In Support of Ukraine

Like many people all around the globe, I’ve watched this ongoing invasion of Ukraine with great sadness. Trying to write about this topic is one for which I find myself ill-equipped. I don’t know the history of the region as well as I should. I don’t know about the current politics of the region as well as I should. I do, however, know human suffering when I see it.

I have friends in our geek community in Ukraine and I worry about them. When I see the news I think, “Where is Julia right now? Is Eugene safe?” There is not a lot I can do, but I can contribute money to help those in need. I just wasn’t sure where.

That’s where Oleksandr Kosovan comes into it. Oleksandr is the CEO of MacPaw, one of my favorite developers (which also happens to be a Ukrainian company). Oleksandr wrote this excellent post about how the invasion is impacting him and his employees. It gave me a lot of insight. Moreover, Oleksandr concluded the post with a list of organizations where you can donate to make a difference. Whether you want to help the Ukrainian army or assist with humanitarian aid, there are links where your donation can make a difference today.

Regardless, it helps getting an understanding from someone in the midst of the crisis and I’d encourage you to read and share Oleksandr’s article with friends and family.

Mac Power Users 632: Be the Most Mac Pro

On this feedback episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen and I celebrate the Mac Studio and Studio Display before revisiting the Stream Deck, Preview, Day One, and more.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

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  • Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code MPU at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

Take Your Business Out Of The Dark With Daylite (Sponsor)

For small businesses, it can be difficult to stay on top of clients, leads, and projects that are evolving every day. Here’s how Daylite can help supercharge your team to shine brighter, handle more clients, close more deals, and execute more projects. Designed for Mac, iPhone, and iPad exclusively. 

Daylite empowers small businesses by improving team efficiency and making collaboration easy—everything is organized, searchable, and accessible (even offline). You can easily access information and segment data tailored to your specific client’s history. You can manage and share everyone’s schedules, project status, and next steps. 

Seamless Apple Integration 

Daylite is the only Mac CRM and productivity app that integrates with Apple devices and most of the built-in Apple apps and features, like direct Apple Mail integration. You and your team can capture all email communication in one place and create opportunities, appointments, and tasks right from Apple Mail. 

Linking 

Its linking capability is what makes Daylite shine. You can link emails, notes, tasks, projects, appointments, and other records to existing contacts in Daylite. This enables teams to quickly and clearly view an organization’s structure and access the information they need in a unique way. 

CRM + Project Management 

Daylite’s productivity-focused design helps you and your team get more done throughout the full customer lifecycle. From meeting prospects and winning business to managing the moving pieces on projects, all the way through to following up on referrals and repeat business, it’s all done in Daylite.
If you live by the mac, you’ll love Daylite. Start your free 30-day Daylite trial today!

Friends of Dave Interview with Dan McCann (MacSparky Labs)

Hooray, I’ve got a new Friends of Dave (FOD) Interview in the MacSparky Labs. Daniel McCann is a professor of medieval literature and a mac geek. During the Pandemic Daniel’s iMac got stolen and he ended up doing all of his work on an iPad for over a year. In this interview, Daniel and David talk about how to get work done on your iPad, Bibliotherapy, and how Chaucer was bending words way before Eminem did… This is a post for MacSparky Labs Early Access and Backstage Members only. Care to join? Or perhaps do you need to sign in?

Mac Studio and Studio Display Review Day

The Mac Studio and Studio Display reviews are dropping today. Some reviews of note include:

Jason Snell, Six Colors on the Mac Studio

“The Mac Studio isn’t for everyone. But for the people who have been dreaming of something in between a Mac mini and a Mac Pro, something that wasn’t an iMac, it’s the fulfillment of a dream.”

Monica Chin, The Verge on the Mac Studio

“There are very legitimate reasons that the Mac Studio is the wrong computer for all kinds of people. And as a reviewer scoring this product, I care so much less about those than I do about the sheer reliability of this device: the smoothness as you scrub the timeline, the snap of windows opening and closing, the wonder in people’s voices as they say “Wow, this is fast.””

John Gruber, Daring Fireball on the Studio Display

“I’ve been waiting years for Apple to release a good desktop display for under $2000, and in every single regard other than the camera, the Studio Display meets or exceeds my expectations.”

Also on YouTube…

The MacSparky Field Guide Referral Program

I’m pleased to announce the opening of the MacSparky Field Guide referral program. Over the years I’ve heard from many customers who bought a Field Guide and then recommended it to a friend. I’ve always wanted a way to give back a little for those referrals, and now such a way exists.

I call it “Give 15%, Get 15%.” If you refer a Field Guide to a friend, they get 15% off for your referral. Once they purchase you in turn get a 15% referral credit that you can use on a Field Guide purchase for yourself.

To use this feature, click on “Refer a Friend” under your account setting while logged in. This will take you to a page with a unique referral link. Send that link to your friend, and they’ll get 15% off, and so will you when they purchase.

March 17: Driving Out the Snakes

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated every March 17th. The religious feast day was meant to commemorate the anniversary of Saint Patrick’s death. He’s the patron saint of Ireland, and, according to legend, chased all the snakes out of Ireland. That’s been debunked, but it’s still a great idea.

On March 17, and every March 17, drive the snakes out of your home, and by snakes I mean any twisty, curvy, slithery cables you might have in your house that you don’t need anymore. Make this the day you take inventory of all of the cables in your house. Got any obsolete USB cables or other connectors around the house that you’re not using anymore? Gather them together and banish them. By “banish” I don’t mean throw them in the trash. Instead, find someone that needs them or get them to a proper e-waste recycling center.

How about it? Grab your green beer or Shamrock Shake, hunt for your snakes, and make this March 17th your annual cable inventory day too. Shoutout out to reader George G. for this idea.