Stephen and I talk with Sean McCabe on this episode of Mac Power Users about how he runs his businesses from what can only be described as a Mac battle station while stitching together macOS apps and several cloud services to be more productive.
This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:
Ryan J. A. Murphy joins Rosemary and me on this episode of Automators to share automation tips for Obsidian, augmented intelligence, and automated parenting.
This episode of Automators is sponsored by:
TextExpander, from Smile: Communicate smarter. Get 20% off.
Stripe: Learn more about how Stripe and their products can support your business.
DEVONthink: Get organized—unleash your creativity. Use this link for 10% off.
Flexibits released a nice update to Fantastical. This update continues to put the pedal down and simplify virtual meetings with the addition of Webex integration. This version also improves the toolset for big meetings with public meeting proposals via URL, granular control over guest permissions in Google events, and general performance improvements when dealing with lots of invitees.
My favorite thing about the new version, however, is the Shortcuts support. The Fantastical developers jumped in with both feet with their Shortcuts for Mac integration with a pile of new actions. If you want to automate calendar events on your Mac, make sure to check out this update. (I’ll be covering all of these Fantastical actions in the upcoming Shortcuts for Mac Field Guide.)
I joined Tim Chaten on the podcast iPad Pros to discuss DEVONthink and how my computer usage has shifted this past year with the introduction of the 6th generation iPad mini and the M1 Macs. Have a listen.
My thanks to this week’s MacSparky sponsor, TextExpander. TextExpander works for you to take your time back by helping you work faster and smarter so you can focus your time on your most important work by instantly inserting your text snippets with just a few keystrokes.
Think of all of the different kinds of links you share everyday with your friends, colleagues, or customers. You can turn all of these must-see links into TextExpander snippets in a way that won’t look like alphabet soup, but that will also save you time. Once you create a new Snippet Group for things you frequently link to, like “My GIFs” or “Work Links” or “Affiliate Sites”, you would just have to type the abbreviation you created for your link snippet, instead of copying and pasting an entire address. For example, you could set up a snippet “/twitter” or “/instagram” which will pop up your account URLs so you can share links to your social media accounts. Or a link snippet could save you time if you have to go to a recurring video conference room. If you’ve created a link snippet for this virtual meeting room, you don’t have to go searching for that URL or email that has it for you to join that meeting. Think of all the link snippets you could create.
Just a couple of keystrokes can instantly expand your snippets with TextExpander. It’s an instant productivity booster. You can leave the boring, repetitive tasks in the past when you get TextExpander and focus on what matters most.
For years now, Lee Garrett has been perfecting the art and science of screencasting over at ScreenCastsOnline. Just recently, Lee created his own online course about mastering Todoist. I spent some time in the course, and Lee did a great job. I’m so pleased for him in getting this school and course launched. I know it’s not easy. If you’re using Todoist and would like to get better at it, there’s no better place.
Hooray! There’s a big update to Keyboard Maestro today. The new version 10 includes a pile of new features. Banner features include the ability to add data to menu bar icons, create “Favorite” actions, and subroutines. (That’s right, you can now program subroutines in Keyboard Maestro.) Below are some of my favorite new additions:
Added configurable Favorite Actions.
Added Select Macro by Name, as well as This Macro and This Macro Group options to the macro selector pop-up.
Added search field to macro selector pop-up.
Added search field to Insert All Actions, All Functions, All Tokens, and Variables menus.
Added Copy as Set Macro Group Enable and Toggle Macro Group actions to contextual menu for Macro Group column.
Support double-clicking dividers in the editor window to set the ideal size.
Added Edit ➤ Insert ICU Date Field menu to insert the various ICU Date components.
Added OCR Screen and Paste by Name to the Macro Library.
Added support for manipulating Keyboard Maestro Engine windows.
Added option to include Macro Groups in the status menu bar.
Added Return action to return a value from subroutine macros.
Several new triggers, including unlock, appearance changed, online and power status triggers.
Added “long press” option for Hot Key and USB Device.
Added support for selecting multiple files or folders in the Prompt For File action.
My congratulations go to Peter for shipping this update. I am kicking the tires on the new features now, and I will be doing a free update to the Keyboard Maestro Field Guide after the new year covering the new features.
On the latest episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen and I review macOS Monterey and cover the features and changes it brings to the Mac. Then, we give our impressions of the new M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pros.
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.
Electric: Stop stressing over scattered devices. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting.
Capital One: Machine learning at Capital One. What’s in your wallet?
Memberful: Best-in-class membership software for independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more. Get started now, no credit card required.
Satechi is out with a USB-C Hybrid Multiport Adapter. One of the cool features Satechi put in is a built-in SSD storage compartment. So not only does it have fast data transfer rates, up to 5 Gbps, to easily increase memory storage and hold important file backups all in one place, but also a sleek design. There is something so James Bond about a hidden SSD.
If you’ve got a direct HDMI connection, this USB-C Hybrid Multiport Adapter lets you enjoy 4K HDMI output on supported external monitors or displays with refresh rates up to 60 Hz for smoother streaming and an optimal view. Makes viewing real nice.
There are two USB-A 3.0 data ports for additional data transfer options for your USB devices peripherals—up to 5 Gbps—all using just a single USB-C port.
Excited about the macOS Monterey? So are we! Daylite is an award-winning CRM and productivity app made exclusively for your Mac, and it’s now Monterey ready! Daylite empowers small businesses by improving team efficiency and making collaboration easy—everything is organized, searchable, and accessible, with or without an internet connection. Daylite is the only Mac-focused CRM app that seamlessly integrates with Apple devices and most of the built-in Apple apps and features, like direct Apple Mail integration, so you and your team can capture all email communication in one place. That means you can create opportunities, appointments and tasks in Daylite right from your Apple Mail.
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 for 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!
