Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

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

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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

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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.

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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

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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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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

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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 – feedback@macgeekgab.com

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

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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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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

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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 – feedback@macgeekgab.com

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

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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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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

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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 – feedback@macgeekgab.com

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

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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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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

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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 – feedback@macgeekgab.com

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

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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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Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar

This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors

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feedback@macgeekgab.com

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