Emphatically Kind Requests

Customize your Finder icons for instant recognition, stretch your Apple Watch battery on long workouts with Low Power Mode, and jump months back in your Messages history with a single tap. You’ll also learn how to force macOS 27 to download from Terminal when Software Update won’t show it, and how to run separate Claude Desktop apps for work and home. Then your two geeks and a pilot tackle whether you can migrate to a new iPhone from an iOS beta, whether you need Mail.app running to feed Apple Intelligence, and the one Search setting that might be keeping Siri from your data.

The big revelation is that you can now ask Siri why something failed, and she might actually tell you. No yelling required, though an emphatically kind request helps. You’ll get the best ways to connect to your Synology DiskStation without certificate warnings, and find out why Apple Watch battery service may get you a whole new watch, possibly with blood oxygen intact. Cool Stuff Found brings SetShot for tracking macOS settings changes, Marked QL for previewing Markdown in Quick Look, a folding case for iPhone Duo, and news that Apple will replace the Duo’s screen layer when the crease shows up. Press play, ask better questions, and Don’t Get Caught!

• 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1163 for Monday, October 12th, 2026
  • October 12th: National Gumbo Day
  • MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a MGG T-Shirt!
  • The MGG Merch Store is Live!
• Quick Tips
  • 00:00:01 Pilot Pete-QT-Customize macOS Finder icons
  • 00:03:37 Jonathan-QT-Put your Apple Watch in Low Power Mode during extended workout sessions
  • 00:06:00 PilotPete-QT-Getting to earlier messages quickly
  • 00:09:14 NASANut-Try the Terminal if you can’t see macOS 27 in Software Update
    • softwareupdate –list-full-installers
    • softwareupdate –fetch-full-installer –full-installer-version 27.0.1
    • Dash for macOS
  • 00:16:32 PorthosJon-QT-Run multiple Claude Desktop Apps for work/home
    • For a second account I have it running `open -n -a “Claude” –args –user-data-dir=”$HOME/.claude-instances/work”`
• Sponsors
  • 00:20:50 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use our code MACGEEK for 20% off at https://clnmy.com/MACGEEK
  • 00:22:06 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
• Your Questions Answered – [email protected]
  • 00:23:41 Terry-Can I migrate from a phone running an iOS beta?
  • 00:27:48 Are Pete and Dave still getting iPhone Duo?
  • 00:29:14 Barry-Should I be running Mail.app to take advantage of Apple Intelligence?
    • hybridsearchd high CPU usage is often triggered by Smart Mailboxes using “Entire Message” criteria
  • 00:35:21 Robb-DGC-Make sure Siri can see your apps’ data
  • 00:37:22 Siri Can Answer Tech Support Questions About Your Mac
    • Try asking “Why did that fail?” and it might just tell you!
• Sponsors
  • 00:45:51 SPONSOR: Shopify. If you’re ready to stop putting off your business and start selling, sign up for your free trial and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/MGG
  • 00:46:58 SPONSOR: Origin is endpoint AI observability. See what a trace looks like at https://originhq.com/macgeekgab
• MOAR Questions Answered and Tips shared – [email protected]
  • 00:48:13 NASANut-How do you connect to your DiskStations?
    • MariusHosting.com
  • 00:55:32 James-1161-Apple replaced our Apple Watches when we repaired our batteries
  • 00:57:35 Martin-1161-Apple Watch warranty replacements might display O2
• Cool Stuff Found
  • 00:58:48 Andrew-CSF-SetShot to track macOS Settings Changes
  • 01:01:59 Allison-CSF-Marked QL QuickLook plugin (in Setapp, too)
    • Marked 3
  • 01:05:47 Terry-CSF