-Pixette for displaying photos on an old iPad

01:16:55 MGG 1149 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