Command Control Power: Apple Tech Support & Business Talk

In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts discuss early experiences with the macOS 27 "Golden Gate" beta, noting it feels snappy and stable but breaks QuickBooks, leading one host to keep QuickBooks on a headless Mac mini running macOS 26. They cover upcoming Apple Intelligence features, including AI-assisted file renaming, Safari profiles and AI-suggested tab grouping, page-change notifications, and Apple Passwords' potential to automate password changes (which appears incomplete in testing). The conversation compares Apple Passwords with 1Password, explains passkeys with client-friendly metaphors and technical points, and notes issues caused by multiple password tools. They also review AirPods Pro 3 fit and changes, discuss hearing-aid functionality on AirPods Pro 2/3, and share troubleshooting tips for Splashtop permissions and an Apple Mail send bug tied to "check spelling before sending."
 
00:00 Show Kickoff
00:08 macOS Golden Gate Beta
01:47 Safari Tab Groups
06:18 Apple Intelligence Highlights
08:39 Passwords Auto Change
17:48 Passkeys Explained
24:01 Passkey Pitfalls
26:33 AirPods Pro 3 First Impressions
26:47 Better Fit Out of Box
27:07 Why Upgrade AirPods
28:08 Lost AirPod Find My
30:10 Sound Signature Debate
31:25 AirPods at Loud Venues
33:03 Hearing Aid Potential
37:00 Remote Setup iPhone Mirroring
42:08 Splashtop Permissions Trick
44:42 Fuzzy Mic Trend Rant
46:50 Apple Mail Send Bug Fix
49:17 Next Episode Teasers Wrap

Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont and Joe Saponare discuss working with Apple technology and clients. Drawn from their combined experience of over 20 years in the Apple Consultants Network, thaey discuss technical support issues both with the technology and working with clients.

The hosts discuss several network and security topics, starting with UniFi's new "Device Supervisor" feature under Power and Resiliency to monitor device heartbeat and automatically recover silent devices, plus UniFi's move from UniFi Server to UniFi OS Server that may require a migration and re-adoption, pushing remaining sites off a Mac mini to cloud management. They revisit ethernet surge protection and grounding for outdoor cameras and consider alternatives like rack grounding, DIN rails, grounding rods, or using a sacrificial outdoor switch with fiber uplink. They mention Speedify for bonding multiple cellular/Wi‑Fi connections. The conversation shifts to email security: Microsoft's "impossible travel" detection and API reporting versus Google's weaker reporting, alongside odd Google reauthentication/password-change loops and MFA fatigue leading to a Google account breach. They cover deploying Claude Enterprise in healthcare with BAA needs and using Microsoft Purview/Defender to block pasting PHI into Claude, then discuss risks of fake password prompts, password managers (1Password vs LastPass), and end-user security training.

The hosts discuss early impressions of iOS 27 on an iPhone 15 Pro Max and interest in Siri AI on newer iPhone hardware, plus Apple's macOS 27 compatibility list ending Intel support while continuing support for 2020 M1 Macs, which they estimate could extend security updates to roughly 2029. They debate device lifespans for home and business, note iOS 27 supports iPhone 11, and consider how Siri AI's on-device, voice-first, screen-aware approach could change form factors and competition. A cautionary story highlights lost Quicken 2016 data due to missing backups and limitations of iCloud Drive and Backblaze, including Backblaze's cloud-sync folder controversy and retention/restore issues, while Carbon Copy Cloner's option to temporarily download cloud-only files is raised. They recount multiple Migration Assistant failures resolved by re-wiping and redoing the migration, identify a client complaint as Stage Manager, and briefly cover testing the UniFi 5G Max cellular backup with AT&T and a low-income T-Mobile-based SIM option.

Ben Greiner is a pioneer in the Apple IT consulting industry and a longtime leader in the Apple Consultants Network. He founded Forget Computers in Chicago in 1998, transforming it into one of the nation's most respected Apple-focused managed service providers, and later created Robot Cloud, an innovative multi-tenant management platform that helped popularize managed services and automation for Apple consultants. Widely recognized for championing standardized device management, recurring service models, and operational efficiency, Ben continues to influence the Apple consulting community as an Apple Champion and Growth Advisor at Addigy, where he helps MSPs build and scale successful Apple practices