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.…
Continue reading →Date Archives → 2026
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.
The M5 Pro and Max Are Going to Be Monsters for Local AI
Back in November, Apple quietly published a research article about the Neural Accelerators in the M5 chip. The numbers are wild. The base M5 MacBook Pro already delivers up to 4x faster time-to-first-token compared to the M4 when running large language models through MLX.…
Continue reading →File Renaming with Claude Cowork
Anthropic has recently released a Claude update that lets it do actual work for you in the background. In this example I have it take a folder full of scans and rename them with the internal date and document description based on Claude’s review of the file content.
… This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members only. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.
Three Weeks with Apple Wallet Car Key
Three weeks ago, Rivian started supporting Apple Wallet car keys. I set it up immediately. (I made a video on it in the MacSparky Labs) Before this, unlocking my car required pulling out my phone and waiting for a Bluetooth connection. It worked, but it…
Continue reading →Left – A Clever Time Left Widget
I recently discovered this clever little widget app that lets you create classy looking time left widgets on your devices. [Left](https://left-time.app) is a well-made app with a lot of potential use cases.… This is a post for the MacSparky Labs Pathfinder and Insider members. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.
Brian Moore Shows Us Just How Screwed We All Are
Go spend 30 seconds at Busy Simulator. If this feels familiar, turn off your notifications. All of them.
Continue reading →OmniOutliner 6 Is Here
I think I first bought OmniOutliner at version 2. I remember it came in shrink wrap at a computer store. Regardless, I’ve been using the application for a long time. I’ve used it to outline countless contracts, depositions, trial examinations, MacSparky videos, books, and…
Continue reading →Mac Power Users 832: All About Apple Weather
After talking through the new Apple Creator Studio bundle, Stephen shares his notes with me after switching to the Apple Weather app for a month. Join us on Mac Power Users. This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by: 1Password: Never forget a password again.…
Listen & read notes →MacSparky’s 2026 Home Screen and Automation
I’ve simplified my Home Screen setup and automation. In this video, I walk you through the changes I’ve made.
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