651: No Rest for the Techy as We Enter 2026

In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts discuss their busy schedules at the end of 2025 and their plans for the holiday season. Topics include the impact of year-end client projects, managing office breaks, and balancing personal time during the holidays. The conversation shifts to a timely warning about iPhone security while traveling, prompted by an article from Tidbits Content Network. A fascinating client story is shared involving the recovery of an old iCloud account trapped behind forgotten credentials. Another highlight includes a successful repair story from the Rossman Group, addressing a client's dead MacBook Pro battery. The hosts wrap up by exploring intriguing tech topics such as blocking issues in email aliases and innovative VPN solutions for connection bonding.

00:00 Introduction and Year-End Reflections

00:37 Holiday Plans and Workload Management

03:09 New Year Greetings and Travel Stories

04:39 iPhone Security Concerns While Traveling

06:50 NFC and QR Code Scams

11:00 Client Stories and Apple Support Experiences

18:01 The MacBook Pro Charger Dilemma

18:20 Resetting the SMC and Battery Issues

18:39 Recurring Revenue and Client Needs

20:11 Repair Challenges and Solutions

22:07 The Rossman Group to the Rescue

26:41 Gmail Sent Mail Mystery

32:14 Speedify VPN and Connection Bonding

33:40 Conclusion and Listener Appreciation

650: Season's Greetings From CCP (I'm An American Man)

In this holiday message episode of Command Control Power, the hosts discuss the importance of intuition and trusting one’s gut instincts in business and life. They emphasize the significance of mental and physical health, encouraging listeners to take care of themselves and stay vigilant about their overall wellness. Reflecting on the stressors of work and client relationships, they advocate for finding balance, taking breaks, and not glorifying overworking. As they wrap up, they wish their audience a happy holiday, urging them to disconnect and relax while continuing to support the podcast.

649: Wired for Success, Concrete Solutions With Andy Espo of Call Andy Consulting

In this episode of Command Control Power, Andy Espo from Call Andy Mac Consulting joins the discussion once again. The conversation kicks off with humorous banter about appearances and jackets before delving into serious tech talk. Andy shares the complexities of installing and upgrading network infrastructure in high-end residential projects, especially in challenging environments like old houses and concrete structures. He emphasizes the importance of discerning client relationships, meticulous planning, and ensuring proper execution by contractors. Andy also discusses strategies for building trust with clients, effective communication, and the shift towards managed services amid growing cybersecurity concerns. The episode concludes with insights on the importance of networking and building strategic partnerships with clients.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:41 High-End Residential Work

01:55 Challenges in Network Installations

04:47 WiFi Planning and Intuition

09:18 Client Education and Expectations

10:57 Working with Contractors

17:07 Common Wiring Issues

20:35 Ensuring Quality and Client Satisfaction

29:05 The Importance of Redundancy in Wiring

29:27 Challenges with Daisy Chaining and Switches

29:56 The Frustration of Poor Wiring in High-End Homes

31:01 The Impact of Construction Materials on WiFi Performance

32:42 The Shift to Managed Services and Cybersecurity

34:40 The Importance of Cyber Insurance

40:56 Efficiency Loss and Productivity in IT

45:30 The Art of Communicating Value to Clients

50:36 Building Strategic Partnerships

52:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Best of CCP - 053: Toxic Hellstew

Recorded live June 3, 2014

Tim Cook quoting Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, ZDNet: "With vulnerabilities such as Heartbleed and Pileup likely to go unpatched on tens, if not hundreds of millions of Android devices, the platform is fast becoming a toxic hellstew that should send chills down the spines of IT admins."

Yosemite and iOS 8 initial impressions

How the OS X Beta Program will affect us as Apple consultants; expect overzealous clients to call for help troubleshooting issues with pre-release software

Family Sharing looks great for home users, but still no way to migrate purchases or merge Apple IDs

Sam reports that AirDrop works between Yosemite and iOS 7

Joe reports that Apple Store is no longer accepting machines at the Genius Bar using "Quick Drop"

Jerry reports that Genius Bar has been lenient when accepting machines from consultants on behalf of clients; no signed letter needed

Difficulty offering help as a Consultant in the Apple Store; would be nice if Apple would more readily refer clients to us as they tend to be thrilled when they eventually do find us

Joe had fun configuring an Automator workflow for a client referred (eventually) by the Apple Store

The Craig Federighi Show from Jonathan Mann

644: AI Concerns, and Workflow Solutions

In this episode of Command Control Power, hosts Sam and Jerry discuss a variety of topics. Sam shares his experience with a challenging data recovery case involving Carbonite and potential issues with restoring old photo libraries. The conversation then shifts to AI developments and concerns, including their implications on society, data security, and environmental impact. The hosts also provide valuable technical tips on folder sorting in Finder and delve into practical solutions for managing client workflows, with insights on using video and monthly service offerings. The show wraps up with a teaser for upcoming Patreon content featuring an intriguing problem with PDF rendering.

00:00 Introduction and Weekly Catch-Up

00:42 Drive Savers Data Recovery

02:04 Alternative Data Recovery Options

07:19 AI Tools and Browsers

11:12 AI Safety and Ethical Concerns

24:23 Financial Implications of AI

31:03 Photos Library Recovery Case

31:55 Troubleshooting a Mac Drive Issue

33:14 Seeking Advice from Colleagues

33:43 Exploring Solutions for Photo Library Management

35:04 Challenges with Client Communication

36:42 Backup and Storage Considerations

47:24 Pop Quiz: Sorting Folders in Finder

52:23 Patreon Teasers and Closing Remarks

646: Navigating Tech Updates and Client Communications

In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts welcome listeners to their December show, tease upcoming Patreon episodes discussing managed service offerings, designing flyers using Canva and ChatGPT, and all-inclusive pricing with Tim Pearson. The episode touches on experiences with a Canva PDF rendering issue using the Preview app in MacOS, including troubleshooting steps with Adobe PDF engines. The hosts share client communication challenges about service rate negotiations and discuss the intricacies of pricing models and plan structures. Additional technical topics include a significant bug with Microsoft Auto Update renaming apps erratically, strategies for managing OnePassword memory prompts and passkey enrollments, and a tip-off from listeners about Backblaze's change in policy for iCloud Drive backups. They wrap up with amusing anecdotes from client interactions and discuss the complexities of web browsers and user understanding of tech terms.

00:00 Opening Banter and Introductions

00:25 Welcome to Command Control Power

01:40 Patreon Teasers and Managed Service Offerings

02:33 PDF Rendering Issues with Canva

07:53 Client Negotiations and Pricing Strategies

28:02 Reselling Services and Client Retention

30:53 Microsoft Auto Update Issues

34:04 Microsoft Auto Update Issues

34:42 Identifying the Problem

35:08 Known Issues and Workarounds

36:29 Installer Process and Conflicts

37:59 Disabling Auto Update

38:19 Microsoft's Response

39:04 Apple's Role in the Issue

39:43 Temporary Solutions

44:08 One Password Tips

53:32 Backup Solutions and Listener Feedback

01:01:20 Concluding Thoughts and Listener Stories