Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

Discover quick tips to transform screenshots into PDFs and improve your document scanning skills. Learn why most Macs can't handle 20Gbps USB and get the lowdown on better CarPlay cables. Dive into the battle between Apple Music and Spotify, exploring playlist strengths and audio quality. Troubleshoot blank email previews and keep your U.S. number while abroad. Plus, uncover strategies to negotiate lower mobile and ISP bills, ensuring your Apple devices run smoothly!

Ever wondered if mirrors can mess with your Wi-Fi? You're not alone! Discover how reflective surfaces sabotage signals and strategies to counteract it. Learn clever tips for managing Apple Watch unlocks to avoid accidental calls and ways to clear your iPhone's keyboard dictionary easily. Need help with your Dock on multiple monitors? An AppleScript has got you covered! Plus, explore the world of data-blocking gadgets, enhanced password management, and how to troubleshoot pesky AirPlay issues—all while answering listener questions!

Discover clever ways to color-code and organize your USB and Thunderbolt cables for hassle-free access. Get savvy tips on using ChatGPT for voice responses and automating Time Machine backups. Learn to determine USB-C cable speeds and how to avoid unwanted pocket calls. Find out about useful apps like Dory for easy app switching and VueScan for reviving old scanners. Plus, explore practical advice on traveling with tech, optimizing your Mac experience, and cleaning up cloud clutter. Stay sharp and efficient in your digital life!

Discover clever tips like creating folders in Finder with a simple drag. Learn about a new affordable AppleCare plan that could save you money while managing multiple devices. Uncover how to use AirPods Pro as makeshift earplugs and scan large documents with ease. Listen in as they tackle iMac crashing issues and password management strategies for families. Plus, explore the idea of repurposing old tech for educational purposes. It’s a treasure trove of practical advice and humorous insights for Apple enthusiasts!

Live from Macstock 2025, tech enthusiasts face off in a lively Q&A. Discover how to enable iPhone Mirroring for notifications and troubleshoot pesky Dock issues. The hosts tackle everything from Drobo debates to strange Apple Maps problems, all in real-time. Tips for multi-monitor setups and VPNs keep the crowd engaged. Unscripted, with laughs and tech dilemmas from the audience, this session is a treasure trove of quick fixes and community bonding. Plus, enjoy a toast to favorite wines amidst the tech chatter!

Discover quick tips for enhancing your Apple experience! Learn how to fix flaky Apple TV Wi-Fi and make AirPods fit better by flipping them. Uncover the secret behind renaming email flags for better organization and explore custom routes in Apple Maps. Plus, get advice on navigating the world of USB-C cables and boosting display brightness for optimal productivity. With engaging listener questions, you'll find out how to streamline your digital life and avoid common tech pitfalls while exploring exciting tools and apps.

Join the hosts as they unveil power-user tips for mastering your Apple devices. Learn how to navigate Notes swiftly and create personalized music stations in Apple Music. They tackle real-world tech snags, like troubleshooting a HomePod mishap and the woes of merging Apple IDs. Discover cool finds, from vintage turntables to AirPods sound insights. Plus, hear fresh takes on the latest beta releases and tech innovations, ensuring you're always ahead in the Apple ecosystem.

You’re about to level up your tech game with Quick Tips and Cool Stuff Found that’ll make you wonder how you ever lived without them. From keeping tabs on low AirPods battery via the Today view widget to renaming your Spaces for better Mac workflow, it’s all here. Discover magnetic AirTag mounts, a Zulu Time converter, a portable vac/blower combo, and even a 10Gbps SSD that’s thinner than your AirPods case. And if you’ve been craving better backups, networked Time Machine options from Synology and Buffalo make an appearance, too. Don’t Get Caught without them. Ever thought of doing a clean install straight from macOS Settings? You can. Migrating from Intel to Apple Silicon? Yeah, it “just works.” Plus, we answer listener questions on fixing autocorrect quirks, exporting text replacements, and balancing podcast audio using tools like Overcast and Levelator. Got a slow-booting iMac? Try verbose mode and dive deep with the Terminal. And if you’re monitor shopping, we’ve got budget picks ranging from Sceptre to Philips. This episode’s packed—just the way you like it. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1096 for Monday, June 30th, 2025 June 30th: Social Media Day What is “Wook Flu”? Police Code 10-96 – Mental patient / Detain suspect MGG Monthly Giveaway – 1MORE Sonoflow Headphones We’ll be doing MGG Live at Macstock on Saturday, July 12th! Join us, and use our coupon code: MACGEEKGAB50 to save $50! Quick Tips 00:00:01 Scott-QT-Use the Batteries widget in Today view to see low AirPods Cool Stuff Found 00:03:29 Richard-CSF-AirTag Magnetic Aero 00:05:02 Ben-CSF-Spaces Renamer to assign names to your Mac’s spaces 00:06:25 Andrew-CSF-Time Zone Converter for Zulu Time 00:09:01 CSF-Ampace Andes 1500 Power Station 00:13:18 CSF-Scosche Portable Vac / Blower Sponsors 00:16:16 SPONSOR: Wix puts incredible website creation at your fingertips with their AI site builder. It’s fun and it’s drag-and-drop easy. Go to Wix.com to start building your website today. Click this link https://bit.ly/43XQ3JB to start your free trial with Wix. 00:17:34 SPONSOR: Surfshark. Secure your privacy with SurfShark. Go to https://surfshark.com/mgg or use code MGG at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Cool Stuff Found for backups and more 00:18:51 CSF-Crucial 2TB SSD – 10GBps USB-C – $121 (about the size than an AirPods case) CSF-Anker 4-in1 USB-C Hub Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI) 00:24:18 Partitioning vs. Multiple Volumes with APFS 00:30:25 Brian-What device for simple networked Time Machine? Buffalo LinkStation LinkStation Time Machine support Synology BeeStation (also with TimeMachine support) 00:39:27 What about a WiFi NAS? 00:41:12 Darrin-QT-Clean Install right in macOS Settings 00:45:47 Peter-QT-1095-Migrating from Intel to Apple Silicon “just works” Sponsors 00:49:09 SPONSOR: ScreenFloat 2. From the folks who brought us Yoink comes ScreenFloat 2, the Mac’s Screen Capture All-Rounder. Capture screenshots & recordings, then trim/crop/cut to your heart’s content. 00:50:38 SPONSOR: Constant Contact makes marketing easier and more effective for small businesses like yours. Try Constant Contact free for 30 days at ConstantContact.com. Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:52:01 TonyB-How do I stop macOS from correcting a single word/name? 00:54:07 Right-click on your Mac to export your text replacements 00:55:58 Hinches-How can I balance podcast audio when one person is louder than the other? Overcast Levelator AES “Recommendation for Loudness of Audio Streaming & Network File Playback.” 01:01:48 Bob-My 2019 iMac started booting very, very slowly MacPaw – How to boot your Mac in verbose mode sudo nvram boot-args=”-v” 01:07:21 Dan-Which 27″ Display should I get? Samsung for $250 Sceptre for $180 Monoprice (refurbished) for $250 Dell for $280 LG for 399 Philips Creator Series for $433 01:14:43 MGG 1096 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway – 1MORE Sonoflow Headphones 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

