Your Quick Tip arsenal gets a serious upgrade this week: use the Live Text button to make scanning QR codes easier, resurrect Apple Mail’s Predicted Mailbox when it mysteriously grays out, and run softwareupdate –history in Terminal to see every macOS update your Mac has ever installed. You’ll also hear how one listener’s Shortcuts automation fixes AirPods auto-play, why BBEdit is your secret weapon for editing Excel formulas and tailing log files, and how Safari’s Show Reader option strips the junk from cluttered pages — plus a bonus riff on the real trade-offs between convenience, privacy, and the content you actually want. And yes, Siri AI in the iOS 27 betas is finally impressing people, with real-world examples to prove it.
Then Dave Hamilton and Adam Christianson dig into your questions: why Safari drops website connections (and how ping helps you diagnose it), whether those archive drives sitting in your drawer need regular care (spoiler: don’t get caught trusting a single backup you never spin up), and the smartest path for migrating your custom email domain from Google Workspace to iCloud. You’ll also get the scoop on replacing the Aging Paperless app before Rosetta vanishes with macOS 28, and a challenge worth taking: get your AI out of the chat window and into doing actual work for you. Press play, take notes, and Don’t Get Caught.
- 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1152 for Monday, July 27th, 2026
- Quick Tips
- 00:00:01 Todd-QT-Use the Live Text button to make QR codes easier
- 00:06:43 Steve-QT-Using Apple Mail’s Predicted Mailbox
- Bonus QT: Connect your inbox to your favorite LLM (via an MCP Connector?) and ask it “please tell me the ten most important emails requiring my action today.”
- 00:09:55 Stephen-Some of Siri AI’s improvements in the iOS 27 betas
- 00:17:54 Mike-QT-1151-Solve AirPods auto-play issues with Shortcuts
- 00:19:15 Craig-QT-Use ‘softwareupdate –history’ to see every macOS update your Mac’s ever done.
- 00:22:41 Mike-QT-You can still buy StyleWriter II cartridges at Staples!
- 00:24:11 Todd-QT-1151-Edit Excel Formulas in BBEdit
- 00:25:47 Kiwi Graham-QT-View log tails with BBEdit
- 00:29:01 Andy-QT-Use Safari’s “Show Reader” option to force reader view
- And a bonus conversation about the balance between convenience, privacy, and the Entertainment we want
- Sponsors
- Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared!
- 00:42:17 David-Why does Safari drop website connections?
- 00:51:44 Using location to help deliver content
- 00:54:15 GW-Do I need to care for my archive drives?
- 01:02:30 Jonathan-How do I migrate my email domain from GSuite to iCloud?
- 01:09:45 Kim-Which Paperless replacement and migration path are you using?
- 01:16:03 Get out of Chat with your AI
- 01:18:51 MGG 1152 Outtro
Dave Hamilton, a seasoned tech enthusiast, podcaster, and publisher, has dedicated the past three decades to aiding computer users globally. Known for his insightful advice and valuable product recommendations on the Mac Geek Gab podcast, Dave also enjoys an esteemed reputation as the founder of BackBeat Media, a network of fiercely independent publishers. His online publishing journey took off with The Mac Observer, an acclaimed Apple news site he co-founded in 1998 and led to its successful acquisition in 2021.
Beyond his tech-savvy persona, Dave embraces a vibrant life filled with music and family in the New Hampshire seacoast. He passionately performs with bands Bitter Pill and Fling, among other musical projects, creating a harmonic balance between his love for technology and music. Alongside his wife, Lisa, he raised their two children amidst this symphony of innovation, passion, and independent spirit, showcasing the power of embracing one's interests and using them to make a meaningful impact in the world.
