Posts Tagged → sponsor

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.

official application icon for DEVONthink

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.

Streamline Your Business with Daylite: The All-in-One CRM Built for Apple Users

Transform how you run your business with Daylite – the native CRM and business management platform crafted exclusively for the Apple ecosystem. Whether at your Mac or iPhone and iPad, Daylite brings your client relationships, sales pipeline, and projects together in one elegant solution.

Why Daylite?

Running a small business means wearing multiple hats. Rather than juggling separate apps for your CRM, project management, and sales tracking, Daylite offers a unified workspace where everything connects. Every email, call, task, and note links directly to your clients, projects, and opportunities – keeping your team aligned and your business moving forward.

Power Features That Set Daylite Apart

Smart Contact Management: Never let important client details slip through the cracks. Daylite centralizes all client interactions, giving your team instant access to communication history, preferences, and ongoing projects. Build stronger relationships by having the full context at your fingertips.

Seamless Apple Mail: Integration Work where you already spend your time – your inbox. Daylite’s Apple Mail integration lets you create tasks, schedule follow-ups, and link emails to projects without switching apps. Stay responsive to clients while keeping everything organized.

Dynamic Sales Pipeline: Watch your deals progress with the visual Opportunities Board. Custom pipeline stages reflect your unique sales process, helping you prioritize leads and forecast revenue. Your team stays aligned on deal status and next steps, turning more opportunities into wins.

Project Command Center: Keep projects running smoothly with powerful, flexible tools. Organize tasks, track milestones, allocate resources, and monitor deadlines in one place. Whether you’re managing client deliverables or internal initiatives, Daylite ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

True Offline Access: Your business doesn’t stop when the internet does. Daylite’s offline capabilities mean you can access and update your data anywhere – perfect for productive work during flights, remote client visits, or anywhere else your business takes you.

Native Apple Experience: Daylite is an app made by Mac-loving developers for Mac-loving users. As a true native app, Daylite delivers the performance and polish Apple users expect. The familiar interface lets you hit the ground running, while deep integration with macOS and iOS ensures a fluid experience across all your devices.

Start Growing with Daylite

Experience how the right tools can transform your business. Try Daylite and discover why small businesses trust it to strengthen client relationships, close more deals, and deliver projects successfully.

Ready to streamline your business? Start your free trial today.

Simple Scan: From Documents to PDFs in Seconds (Sponsor)

Scanning apps on iOS have taken a turn for the worse. Many have become bloated with features. Monetization schemes have multiplied. That’s what Greg Pierce (maker of Drafts) realized when he wanted to scan a document to a PDF. The good news is that Greg fixed that with his scanning app, Simple Scan. Simple Scan lives up to its name by doing one thing really well: turning your paper documents into high-quality, searchable PDFs with minimal fuss.

What sets Simple Scan apart is its focused approach. Simple Scan is purpose-built for quick document capture. Just scan and send, no document library to manage. Every PDF is automatically processed with OCR, making your scanned documents fully searchable.

The app comes with thoughtful features like custom destinations for frequent tasks (perfect for “Email to Myself”), direct saves to specific folders, and flexible output options, including high-quality JPEGs. And true to its principles of simplicity, you’ll never see ads. Ever. I use this app all the time.

Simple Scan is free to try, with a Pro version available as either a low-cost annual subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase.

Simplify your scanning workflow with Simple Scan today.

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.

Time Tracking Made Easy with Timing (Sponsor)

When it comes to time tracking, it’s only as useful as the data is accurate. Setting manual timers often leads to bad data. As humans, we’re not very good at throwing switches every time we mode shift. We’re in a new year and this would be a great time to start figuring out how you are spending your time.

This week’s sponsor, Timing, gives you the benefit of time tracking without the inconvenience. Timing is an app for your Mac that automatically tracks your time. You don’t need to push buttons. Timing just does its job. It’s smart, it’s beautiful, and it’s easy to use.

Just download and install Timing, and it’ll start recording how much time you spend on each app, document, and website you use.

And now Timing will import your iPhone and iPad usage from Screen Time as well! This means you’ll get the complete picture of how you spend your time across all your devices.

If you haven’t tried Timing lately, you should. They added a new vertical timeline that is really nice. It’s easy to read and easy to edit. Time tracking gives me a lot of insight about where I am really putting my efforts. Timing is a great way to do it.

If you’ve tried time-tracking before and gave up on it, try Timing. It does the work for you. I’ve even made some videos showing how the app works.

Upgrade Photos with PowerPhotos (Sponsor)

The Photos app is great until it’s not. If you want to add power-user features to Photos, check out this week’s sponsor, PowerPhotos. It’s the ultimate toolbox for managing your photo libraries on Mac. There are some true power features here that really improve the Photos App:

  • Duplicate Photo Finder: Identify and remove duplicate photos to free up space on your drive and in iCloud.
  • Library Merging: Consolidate multiple libraries into one while preserving albums, edits, and metadata.
  • Advanced Export Options: Export photos with customizable settings, including format, size, metadata inclusion, and folder hierarchy that mirrors your album organization.

