Focus Without Fuss: Focus Firewall for macOS (Sponsor)

This week I’m pleased to welcome a new sponsor to MacSparky, Focus Firewall.

We all know the feeling. You sit down to work, crack open your Mac… and somehow 20 minutes vanish into the black hole of news sites, social media, or some link a friend just texted you. That’s where Focus Firewall comes in.

It’s a lightweight, distraction-blocking app built specifically for macOS. Flip a switch, and it instantly hides the usual suspects – over 140 pre-configured websites and apps – so you can stay on task. There’s no need to fiddle with settings or build elaborate profiles. You just open your Mac and get to work.

What I like most about Focus Firewall is that it strikes a thoughtful balance. It doesn’t nag you or enforce a strict lockdown. Instead, it takes a more mindful approach: encouraging focused time while still giving you a guilt-free “pause” button when you need it. I think of it as an invisible safety net; I don’t have to think about it, but it’s there when I need it. Most days, I only touch it during breaks, when I allow myself a quick jaunt into something like YouTube woodworking.

This app is special because it works with your habits, not against them. And over time, it really adds up. Even if I only use it for a few hours, that’s a few hours without getting pulled into algorithm-driven rabbit holes. I’d much rather have a tool that builds sustainable focus than one that forces it.

If you’ve been looking for a simple, respectful way to block distractions without turning your Mac into a digital prison, I highly recommend giving Focus Firewall a try. It takes less than a minute to set up – and could save you hours down the line.

The Eternal Storms Bundle: Four Handy Mac Utilities, One Great Deal (Sponsor)

I’ve always had a soft spot for indie Mac developers — especially those who build tools that quietly make your Mac better. Eternal Storms Software is a great example, and right now they’ve got a special bundle deal that’s worth checking out.

This bundle includes four of their best-loved apps:

Yoink: A smart little shelf that makes drag-and-drop a whole lot easier. I’ve used Yoink for years — it’s one of those “how did I live without this?” utilities. Just drag a file to the edge of your screen, and Yoink gives you a temporary holding space to keep things tidy while you navigate between apps or Finder windows.
ScreenFloat: Ever needed to keep a reference image, receipt, or bit of text visible while you work? ScreenFloat lets you snap screenshots and have them float above everything else. It’s perfect for research, design work, or anytime you want to stop flipping between windows.
Transloader: This one’s a gem for folks who juggle Macs and iOS devices. You can send download links from your iPhone or iPad straight to your Mac, where the file downloads automatically. No more emailing yourself links or awkward AirDrop workarounds.
Deskmat: Need to share your screen on a Zoom call? Invoke DeskMat and cover all the clutter. It’s really that easy.

What I love about all four of these apps is that they solve small, real-world annoyances in elegant, Mac-native ways. They’re lightweight, thoughtfully designed, and just… helpful. You won’t find bloat or subscription nags here — just solid utilities that do their job well.

And right now, you can grab all four at a discounted price in the Eternal Storms Bundle. Whether you’re already a fan of one or two of these apps, or just want to explore some new Mac superpowers, it’s a great deal.

PowerPhotos 3.0 is Here

Screenshot of PowerPhotos 3.0 showing batch metadata editing features for a photo titled "Burt’s" with keywords “Albuquerque” and “Vacation.”

PowerPhotos 3.0 has officially landed, and it’s a big one.

For the uninitiated, PowerPhotos is a utility that fills in the gaps in Apple’s Photos app. It’s long been the Photos utility of choice for many Mac power users, offering features like multiple library management, duplicate detection, and the ability to copy albums between libraries while preserving edits and metadata.

Version 3.0 brings a host of smart new features, including:

Batch metadata editing — You can now edit photo titles, keywords, and captions right inside PowerPhotos, with batch editing tools that support templating, auto-numbering, and more.
Advanced search — A new indexing engine lets you search by criteria not supported in Photos, like file size, dimensions, video duration, and more. You can also save your smart searches, which support nested logic.
Improved photo browser and viewer — The app now updates live with changes to your library, includes a built-in photo viewer, and allows you to move or delete photos and albums, all with full undo support.
Library management improvements — You can now move (not just copy) content between libraries, and select multiple libraries for batch operations.

