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Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

By: Dave Hamilton Pilot Pete & Adam Christianson
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 Get answers to your Apple tech questions every week! Dave Hamilton, Adam Christianson, and Pilot Pete share tips, tricks, and troubleshooting advice for your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and more — all delivered in a fun, friendly way that helps geeks and everyday users alike. Don’t Get Caught without your tech working right!The Mac Observer, Inc. 2025 Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Waiting for Snow Tahoe

    Waiting for Snow Tahoe
    Dec 22 2025
    You dig into the little things macOS quietly does for you, starting with the surprising truth about Clipboard History and why macOS 26 might feel slower than you’d expect. You explore ways to rein things in, from taming runaway apps to making better use of iPhone Mirroring and clever video capture tricks. Along the way, you’re reminded that old hardware still has value if you give it purpose, and that blind trust in AI troubleshooting can lead you astray faster than it helps. This is where staying curious beats staying complacent, and where “Don’t Get Caught” is more than a catchphrase. Then you move into the real-world problem solving that defines Mac Geek Gab: networking quirks that break expectations, WiFi settings that ignore reservations, and router updates that change the rules midstream. You also get clear, practical guidance on buying the right Mac, migrating only what you actually need, hunting down duplicate files, and reclaiming menu bar space from the notch. Even photo libraries get a reality check, helping you decide what truly needs to live inside Photos. It’s a fast-moving episode packed with answers you can use immediately, designed to keep your setup efficient, intentional, and frustration-free. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1121 for Monday, December 22nd, 2025 December 22nd: International Day of MathematicsMGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of OpenIn!The MGG Merch Store is Live!MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)!EeroEcammMacPawCCC Backup Quick Tips 00:00:02 QT-Turns out macOS keeps your Clipboard History?00:04:59 macOS 26 is slowing down Dave’s Macs App Tamer helps a little bit 00:15:00 Adam-QT-Use your iPhone Mirroring on your Mac00:17:59 Dale-QT-Video capture your devices’ “I’m Charged” states00:19:27 Kent-QT-CSF, or One Thing To Do With an Old iPad DAKboard.com Sponsors 00:22:27 SPONSOR: Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/mgg #rulapod00:23:41 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support Don’t Get Caught 00:24:57 Beware of Troubleshooting with ChatGPT and Gell-mann Amnesia00:27:59 Pilot Pete-DGC-Private WiFi Address doesn’t honor DHCP Reservation00:32:36 Craig-DGC-Updated my Orbi and it won’t let me set DHCP Reservations within the Dynamic DHCP Pool IP Range MGG Reviews00:43:36 NYCkRon-MGG Review-Learn new things00:44:29 Scotty Southard-MGG Review-Outstanding Mac Tips, New Stuff Found and Great KnowledgeSponsors 00:46:33 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’. Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:48:18 Elbert-How much Mac shall I buy? Refurb.me 00:58:40 Jose-Can I migrate just my user settings to a new Mac without migrating an entire account?01:05:13 Gary-How can I easily find duplicate files on my Mac? MacPaw’s Gemini 2 (it’s in Setapp!)Find Any File Scripts for Duplicate Finding 01:08:04 David-How do I keep Fantastical (or any app) from being hidden by my menu bar notch! Command-Drag that menu bar icon!Set a keyboard shortcut for it 01:13:27 Donald-Do I have to import all my photos into a library? 01:16:58 MGG 1121 Outtro MGG Monthly GiveawayBandwidth Provided by CacheFlyMGG’s CES 2026 SponsorsPilot 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) PodcastsMGG Merch is Available!Mac Geek Gab YouTube PageMac Geek Gab Live CalendarThis Week’s MGG Premium ContributorsMGG Apple Podcasts Reviewsfeedback@macgeekgab.com224-888-GEEKActive MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes ListBackBeat Media Podcast Network
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • Siri, It's Time For an Intercontinental Misunderstanding

