On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Join Mike, Darren, and Special Guest Guy Serle as they discuss upgrading Macs in the world of Apple Silicon including whether it’s necessary to upgrade as frequently, the best candidates to upgrade, what drives users to the latest CPUs, and a few opinions on the MacBook Neo and its longevity. Darren shares a FMEO Quick Tip to remind folks to double-check their app access permissions. And we wrap up with Guy’s Essential App pick: Wave Link!

LINKS to KNOW

> cpu-monkey’s M1 vs M5 Benchmarks
> MacRumors Buyer’s Guide
> EveryMac.com
> AlternativeTo
> Ecamm
> LumaFusion
> Guy’s Essential App: Wave Link by Elgato

Find Guy At:
> GMen Show on YouTube

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:19:09

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Join Mike and Darren as they take a look at unwanted AI Integration, the Loss of Human Authenticity, where AI is Useful, and minimizing the use of AI by shedding old habits/services and adopting new ones that work the way WE want them to! Mike shares a FMEO Quick Tip for performing calculations within TextEdit, and we wrap up with Darren’s Essential App pick: GuitarTuna for iPad OS!

LINKS to KNOW

> Mozilla Firefox Brings AI Controls with Latest Release
> DuckDuckGo’s Approach to AI
> Duck.ai
> Liz Wilcox is Fired Up!
> Darren’s Essential App: GuitarTuna for iPad OS (App Store Link)

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:21:39

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Join Mike, Eric, Darren and Special Guest Jeff Gamet as they delve into the world of network-wide ad blocking using Pi-hole including what it is, the hardware you’ll need, plus how to set it up and keep it running! Lister Nick shares his thoughts on Apple’s new Creator Studio suite. Mike shares a FMEO Quick Tip for quickly accessing emoji via your Mac’s keyboard. And we wrap up with Jeff’s Essential App pick: Barbee!

LINKS to KNOW

> Pi-hole
> Raspberry Pi Imager
> Steve Jenkins’ Personal Pi-hole List of Lists
> Adafruit Industries
> Miuzei Raspberry Pi 3 B+ Case (NOT an Amazon affiliate link)
> CanaKit
> FLIRC Raspberry Pi Cases
> Docker for Pi-hole
> Pi-hole on Synology
> Helium Browser
> Firefox
> DuckDuckGo
> Kagi Search Engine
> GMen Show 26 (YouTube Link)
> Jeff’s Essential App: Barbee

Find Jeff At:
> British Tech Network
> Retro Rewatch
> The Context Machine
> @jgamet on Mastodon, Pixelfed, Bluesky

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:55:25

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Join Mike and Darren as they discuss Apple’s new Creator Studio subscription, stand-alone vs subscription pricing, and who can benefit from using Creator Studio. Mike shares a FMEO Quick Tip for scheduling events and we wrap up with Mike’s Essential App pick: Itsytv!

LINKS to KNOW

> Apple’s Creator Studio
> Creator Studio for Education
> Apple kills off Pro Apps for Education
> Mike’s Essential App: Itsytv

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:04:33

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Join Mike, Darren, special guest Bob Wood, plus contributions from listeners Nick and Lisa as they share tech resolutions for the new year including clearing out the digital cruft, giving back to your tech community, cutting ties with old subscriptions, not letting AI take over your life, and more! We close the episode with Bob’s Essential App pick: AnyList.

LINKS to KNOW

> Affinity Studio
> IDMarkz
> Pearcleaner
> AppCleaner
> KeyCue
> Bob’s Essential App: AnyList

Find Bob At:
> ThinkBob.com
> Dangerous Bob Photography
> Tucson Macintosh Users Group (TMUG)
> Old Mac Gang Podcast

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:26:44

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Do you have something to say? Opinions or news to share, or maybe you just want to tell the world a story? Perhaps it’s time to give podcasting a try! Join Mike, Darren, and special guest Katie Fawkes for a fun conversation on getting started with podcasting in 2026! We close the episode with an Essential App pick by Katie: Apple Notes.

LINKS to KNOW

> Libsyn
> Audacity Audio Editor
> Captivate.fm
> Blue Microphones
> Shure Podcasting Mics
> Zoom PodTrak Podcast Recorders / Audio Interface
> Ecamm Live: streaming & video production for macOS
> Squirrel Attack! (YouTube Link)
> Katie’s Essential App: Apple Notes

CONTACT US

> Find Katie at The VHS Club Podcast
> Also Find Katie at Ecamm
> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:45:30

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike, Eric and Darren dive into their sack of holiday gift ideas and share some favorite last minute gift picks for the Apple user in your life.

