Posts Tagged → macsparky labs

Deep Dive – Using Apple Reminders

I’m building out my system in Apple Reminders as I research a future project. In the latest Deep Dive session, I shared what I’m doing with Apple’s impressive, but also limited task manager, and listened to Pathfinders’ experience with the app, as many of you are now using Reminders.… This is a post for the MacSparky Labs Pathfinder members. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.

Open a Folder From Anywhere

A Labs member asked for a way to open a folder from anywhere on his Mac. Here’s a Keyboard Maestro macro that uses the URL call action to solve the problem. This is a handy technique that can be deployed in several ways on your Mac. Here I show a use case involving the Notes field from an OmniFocus action. … 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.

July in the MacSparky Labs

July was a busy month in the MacSparky Labs, with members diving deep into productivity workflows and Apple’s latest features. We spent considerable time exploring Apple Reminders, including a dedicated deep dive session and hands-on videos covering the new quick capture features in iOS 26.

The monthly book club continued with our exploration of “Tiny Experiments,” while our regular Jam Sessions tackled career discussions—a topic that clearly resonated with the community. Members also got early access to beta experiences and explored creative uses for familiar apps like Voice Memos for transcription and Apple’s Journal app on iPadOS.

Beyond the Apple ecosystem, we experimented with AI tools like ChatGPT and Image Playground, tested alternative browsers like Dia, and even discussed unconventional productivity approaches like using glass boards for accountability.

The regular Lab Reports, meetups, and quarterly planning sessions kept everyone connected and focused on what’s working in their personal productivity systems. It’s exactly the kind of collaborative exploration that makes the Labs community special—taking both new releases and established tools and finding better ways to make them work for real people.

Why not join us?

  • 2025-07-30 – Sparky’s New Luggage (M,I,P)
  • 2025-07-30 – Book Club Poll (M,I,P)
  • 2025-07-30 – Labs Momentum Club (Event) (I,P)
  • 2025-07-29 – Testing the Comet Browser (Video) (I,P)
  • 2025-07-26 – Quarterly Planning – Q3 2025 (Video) (P)
  • 2025-07-25 – The Lab Report for July 25, 2025 (M,I,P)
  • 2025-07-23 – July 2025 Deep Dive – Using Apple Reminders (Event) (P)
  • 2025-07-23 – Using Voice Memos for Transcription (Video) (M,I,P)
  • 2025-07-22 – Reminders Quick Capture in iOS 26 (Video) (I,P)
  • 2025-07-20 – Book Club 003 – tiny experiments (Podcast) (M,I,P)
  • 2025-07-18 – The Lab Report for July 18, 2025 (Podcast) (M,I,P)
  • 2025-07-17 – Talking Careers (Podcast)
  • 2025-07-14 – ChatGPT and Image Playground (Video) (I,P)
  • 2025-07-12 – Labs Meetup (Event) (I,P)
  • 2025-07-11 – Quarter Planning Q3 2025 Session 2 (Event) (P)
  • 2025-07-11 – Quarter Planning Q3 2025 Session 1 (Event) (P)
  • 2025-07-11 – The Lab Report for July 11, 2025 (Podcast) (M,I,P)
  • 2025-07-10 – Glass Board as Accountability Device? (Newsletter) (P)
  • 2025-07-09 – Book Club Session 2: Tiny Experiments (Event) (M,I,P)
  • 2025-07-09 – Book Club Session 1: Tiny Experiments (Event) (M,I,P)
  • 2025-07-09 – Jam Session 003 – Talking Careers (Audio Podcast) (I,P,M)
  • 2025-07-09 – Apple’s Journal on iPadOS (Video) (M,I,P)
  • 2025-07-08 – Labs Deep Dive: Early Beta Experiences (Video Release) (P)
  • 2025-07-07 – Testing the Dia Browser (Video) (I,P)
  • 2025-07-04 – The Lab Report for July 4, 2025 (Podcast) (M,I,P)
  • 2025-07-02 – Labs Session: Talking Careers (Zoom Call) (I,P,M)
  • 2025-07-02 – Import and Export Markdown in Notes (Video) (M,I,P)

Legend:

M – Member; I – Insider; P – Pathfinder