Sparky’s Tech Stack for 2026

Every year I try to lock in my tools for the following year. 2025 was odd because I moved most of my daily management into the Apple productivity suite to prepare the Apple Productivity Suite Field Guide. Now heading into 2026, I’m rethinking what I’m using and why.

Task Management

I tried using Reminders all year and largely pulled it off. But looking back at OmniFocus, it’s clearly the choice for me. I have so much knowledge of the product and I still think it’s the best on the market.

There are interesting web-based and AI-based task managers out there, but none seem useful to me. I just don’t believe artificial intelligence should be telling me what to do every day.

OmniFocus is my primary task manager for 2026. The team is hard at work on improvements. I’m excited about the recent automation additions and their use of Apple Intelligence as local AI.

Not to pick your tasks for you, but to manage your task list better. Fixing typos. Adding appropriate tags. I want to spend more time exploring those features and maybe writing a few of my own.

Another reason OmniFocus wins is how friendly it is with other apps. You can create URL links to tasks, projects, and folders easily and get back and forth between them.

Calendar Apps

I got a lot more respect for Apple Calendar last year. I’ve also been spending time with both BusyCal and Fantastical. I have subscriptions to both. BusyCal through Setapp and Fantastical since they first went subscription.

To be honest, I could get by with any of these three. They’re all good quality and do a good job with calendars.

But I’m leaning into Fantastical because of a few additional features that are useful to me. Primarily proposals. When someone asks to meet and I’m willing, sending them a few proposals of my availability is the method I always use. It never lets me down.

Fantastical added the ability to run multiple instances last year. I like making one calendar full screen that I can swipe to using Spaces, then having a smaller one as I’m working with dates.

The proposal feature is what locks it in for me. There are other quality of life improvements. I particularly like the quarterly view. But proposals are the deciding factor.

Also, I’m constantly impressed with Fantastical’s development schedule. They’re always adding new features.

There’s a whole series of other calendar applications emerging on the web. Often, they combine calendar and task management.

I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the utility of this. I managed tasks and calendars running a legal practice with 100-plus clients. I do it now with an active content business. In both cases, managing tasks and calendar items is essential.

But in neither case can I imagine turning it over to artificial intelligence. I want to be intimately involved in deciding what’s important and how I spend my time.

I see some use for artificial intelligence in my tech stack, but not in these roles.

Notes Apps

This one was the biggest learning curve heading into 2026. I spent a lot of time with Apple Notes, NotePlan, and Obsidian while preparing the Apple Productivity Suite Field Guide.

The big revelation? Apple Notes is really good. I mean it. After spending months in it for the Field Guide, I’m all in on Apple Notes for general note-taking. It’s fast, reliable, and more capable than most people realize.

For linked Markdown notes, I’m still deciding between NotePlan and Obsidian. They’re both excellent with different strengths.

Obsidian has this massive community plugin ecosystem that lets it do damn near anything. NotePlan is more conservative, but it’s a native Mac app, which makes it easier to use on mobile and gives you all the traditional Mac benefits like Shortcuts integration and proper window management.

I expect my notes workflow in 2026 will be Apple Notes for daily work and one of these linked note apps for my SparkyOS and other MacSparky-related thinking. But which one? The jury’s still out.

Video Production

For video editing, I moved from Final Cut to DaVinci Resolve last year at my editor’s request. I’ve been quite happy with the change.

DaVinci Resolve works the way I think more than Final Cut does. The transition was easy. I’m hardly an expert at it, but I’ll be editing in DaVinci Resolve again in 2026.

I’ve also moved my screen capture tool from ScreenFlow to Screen Studio. ScreenFlow has had a shaky history the last few years in terms of updates.

Screen Studio is less powerful and requires more post-production in DaVinci Resolve. But it does the pieces I need very well for screen video capture.

Email

I broke my rule halfway through 2025 and switched my email to Superhuman. I deal with a lot of email, and I’ve tried many solutions over the years. I can say without a doubt that Superhuman is the best tool I’ve ever used to work through email quickly.

There’s no single reason. The keyboard shortcuts are lightning fast. The composition tools avoid friction. Its auto-sorting is excellent. I’m just scratching the surface of the full feature set.