    Siri, It's Time For an Intercontinental Misunderstanding
    Dec 15 2025
    You jump straight into a rapid-fire run of Quick Tips that quietly level up how you use your devices every day. You learn how iOS 26 now shows charging time right on the lock screen, how to build polished collages in Pages or Canva without paying a dime, and how to finally extract and archive your full iMessage history using proper database tools instead of hacks. Along the way, you tweak haptics for better feedback, realize the iOS Stocks app works just fine on a Mac, and discover how a simple Command-Shift-2 move inside ChatGPT can instantly pull screenshots into your workflow. The throughline is efficiency without sloppiness, because convenience is great until it compromises control. Don’t Get Caught. Then things get deeper, and more fun. You wrestle with real-world troubleshooting, from intermittent freezing in Tahoe to why subjective sleep scores still matter if you want to manage what you monitor. Siri’s growing confusion about dates and times turns into a full-blown intercontinental misunderstanding, and the team breaks down the alphabet soup of 5G variants so you know what your phone is actually using. The final stretch becomes a live, unscripted tech support jam session, digging into creative AirTag placement, pasting clipboards as keystrokes, and reorganizing applications with surgical precision. It’s messy, methodical, and exactly how real problem-solving happens when the mics are on and the answers are not obvious. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1120 for Monday, December 15th, 2025 December 15th: International Tea DayMGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of OpenIn!The MGG Merch Store is Live! MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)!EeroEcammMacPawCCC Backup Quick Tips 00:00:01 QT-iOS 26 lock screen has charging time00:04:38 Jim-QT-Use Pages to Make a Collage! Don’t Pay! Canva, too. 00:07:37 Chris-QT-Get a useable complete iMessage History DB Browser for SQLiteBase for SQLite on Setapp 00:09:33 Robert-CSF-1118–iMessage-Exporter to archive your iMessages00:12:46 Todd-QT-1119-Increase Haptic Prominence00:14:15 Bill-QT-Stocks App iOS QT Works on a Mac too!00:15:52 QT-Command-Shift-2 in ChatGPT immediately adds a screenshot of your most-recent window Shottr A discussion about using ChatGPT, et al, and finding your place on the continuum between privacy and convenience. One year free Perplexity subscription if you have PayPalVS Code CoPilot ChatGPT integrationGoogle Antigravity 00:26:16 QT-ChatGPT, use these screenshots to help me build a formula for Google Sheets Sponsors 00:27:27 SPONSOR: Udacity is an online learning platform with courses in AI and Tech. For 40% off your order, head to Udacity.com/MGG and use code MGG.00:28:44 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! 00:29:59 Kirit-Tahoe, freezing from time to time00:34:19 Bob, MD-1119-If sleep score is so subjective, why use it? That which is monitored is managed 00:41:17 Antony-Does Siri Know What Day It Is?00:48:19 What’s the difference between 5G, 5G+, 5G UC, and 5G UW?00:51:48 Time For an Intercontinental Misunderstanding Sponsors 00:53:32 SPONSOR: Aura Frames. Relive your favorite holiday traditions—every day. Visit AuraFrames.com and get $45 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames – named #1 by Wirecutter – by using promo code MGG at checkout. MOAR Quick Tips 00:55:30 Scott-QT-Creative Air Tag Locations00:57:42 Pilot Pete-QT-Paste Clipboard as Keystrokes – Native to Mac OS01:09:20 Chris-QT-Add folders to label Applications 01:19:43 MGG 1120 Outtro MGG Monthly GiveawayBandwidth Provided by CacheFlyMGG’s CES 2026 SponsorsPilot 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) PodcastsMGG Merch is Available!Mac Geek Gab YouTube PageMac Geek Gab Live CalendarThis Week’s MGG Premium ContributorsMGG Apple Podcasts Reviewsfeedback@macgeekgab.com224-888-GEEKActive MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes ListBackBeat Media Podcast Network
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Scoring the Sleep Scores

    Scoring the Sleep Scores
    Dec 8 2025
    You dive into a packed Cool Stuff Found episode this week, moving fast from sensor-powered tinkering with phyphox to smarter dictation using Wispr Flow, altitude readouts in CarPlay, and Emby’s upgraded media management. You get practical wins too: safer file sharing with MetaWipe, smoother workflows through PopClip, a road-tested Nomatic backpack, and Picmal for quick local media conversions. Then the conversation flips to your questions: which sleep score app you can trust, how the new Journals app handles multiple journals, and how to make notifications behave when your Apple Watch is on your wrist. Don’t Get Caught missing the deep cuts. You also hear clear guidance on backup safety, with SuperDuper, Carbon Copy Cloner, ChronoSync, and Backblaze each playing a different role depending on how you protect your data. To wrap things up, the crew tackles border ID differences between REAL ID and passports, whether upgrading to macOS Tahoe or Sequoia is the smarter move, and a listener warning about bottom-filled beers that’s both funny and useful. It’s a full tour of tech insight and practical nerd wisdom, delivered at MGG speed. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1119 for Monday, December 8th, 2025 December 8th: Take it in the Ear DayMGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of OpenIn!The MGG Merch Store is Live!MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)!EeroEcammMacPawCCC Backup Cool Stuff Found 00:00:01 Ian-CSF-phyphox gives you ALL the Sensors on your Phone to play with!00:07:44 David-CSF-Wispr Flow for Dictation00:10:02 Bob-CSF-Altimeter & Barometer Pro shows your altitude in a CarPlay widget00:11:56 P2-CSF-Emby Media Server Emby Metadata Enhanced PluginPlex 00:16:29 Michael-CSF-1117–MetaWipe to safely send files00:20:17 Tony-GG-Popclip app is super handy and affordable00:22:04 Dave-GG-Nomatic Travel Backpack been using all year00:27:58 Alberto-CSMade-Picmal converts and compresses images, videos, and audio files locally on your Mac Sponsors 00:30:11 SPONSOR: Framer. Ready to design, iterate, and publish all in one tool? Start creating for free at Framer.com/design, and use code MGG for a free month of Framer Pro.00:31:51 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:33:10 Tony-Which App’s sleep score is best? Sleep++Withings SleepApple Sleep Score 00:48:33 Journals app now supports multiple journals Sponsors 00:49:31 SPONSOR: Superhuman. Get AI that works where you work. Unlock your Superhuman potential. Learn more at Superhuman.com/PODCAST00:50:54 SPONSOR: AG1. Head to DrinkAG1.com/MGG to get a FREE Welcome Kit with an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3 plus K2, when you first subscribe. MOAR Questions 00:52:23 Brian-How to Get Notifications on my Phone With an Apple Watch on My Wrist00:59:25 Raptor-Is it OK to run backups in the background on your Mac? SuperDuper!CCC BackupChronoSyncBackblaze 01:03:57 WPooka-MGG Review-Great show Don’t Get Caught 01:08:49 Dave-DGC-Differences between REAL ID and US Passport at Land Borders01:12:12 SonoMacGuy-DGC-Update Sequoia -v- Upgrade to Tahoe01:16:20 Gray-DGC-Beware the bottom-filled beers! 01:17:30 MGG 1119 Outtro MGG Monthly GiveawayBandwidth Provided by CacheFlyMGG’s CES 2026 SponsorsPilot 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) PodcastsMGG Merch is Available!Mac Geek Gab YouTube PageMac Geek Gab Live CalendarThis Week’s MGG Premium ContributorsMGG Apple Podcasts Reviewsfeedback@macgeekgab.com224-888-GEEKActive MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes ListBackBeat Media Podcast Network
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    1 hr and 20 mins
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