I have a lot of thanks for the MacSparky Labs members this week.…
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I have a lot of thanks for the MacSparky Labs members this week.…
This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members only. Care to join? Or perhaps do you need to sign in?
Stephen and I explore Apple’s new Journal app and discuss the technology that powers it, which is being leveraged by other journaling apps, including Day One, on this episode of Mac Power Users. We also retell the history of Sherlocking.
This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

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.
It’s time for the latest Lab Report from MacSparky, covering this week’s Apple news and updates…This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members only. Care to join? Or perhaps do you need to sign in?
I’ve heard from several labs members this first week of the new year considering starting a journaling habit. My reply, every time: Yes! Here’s the case for journaling and a few app recommendations (in less than five minutes)… This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members only. Care to join? Or perhaps do you need to sign in?
Join Mike and me on this episode of Focused as we reflect on everything that happened in 2023 and share our intentions for 2024.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year so I made this little Loom video for you…
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To wind down 2023, Stephen and I use this episode of Mac Power Users to reflect on the tech that has served us well over the last 12 months.
This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:
Here’s the video from the December deep dive on the Productivity Field Guide. Since this one didn’t have anything visual, I also released the audio into the Early Access podcast feed. Enjoy, and Happy New Year!
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At the Sparks house, we don’t spend New Year’s Eve watching C-list celebrities dropping balls. Instead, we blow up the Death Star together. Specifically, we watch Star Wars, Episode IV, in such a way that the Death Star blows up precisely a the stroke of midnight. It’s not really that hard. This year I’ll be watching the Disney+ version, which means I’ll hit “Play” at 10:02:43 PM. Just go to this post by the Rebel Force Radio and note the designated start time for your version of Star Wars. Then start the movie at that time.
For my money, it really beats all the other inane New Year’s coverage. I really use the term “watch” here loosely. The movie plays while our family and friends talk and socialize. When the trench run starts toward the end is when we all really start paying attention, and it is always exhilarating watching Luke scream down that trench and knowing that when the Death Star blows, we’ve got a New Year. An added benefit is the very next scene is the award ceremony with majestic music that feels like the perfect start to a New Year. Give it a try this year.