PIxelmator 2.3, Uses AI to Remove Backgrounds


Today Pixelmator dropped version 2.3 of Pixelmator Pro. There are a few highlights of note:

• AI-powered automatic background removal: With just a click, users will now be able to remove the background from any image

• AI-powered automatic subject selection: Again with just a click, users will now be able to automatically select the subject of an image

• A Select and Mask tool for advanced selections: This is designed to make it easy to select the most challenging image areas of all – hair, fur, and other objects with very complex edges.

These new features are powered by ML algorithms that are integrated into Pixelmator Pro using Core ML. As a resul, they are very fast on M1-powered devices. For example, background removal takes around 2-5 seconds on M1 devices and up to 30 seconds on Intel devices for an average image.

I spent some time with the pre-release version and the background removal is remarkably good with the press of just one button. I love how Pixelmator has been jumping on the use of artificial intelligence to make image editing easier (and better). In celebration of the new release, Pixelmator is 50% off starting today and for a limited time.

Mac Power Users 615: The Clipboard Manager Roundup




There is a range of applications to supercharge your copy-and-paste game. This week’s Mac Power Users has Stephen and me exploring some of the best options for macOS and even the iPad and iPhone.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • Hullo: A simple, natural pillow designed for comfort. Try it for 60 days.

  • TextExpander from Smile: Get 20% off with this link and type more with less effort! Expand short abbreviations into longer bits of text, even fill-ins, with TextExpander from Smile.

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

  • Capital One: Machine learning at Capital One. What’s in your wallet?

Automators 89: Kelly Guimont, iPhone Automator




In this episode of Automators, Rosemary and I are joined by Kelly Guimont and dive into getting started with automation, fun seasonal lighting, and the trouble with tribbles, er HomePod mini multiplication.

This episode of Automators is sponsored by:

  • LinkedIn Jobs: Post a job for free by visiting this link.

  • Hunter Douglas: Take advantage of Hunter Douglas’ ‘Season of Style’ rebate savings event – until December 6, 2021.

  • Hover: Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name.

Time Track with Timing (Sponsor)



Timing App Screen Shot


This week MacSparky is sponsored by the Timing App, the time tracking app that tracks time for you automatically. It’s that “automatic” part you should really pay attention to. Because I do so much work at my Mac these days, I’ve been using Timing and it is really nice being able to have the application keep track of exactly how long I spent in this Word document or on that Website. It makes my time tracking data so much easier (and more accurate).

Also, the app recently got a new “Activities” screen which gives you everything you need to know including App usage and project time spent. Other new improvements include the ability to start and stop timers right inside the app and growing support for automation. For instance, I’m working on a Shortcut that will call out to the Timing web API and automatically start and stop timers from my iPhone and iPad. (It’s still a bit ugly but I’ll share it here soon.) If you’re curious, you can get started with Timing’s  web app to track time from anywhere, and combine that with Timing’s sample Siri shortcuts to start and stop timers as quickly as possible. 

If you want simple, accurate time tracking data and you work on a Mac, look no further. You can download the free 14-day trial today and get 10% off for the first year.

Hazel 5.1

I’ve longed talked about Hazel being one of the best tools available to automate using your Mac. Noodlesoft, the makers of Hazel, have released an update with Hazel 5.1, which now supports macOS Monterey. Features include:

  • New “Run Shortcut” action to run Shortcuts workflows on Monterey.

  • AppleScriptable: You can use AppleScript to control Hazel’s run status as well as the active status of any rules.

  • Support for newer modes of SFTP for the “Upload” action.

  • Various fixes and other improvements.

If you purchased Hazel 5, the update is free. If you’re running version 4 or earlier, the upgrade is $20.

Nonprofit Productivity Summit



Non-Profit Productivity Summit Banner


I’m excited to be joining Michael St. Pierre for the upcoming Nonprofit Productivity Summit, which is from December 7-9, 2021. Other guests include Mike Vardy, a past guest of Mac Power Users and Focused (back when it was Free Agents), and the father of Getting Things Done (GTD), David Allen, a past guest on the Mac Power Users. If you’re interested in learning more about how to be productive, reserve a spot today and join us. It’s free and virtual.

FastScripts 3




I’ve been using FastScripts for years to run AppleScripts, and it’s just released a major update. FastScripts 3.0 has got:

  • Parallel script execution: no more waiting for long tasks before starting another.

  • ScriptLight menu searching: quickly see a summary of matchings scripts in your script library.

  • Script progress feedback: If there’s something wonky going on, this makes it easy to help me decide if I want to stop a script.

FastScripts 3 is free to use, but the premium features are disabled. If you’re an existing user who wants to upgrade a paid license for FastScripts 2, the price is $19.95 (free for those who purchased it on or after January 1, 2021). For automation and keyboard shortcuts ninjas who want to use the premium features, you can purchase FastScripts 3 for $39.95. My congratulations to Red Sweater on this new release.

The First Year of Craft




I’ve chosen Obsidian as PKM weapon-of-choice, but that doesn’t take anything away from the strides made by the Craft team during the App’s first year.

Craft now supports inline Markdown, backlinks, code snippets, images, videos, attaching PDF files, and rich link previews. With Craft, you can nest notes within notes and create your own structure so you can group and organize your thoughts and notes in a way that makes sense to you, and you can easily create links and connections between pages. Craft also makes sharing and exporting your docs and notes easy by simply sharing a link or working with others in real time.

While Obsidian is evolving faster, thanks to the third party plugin architecture, Craft is much more of a native-app experience on Mac, iPad, and iPhone. I know a lot of readers prefer Craft over Obsidian for this reason and I completely get that.

I’m so happy to see that this notes revolution we’re going through has multiple good options. My congratulations to Craft on their first anniversary.

Mac Power User 614: The 2021 MPU Gift Guide




Believe it or not, it is time for the annual MPU Holiday Gift Guide. Listen here.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • TextExpander from Smile: Get 20% off with this link and type more with less effort! Expand short abbreviations into longer bits of text, even fill-ins, with TextExpander from Smile.

  • Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.

  • Shopify: Grow your business with Shopify. Start your 14-day free trial today.

  • DEVONthink: Get organized—unleash your creativity. Use this link for 10% off.

Ambient Video of the Millennium Falcon

I’ve been suffering from a creeping case of tinnitus over the years. My left ear rings at a minor third to my right ear. I’ve gotten used to it, but I notice it a lot more often in silent rooms.

So I’ve become a fan of ambient noise. One version of that is the extensive list of ambient videos on YouTube. You can find them in Yoda’s hut, at Hogwarts in the rain, or even on a beautiful hike. Recently, I decided to make my own at Disneyland, of the Millennium Falcon. So my friend Liana Lehua and I showed up at Disneyland one Sunday morning with our fancy cameras. We shot several long videos of different angles of the Millenium Falcon. There is no music, just the ambient sounds of Disneyland and the Batuu spaceport.

This one is scratching my own itch, but I love it. If you’d like some noise on in the background along with a pleasant video, check this out. You’ll even see a few cameos from Liana, Daisy, and myself. We’re thinking about making more if people like this one.