For Mac Eyes Only Last-Minute Gift Guide 2025

Gift Guide Links

(All Are Non-Affiliate Links)

Eric’s Picks
> Apple AirTag (4 pack)
> Philips Hue Smart Light Bulbs Starter Kit
> SuperBox S7 Ultra
> TinyTV 2

Darren’s Picks
> Meross Smart Plug
> Apple USB-C to USB-A Adapter
> KTC 27″ 5K@60Hz 2K@120Hz Monitor (H27P3)
> A Christmas Carol (Abridged) – Read by Patrick Stewart (Apple Books Link)

Mike’s Picks
> Anker Charger 140W, 4-Port
> OBSBOT Tiny 2 lite
> Setapp Subscription
> LEGO Arcade Machine

LINKS to KNOW

> Mike’s Essential App: Snowy by Pingie (Direct Download) (App Store)

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:42:45

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Inspired by a Wired article, Mike & Darren explore how popular services on the Internet co-opt our memories for profit, while Mike explores multiple ways to prevent Apple Photos from surfacing Memories we may not care to revisit. Darren closes the episode with his Essential App pick: OneDrive Client for macOS.

REFERENCE

> Goode, L. (2021, May). Always a Bride. Wired, 29(05), 34-43. (paywalled)

LINKS to KNOW

> Photos Settings on macOS
> Hiding People, Memories, and Holidays on iOS
> PowerPhotos by Fat Cat Software
> File Browser Professional for iOS and macOS
> Darrens’s Essential App: Microsoft OneDrive Client for Mac

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:19:00

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Spurred on by a listener who asked how they might soft boycott Apple but remain a Mac user, Mike and Darren explore a world where, destroyed by the Mighty Elephanzilla, Apple no longer exists and we’re forced to seek out alternatives. What hardware, operating systems, software, mobile devices, and other accessories might make life easier for a former Apple user? Mike wraps up the episode with his Essential App pick: Neo Network Utility.

LINKS to KNOW

> HP OmniStudio All in One
> Framework PCs
> Dell Pro PCs
> Linux Mint
> Ubuntu Desktop
> Ubuntu Studio
> Mozilla Firefox
> Thunderbird
> Photo Management: Darktable and digiKam
> Office Suite: LibreOffice
> Creative Apps: GIMP, Inkscape, Scribus
> Audio & Video Apps: Audacity, Ardor, kdenlive, DaVinci Resolve
> Live Streaming: OBS Studio
> Nextcloud
> ownCloud
> Synology NAS Selector
> Android Alternatives: GrapheneOS, LineageOS, Ubuntu Touch
> Star Labs Starlite Mk V
> Roku Players
> Movies Anywhere
> Mike’s Essential App: Neo Network Utility 2.0

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 2:26:25

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike offers a peek into troubleshooting while digging into Safari privacy settings and how sometimes if you take those settings too far, you can actually harm your online experience. Mike and Darren examine online Fingerprinting and what it means for your privacy. Mike shares listener feedback on episode 457 from Ivan and Lisa, plus a unique Apple-themed art piece created by listener Bryan. Mike wraps up the episode with his Essential App pick: Caffeine.

LINKS to KNOW

> Macstock IX Digital Pass
> Mozilla Firefox
> DuckDuckGo Browser
> Brave
> Tor Browser
> Mike’s Essential App: Caffeine

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:45:53

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Darren shares his thoughts on macOS Tahoe 26, including both new and improved apps, interface changes, and little surprise and delight elements Liquid Glass brings to Tahoe. Mike moves on to discuss his issues with macOS Tahoe’s Liquid Glass interface as well as potential fixes including helping apps escape “icon jail”, ways to mitigate the Liquid Glass effects, or even how to selectively eliminate Liquid Glass entirely. Mike closes out the episode with his Essential App pick: SolidGlass.

LINKS to KNOW

> How to find all of Apple’s system icons
> macOS26 Solarium Terminal Commands
> Mike’s Essential App: SolidGlass

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:45:15

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike is joined by Darren and Dave to provide their first-hand reactions* to Apple’s Awe Dropping event where Apple announced the AirPods Pro 3, the Apple Watch 11, the iPhone 17, the iPhone 17 Pro and an all new, thinner, form factor for the iPhone, the iPhone Air!

NEWS

> AirPods Pro 3
> Apple Watch series 11
> iPhone 17
> iPhone Air
> iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max

LINKS to KNOW

> Jon Prosser’s iPhone 17 Pro | All new. All blue. (YouTube Link)
> FMEO Episode 370 – A Little Field Trip (with Dave Ginsburg)

CONTACT US

> Find Dave at In Touch with iOS Podcast
> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:29:36

* Though this episode was recorded live as the keynote progressed, some portions of the recording have been edited for time and/or content.

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike and Darren tackle an intriguing thought experiment inspired by an article on 9to5Mac: If you had to start your entire Apple ecosystem from scratch beginning with a new desktop Mac on down to the Apple watch, what would you pick–and why? Mike shares an “Accidental” Quick Tip for checking your Magic Mouse battery level while charging, and we close out the episode with Darren’s Essential App pick: Amazon Music…on iOS?

