Listen Later: Get Your Articles as Podcasts (Sponsor)

This week, MacSparky is pleased to welcome back Listen Later as a sponsor. Listen Later is a service that transforms articles, emails, and PDFs into personalized podcast episodes using their advanced AI narrator. This allows you to listen to your reading list during commutes, workouts, or any time you’re on the go.

This service really scratches an itch for me. There is so much good long-form content out there these days and consuming it while washing the dishes, walking the dog, or on a long commute is very satisfying.

Their AI not only narrates but brings life to the content with a quality that stands out among AI voices. You can access your personalized podcast episodes on all devices through any podcast app, ensuring you stay connected with your preferred content anytime and anywhere.

Beyond articles, Listen Later can also convert emails and PDFs into podcasts, making it perfect for transforming work documents, newsletters, or any textual content into listenable formats. Additionally, Listen Later can translate content into multiple languages, making global content accessible and enjoyable in your preferred language.

Sign up for the service today, and you’ll receive $2 of free credit, providing an easy way to try it out for yourself at no risk. Experience the convenience of turning your reading list into a personalized podcast with Listen Later.

Mac Power Users 816: iOS & iPadOS 26

iOS and iPadOS 26 bring many changes, including Liquid Glass, updated first-party apps, and new multitasking features for iPad users. On this episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen and I talk through these changes and share impressions of Apple’s latest iPhones, AirPods, and Watches.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac. Get one month free.
  • 1Password: Never forget a password again.

The Reason for the iPhone Air

I’ve heard from a lot of people questioning why the iPhone Air exists. This is common from power users when Apple releases a niche product. In my mind, there are several good reasons why the iPhone Air exists.

1. There are a substantial number of people who want the lightest and smallest iPhone they can get their hands on. Those people are not as concerned with battery life and camera quality as they are with weight, and now there is an iPhone just for them. Just because it’s not for you (or me) doesn’t mean that there isn’t a market for it. While the iPhone Air doesn’t qualify as the smallest, it certainly qualifies as the lightest. Those people are not normally power users, but their money is as good as anybody else’s, and I’m sure Apple is happy to take it to give them what they want.

2. This phone gives Apple the ability to experiment with making the thinnest possible iPhone at scale. That’s an important skill to master because…

3. Apple absolutely wants to make a folding iPhone, and a lot of the technologies they use to make the iPhone Air that thin are going to transfer into that folding iPhone next year.

A Few Notes on iPhone Teardowns

iFixit has been at it again, and there are a few notes worth mentioning regarding the teardowns of the latest iPhones.

The iPhone Air is More Durable and Repairable Than Expected

One of the big questions surrounding this phone was durability, but the titanium frame appears to render it just fine on things like bend tests. Moreover, once pulled apart, you can really see that all of the components fit in the body of the phone with the rest of the space dedicated to the battery. Impressive.

The iPhone Pro Vapor Chamber Is Just Cool

I expected the vapor chamber would be full of water, but it turns out that’s not how they work. There’s a single drop of water inside that makes it work.

Image: iFixit

It looks as if the sharp corner of the camera plateau is susceptible to scratching and losing its anodized color.

The TechWoven Case is Better than FineWoven

iFixit also took its testing techniques to the new TechWoven case. In short, it’s a lot more resilient out of the box compared to FineWoven. However, taking a razor blade to it cuts through the surface treatment, which leads to trouble. It sure is a good thing I don’t keep an exposed razor blade in my pocket.

Fantastical: The Calendar That Actually Thinks Like You Do (Sponsor)

Today’s sponsor is Fantastical from Flexibits. I want to share why their approach to calendar management continues to impress me after all these years.

You know that moment when you’re trying to schedule something and your brain works faster than your calendar app? That’s where Fantastical shines. I can type “Coffee with Sarah next Tuesday at 10am at Blue Bottle” and Fantastical just gets it. The natural language processing isn’t just a party trick. It fundamentally changes how I interact with my calendar. No more clicking through date pickers and dropdown menus when my brain’s already moved on to the next task.

What really sets Fantastical apart for productivity nerds like us is the depth of customization. Calendar Sets let me switch contexts instantly—I’ve got different sets for deep work days, meeting-heavy days, and weekends. The app automatically knows which calendars I need to see based on where I am or what time it is. It’s like having multiple calendar personalities that adapt to my workflow.

The integration game is strong too. Beyond the usual suspects, Fantastical plays beautifully with Shortcuts, which means I’ve automated calendar creation for recurring project types. The app handles conference calls brilliantly—whether it’s Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet, the join button is right there when I need it.

One feature that doesn’t get enough love: the weather integration. Knowing if tomorrow’s meeting requires an umbrella or if that outdoor event might get rained out helps me plan better. It’s these thoughtful touches that make Fantastical feel less like software and more like a really competent assistant.

If you’re ready to stop fighting with your calendar and start working with it, check out Fantastical. They offer a free trial so you can experience the difference yourself.

Focused 239: How to Focus Like a Roman Emperor, with Donald J. Robertson

Cognitive behavioral psychotherapist and author Donald J. Robertson joins Mike and me on this episode of Focused to talk about ancient philosophy as a tool for focus.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

  • Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan.
  • Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
  • Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
  • 1Password: Discover SaaS applications, automate lifecycle management, and optimize SaaS spend.

Mac Power Users 815: Automation Update with Sal Soghoian

While Stephen is busy with the Podcastathon, Sal Soghoian joins me on this episode of Mac Power Users to talk about the state of automation and the best way to get started with automation in 2025.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.
  • Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.