This week on Mac Geek Gab 1128, you dive into a treasure chest of Cool Stuff Found with Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton. From DockLock Lite keeping your Dock in check to Backdrop 2.0’s animated lock screens and BookMacster’s bookmark magic, you’ll uncover smart Mac tricks you didn’t know you needed. The geeks take a nostalgic tangent into podcasting history before jumping into the now: Agentic browsers like ChatGPT’s Atlas and Perplexity’s Comet that are reshaping how you browse today. Safari killing your Tahoe? Find out why Apple’s AI choices might change how your Mac thinks.
Then it’s back to more gems: Bootable clones return with SuperDuper, World Clock Widget makes global time simple, and Fastmail’s new desktop app joins BusyCal and Fantastical in taming your digital life. You’ll also learn how not to get caught with Apple Notes overwriting your data (keep the app open until it syncs!). Wrapping up, apps like Pixeldrop, Shutter Declutter, and Brick help you tidy photos, redact safely, and silence distractions. Plus, creative NFC tag hacks that make your smart home even smarter. As always, the MGG crew makes sure you Don’t Get Caught.
- 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1128 for Monday, February 9th, 2026
- Cool Stuff Found
- 00:00:01 Bruce-CSF-Neo Network Utility
- 00:03:30 Oskar-CSM-Backdrop 2.0 adds Custom Live Wallpapers to the macOS Lock Screen
- 00:04:53 Pensacola Craig-CSF-DockLock Lite to keep your Mac’s Dock from jumping
- 00:06:11 Jim-CSF-1118–BookMacster by Sheep Systems to edit, sort, and sync bookmarks across browsers
- 00:08:26 Tangent: A discussion about how podcasting (and Maccast and Mac Geek Gab) got started
- 00:13:35 PilotPete-CSF-ChatGPT Atlas Browser
- 00:15:00 Using Agentic Browsers is not the future…it’s the present!
- 00:26:04 And Safari might be killing your Tahoe
- 00:28:48 AI integrated into your operating system
- Apple needs to choose wisely
- 00:35:47 CSF-Eney Beta from MacPaw
- Sponsors
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- 00:39:42 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/MGG
- MOAR Cool Stuff Found
- Don’t Get Caught with notes Syncing
- 01:01:42 DGC-Apple Notes only syncs when the app is open on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- This can lead to sync overwrites if one device makes a change without having the latest copy.
- Back to Cool Stuff Found
- 01:04:58 Bob-CSF-1107-Shutter Declutter helps process photos
- 01:11:00 rnDoug-Mole, a system maintenance tool
- 01:12:18 DanDXZDB-Pixeldrop for selectively redacting part of a photo
- Don’t Get Caught with your data buried in PDFs
- 01:14:20 DGC-Save redacted PDFs as a single layer so people can’t see your layers
- Back on Track with CSF
- 01:14:50 CSF-Brick to block distracting apps and notifications on your iPhone
- 01:19:38 Creatively Using NFC Tags
- Use NFC Tags with the Home app
- 01:21:48 QT-Re-use NFC Tags that other people send you!
- 01:24:04 MGG 1128 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.
