Creating new contacts in Apple’s Contacts app takes entirely too much mousing, clicking, and typing. This Keyboard Maestro script combines the power of Keyboard Maestro with a little bit of AppleScript to automatically create Apple Contact cards. If you dig this, there is an offer code to get $5 off the Keyboard Maestro Field Guide, “KMMAY2020”. Enjoy.
Apple has now started selling Eero mesh networking hardware in the Apple Store. This is interesting for a couple of reasons.
Eero is an Amazon Product
I’m an Eero user. They sponsored the podcast years ago, and then I bought some more when they upgraded their hardware. They are substantially better than our prior AirPort WiFi. We all got a little nervous when Amazon bought Eero, but so far it seems they’ve left mainly Eero alone. Still, it’s surprising that Apple is willing to sell Eero in its store. Can we take this to mean that Apple is convinced Amazon is not going to be doing anything creepy with Eero data? I sure hope so.
Apple is Probably Not Getting in the Mesh Networking Game
I would love for Apple to get back into the WiFi router game. What if Apple TVs and HomePods could double as Mesh networking devices? Given Apple’s position on protecting consumer privacy and their ability to integrate their hardware and software, such a product could be great. Given the fact that Apple is instead now selling Eero devices, the possibility of an Apple mesh networking system seems unlikely.
Dave Caolo joins Mike and me on this week’s episode of Focused to talk about games and productivity, how his bullet journal helps him stay focused, and working from home without going crazy.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
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From iCloud to Apple TV+, Apple’s range of services is broader than ever, but how do they all stack up? Has this shift to services changed how users should view the company? Stephen and I discuss on the latest episode of Mac Power Users.
This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:
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My pal, and fellow co-host on Focused, has a new podcast called the Intentional Family. This is a show made by Mike and his wife Rachel, and it is all about raising your family in a crazy world. Mike and Rachel have five children and a lot of good ideas.
In this episode of Automators, Rosemary and I are joined by Scotty Jackson to talk about his Shortcuts-based automations which cross into the web and beyond.
This episode of Automators is sponsored by:
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In March we lost another jazz great, pianist McCoy Tyner (Wikipedia). McCoy first entered my orbit as the pianist in the John Coltrane quartet during its best years. McCoy played piano on some famous Coltrane recordings, including My Favorite Things (Wikipedia(Apple Music) and one of my all-time favorite albums, Ballads0 (Wikipedia(Apple Music). As John Coltrane’s music became more atonal, McCoy left the band in the mid-60s and continued to record as a solo artist and group leader for the rest of his life.
I’ve been doing a deep dive on McCoy Tyner in Apple Music all week. The album I keep coming back to is a big band he led. My favorite track is High Priest. I particularly dig the McCoy piano solo at the top. We’ll all miss you, McCoy.
Yesterday Apple unveiled a new online store hub that makes it a lot easier to get at services that traditionally required a trek to an Apple Store. Not only does this help out while we endure the pandemic, this service is going to be great for those Apple device owners that don’t live close to an Apple Store (or, like me, live close but still don’t want to go to the mall). I’m glad Apple built this. I hope they keep it up after the pandemic is over and the stores re-open.
Speaking of Craig Federighi, he also appeared on the most recent episode of AppStories. Great work by Federico and gang on this interview.
I keep finding myself linking to Matt Panzarino here because he just keeps delivering the goods, particularly with iPad coverage. Matt got to interview Apple Software Chief Craig Federighi about the new iPad cursor implementation and wrote it up at Tech Crunch. It was by far my favorite read this week. I continue to believe that delight is one of my primary reasons for using the iPad and the new cursor implementation brings that whimsy.