LINKS to KNOW

> Starting an Apple Ecosystem from Scratch
> Darren’s Essential App: Amazon Music for iOS (App Store Link)
> Amazon Music App for Mac

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 2:10:15

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike and Darren welcome special guest Andrew Yaros of LisaGUI.com who joins us to share the history and inspiration behind the site, how he developed LisaGUI with an eye toward preserving the Lisa experience for a modern audience, his efforts to restore a Lisa 2/10, a peek behind the curtain of future development for the site, Andrew’s favorite emulators for the Mac, and even a fun debate on pronouncing acronyms like GUI. We wrap the episode with Andrew’s Essential App pick: MPV!

LINKS to KNOW

> LisaGUI.com
> WebStorm
> Andrew’s Lisa 2/10
> LisaEM
> GEM Desktop Environment
> Who is Mr Macintosh?
> John Scully’s Odyssey
> MESS
> mini vMac
> Basilisk II
> SheepShaver
> QEMU
> Andrew’s Essential App: MPV

CONTACT US

> Learn More About Andrew and his Projects at Yaros.ae
> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:20:00

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike and Darren share their opinions on some of their favorite news stories from the World of Mac including the release of Cyberpunk 2077 and what it means for Mac gaming, a new natural language Finder app, the UK’s age verification laws, a super cool look at the history of Mac settings, UK backing down on Apple backdoor, and an homage to the Lisa. We close the episode with listener Bruce who shares feedback on remote support and has a question about wifi in the home. Finally, Mike shares his pick for this episode’s Essential App Book: The Secret History of Mac Gaming!

LINKS to KNOW

> Cyberpunk 2077: Mac gaming no longer a joke?
> UK Age Checks Go into Effect
> Substage: Natural Language Commands for the Finder
> UK Backs Down on Apple Encryption Backdoor
> Frame of Preference: A History of Mac Settings
> Fun News: LisaGUI.com
> Mike’s Essential Book: The Secret History of Mac Gaming: Expanded Edition
> Link to Know: Devolo Magic Powerline

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:41:45

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike is joined by guests and Macstock presenters Allison Sheridan, Chuck Joiner, Dave Ginsburg, and Brian Flanigan-Arthurs to share their takeaways from Macstock 9, presentations that left an impression, things first time attendees may want to know, as well as some travel tips, plus a bit of trivia about the history and origins of Macstock.

LINKS to KNOW

> Macstock 2025 — Learning, Teaching, Laughter, and Joy
> Macstock 9 Digital Pass
> Macstock 9’s Presenters
> Macstock 9’s Schedule
> FMEO 2012 Meetup

CONTACT US

> MacVoices
> NosillaCast at Podfeet.com
> In Touch with iOS
> On the Desk of Brian at Brian8944.com
> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:15:00

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike and Darren are joined by special guest Brian Flanigan-Arthurs to discuss solutions for providing remote support. Whether it’s family, friends, clients, or students, we all need to provide support from a distance from time to time. Mike, Darren, and Brian explore tools they’ve used in IT, education, as well as in the home including Darren’s favorite new cross-platform solution, while Brian discusses how different tools and techniques might be used to provide support of a different kind. We close the episode with Brian sharing his pick for this episode’s Essential App: InstaRemind!

LINKS to KNOW

> FaceTime Remote Support
> iPhone Mirroring
> Microsoft Teams
> RustDesk
> Splashtop Remote Access
> What is Windows App?
> Parsec RDP
> VirtualBox
> What is FERPA?
> Brian’s Essential App: InstaRemind

CONTACT US

> Find Brian and his brand new podcast, On the Desk of Brian at Brian8944.com
> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:32:28

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike is joined by Eric, Darren, and Dave and lead off the episode with a brief tribute to Macintosh pioneer Bill Atkinson who passed on June 5th, then dive in to the Keynote to provide their first-hand reactions* to Apple’s WWDC 2025 Keynote Presentation where Apple announced macOS Tahoe, version 26 of iOS, watchOS, and visionOS, plus we get a glimpse at iPadOS 26 and its Mac-like, multi-tasking, floating window, Finder-esque future!

NEWS

> macOS Tahoe
> iOS 26
> and iPadOS 26
> watchOS 26
> VisionOS 26
> Updated Tools for Developers

CONTACT US

> Find Dave at In Touch with iOS Podcast
> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:34:14

* Though this episode was recorded live as the keynote progressed, some portions of the recording have been edited for time and/or content.

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike and Darren are joined by special guest Marty Jencius of Vision ProFiles podcast to discuss Apple Intelligence. What is it, who needs it, and what features can we expect on our devices if we enable it? Marty and Darren share their favorite cool uses of Apple Intelligence. And Marty helps close the show with his pick for Essential App: TextExpander!