But Superhuman comes with a significant cost at $30 a month. In my case, it also requires a full Google Workspace account for myself and two additional people. So the actual cost is more than $100 a month.

It also requires moving all my data into Google. Even after six months, I’m still not entirely happy with it. This is primarily due to Google limitations, not Superhuman.

So heading into the new year, I’m moving back to Fastmail and using Apple Mail. I’m giving up a bit of efficiency, but with my knowledge of AppleScript and the other tricks I’ve learned over the years, I’m pretty efficient in that platform as well. More importantly, I’m entirely comfortable with the underlying technology.

I’ve also recently made the decision to get some assistance with customer support email. This will shorten response times and free me up to focus more on making content. Getting help with support email feels like the right move.

File Storage and Management

My choice has stayed the same forever: DEVONthink. I have multiple databases.

I’ve experimented with tools like Apple Finder and other solutions to keep track of items. Nothing can hold a candle to DEVONthink.

When I receive any kind of files related to the work I do, I’ve got a simple system in DEVONthink that keeps track of everything and gives me a link straight back to the appropriate files and information. The release of DEVONthink 4 last year only affirms my decision since the app is obviously actively developed and supported.

Reading and Research

For RSS, I use Unread as my feed reader. I use the Reader app from Readwise. I continue to get a lot of value out of my Readwise subscription in terms of capturing and organizing what I read.

Browser

I’m probably not curious enough when it comes to browsers. I like all the benefits I get from using Safari because it’s so baked into the other applications I use.

However, I frequently run the Dia browser these days when I need a Chrome-based browser. It lets me explore the emerging mashup between artificial intelligence and browsers.

Artificial Intelligence

This is one where it’s silly to pick a horse. These applications seem to leapfrog each other every month or two. That said, the last six months I’ve been primarily using Claude. I’ve been really happy with it.

I’ve been using Model Context Protocol to link into some of my other applications. For the kind of work I want to perform with artificial intelligence, Claude does a nice job.

I’m not looking for it to write for me so much as help me with the grunt work so I have more time to do the creative work myself. Using a combination of Claude projects and skills, I’ve got quite a nice workflow going.

I’ve been testing Google Gemini and OpenAI. They’re also doing very well. In addition, in 2026, I expect to be increasingly using more private artificial intelligence. I’m finding that the lesser models are good enough for the kind of work I’m doing.

Apple’s Private Cloud Compute for this purpose is already helping me a great deal. As Apple’s silicon gets even more efficient at running local models, I expect I’ll be running more of those this year as well.

My tech stack with respect to artificial intelligence is still a bit up in the air and will continue to be throughout the year. Things are moving too quickly to settle on just one.

I’m increasingly realizing that I don’t need frontier models for a lot of the donkey-work type of artificial intelligence applications I do. I may find at the end of the year that I’m using frontier models less than usual and relying more on local models and Apple’s Private Cloud Compute.

Analog Tools

The analog pieces of the system heading into 2026 are two-part. I’m using my collection of Field Notes more aggressively than ever.

I carry them in my pocket. I’ve usually got a page for each day. Out of all the digital tools I’ve covered above, it usually boils down to a few items I write down on that page to get done every day.

Historically, I’ve been using the Ugmonk notecards for this. But I switched over to Field Notes because it lets me carry notes for future days as well in my pocket. I work on that basis from front to back of each book. Then from back to front, I take random notes as they appear. Whenever they meet in the middle, it’s time for a new book.

Also, for several years now, I’ve been using Plotter stationery. I’m still loving it. My daily journals and a lot of my entries for the SparkyOS, where I write down my thoughts about any concept I’m trying to sort out for myself, use my Plotter stationery.

In 2026, I ordered a set of calendar refills for it as well. Since the book is with me so often, it’s kind of nice.

I’m not convinced it will be that useful because my digital calendars are pretty good too. But it’s at least an interesting experiment heading into next year.

Conclusion

One reason I’ve prepared this document is to give myself a stake in the ground as I head into the new year for what I’m going to try to use to get my work done.