There are many more and you can download the PowerPhotos free trial to explore its features, with advanced functions available upon purchasing a license. MacSparky readers can enjoy a 20% discount with the coupon code MACSPARKY25. Enhance your Photos app experience with PowerPhotos today.

WinterFest 2024: Great Tools for a Productive New Year (Sponsor)

The new year is almost here, and with it comes fresh projects, big ideas, and opportunities to grow. Whether you’re writing your next novel, finishing a research project, planning your business, or journaling life’s moments for your loved ones, having the right tools makes all the difference.

That’s why I’m excited to have WinterFest 2024 as this week’s sponsor. This annual event brings together a curated collection of artisanal software–thoughtfully crafted tools designed to help you think, write, and create more effectively.

WinterFest is a celebration of software artisans–small teams of developers who care deeply about their tools and their customers. These aren’t cookie-cutter apps churned out by big corporations. These are finely honed tools that are constantly updated, well-supported, and built to help you do your best work.

No gimmicks. No bloated bundles. Just great software with a terrific discount for a limited time.

I’ve been using and recommending many of these tools for years. They’re the kinds of apps you rely on every day–apps that spark creativity, improve productivity, and make hard work feel a little easier.

With WinterFest 2024, you’ll find tools for:

  • Writing — from outlines to manuscripts to polished final drafts.
  • Researching — collecting and organizing your ideas with ease.
  • Planning — structuring your projects, goals, and next steps.
  • Thinking — capturing, exploring, and refining your best ideas.

Each tool works seamlessly on its own and plays well with others, creating a powerful and flexible workflow tailored to your needs.

For a limited time, you can grab these incredible apps at a significant discount. Just head over to the WinterFest website and check it out.

WinterFest 2024: Great Tools for a Productive New Year (Sponsor)

The new year is almost here, and with it comes fresh projects, big ideas, and opportunities to grow. Whether you’re writing your next novel, finishing a research project, planning your business, or journaling life’s moments for your loved ones, having the right tools makes all the difference.

That’s why I’m excited to have WinterFest 2024 as this week’s sponsor. This annual event brings together a curated collection of artisanal software–thoughtfully crafted tools designed to help you think, write, and create more effectively.

WinterFest is a celebration of software artisans–small teams of developers who care deeply about their tools and their customers. These aren’t cookie-cutter apps churned out by big corporations. These are finely honed tools that are constantly updated, well-supported, and built to help you do your best work.

No gimmicks. No bloated bundles. Just great software with a terrific discount for a limited time.

I’ve been using and recommending many of these tools for years. They’re the kinds of apps you rely on every day–apps that spark creativity, improve productivity, and make hard work feel a little easier.

With WinterFest 2024, you’ll find tools for:

  • Writing — from outlines to manuscripts to polished final drafts.
  • Researching — collecting and organizing your ideas with ease.
  • Planning — structuring your projects, goals, and next steps.
  • Thinking — capturing, exploring, and refining your best ideas.

Each tool works seamlessly on its own and plays well with others, creating a powerful and flexible workflow tailored to your needs.

For a limited time, you can grab these incredible apps at a significant discount. Just head over to the WinterFest website and check it out.

Timing – A Smarter Way to Track Your Time (Sponsor)

Staying on top of your time is crucial–but it’s not always easy. Between juggling client work, creative projects, and the administrative overhead of running a business, time can slip through your fingers. That’s exactly why I’ve been so impressed with Timing. It’s a Mac app that automates time tracking, giving you a clear picture of how you’re actually spending your day.

Traditional time trackers force you to remember to click “start” at the beginning of a task and “stop” when you’re done. Forget to press that button? Your records become a patchwork of guesswork. Timing fixes that. It automatically records how long you spend in each app, document, and website–no manual input is required. The result is a richly detailed timeline of your day, presented in a way that’s intuitive and insightful.

Over time, Timing learns which activities belong to which projects. It uses intelligent rules and machine learning to categorize your work, so you can quickly see how your hours break down by client, project, or activity type. And when it’s time to invoice clients or measure project profitability, Timing’s reports practically build themselves. The app’s built-in reporting tools make it simple to generate clear, professional summaries you can trust.

Timing integrates with your Mac’s workflow without getting in the way. However, it is that you pay for your shoes and whatever apps you’re running, Timing runs quietly in the background, capturing the data you need. The app’s privacy features let you exclude sensitive activities, ensuring you’re only tracking what matters to you.

Timing helps you identify patterns you might never have noticed. Maybe you’re spending more time than you realize on email, or maybe your brainstorming sessions are shorter–but more frequent–than you’d think. Armed with this knowledge, you can make intentional adjustments: block out more time for deep focus, limit unproductive browsing, or optimize your meeting schedule.

If you’ve been frustrated by manual timers or unsure where your day really goes, give Timing a spin. It’s helped me better understand my workflow and given me the data I need to make meaningful improvements. Head over to Timing’s website to learn more, start a free trial, and see how much more productive (and confident) you can be with an accurate view of your time.

Thanks to Timing for sponsoring MacSparky this week!