Curious about upgrading your Mac? Discover essential migration tips to avoid digital clutter, plus a fascinating comparison of MacBook Air and Pro displays. Learn creative uses for iPhone mirroring and clever tips like binder clips as minimalist wallets. Delve into AirTag functionality, Apple Music hacks, and automation tools like Retrobatch. Explore the naming debate for Apple's next OS and troubleshoot Bluetooth audio quirks to enhance your tech experience. It's a treasure trove of practical tips and engaging insights!

You’re gonna love this jam-packed episode of Mac Geek Gab! Dive in with a barrage of Quick Tips, like turning your wonky circle sketches into perfect shapes, compressing image sizes with Mail and Squash, and even tricking Safari into showing you paywalled content. Your fellow geeks also bring sharp insights—from switching Night Stand clocks from UTC to local time, to using OnyX for nuking Time Machine snapshots. And yes, CleanMyMac’s Space Lens is back! But that’s just the warm-up. This week’s geek-fueled highlight? Custom Focus Modes. Listeners share brilliant ways to reclaim their attention—like silencing politics, syncing modes to time and place, and creating modes for everything from church to live sports. You’ll also get answers to smart questions about iMessage quirks, 5G Standalone, and whether your IoT network is friend or foe. Stay ahead of the curve with a peek into visionOS 26 and the next Podcasts app update—and remember, Don’t Get Caught. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1094 for Monday, June 16th, 2025 June 16th: Take Your Cat to Work Day Police Code 10-94 – Street Racing MGG Monthly Giveaway – 1MORE We’ll be doing MGG Live at Macstock on Saturday, July 12th! Join us, and use our coupon code: MACGEEKGAB50 to save $50! 00:06:23 Ad feedback? Quick Tips 00:00:01 BoyMax-QT-Hold your finger down after drawing a circle with MarkUp, and it will make it a perfect oval/circle 00:08:11 Bill-QT-Use Apple Mail to Quickly Reduce Photos Squash (for Mac) ImageOptim Permute 00:13:44 Joe-QT-Hide Distracting Items to read (some) paywalled content in Safari 00:18:05 QT-Night Stand Mode Clock on UTC – Fix to Local 00:22:24 Shannon-QT-1092-OnyX can delete Snapshots en masse 00:25:34 Jenn-QT-Space Lens is BACK in Clean My Mac 00:26:56 SPONSOR: Fireflies AI. Fireflies is the number one AI teammate that transcribes, summarizes, and analyzes your conversations so you can get the most out of every meeting. Get 2 months free at Fireflies.ai/mgg. 00:28:38 SPONSOR: Surfshark. Secure your privacy with SurfShark. Go to https://surfshark.com/mgg or use code MGG at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Your Custom Focus Modes 00:30:01 Randy-Custom Focus Mode: Church 00:31:05 Derek-Custom Focus Mode: No Politics! 00:32:43 Brian-1092-Triggering work focus mode by time and location 00:34:06 Harvey-1092-Use Focus Modes with the Action button…and when watching Live Sports 00:36:17 Steve-1092-Using Focus Modes to manage notifications and let me know what mode I’m in 00:39:04 Henry-1092-Focus modes for night vision, inspiration, sleep, and more 00:41:44 Adam’s Audio Issues…Continue 00:44:51 Darrin-Custom Focus Modes: Morning, Daytime, Evening, Sleep 00:46:15 SPONSOR: Yoink from Eternal Storms. Yoink is a temporary “shelf” that makes drag-and-drop easier for your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It’s one of Dave’s “must-have” apps. 00:47:33 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support. Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:50:36 Tom-How do I set more-granular focus modes? 00:52:50 Judy-Using alias’ and question about keeping Messages… 01:01:45 JP-Why can’t I search in Recently Deleted Messages? 01:03:33 JT-What is 5G Standalone and do I want it? 01:09:59 Mike-Will adding an IOT network solve my headaches…or add more? WiFi Explorer Apple’s Upcoming 2026 OSes 01:14:23 New features coming to Apple’s Podcasts app 01:15:49 Adam installed visionOS 26 01:22:18 MGG 1094 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway – 1MORE Headphones 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