An overall thought I have these days is that you have a lot of options when choosing your tech stack. That wasn’t necessarily true a few years ago. When I first got into the business of writing about app recommendations and workflows, there were very few apps worth considering. That’s just not true anymore.

I think there are several reasons for that. Apple has made the APIs so good for native Apple platform apps that developers get a lot of stuff that used to be very difficult for free. Cloud sync. Cross-platform tools.

Likewise, the web has matured a great deal, and there are a lot of tools available there. And of course, with this AI boom going on right now, we’ve got a lot of emerging tools using large language models to try and make the work easier.

So I’m not giving you a list of my tools to convince you to switch to one or the other. Just to give you an idea of my thinking and why I’m choosing what I am.

One thing I’m pretty strict about is that once I get settled into a tool set for a year, I really try to stick with it for the year. It’s easy to want to switch horses every couple of months and spend all of your time engineering systems, instead of actually doing the work.

Whisper Memos: Now Import Your Own Audio Files (Sponsor)

I’ve been a paying subscriber to Whisper Memos for over two years now, and I’m thrilled to welcome them back as a MacSparky sponsor. This app has become an essential part of my capture workflow.

If you’re unfamiliar, Whisper Memos is beautifully simple: open the app, start talking, and your words are transcribed into clean, paragraphed text delivered to your email. The magic happens through OpenAI’s Whisper technology, and the accuracy is remarkable. I’ve been dictating to computers for decades, and AI-powered transcription is on another level.

The Apple Watch integration is where Whisper Memos really shines for me. I’ve got it mapped to the Action Button on my Apple Watch Ultra, which means capturing a thought is just one tap away. Walking the dog, driving to the store, lying in bed when inspiration strikes—I raise my wrist, tap, and talk. The app works completely standalone on cellular watches, syncing when you’re back online.

Now Import Your Own Audio Files

The app just added a feature many users have been requesting: you can now import your own audio files for transcription. Got a voice memo from Apple’s Voice Memos app? A recording from a meeting? Import it into Whisper Memos and let the AI work its magic. This transforms the app from a great capture tool into a versatile transcription utility.

If you value privacy, there’s a Private Mode where transcripts are automatically deleted after processing—nothing stored on their servers. I’ve been running it this way since day one.

Whisper Memos is free to try and surprisingly affordable. If you’re looking for a frictionless way to capture your thoughts and turn them into readable text, check it out.

The Corsair Galleon 100 SD: Stream Deck Meets Keyboard

Corsair just announced the Galleon 100 SD at CES 2026, a full-size mechanical keyboard with a complete Stream Deck built into it. Rather than a numpad on the right side, you get 12 LCD keys, two rotary dials, and a 5-inch display–essentially a standalone Stream Deck fused directly into the keyboard frame.

I’ll admit, this is a clever bit of product engineering. The keyboard side is legitimately impressive.

At $350, you’re getting what would otherwise be a premium gaming keyboard plus roughly a $150 Stream Deck in one package. The math almost works.

Nevertheless, I don’t want my Stream Deck attached to my keyboard.

I’ve been using Stream Decks for years. They’re genuinely useful tools, and I’ve recommended them repeatedly in my work. But part of what makes them useful is their flexibility.

My Stream Deck sits where I need it, sometimes to my left, sometimes angled toward me, sometimes tucked away entirely. When I’m writing, I don’t need macro keys staring at me. When I’m editing podcasts, I want those controls front and center.

Bolting it to a keyboard removes that flexibility entirely. Now your Stream Deck lives wherever your keyboard lives, at whatever angle your keyboard sits.

There’s a broader trend here worth noting. Keyboards with OLED displays and LCD keys have become increasingly common.

It makes sense that Elgato, now under the Corsair umbrella, would want to get in on this action. The technology has matured, the software ecosystem is already built, and there’s clearly a market for all-in-one solutions.

I’m sure folks will dig this. Just not me.

Stephen Robles on Apple Creator Studio

Stephen Robles has put together a great video breaking down Apple’s new Creator Studio subscription. If you’re wondering whether this new $12.99/month bundle makes sense for you, this is worth your time.

