In this week’s episode of The Lab Report: WWDC is a few days away (and I can’t wait), the Apple Design Awards are here, and I’ve got another Yellowjackets media recommendation.
… This is a post for MacSparky Labs members only. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.
Glass OS
My feelings heading into WWDC next week are mixed. With the rest of the industry rocketing forward with artificial intelligence innovation, it feels like Apple is stuck in the starting blocks.
Something that does make me feel hopeful for next week, however, is the increasing evidence of a new user interface across all the Apple platforms. It looks to be something akin to what they did with visionOS. This is an opportunity for Apple to show its design muscle and just how good they are at making a delightful interface. Sebastiaan de With, who formerly worked at Apple, wrote an excellent article breaking down his thoughts and ideas around what that could mean. I hope he’s right.
New Names for MacSparky Labs Membership Levels
I’ve updated the membership level names for MacSparky Labs to better reflect what the community has become over time.
The new names are:
Member (formerly Supporter) – Being part of MacSparky Labs isn’t just about supporting the work; it’s about joining a community of people passionate about productivity and technology.
Insider (formerly Backstage) – These members get behind-the-scenes access to my workflow, thinking process, and upcoming projects. “Insider” better captures what this level actually provides.
Pathfinder (formerly Early Access) – Our most engaged members who help shape the direction of MacSparky Labs. They’re not just getting early access; they’re helping determine where we go next.
The original names—Supporter, Backstage, and Early Access—served us well in the beginning, but they felt increasingly transactional as MacSparky Labs evolved into something more collaborative and community-focused.
For existing members: Nothing else has changed. All features, benefits, and pricing remain exactly the same. These are simply new names that better represent what MacSparky Labs has grown into.
If you’re curious about what MacSparky Labs offers, you can learn more about membership here.
FOD – Talking Photography with Bud James
I got together with Labs member and friend Bud James recently to focus on photography, and ask him about his journey using film cameras, the move to digital, and iPhone. He shares lots of good tips and fun stories throughout our conversation.
… This is a post for MacSparky Labs members only. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.
Focused 231: Overwhelm, AI, and Life’s Balancing Acts
In this Focused feedback episode, Mike and I tackle listener questions about their use of AI, reset rituals, quitting books, and a variety of other focus-related topics.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
- Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED.
- TRMNL: Clarity, at a glance. Get $15 off for 1 week only.
- Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code FOCUSED with this link and get 60% off an annual plan.
Which ChatGPT Model?
Here’s my guide to which ChatGPT model you should use and why…
This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members only. Care to join? Or perhaps do you need to sign in?
Easy and Powerful Audio Recording, with Piezo and Audio Hijack from Rogue Amoeba (Sponsor)
This week, my friends at Rogue Amoeba are back to sponsor MacSparky, and I want to spotlight two of their most popular apps: Piezo and Audio Hijack.
Piezo is the simplest way to record audio on your Mac. With its one-click interface, you can capture audio from any app or input device. It’s perfect for recording Zoom calls, streaming audio, or just making some quick voice notes. There’s no complicated setup: hit record and you’re set.
If you want even more power, Audio Hijack is the ultimate audio recording tool for Mac. Capture audio from any app or device on your Mac including the whole system audio, and apply real-time effects. You can schedule recordings for live streams, and even transcribe your audio. It’s all handled in a beautiful and intuitive design. Whether you’re a podcaster, teacher, or just want total control over your Mac’s audio, Audio Hijack has you covered.
I use Audio Hijack daily. My wife uses Piezo to record audio on her Mac. Not sure which to choose? Both apps offer free and fully functional trials, so you can try them out before you buy. And as a MacSparky reader, you can save 20% on these and any Rogue Amoeba purchase through the end of June. Just use coupon code SPARKYRECORDS on their online store.
My thanks to Rogue Amoeba for supporting MacSparky and making audio recording so easy.
Using ChatGPT for a Decision Assistance Tool
I continue to waffle between analog and digital journaling tools. So I decided to use the o3 ChatGPT model to help me build a decision machine. Here’s a simple example of how to use the new ChatGPT reasoning engine.… This is a post for the MacSparky Labs Early Access and Backstage Access members. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.
Mac Power Users 799: The State of Apple, with Jason Snell
Jason Snell has been covering Apple since all the Macs it shipped were beige boxes. On this episode of Mac Power Users, he joins Stephen and me to discuss the company’s range of legal and technological issues that seem to be adding up rapidly.
This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:
- Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.
- Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
Now Page Update
I’m still enjoying making my Now Page. It eases my guilt at completely ignoring social media. I just updated it this morning.