Michael got his MacBook back and shares the apps and tools he immediately reinstalled—including Audio Hijack, Raycast, Hazel, and Little Snitch—plus what didn’t quite make the cut. Damashe walks through Homebrew tips, Markdown Service Tools setup, and how to fix symlink issues for missing binaries. They also dive into Mac App Store automation with mas, speaker setup logistics for live events, and whether to send signal to a subwoofer first or last in the audio chain.

They also cover:

• Autoplay and accessibility considerations in web players
• Comparing Raycast, LaunchBar, and Alfred for Mac navigation
• The realities of editing audio with a giant powered speaker in your office
• Speaker feedback issues with the Shure Beta 87A and experiments with the Q2U
• Why most apps shouldn't request local network access—and when it's okay
• Little Snitch vs. BlockBlock for app-level firewall protection
• Homebrew cleanup, Hazel automation, and uninstall tips
• Using Perplexity and GPT for real-world tech support and research
• Frustrations with Gemini on Android and Google's assistant transitions
• GitHub Copilot changes, Claude for coding, and the fading GitHub Pro tier
• Ubiquiti Device Bridge, mesh Wi-Fi fixes, and fiber dreams
• The dangers of not running a backup audio recording
• An idea to revisit old episodes and reflect on how far they’ve come
• Whether they’ll ever do a feedback episode (spoiler: maybe tomorrow)

And yes—there’s KFC grease jokes, egg prices, Flipboard flashbacks, and why the Technically Working bot is the real one to follow on Mastodon.

Follow the Show: Subscribe, share, and support at technicallyworking.show. Email: feedback@technicallyworking.show Mastodon:

• Michael: @payown@dragonscave.space
• Damashe: @damashe@technically.social
• Bot: @TW@technically.social (follow it—seriously)

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Michael and Damashe are back with a full update after a few hectic weeks. Damashe shares how recent life events impacted work and how his new employee got thrown into the deep end early. They talk through ongoing audio adjustments, including Michael’s Mac OS beta install on a separate APFS volume and Damashe’s experience with the iOS beta leading to voiceover issues — and how Braille saved the day. The conversation shifts to Damashe’s ongoing Pixel 9 Pro experiment, using dual eSIMs, RCS messaging, Android accessibility, and the ongoing challenge of cross-platform messaging. Michael shares his first steps into creating a Personal Voice for VoiceOver while fighting some failed attempts. They dive into smart home updates: Damashe has Home Assistant hardware sitting in boxes ready to be deployed alongside his POE-powered setup, a Home Assistant Yellow, Tailwind garage opener, and some highly recommended Matter-compatible smart bulbs. Michael discusses HomeKit updates, smoke alarm detection on HomePods, and explores some new VoiceOver features for iOS 18, like resetting VoiceOver settings and sharing VoiceOver profiles across devices. They wrap up with future plans for home automation content after convention season, shout-outs to listeners, Tip Jar supporters, and a reminder to share the show or follow the bot account on Mastodon for updates.

feedback@technicallyworking.show.

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This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-431b7d for 40% off for 4 months, and support Technically Working.

In this episode of Technically Working, it’s a quick catch-up packed with gear decisions, GPT frustrations, and accessibility discoveries. Things kick off with some behind-the-scenes updates about live streaming improvements—including why ads are gone and how latency might get better with a little server tinkering. Then it’s time for a scanner showdown. After testing models from Brother, Epson, and ScanSnap, one portable scanner wins out thanks to battery life, duplex scanning, and microSD support (plus a healthy dose of velcro). The conversation shifts to recent AI weirdness:

• Struggles with inconsistent GPT model behavior
• Tips on preserving your writing style before resetting memory
• Voice mode quirks like excessive filler words
• Model-switching experiments to improve output

Also covered:

• Why some interfaces make or break AI tools
• Mac accessibility wins and workarounds for scripting and coding with VoiceOver
• An ongoing Mac setup experiment: LaunchBar vs. Alfred

Finishing things off, there's a quick reflection on podcast automation bots, a reminder about using the #TechnicallyWorking hashtag, and appreciation for listeners and Tip Jar supporters who keep the show going.

Support Technically Working by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/technically-working

Find out more at https://technically-working.pinecast.co

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/technically-working/7d8d84a1-bee1-42da-a2f8-4408a3366c92

This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-431b7d for 40% off for 4 months, and support Technically Working.