Gift Guide: Useful, Affordable Tech Picks

This week, you’re diving deep into a treasure trove of quick tips and practical geekery with Dave, Pilot Pete, and Adam! From setting iOS call-back reminders to connecting keyboards to your iPhone or iPad, you’ll learn how to make Apple’s ecosystem work smarter for you. Discover why Numbers might finally replace Excel, how to share spreadsheets with non-Mac users, and why FileMaker still rules the database world. macOS Tahoe brings a few surprises too—automatic FileVault encryption and a slick new SSH remote unlock feature—plus Docker tricks for keeping MariaDB safe across installs and smarter audio control for Zoom with SoundSource.

Then, it’s time for MGG’s signature blend of news and gear: Synology loosens its drive rules, Apple’s M5 chip and Vision Pro refresh redefine what’s “next-gen,” and the hosts roll through this year’s first Gift Guide—packed with clever, affordable gadgets from wireless CarPlay screens to flight-ready Bluetooth transmitters. Finally, listener questions hit hard: should you upgrade to macOS 26, and what’s the real story behind its indexing bugs? Tune in, geek out, and remember—Don’t Get Caught without your tech homework done!

• 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1112 for Wednesday, October 20th, 2025
  • October 20th: Information Overload Day
  • MGG Monthly Giveaway – Your license to PowerPhotos!
  • The MGG Merch Store is Live!
• Quick Tips
  • 00:00:01 Kiwi Graham-QT-Set a Call-Back Reminder in iOS 26
  • 00:03:06 Jim-QT-Cmd+Space works on iPad too
    • Using a keyboard with your iPad or iPhone
    • Adam connected a keyboard to his iPhone with a USB-C Cable
    • Dictate to ChatGPT when starting a project to give it a blob of information
  • 00:05:53 GW-QT-Started Using Numbers Instead of Excel
  • 00:07:00 FileMaker is *still* crushing it!
  • 00:09:13 Sharing Numbers documents with non-Apple users
    • Use iCloud for Numbers
    • LibreOffice
    • Synology Office
  • 00:11:37 QT-macOS Tahoe upgrade automatically enables FileVault
  • 00:13:28 SccrHallways-QT-Tahoe adds a way of using SSH to remotely unlock
  • 00:14:44 Dave-QT-1110-Run MariaDB in Docker to preserve it across installs
    • Portainer
    • Docker Desktop
  • 00:19:13 QT-Use Soundsource for those Zoom meetings
  • 00:22:10 Heidi-QT-Hold Option in 1Password to reveal hidden fields
    • How do you have your password manager configured? Is it super-secure, or super-convenient, or somewhere in-between?
  • 00:26:57 Tony-QT-Taming Liquid Glass (ChatGPT Summary)
• Sponsors
  • 00:30:36 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG
• Vendor News
  • 00:32:19 Bob, et al-QT-Synology no longer requiring first party drives
    • Christopher-Synology DSM 7.3 is out, and relaxes drive restrictions)
  • 00:34:28 Apple TV & Peacock Bundle
  • 00:37:02 Apple’s new M5 Chip
    • New M5-based MacBook Pro
  • 00:43:11 New M5-based Apple Vision Pro
    • The way Apple upgraded this is more like the way they upgrade computers vs. iPhones and Watches
  • 00:49:14 The M5 is only the M5 for now (no Pro or Max)
• Sponsors
  • 00:51:49 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support.
• MGG Gift Guide
  • 00:53:32 Dave-GG-7” Aftermarket Wireless CarPlay Screen ($49)
  • 00:56:24 Adam-GG-CarLinkIt 5.0 Wireless CarPlay adapter ($55)
  • 00:59:52 Pete-GG-Air Tags on Sale $64.99 / 4-pack
  • 01:02:07 Dave-GG-Quartet Glass Dry Erase Desktop Computer Pad ($28)
  • 01:03:51 Pete-GG-UGREEN Airplane Bluetooth 6.0 Transmitter Receiver for 2 Flight, TV, Car Stereo ($19)
  • 01:06:04 Pete-GG SARISUN Airplane Head Strap with Eye Mask for Sleep
• Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared!
  • 01:07:16 Paul-Should I upgrade macOS 26?
    • Bartender 6 for macOS 26
  • 01:14:45 Michelle-1110-Safari indexing was broken until 26.0.1
• 01:18:52 MGG 1112 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