You kick things off with a stack of Quick Tips that make your Apple gear feel smarter. From getting a free year of Perplexity Pro, to turning on CarPlay widgets in iOS 26, to using ChatGPT itself to search for Mac Geek Gab answers (like which dash cam Pilot Pete prefers), you’re reminded how powerful the tools you already have can be. You’ll also learn how Apple Maps saves your recent routes, how to grab a full-res screenshot from a video, and why buying an AirPrint-capable printer is always the move. The point: these bite-sized tweaks add up fast, and you don’t want to miss them. Don’t Get Caught overlooking the simple wins.
From there, you dive into Cool Stuff Found and listener Q&A that blend everyday utility with future-facing tech. MGG-listener vibe-coded StockTrackr helps you spot Apple Store inventory, GoodSync makes backups painless, and UGreen’s clever AirTag key accessories keep your essentials trackable. You also face the reality of e-waste, the looming Nest thermostat cutoff, and how AI is evolving from assisted coding to assisted living—crafting web pages, logic, and even graphics on command. Questions push you deeper: swapping eSIMs, nuking stubborn trash files, using Tailscale exit nodes for Netflix, and preserving family photos for generations. The thread through it all? Practical hacks that save your time, money, and sanity.

00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1108 for Wednesday, September 22nd, 2025

September 22nd: Hobbit Day
MGG Monthly Giveaway – UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber and U7 Pro XG
The MGG Merch Store is Live!


Quick Tips

00:00:01 Shannon-QT-Get Perplexity Pro free for 1 year
00:04:11 Terry-QT-iOS 26 Allows you to enable Widgets in CarPlay
00:06:25 Todd-QT-Use ChatGPT to search for MGG answers
ChatGPT Prompt: on the Mac Geek Gab podcast what dash cam does pilot Pete like
00:09:25 Joe from Raleigh-QT-Apple Maps saves your Recent Routes
00:11:10 Dave-QT-Grab a full-res screenshot from a video with QuickTime Player
00:13:20 Pilot Pete-QT-1090-Create a Focus Mode “On a Call” details
00:16:26 DataForNothinAndBitsForFree-QT-1105-Always buy an AirPrint-capable printer


Sponsors

00:17:36 SPONSOR: Mint Mobile. Cut your wireless bill to just $15 per month at MintMobile.com/MGG
00:19:15 SPONSOR: OWC’s Express 1M2 80G SSD is now shipping. Bus powered, pocket-sized, with a USB4 cable in the box.


Cool Stuff Found

00:20:25 Barry-CSM-StockTrackr for Apple Stores

It’s AI Assisted Coding…and AI Assisted Living!


Some AI prompts

“Can you provide more context to this?”
“Please explain this piece of code to me.”
“Are there any third-rails to be aware of before partnering with this brand?”
“Create me a webpage…with logic AND graphics.”


00:29:32 David-CSF-GoodSync is working very well for me
00:31:35 Andrew-CSF-UGreen AirTag Key with keyring and wallet card
00:34:05 e-Waste is an unfortunate reality

Nest 1st and 2nd gen Thermostats Go Offline on October 25th,