May in the MacSparky Labs

One of the best things to come from my quitting the practice of law is the introduction of the MacSparky Labs. I feel like I’m unleashed and able to share so much more with the MacSparky Supporters. In May, I was able to give the Early Access members access to the Shortcuts for Mac Field Guide a month early and open up sales for the remaining members in the few days before the official launch. That’s not all that happened in the labs in May though. I’d love to have you join.

May in the MacSparky Labs

  • 2022-05-31 – WWDC update from Sparky (Levels 1-3)
  • 2022-05-20 – Lab Report Podcast (Levels 1-3)
  • 2022-05-26 – Using Your iPad as a Mac Dashboard (Levels 1-3)
  • 2022-05-25 – Using Obsidian for Task Management (Levels 2-3)
  • 2022-05-24 – Early Release: Shortcuts for Mac Field Guide (Levels 1-3)
  • 2022-05-24 – Sparky’s Obsidian Presentation (Levels 1-3)
  • 2022-05-23 – Early Access Content – Obsidian and Status Board Videos (Level 3)
  • 2022-05-20 – Lab Report Podcast (Levels 1-3)
  • 2022-05-19 – Using Your iPhone as a Webcam with Camo (Levels 1-3)
  • 2022-05-18 – Creating OmniFocus Template Projects with Keyboard Maestro (Levels 2-3)
  • 2022-05-16 – Early Access Video Previews (Level 3)
  • 2022-05-16 – Friends of Dave Interview with Ian Byrd (Levels 2-3)
  • 2022-05-13 – Lab Report Podcast (Level 1-3)
  • 2022-05-12 – Taking Screenshots with the Mac’s Built-in Tools (Levels 1-3)
  • 2022-05-10 – Early Access – Shortcuts for Mac Field Guide (Level 3)
  • 2022-05-09 – Early Access Screenshot Video (Level 3)
  • 2022-05-09 – May 2022 Virtual Meetup Video and Podcast (Levels 2-3)
  • 2022-05-06 – Labs Report Podcast Release (Levels 1-3)
  • 2022-05-05 – May 2022 Questions and Answers (Levels 1-3)
  • 2022-05-04 – Virtual Meetup Details (Levels 2-3)
  • 2022-05-03 – Using the Bento App (Task Manager Survey) (Levels 2-3)
  • 2022-05-02 – Early Access Release, Questions and Answers Video and Podcast (Level 3)
  • 2022-05-02 – Testing a Card-Based Goal System and Additional Early Access Content (Level 3)

Creating Animated Hand-Drawn Slides in Keynote (MacSparky Labs)

When I gave my presentation at the Linking Your Thinking Conference, I did it with hand-drawn, animated slides. These slides got a lot more comments and questions than I expected. So here is a short tutorial for Labs members explaining and demonstrating exactly how I did it…

This is a post for MacSparky Labs Level 3 (Early Access) and Level 2 (Backstage) Members only. Care to join? Or perhaps do you need to sign in?

SaneBox (Sponsor)

Sometimes we subscribe to a newsletter or other mailing list because we want to keep up with what’s going on, or know when the next sale is, or if they’re offering a good discount code. We signed up because we don’t want to miss out. These emails can be very informational and fun, but not something I need to deal with during an average workday. These distractions not only clutter up your inbox, but they take from your focus and time. This is where this week’s MacSparky sponsor SaneBox comes in.

SaneNews is a great feature of SaneBox. You can train newsletters or other mailing lists you’ve subscribed to to go there. SaneBox doesn’t delete these emails. It takes these lower priority emails you don’t have deal with right now, and automatically puts them in the SaneNews folder (once you’ve trained it) so that they’re there for you to look at when you do have the time to check out the news articles or latest promotions. 

SaneBox will help you by having the most important emails brought to your attention. Minimize distractions, keep focus, and save time with SaneBox. You can try it out for yourself. SaneBox is offering a free trial, and a $10 credit you can use towards a SaneBox subscription.

Slow Horses Gets More Seasons

One of my favorite shows this year has been the Apple TV+ spy drama, Slow Horses. Imagine everything that makes a James Bond movie, and this is the exact opposite. It reminds me of all the John le Carré novels I used to read where the spies are sad, broken people more than martini drinking killers.

I’m probably doing a lousy job of selling it, but if you like spy stories, this one’s a doozy. Apple has already filmed season two and is now committed to seasons three and four. They’re all based on Mick Herron’s Slough House novels, and I’m halfway through the third book now.

Mac Power Users 642: Shortcuts for Mac

Shortcuts arrived on the Mac a year ago, and in the time since, Apple and third-party developers have worked to make it a real contender in terms of automation on macOS. On this week’s Mac Power Users, Stephen and I talk about the app and my new Field Guide on the topic.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

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Announcing the Shortcuts for Mac Field Guide

I’m so happy to announce the release of the Shortcuts for Mac Field Guide. (Standard Edition) (Plus Edition) I first started production on this Field Guide last August, and it is now ready for the world.

There are 132+ lovingly crafted screencasts totaling over 8.5 hours of content. Where appropriate, the tutorials also include downloadable Shortcuts that you can install and run alongside the video.

This Field Guide is releasing with two different versions. The standard version includes all the 132+ videos, 8.5 hours of content, and downloadable shortcuts. There is also a “Plus Edition” that includes everything in the standard version and an extended webinar series on Shortcuts just for Plus Edition customers. The webinars (there will be hours of them) will also get added as downloadable videos to the Plus Edition of the Shortcuts Field Guide.

You can buy it now and, for a short time, there is a launch discount.

​The Shortcuts for Mac Field Guide is normally $49, but on sale for $44.​

​The Shortcuts for Mac Field Guide Plus Edition is normally $99, but on sale for $89.​

I believe Apple when they say they view Shortcuts as the future of automation, and the good news is Shortcuts is the most accessible automation platform Apple has ever shipped. I spent a lot of time building this course, and I’m thrilled to now be sharing it with you.

Here are the links:

​The Shortcuts for Mac Standard Edition​

​The Shortcuts for Mac Plus Edition​