SneakerNet Is Real

From Mac Geek Gab — Apple Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting Dave Hamilton, Pilot Pete & Adam Christianson

Kick off Mac Geek Gab 1157 with a rapid-fire round of Quick Tips: find the new Siri option hiding in your Camera app, tame Archive Utility’s settings to streamline your workflow, and turn your scanner and printer into a DIY copier over FTP. You’ll also learn where macOS quietly stashes your FileVault recovery key (hint: check Passwords) and how to wrangle your files so AI can actually help you, including a listener who let AI sort an entire TV library and another who put Claude Cowork to work as his personal Mac updater.

Then it’s time for Apple’s big hardware drop: the M6 and M5 Ultra arrive in a new Mac mini and Mac Studio, with 2.5-gig Ethernet as the buried lede. Your two geeks and a pilot break down what’s worth your money, tackle Apple’s storage pricing problem with Thunderbolt and USB alternatives that won’t drain your wallet, and answer whether you can move your home folder to an external drive to dodge Apple’s SSD tax (spoiler: you can, and maybe it’s time we start endorsing this?). Stick around for Cool Stuff Found: a robot mower that behaves even without fences, a smarter way to peek inside archives, and a slick DMG utility. Press play, get your answers before your gear gets you… and whatever you do, Don’t Get Caught!

00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1157 for Monday, August 31st, 2026
- August 31st: World Distance Learning Day
- MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Yoink, Screenfloat, Transloader, or DeskMat from Eternal Storms
- The MGG Merch Store is Live!
Quick Tips
- 00:00:01 Pilot Pete-QT-New “Siri” option in Camera
- 00:02:43 Allan-QT-Use Archive Utility’s Settings to streamline your workflow – From Stephen Robles
- 00:05:21 Jim-QT-Connect your scanner and printer via FTP to make a copier
  - Also scan to USB for speed
- 00:08:26 KiwiGraham-QT-FileVault Recovery Key is in Passwords
- 00:13:10 Beware the stump grinders
  - Call Before You Dig
- 00:14:05 Eric-CarPlay brings on an ##infinite Siri Loop
- 00:19:02 Tux-QT-Managing Files for use with Siri AI
- 00:22:01 Michael-AI Helped me sort my TV Episodes
  - Build Me a Handoff Prompt
- 00:26:21 Ottograph is coming!
- 00:32:00 Steve-QT-1156-Using Claude CoWork to Play Mac Updater
Sponsors
- 00:35:34 SPONSOR: Helix Sleep makes premium mattresses and bedding that are customized to fit your personal needs, and conveniently shipped to your door. Go to https://helixsleep.com/MGG for 27% Off Sitewide.
- 00:37:14 SPONSOR: Proton VPN. Unlike most VPNs, Proton is backed by strong European privacy laws, and, right now, Proton VPN is offering our listeners 70% off a two year plan when you go to https://ProtonVPN.com/MGG
- 00:38:38 SPONSOR: BBEdit, the power tool for text from Bare Bones Software; now with integrated Notebooks and extended language support.
Your Questions Answered – [email protected]
- 00:39:46 New M6, M5Ultra
  - New Mac mini M6 and M5 Pro
  - New Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra
  - Ian-All with 2.5GB Ethernet as standard!
- 00:48:12 Pensacola Craig-Apple has a pricing problem
  - Thunderbolt Drives
    - SABRENT Rocket XTRM 5 2GB (TB5) – $400
    - SABRENT Rocket Nano XTRAM (TB3) – $340
  - USB 10G drives
    - SANDISK 2TB – $290
    - Lexar 2TB – $270
- 00:56:51 Josh-Can I move my home folder to an external drive to save on storage costs with a new computer?
Cool Stuff Found
- 01:05:38 PIlot Pete-CSF-Worx Landroid WR320.1 Robot Mower
  - Works with no fences between you and neighbor
- 01:13:35 ATCCSF-B