To top it all off, this marks the 10th anniversary of PowerPhotos (and the 20th of its predecessor, iPhoto Library Manager!). To celebrate, the app is 10% off through May 16.

You can download it for free, with advanced features available by purchasing a $39.95 license. Existing users can upgrade at a 50% discount.

If you work with large or multiple Photos libraries, this is one utility that deserves a spot in your Applications folder.

Daylite: The All-in-One Business Tool for Apple Users (Sponsor)

Running a small business or working as a solo professional often means juggling a dozen roles at once — client meetings, project deadlines, follow-ups, invoicing — you name it. I’ve learned the hard way that when your tools aren’t helping you stay on top of all that, they’re just adding to the chaos.

That’s where Daylite comes in. It’s a powerful CRM and project management app made specifically for Mac, iPhone, and iPad users. What sets Daylite apart is how well it blends contact management, project tracking, calendar integration, and team collaboration, all in one place. It’s like having a command center for your business, designed with the Apple ecosystem in mind.

Daylite is especially useful if you’re in a client-focused profession like legal, design, real estate, coaching, or consulting. You can link your emails, notes, tasks, and appointments to individual clients and projects, so nothing slips through the cracks. I love how it integrates with Apple Mail and Calendar, making it feel like a natural extension of the tools many of us already use daily.

One thing that really stands out is how Daylite helps you stay proactive, not just reactive. You can set up pipelines for sales or onboarding workflows, assign tasks to your team, and always know what the next step is. That means less time digging through email threads and more time actually doing the work.

Moreover, the Daylite development team is 100% committed to giving Mac users the best native experience. They’ve proven that with decades of innovative updates. And because Daylite is a native Mac app (not just a web wrapper), it feels snappy and familiar. There’s no clunky interface or learning curve; it just works the way you expect it to.

If you’re trying to grow your business or just bring some order to the daily madness, I highly recommend checking out Daylite. It’s a great example of a thoughtfully built tool for Apple-centric teams who want to work smarter.

Rogue Amoeba: Fine Audio Software for Your Mac (Sponsor)

This week, my friends at Rogue Amoeba are back to sponsor MacSparky. They make an incredible lineup of audio tools for your Mac, useful for everyone from home hobbyists to professional podcasters and studio technicians.

Thanks to the work the team did in tandem with Apple (see the epic backstory!), you can now get started with Rogue Amoeba’s tools in mere seconds. That includes their flagship audio recording utility Audio Hijack, which was recently updated to version 4.5 with enhancements to the secure and local Transcribe block. (This is the app that I use to record everything from the Mac Power Users on down.)

They also make Loopback, which lets you do things like combine microphone audio with the audio playing from apps running right on your Mac, to create a virtual audio device. It’s a perfect way to spice up calls on Zoom or FaceTime, or make your screen recordings even more immersive. Add their top-notch soundboard app Farrago can manage backing tracks and sound effects while you’re recording your podcast.

SoundSource is the premier audio control app for your Mac. Now you can control the volume of each individual app, apply audio effects (including Audio Unit plugins), and redirect to the different output devices you have available on your system. All this power comes in an app that lives right in your menu bar for instant access. In my opinion, no Mac is fully set up until SoundSource is installed.

You can test out Rogue Amoeba’s software for free with their fully-functional trials, then make a one-time purchase online. Best of all, as a MacSparky reader, you can save 20% through the end of March. Just use coupon code SPARKYXX at their store.

My thanks to Rogue Amoeba for supporting MacSparky, and all my audio needs.

Timing is Your Silent Partner in Productivity (Sponsor)

This week, MacSparky is delighted to feature Timing, the premier automatic time-tracking app for Mac users. Unlike traditional timers that require manual activation, Timing works seamlessly in the background, meticulously recording your activity across apps, websites, and documents. This ensures you gain an accurate and comprehensive overview of how your time is allocated, enabling you to identify productivity patterns and areas for improvement. Looking at your Timing log will let you know exactly what went down if your day ever gets away from you.

