Setapp Single App Subscriptions

Setapp just launched something I’ve been hoping they’d do for a while: single app subscriptions. Instead of committing to the full Setapp bundle, you can now subscribe to individual apps directly through the Setapp ecosystem.

This makes a lot of sense. Not everyone wants a bundle. Sometimes you just need one tool. And now you can get it inside Setapp’s trusted ecosystem without paying for the whole catalog.

The list of eligible apps includes many tools I’ve recommended over the years. If there’s a Setapp app you’ve been eyeing but didn’t want to subscribe to the full service for, this is worth a look.

Setapp Single App Subscriptions are available now under the Marketplace menu.

Widgetsmith Wallpaper Shine Through

Widgetsmith 8.2 just shipped, and it brings a feature I’ve been wanting. Your widgets can now go clear or frosted, letting your wallpaper show through.

Old-school Widgetsmith users will remember the trick. You’d screenshot your wallpaper, feed it into the app, and Widgetsmith would generate a background for each widget that perfectly matched whatever sat behind it. No visible borders. The widget just disappeared into your wallpaper. It was clever and it looked fantastic.

Then Apple added the shadow box around widgets, and that trick stopped working. You can’t fake invisible edges when iOS draws a visible container around every widget on your Home Screen.

Widgetsmith 8.2 is the answer to that. It’s not the same seamless blend we used to have, but it’s as close as we’re going to get. Your widgets can now be clear or frosted, so your wallpaper actually shows through instead of being covered by an opaque box.

The update also adds photo backgrounds. You can put any image behind your widgets. Family photos behind a clock widget. Your dog behind the weather. A favorite pattern behind your calendar. It’s a nice touch for people who want their Home Screen to feel more personal.

If you care about how your iPhone looks (and if you’re reading this, I suspect you do), grab the Widgetsmith 8.2 update. David Smith and his team keep finding ways to give us the customization that Apple won’t.

Focused 251: Joe Casabona

On this episode of Focused, David and Mike sit down with Joe Casabona, a podcast and automation coach who helps solopreneurs build systems so they can actually take time off without worrying about it. Joe shares his journey from agency developer to independent creator, and the conversation covers the real cost of independence (spoiler: it’s worth it), managing distractions with tools like the Brick (an NFC device that physically locks you out of apps), setting email boundaries, hiring a virtual assistant, and Joe’s practical approach to automation. Joe’s “PER method” (perform, evaluate, remove) and his “fewest links” philosophy for keeping automations from getting brittle are worth the listen alone.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

  • Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED.

Apple Drops 512GB RAM Option on M3 Ultra Mac Studio

Zac Hall at 9to5Mac spotted that Apple quietly removed the 512GB unified memory option from the M3 Ultra Mac Studio. When the machine launched a year ago, Apple made a big deal about that configuration. It could run large language models with over 600 billion parameters entirely in memory. Now the top option is 256GB, and Apple didn’t say a word about the change.

The 256GB model is still available, and for most people that’s more than enough. But the 512GB configuration was a statement. It said Apple was serious about local AI on the desktop. Pulling it quietly suggests memory supply constraints from AI server demand are hitting even Apple’s premium hardware.

I suspect we won’t see 512GB come back until the M4 Ultra ships. And even then, maybe. This also makes me wonder if the M5 Mac Studio will be where Apple starts raising memory prices. I say this as an interested party.

MindNode: Mind Mapping Meets Apple Watch (Sponsor)

MindNode Hero Image

This week’s sponsor is MindNode, the mind mapping tool I’ve been using for 15 years.

Some projects don’t fit in linear lists. They need space to branch, to connect in ways that only make sense when you can see the whole picture at once. That’s where mind mapping works, and MindNode is the best mind mapping tool for Apple users.

MindNode makes capturing ideas frictionless. I keep a full-screen mind map open on my Mac and swipe to it throughout the day when thoughts hit. Add a node, see how it connects to everything else, swipe back to work. The idea is captured before it vanishes.

You can start messy. Branch ideas in every direction. Then switch to outline view when you need structure. The two views stay in sync, so you get both visual thinking and organized output without choosing between them.

MindNode just launched an Apple Watch app. You can view your mind maps as outlines on your wrist, check off tasks, and even edit content on the go. I didn’t expect mind mapping to work on a watch, but the outline view makes it practical. When you’re away from your devices and need to reference a project or mark something complete, it’s there.

MindNode runs natively on Mac, iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro, and now Apple Watch. Your documents sync through iCloud, which keeps your data private and encrypted. The team at IdeasOnCanvas has been building MindNode for over 17 years.

If you’re looking for a better way to organize ideas, or if you’ve bounced off clunky mind-mapping tools before, check out MindNode and give it a try. The Apple Watch integration is just the latest reason it keeps earning a spot in my productivity stack.

A Quick Note on MindNode Versions

If you used MindNode a few years ago and got confused by the transition, you’re not alone. Here’s the short version: MindNode is the current, actively developed app. MindNode Classic is the older version. One subscription unlocks both, so you can use either. The team at IdeasOnCanvas still maintains Classic (they even shipped a Liquid Glass update for it), but MindNode is where all the new development happens. If you bounced off during the transition, now’s a good time to come back.

Unite Pro Complete SwiftUI Rebuild

I’ve been a fan of Unite for years. Turn any website into a proper Mac app. Simple idea, but the execution is what sets it apart.

Now the team at BZG Apps has rebuilt the entire thing from scratch in SwiftUI. After nearly nine years, they rewrote everything.

The standout feature is the Site Customizer. You can visually remove page elements, adjust fonts and colors, disable sticky headers.

No CSS required, though power users still have full access. Type a name or URL and Unite detects the site, pulls icons, and suggests optimal settings. It removes most of the friction from getting started.

I’ve been running the press preview and I’m impressed. If you’ve ever wanted a web app to feel like it belongs on your Mac, Unite Pro will do that for you.

Mac Power Users 839: David Pogue

On this episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen and I sit down with the one and only David Pogue to talk about his massive new book, Apple: The First 50 Years, his career path from musical theater to tech journalism, and his current tech stack. We also get nerdy about voice dictation, AI, and what it’s like to write a book you could genuinely use as a doorstop. Fair warning: there’s a brief detour into Sondheim.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • Things: A fresh new look for OS 26. Download a FREE trial for your Mac.
  • Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.
  • 1Password: Never forget a password again.