Macstock 9 is coming! Grab your 3-day pass now at macstockconferenceandexpo.com and come hang with us July 11, 12, & 13! And use the code MACSTOCK50OFF to save $50 on your Weekend Pass! It’s gonna be an awesome weekend!

LINKS to KNOW

> Apple Intelligence Overview & Device Compatibility
> Apple’s Hands On with Apple Intelligence (YouTube link)
> Marty’s Essential App: TextExpander

CONTACT US

> Find Marty at The PodTalk Network
> Marty’s Vision ProFiles podcast
> Marty’s Gear Up and Go podcast
> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:31:43

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike and Darren discuss the end of the Whisky project. Who needs something like Whisky? What does this mean for its users and what alternatives are out there for playing Windows games or other apps on the Mac? We share some listener feedback from Brian on Shortcuts. And Darren picks this episode’s Essential App: TinkerTool!

Macstock 9 is coming! Grab your 3-day pass now at macstockconferenceandexpo.com and come hang with us July 11, 12, & 13! And use the code MACSTOCK50OFF to save $50 on your Weekend Pass! It’s gonna be an awesome weekend!

LINKS to KNOW

> Maintenance Notice: Whisky is no longer actively maintained
> CodeWeavers CrossOver
> Parallels Desktop for Mac
> UTM
> UNIGINE Valley Benchmark
> Mac Source Ports
> Darren’s Essential App: TinkerTool

ADDITIONAL LINKS to KNOW

> Matthew Cassinelli’s Expanded Shortcuts Library
> Stephen Robles’ Shortcuts

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:17:57

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike and Darren dig into Shortcuts, Automator, and even a touch of AI as they seek to help a listener format images and text for different outlets on the internet including social media, websites, and email newsletters. Darren closes the episode with this week’s Essential App pick: MakeMKV!

Macstock 9 is coming! Grab your 3-day pass now at macstockconferenceandexpo.com and come hang with us July 11, 12, & 13! And use the code MACSTOCK50OFF to save $50 on your Weekend Pass! It’s gonna be an awesome weekend!

LINKS to KNOW

> ExactPic: A shortcut for precise image outputs
> Batch Resize: Batch Image Processing with Shortcuts
> Gillian Perkins podcast: Build a Custom AI
> MacGPT
> Duck Duck Go’s Duck.ai
> Darren’s Essential App: MakeMKV

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:50:38

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike and Darren offer listeners advice on moving from one cloud service to another using only the Mac’s built in apps to easily transfer Contacts, Calendars, Notes, and Email — and even a few tips on how to fix a misbehaving cloud service! Mike closes the episode with this week’s Essential App pick: Rapidmg!

LINKS to KNOW

> Apple Support: Change your Apple Account primary email address
> Apple Support: Migrate purchases from one Apple Account to another Apple Account
> iMazing
> MobileTrans
> Dr. Fone
> Mike’s Essential App: Rapidmg (App Store link)

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:32:45

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike, Eric, and Darren share some of their favorite ways of getting the most from your Mac with tips on Finder navigation, Reminders, better Mail organization, working with multiple displays, PDFs in Notes, file templates in the Finder, plus little bonus tips sprinkled throughout! Darren closes the episode with this week’s Essential App pick: Pearcleaner!

LINKS to KNOW

> Image Splitter
> Actions (Mac App Store link)
> Toolbox Pro for iOS (App Store link)
> Data Jar
> AppCleaner
> Darren’s Essential App: Pearcleaner

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:38:05

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike and Darren discuss the revelations of a recent switcher and examine what stops people from moving to a Mac including fear of the unknown, software requirements, discoverability, perceived cost, and general misconceptions of what a Mac is and what it can do. Mike closes the episode with this week’s Essential App pick: Loop!

LINKS to KNOW

> MacRumors Buyer’s Guide
> EveryMac.com
> Apple’s Certified Refurbished Store
> Mike’s Essential App: Loop

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:25:42

On this episode of For Mac Eyes Only: Mike and Darren some of their top reasons to switch to a mail client like Apple Mail including Mail specific features such as Focus-based email, sending large attachments with Mail Drop, Rules, and even some unique mail sending features not found in the typical webmail service! Mike and Darren answer listener questions from Andy and Alex on Finder’s Recents and legacy System Extensions. Then Darren closes the episode with this week’s Essential App pick: Ghostery!

LINKS to KNOW

> Apple Mail User Guide (via Apple)
> Mozilla Thunderbird
> Darren’s Essential App: Ghostery

CONTACT US

> Meet TeamFMEO
> Contact Us
> FMEOTV on YouTube

Play Now

or Download the show here!

Running Time: 1:50:13