For years I’ve been bemoaning Apple’s failure to use interesting non-muted colors on the iPhone Pro. It appears this year Apple may be calling my bluff with an orange iPhone Pro. Orange!
If true, it will be hard to put that beauty in a case.
On this Mac Power Users feedback episode, Stephen and I talk about backing up iCloud data, read-it-later services, automation trigger conflicts, travel tech, converting Markdown, the No List, and a lot more.
This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:
CarPlay Ultra barely exists at this point in the $200K Aston Martin. The latest rumor has Hyundai putting it in the upcoming (and affordable) $35,000 Hyundai Ioniq 3.
We own the Kia EV6, which is somewhat adjacent to the Hyundai EV’s and the second screen in those cars will be ideal for something like CarPlay Ultra. Moreover, I’ve spent time looking at the Hyundai dashes and I’m certain anything Apple does will be far superior.
While I don’t expect CarPlay Ultra to become as popular as vanilla CarPlay, I hope it gets used enough to remain viable. Car makers are generally pretty terrible at UI.
So, it turns out there was a bug in the initial No List app code causing some users to lose entries. So the one-star reviews came pouring in. I do find that the more time I spend on this hobby project, the more empathy I have for my app developer friends. Either way, version 1.1 fixes the memory bug and you should be good to go now with The No List.
The Lab Report is my weekly podcast exclusively for the MacSparky Labs members.
Would you like to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.
August was a busy month in the MacSparky Labs, with members diving deep into productivity workflows and Apple’s latest features. We spent considerable time exploring Apple Reminders, including a dedicated deep dive session and hands-on videos covering the new quick capture features in iOS 26.
The monthly book club continued with our exploration of “Tiny Experiments,” while our regular Jam Sessions tackled career discussions—a topic that clearly resonated with the community. Members also got early access to beta experiences and explored creative uses for familiar apps like Voice Memos for transcription and Apple’s Journal app on iPadOS.
Beyond the Apple ecosystem, we experimented with AI tools like ChatGPT and Image Playground, tested alternative browsers like Dia, and even discussed unconventional productivity approaches like using glass boards for accountability.
The regular Lab Reports, meetups, and quarterly planning sessions kept everyone connected and focused on what’s working in their personal productivity systems. It’s exactly the kind of collaborative exploration that makes the Labs community special—taking both new releases and established tools and finding better ways to make them work for real people.
AUGUST
Legend:
M – Member; I – Insider; P – Pathfinder
A few months ago I did a Deep Dive session on a soft block scheduling technique. I’ve had a lot of positive feedback from the Pathfinder members on this one, so I thought I’d share it with you.
… This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members only. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.
In the latest Labs Deep Dive we took a look at the best workflows and uses for perhaps Apple’s most underutilized app, Freeform.… This is a post for the MacSparky Labs Pathfinder members. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.
This week MacSparky is sponsored by Direct Mail for Mac. If you run a business, a side hustle, a podcast, or just want to stay in touch with a community, you know how important great email marketing can be.
The brand-new Version 7 is a huge leap forward. This update brings a host of new features, including a reimagined user interface, smarter list management, powerful email sign-up forms, upgraded reporting, and all-new tools to help your emails stand out. Whether you’re sending to 10 people or 10,000, Direct Mail gives you the tools to do it professionally and painlessly.
If you’ve ever been frustrated with clunky email marketing websites, or just want something that feels right at home on your Mac, I encourage you to check out Direct Mail. It’s free to download and try, and there’s no subscription required if you prefer a pay-as-you-go option. You can be up and running with your first campaign in just minutes. Get started today and grow your audience with powerful, Mac-first email marketing tools.
In my latest Friends of Dave conversation, I invited MacSparky Labs member and frequent Momentum sessions participant, Thomas Vander Wal. I asked him to share how he uses DEVONthink for his research, and collecting information. … This is a post for the MacSparky Labs Pathfinder and Insider members. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.