SneakerNet Is Real

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
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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-BetterZip Quick Look Generator and Extension
01:16:18 rndoug-csf-EasyDMGapp (also courtesy of Stephen Robles)
01:17:48 MGG 1157 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) Podcasts
MGG Merch is Available!
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