Mac Power Users 533: Feeling Frisky with My Money



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On this feedback episode, I share some news about an upcoming studio move, and Stephen talks about recent experimentation with a teleprompter. Also on the docket: connected home cameras, more on working from home, and the iPhone SE.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • SaneBox: Stop drowning in email!

  • The Omni Group: We’re passionate about productivity for Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

  • Setapp: More than 180 powerful apps for your Mac. Try it free for a week.

  • FreshBooks: Online invoicing made easy.

Automators 48: Automating Music



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We’re tackling the best ways to automate your music on this episode of Automators. Rosemary and I also talk about automating calendars and email attachments.

This episode of Automators is sponsored by:

  • TextExpander, from Smile: Unlock your productivity with TextExpander. Get 20% off with your first year.

  • Ahrefs: SEO Tools & Resources To Grow Your Search Traffic. Get a 7-day trial for just $7.

  • Boll & Branch: The Softest Organic Sheets & Luxury Bedding. Save $50. Try them for 30 days in a risk-free trial.

One Day with the Magic Keyboard

I’ve now had the new Magic Keyboard attached to my iPad for a day. Lots of words have already been written about this by some very smart people. I don’t have a lot to add but a few points to reinforce:

  • The keyboard feels entirely like the MacBooks Pro and Air and entirely unlike the Smart Folio Keyboard. I’ve typed thousands of words with the Smart Folio Keyboard and while this new keyboard isn’t as indestructible, it feels better.

  • I was a bit worried about the overlap of the screen over the number row on the keyboard. That doesn’t seem to be a problem. There is, however, no way they’d get another row above the number row.

  • The adjustable tilt angle is great. In the past I’ve done all sorts of crazy hacks to adjust the tilt angle (including using stacks of post it notes as shims). Never again.

  • I’ve been happily using a mouse with the iPad a lot as I’m closing in on finishing the new Photos Field Guide. The experience of an attached trackpad to an iPad is even better. At first you’ll have to remind yourself that it’s there and shortly after you’ll wonder how you ever got by without it.

  • This is definitely the heaviest iPad keyboard I’ve ever used but that isn’t all negative. It feels extremely solid and there is no give in the keyboard when you’ve got it on your lap. That’s nice. Don’t kid yourself though. If you bought an iPad to avoid laptop weight, this keyboard will be to heavy for you.

  • With the only downside being the increased weight, there is nothing else but upside if you use an iPad with a keyboard. I doubt I’ll ever use the Smart Folio Keyboard again.

SaneBox: Your Inbox Perfected (Sponsor)


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This week’s sponsor, SaneBox is the solution to so many of my email problems. SaneBox is the email service that adds a pile of productivity features to your email, regardless of what email client you use. The email just never stops coming at you. If you’re goign to stand a chance against it, you’ll need some powerful technology and SaneBox is that. With SaneBox at your back, you can:

  • Wake up every day to find the SaneBox robots have automatically sorted your incoming email for you so you can address the important and ignore the irrelevant. 

  • Defer email for hours, days, or weeks, so it is out of your life until a more appropriate time. They’ve even added a new feature that can optionally auto-reply to snoozed email with something like, “I’m sorry, but I’m underwater right now. I’ll get back to you in a few days.”

  • Set secret reminders so if someone doesn’t reply to an important email SaneBox gives you a nudge to follow up.

  • Automatically save attachments to the cloud (like Dropbox).

  • Use their SaneForward service to automatically send appropriate emails to services like Evernote, Expensify, and Kayak.

  • Move unwanted email to the SaneBlackHole and never see anything from that person again.

The list goes on, and MacSparky readers love this service.

The SaneBox team has been hard at work lately improving the SaneBox interface and releasing even more new tools. For instance, now you can have SaneBox send an auto-reply when you defer an email. Why not straighten out your email by getting a SaneBox account today. If you sign up with this link, you even get a discount on your subscription. 

Some Recommended Teleconference Backgrounds

A lot of folks suddenly find themselves using teleconference software like Zoom and Skype for work related meetings. The trouble is that we all don’t necessarily have the perfect space to do such work and we don’t necessarily want our messy houses in the background. Zoom lets you insert a background and, as of yesterday, so does Skype. So what do you use as a background image? I have a few ideas:

ZoomerBackgrounds

This is an assortment of downloadable images and video that is growing fast. Many of them are humorous. A few of them are subtle. There’s something for everyone.

Star Wars Backgrounds

StarWars.com published a set of pictures from movie sets that can put you in the rebel base, in the Falcon, or on the Death Star. We all have to choose a side at some point.

Textures Work Too

If you are looking for something more subtle, a Google Imates for texttures in your color of choice (gray always works) can also do the trick.

If you are going to use a background, make sure you have some blank space behind you and that your face is well lit.

Trackpad Navigation on the iPad

Apple published a nice video showing how to use a trackpad or mouse with your iPad. You don’t have to buy Apple’s $300 keyboard to make this work. You can attach an existing G2 Apple Magic Trackpad or any BlueTooth mouse to try this out. If you use your iPad for productivity-related work (particularly with an attached keyboard), this is a game-changer.

Panzarino on the New iPad Magic Keyboard

High praise from Matt:

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“The Magic Keyboard offers a lovely, backlit deck that holds its own against the 16” MacBook Pro and the new MacBook Air for best portable keyboards. The key travel is excellent — in between the two laptops in my opinion — and the feel is tight, responsive and precise. This is a first class typing experience, full stop. ”

In summary, it sounds like Apple made the right design decisions. Weight and stability over lightness and the wobblies. Still, this new very heavy keyboard makes a 12.9” iPad with an attached keyboard about the same weight as a MacBook Air.

Now that Apple seems to be pushing down on the gas to make the iPad a legitimate laptop replacement, they need to add a second camera along the side (so it is on top when in landscape attached to this keyboard).

I ordered one for my 12.9” iPad Pro, and it’s on the way. I’ve been using the big iPad a lot since being housebound and I can’t wait to gives it a spin.

Mac Power Users 532: BetterTouchTool



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BetterTouchTool takes a Mac’s input devices and turns them into automation triggers. It can transform the Touch Bar into a customized set of tools and make a Trackpad or Mouse much more powerful. This week on Mac Power Users, Stephen and I dive into this utility and talk about what it can do.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • eero: Get your Wi-Fi fixed as soon as tomorrow! Free overnight shipping.

  • 1Password: Have you ever forgotten a password? You don’t have to worry about that anymore. 

  • 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.

Jazz Friday: Jazz at Lincoln Center Plays Miles Davis

Recently Jazz at Lincoln Center did an entire concert tribute to the music of Miles Davis. The musicians really bring a lot of life to Mile’s music, and the commentary throughout the concert gives you all sorts of insight. It’s all good, but I particularly like the second song, “Boplicity”. That melody is one of those that I find impossible to listen to without smiling.