*AI summaries show you how you spend your time*

Key Features of Timing

Automatic Tracking: No need to remember to start or stop timers. Timing automatically logs your activities, capturing every detail without manual intervention.
Detailed Insights: Review precise data on the duration spent on specific applications, documents, or websites. For instance, distinguish between time dedicated to a client proposal in Word versus casual browsing on retail sites.
AI-Powered Summaries: Leverage artificial intelligence to receive concise summaries of your daily activities, helping you quickly grasp where your time goes without sifting through extensive logs.
Team Functionality: Timing also has teams support. Collaborate effortlessly by sharing projects, while managers can view aggregated time reports. Importantly, individual privacy is respected, as only manual time entries are visible to supervisors, ensuring a non-intrusive tracking environment.
Integration and Automation: Timing offers seamless integration with various tools and supports automation through features like Siri Shortcuts and a web API, enhancing your workflow efficiency.
Web App Access: Access your Timing data from anywhere using the Timing web app. Start and stop timers on the go, manage your team, and integrate with other services, ensuring flexibility and control over your time tracking.

Understanding how you spend your time is the first step toward enhanced productivity. By providing an unobtrusive and precise tracking system, Timing empowers you to make informed decisions about your time.

Fantastical: The Premier Calendar App (Sponsor)

I’m delighted to welcome back Flexibits as a MacSparky sponsor. Their premier calendar application, Fantastical, continues to set the standard for personal and professional scheduling. With the recent release of Fantastical, the app has expanded its reach beyond the Apple ecosystem, now offering native support for Windows users as well.

Fantastical’s intuitive natural language event creation allows you to schedule meetings, set reminders, and plan tasks effortlessly. The app’s beautiful and clean interface provides multiple views, including day, week, month, quarter, and year, ensuring you have the flexibility to manage your time effectively. It also beautifully integrates with Apple’s Reminders app.

One standout feature is the integration popular video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, Webex, and Microsoft Teams. This means you can schedule and join virtual meetings directly from your calendar without any hassle. I set all of my MacSparky Labs calls in Fantastical and the associated Zoom event is created with a single click.

For those who appreciate customization, Fantastical offers Calendar Sets, allowing you to group different calendars and task lists together. These sets can be enabled based on your location or a specific time, providing a tailored experience that adapts to your routine.

The recent update also enhances the Apple Watch app, making it more user friendly with added features. With interactive widgets and support for Live Activities, staying on top of your schedule has never been easier.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive calendar solution that seamlessly integrates with your devices and enhances your productivity, I recommend giving Fantastical a try. Experience the convenience and efficiency that comes with using a top-tier calendar app designed to meet all your scheduling needs.

DEVONthink – Your Research Command Center (Sponsor)

One question I frequently get from MacSparky readers and MPU listeners is: “What’s the best tool for managing research on the Mac?” My answer is always DEVONthink, and this week I’m happy to have them as a sponsor.

Let me tell you about my favorite new feature: the Mentions inspector. Think of it as your digital librarian that automatically discovers connections in your research. When you select a document, Mentions shows you everywhere its title appears across your database, complete with context. I’ve found this invaluable for uncovering relationships in my research that I didn’t even know existed.

But that’s just scratching the surface. Here’s what makes DEVONthink my go-to research tool:

Its AI engine learns how you organize and helps file new documents
A powerful search language that lets you construct precise queries
Rock-solid sync across devices with end-to-end encryption
Smart rules and reminders to automate your workflow
Rich AppleScript support for deep automation (I use this constantly)

The DEVONthink team keeps pushing the envelope with thoughtful improvements. Recent updates have brought enhanced PDF annotation, seamless Evernote import capabilities, and expanded Markdown support. This continuous evolution is why DEVONthink remains central to my research workflow.

If you’re looking to level up your research game, DEVONthink is offering MacSparky readers a 20% discount. It’s the tool I trust with my own research, and I think you’ll find it just as indispensable.

My thanks to DEVONthink for supporting MacSparky.