One Exclamation Point Short

Ever triggered a hidden Mac feature by accident? This week you’ll find out why a stray backtick fires up the Magnifier in macOS Preview, and how a single screenshot plus built-in OCR can lift text straight out of an image (even if that Wi-Fi password still refuses to cooperate). You’ll grab the trick for sharing your network as a scannable QR code from the Passwords app, learn why YouTube TV blocks video over screen sharing in Chrome while Safari sidesteps it, and untangle guest-mode quirks on Apple Vision Pro. From Touch ID suddenly demanding your password to a backup SSD that swears it’s still In Use, you’ll walk away with the Terminal commands and fixes to set things right.
Then you’ll map your next move off a MacBook Air, weighing an M4 Mac mini against an iMac and stalking the refurb store for the right deal. You’ll set HomeKit lights to fade in with sunrise, audit your Tailscale network for sloppy permissions, breathe easier with a tested air purifier, and give that retired iPad a whole second life. And when something mysteriously stops working, Don’t Get Caught burning two hours blaming software for what turns out to be a cable you quietly swapped out: check your cables first. Hit play, load up on tips, and head into your week a little geekier.
00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1147 for Monday, June 22nd, 2026
00:03:35 June 22nd: National Onion Ring Day
MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to SaneBox
Quick Tips
00:00:01 Susan-QT-macOS Preview has a magnifier in Tools > Show Magnifier
00:03:53 Use the backtick to invoke Magnifier in Preview
00:06:15 Dave-QT-Take a picture or screenshot to OCR text within an image
00:11:32 YouTube TV doesn’t allow video when the screen is being shared…in Chrome
…But Safari might let it (it certainly does with Fubo)
00:13:29 Screen Mirroring vs. Apple Vision Pro
00:15:21 QT-KiwiGraham-Passwords app allows you to show a QR code of current wifi network
00:17:31 Bill-1146-Why not use the Apple TV app’s download abilities?
Sponsors
00:19:41 SPONSOR: Even Realities G2. Use promo code MGG at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order.
00:21:49 SPONSOR: Scribe. Don’t get caught being the only person who knows how something works. For a limited time, book a demo at scribe.how/MGG and mention MGG for your first month of Scribe Capture free.
00:23:52 SPONSOR: NordLayer Browser. The business browser built for how modern work actually happens — giving IT the visibility and control to secure SaaS, stop phishing, and prevent data leaks right at the source.
Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared!
00:24:54 Jim-Moving from a MacBook Air to…what next?
Set alerts for refurbs at RefurbMe
00:38:14 Joe-HomeKit Light That Fades In and Out
Philips Hue Lights
Philips Hue Bridge to use HomeKit
LIFX Bulbs
00:43:00 MACGEEKGAB to save $50 at Macstock
00:46:32 Richard Davis-Why does Touch ID tell me I need to type my password?
If Touch ID isn’t working on your Mac
00:50:00 Todd-?-How to eject an SSD backup drive that’s mysteriously “In Use”
sudo mdutil -i off “/Volumes/[Drive Name]”
lsof | grep “[Drive Name]”
Cool Stuff Found
00:58:52 CSF-Matt from Midlothian-Quip, the clipboard manager, has Capture Text from Screen as a feature
00:59:39 CSF-Winix 5510 Air Purifier
01:02:44 Alexander-CSM-Reevio takes stills and turns them into morphed videos
Examples of Adam, Dave, and Pete
01:07:49 Kent-CSF-DAKBoard–1121-Use for an Old iPad – No Coding Required
01:09:26 Steve-CSF-iFramix – A Frame for your old iPad!
01:11:38 Johannes-CSF-Super Productivity – Free!
01:13:04 Arvy-CSF-Tailsnitch does a security audit on your Tailscale Tailnet
Don’t Get Caught
01:14:20 RollingTux-DGC-Cables are often the Culprit!
01:16:20 MGG 1147 Outtro
MGG Monthly Giveaway
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) Podcast...