Ulysses (App store)(Setapp)is one of the true gems for writers in the Apple Ecosystem. I used to use the hell out of this app when I was practicing law, but I don’t find it as useful now. Nevertheless, I kicked the tires on the latest update, and this app remains a great tool for writers.
The new update fully embraces Liquid Glass and adds several quality-of-life improvements. For complex or research-based writing, this is one you’ll want to check out.
If you run a small business or manage client relationships, your inbox is probably a mess of priorities. Client emails get buried under newsletters, urgent messages sit next to spam, and you’re constantly switching between your email client and your CRM to figure out context. Daylite’s new Mail feature changes that by bringing your inbox directly into their business management platform where every message connects to the client, project, or opportunity it belongs to.
The Priority Inbox is smart about what actually matters. Instead of just showing you chronological email, it surfaces messages from your Daylite contacts first, then your team, then everything else. Orange icons throughout the interface show you which emails are connected to your business data, so you can instantly see what needs attention. When you open a message, you get the full context right there. Client history, related projects, upcoming tasks all visible without switching apps or hunting through folders.
What really makes this work is how easy Daylite makes it to turn email into action. You can create a task, schedule a follow-up, or link a message to a project without leaving the email. The Detail View sits right alongside your inbox, showing you everything related to that client or project. No more “let me check and get back to you” moments because you can’t remember where things stand.
Daylite’s Mail feature is available now for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and it’s included with your Daylite subscription. If you’re already using Daylite, there’s a setup guide waiting for you. If you’re new to Daylite, they’re offering a 14-day free trial so you can see how connecting your email to your business data changes the way you work.
iPadOS 26 introduced a new windowing system, improved audio recording, and more robust background tasks, making the iPad feel more Mac-like than ever. On this episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen and I discuss a range of workflows that benefit from these changes.
It’s time again for Sparky’s quarterly Q&A. Thanks to everyone who sent in questions. This one has questions including Apple Products, Productivity & Workflows, Content Creation, Businesses & Career, personal questions, and, of course, what’s currently in MacSparky’s shop.
… This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members only. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.
“I’ve mentioned before that what I really wanted out of my career was to be a consultant, especially in automation and efficiency on Mac and iOS, for teams and small-to-medium size businesses looking to grow. Well, I’m excited to have teamed up with Christopher Gamblée-Wallendjack to create Bear & Glass.“
Brett Terpstra
This is one of those forehead smacking posts where you think, “Of course.” Brett would be perfect for this. His customers will be lucky to have his expertise.
It’s that time of year. I only run a Field Guide sale once a year and now it’s time. The annual Field Guide sale is live. Everything’s 20% off through December 1.
I spent the last 20 years figuring out how to be more productive with Apple technology without losing my mind. These Field Guides are everything I’ve learned.
The Alfred Field Guide and Keyboard Maestro Field Guide are for people who want their Mac to work faster. Real automation. Real time savings. Plus there are guides for OmniFocus, Obsidian, Paperless, Photos, Shortcuts, Hazel, DEVONthink, and more.
In this deep dive, we look deeper into Focus Modes and bust some myths holding people back. This truly is one of the most transformative features Apple offers, and I think everybody should take advantage of it.… This is a post for the MacSparky Labs Pathfinder members. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.
This week’s sponsor is NotePlan, and if you’ve been looking for an app that brings your notes, tasks, and calendar together without overwhelming you, this one’s worth a look.
I spend a lot of time thinking about how different productivity tools connect (or don’t). NotePlan takes an interesting approach by combining your daily notes with task management and calendar events in a single interface. The idea is simple: everything you need to see for your day lives in one spot, formatted in clean Markdown.
Screenshot
The daily note concept is solid. It’s like a digital Bullet Journal, giving each day its own page for thoughts, tasks, and notes. You can timeblock your day and see those blocks right in your calendar to stay focused. Notes can have properties, and you can organize projects on simple Kanban boards to keep everything moving forward.
NotePlan works great for people who want structure without rigidity. The calendar integration means you can see your schedule alongside your tasks, and the Markdown formatting keeps everything readable and portable. There’s also a template system if you like consistent formatting. Best of all, you get all these features with a native Mac app!
If you’re curious about bringing your notes and tasks closer to your calendar, check out NotePlan. They offer a free trial so you can see if it fits your workflow. It’s a thoughtfully designed app that respects how Mac users actually work.
I enjoyed this recent MDBHD video about the Neo Humanoid Robot. It’s a robot that you can buy/rent to put in your house as a robot housekeeper. It seems really rough around the edges, and it will require an actual human at Neo to drive it around.
It seems hardly ready for prime time. And yet …
I’m increasingly convinced that we will see useful domestic robots in my lifetime. I wonder, however, if they’ll actually be humanoid shaped or more like advanced iterations of robot vacuums that can also clean up, and fetch the remote. The disruption train just keeps rolling.
