Scoring the Sleep Scores
Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting
How metrics shape different sleep scores
Dave and Adam analyze duration, heart rate variability, deep sleep, and why scores diverge across apps.
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 Day
- MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of OpenIn!
- The MGG Merch Store is Live!
- MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors:
- BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)!
- Eero
- Ecamm
- MacPaw
- CCC 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 Dictation
- 00:10:02 Bob-CSF-Altimeter & Barometer Pro shows your altitude in a CarPlay widget
- 00:11:56 P2-CSF-Emby Media Server
- 00:16:29 Michael-CSF-1117–MetaWipe to safely send files
- 00:20:17 Tony-GG-Popclip app is super handy and affordable
- 00:22:04 Dave-GG-Nomatic Travel Backpack been using all year
- 00:27:58 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 Sleep
- Apple Sleep Score
- 00:48:33 Journals app now supports multiple journals
- 00:33:10 Tony-Which App’s sleep score is best?
- Sponsors
- 00:49:31 SPONSOR: Superhuman. Get AI that works where you work. Unlock your Superhuman potential. Learn more at Superhuman.com/PODCAST
- 00:50:54 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 Wrist
- 00:59:25 Raptor-Is it OK to run backups in the background on your Mac?
- 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 Borders
- 01:12:12 SonoMacGuy-DGC-Update Sequoia -v- Upgrade to Tahoe
- 01:16:20 Gray-DGC-Beware the bottom-filled beers!
- 01:17:30 MGG 1119 Outtro
- MGG Monthly Giveaway
- Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly
- MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors
- 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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