Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting Newly Effectuated Reduced Functionality
You move fast in this episode, stacking Quick Tips that shave friction off your day almost immediately. You tell Siri to take notes on command, record audio directly inside Notes with native transcripts, and pull off smarter gestures in CarPlay Maps and iOS 26 Safari that feel hidden in plain sight. You tame the Camera side button, rename files faster from Finder and app toolbars, and generally remind yourself that small muscle-memory tweaks compound into real time saved. This is the kind of workflow polish that keeps you ahead instead of catching up.
Then the conversation sharpens. You dig into why troubleshooting advice can be too eager to fix the wrong problem, unpack what “absolute mode” thinking really means, and react to Apple’s acquisition moves and fresh AirTag releases.
Listener questions take you into practical territory like grabbing a single frame from video, sharing iCloud calendars with Android users, and understanding how features get quietly “nerfed,” leading to Pilot Pete’s perfectly named Newly Effectuated Reduced Functionality.
You wrap with Cool Stuff Found that spans Vision Pro accessories, immersive gaming, and travel-ready power. The throughline is clear: know what still works, notice what’s been taken away, and adapt before it costs you time. Don’t Get Caught.
- 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1127 for Monday, February 2nd, 2026
- February 2nd: The Record of a Sneeze Day
- MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of Copilot Money!
- The MGG Merch Store is Live!
- Quick Tips
- 00:00:01 Gene-QT-Hey Siri, Take a Note
- 00:03:48 Ian-QT-In Notes, Record Audio and Save the transcript natively! (Use the paper clip icon)
- 00:06:52 rnDoug-QT-1126-Zoom in CarPlay Maps with a special double-tap (and Peter, too)
- 00:10:32 Tom-1126-Hold down on URL Bar to close tab (and more) on iOS 26
- 00:11:13 Bill-QT-1126-Swipe Up on URL bar for All Tabs View on iPhone
- 00:12:53 Todd-QT-Camera Settings to Get Side Camera Button to do your bidding!
- 00:17:44 Bill-QT-1126-Rename files in Finder and from apps’ Toolbar
- Sponsors
- 00:21:24 SPONSOR: Tempo. For a limited time, Tempo is offering our listeners SIXTY PERCENT OFF your first box! Go to TempoMeals.com/MGG.
- 00:22:52 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG
- We Need To Talk
- 00:24:12 Craig-ChatGPT is too hasty to troubleshoot my tech issues
- Hey, Did You Hear?
- 00:41:23 Apple acquires secretive Q․ai startup for $2 billion
- 00:45:40 New AirTags from Apple
- Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared!
- 00:50:21 Rob-How can I copy one frame from a video?
- yt-dlp (install with ‘brew install yt-dlp’)
- PullTube and Downie (also available in Setapp)
- What does NERF stand for when someone kills functionality
- Newly Effectuated Reduced Functionality
- 01:03:04 Larry-How can I share my iCloud calendar with an Android user?
- 00:50:21 Rob-How can I copy one frame from a video?
- Cool Stuff Found
- 01:09:04 Adam-CSF-Apple Vision Pro Dual Knit Band
- 01:12:29 DLH-CSF-Anker Prime 25W 3-in-1 Travel charger
- 01:16:36 MGG 1127 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!
- 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