For those who haven’t been following, Creator Studio bundles Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Motion, Compressor, MainStage, and now Pixelmator Pro (which is coming to iPad for the first time). You also get premium features in the iWork apps. The education pricing is particularly aggressive at $2.99/month.

Stephen does a nice job walking through who this actually makes sense for versus who should stick with the one-time purchases. The math isn’t straightforward, and it depends a lot on how many of these apps you actually use.

One thing that caught my attention: the new Transcript Search and Visual Search features in Final Cut Pro. These are the kind of AI-powered tools that actually solve real problems for video editors. Being able to search your footage by what’s being said or what’s on screen is genuinely useful.

Mac Power Users 833: Chris Bailey and His Battle-Scarred M1

On this episode of Mac Power Users, Chris Bailey shares his unconventional tech stack: TextEdit for writing, Simplenote for tasks, and printing research on paper. He also tried using an iPad mini as his phone to create friction with distraction.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • 1Password: Never forget a password again.
  • Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.

This Is the Year Apple Has to Deliver on Siri

Mark Gurman delivered more Siri news this week, and I’m left with the same feeling I’ve had for over a year now: equal parts hope and frustration.

Here’s the picture as it currently stands. Apple is planning two separate Siri overhauls, releasing months apart.

The Spring Update: iOS 26.4

The first update arrives with iOS 26.4, expected around March or April. This is the non-chatbot version built on a custom Google Gemini model running on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers. The goal here seems straightforward: finally cash all those checks Apple wrote at WWDC 2024.

Remember those promises? Siri that understands personal context. Siri that can find the book recommendation your mom texted you. Siri that works across apps instead of being confined to one at a time. Features that were supposed to ship with iOS 18, then got pushed to “later,” then pushed again to 2026.

The Fall Overhaul: iOS 27

Then, just a few months later at WWDC 2026, Apple plans to announce an entirely different approach. This one is codenamed “Campos,” and it’s a full chatbot experience. Think Claude or ChatGPT, but baked directly into your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Voice and text inputs. Persistent conversations you can return to. The works.

Craig Federighi has previously expressed skepticism about chatbot interfaces, preferring AI that’s “integrated into everything you do, not a bolt-on chatbot on the side.” But competitive pressure from OpenAI and others seems to have changed the calculus.

Why Two Versions?

This is where I get frustrated. Releasing two fundamentally different versions of Siri months apart doesn’t inspire confidence. The first version sounds like something they cobbled together just to say they kept their promises. I’d almost prefer they skipped it entirely and focused all their energy on the chatbot.

Why This Matters

I’ve been critical of Siri over the last decade. Every year Apple makes promises it can’t keep. Every WWDC brings demos of features that arrive late, broken, or not at all.

And yet I continue to believe that a smart model on our Apple devices, with access to our local data, where everything stays local and private or runs through Private Cloud Compute, could be one of the best implementations of AI we’ve seen.

Think about who this could help. I spent 30 years practicing law. I know firsthand how many professionals are locked out of these AI tools because the privacy story isn’t good enough. Apple could change that.

And for the rest of us? We’re not particularly excited about sharing our personal information with giant AI companies either. A truly private assistant that actually knows your life without selling it to advertisers? That’s the dream.

Apple is uniquely positioned to deliver this. They have the hardware. They have the ecosystem integration. They have the privacy infrastructure. They have over 2 billion devices that could benefit.

But they have yet to prove they can actually ship it.

Where I Am Right Now

I currently use Siri where I can, but that’s very limited. I get far more use out of Claude than I do Siri at this point. (Claude’s recent Cowork feature is shockingly impressive.) That’s not where I want to be. I want the assistant built into my devices to be the one I reach for first.

The Bottom Line

All of this feels like it’s coming to a boiling point. We’ve all been patient with Apple for years now. It’s time for them to prove whether or not they can pull this off.

Let’s hope that in six months, Apple has finally answered the call.

The Lab Report for January 23, 2026

In this week’s episode: A few quick Apple updates, AirTag is a great addition to your luggage, some headlines from the rumor mill (iPhone and MacBook Pro stuff), and I share my handy Apple Mail “Send From” Labs video. Plus, a Joshua Redman track to take you into the weekend.
… This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members only. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.