Improve Your Writing with Ulysses (Sponsor)



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This week MacSparky is sponsored by Ulysses, The app where I do so much writing on Mac, iPad, and iPhone. In the last year, my usage of Ulysses has only increased more. It has become for me, “the place for words”. Not only do I keep a repository of text, I call it the “text bank” that I use in my law practice in Ulysses, it has also become the place I keep notes, work on drafts, outline screencasts, plan podcasts, and write just about all the other words I make in one context or another. I love the clean design and the way it syncs everything everywhere.

The Ulysses team just keeps making the app better. Just this week, they released a new update for iOS and iPad that adds a ton of power features, including mouse and trackpad support, external folder support, and several more new features. Writing is hard. Ulysses helps you out by removing distractions and letting you focus on moving that cursor from left to right. Moreover, with seamless integration between all of my Apple devices, I can add and edit my words on everything from my 27” iMac to my iPhone in my pocket. Best of all, if you sign up with the links in this blog post, you’ll get three months of Ulysses for free. 

Keyboard Maestro Script to Automate Adding Text to a Google Doc

I frequently receive email from Mac Power Users listeners with feedback on some topic we discussed during the show. If the email is something that I may want to mention on the future feedback show, I copy that email into a running Google document that we then use when planning the feedback shows.

I’ve been doing this for years manually which, for a guy who likes to brag about his automation prowess, is kind of bananas. So today I took 10 minutes and wrote a quick Keyboard Maestro script to automate this process going forward and I thought I would share it. I’m adding this to the Keyboard Maestro Field Guide but also wanted to put it out on the web for anybody else that may need something similar.

CleanMyMac X On the Mac App Store

I’ve been using CleanMyMac at least since the days of Macworld. I like the interface and the app has just got more powerful over the years. If you’re interested but prefer to buy software from the Mac App Store, you’re now in luck. After 12 years CleanMyMac X is launching on the Mac App Store. MacPaw has done a good job of getting numerous customer options for their software. You can subscribe through SetApp, buy directly through MacPaw, or through the Mac App Store. I’d love to see for other follow with so many purchase options.

Focused 98: Floating with Dave Hamilton



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Dave Hamilton joins us on this episode of Focused to talk about how to keep your focus in the workplace and during a pandemic. Also, Dave uses an isolation tank, and we have questions.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

  • Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code FOCUSED to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2021.

  • Agenda: Date-focused note taking. Download now for free.

  • Blinkist: Read 3000+ books in 15 minutes or fewer. Start your 7-day free trial.

Service Station

There is a new utility app for the Mac, called Service Station that I’ve been using, and enjoying for the last few weeks. Service Station adds a customizable context menu to your Mac. For some years now, you’ve been able to activate services by right-clicking with the mouse. Service Station takes this idea and runs with it. Specifically, you can make a user-customizable contextual menu for each file type. If you only open images with specific applications or run scripts on them, you can significantly speed up that process through the contextual menu with Service Station. In the below screenshot, for instance, Service Station will give me menus for Preview, Pixelmator Pro, and Sketch. I can also add scripts to this.


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Then later, when I right-click on an image file, I get those three applications listed directly in my contextual menu. It’s a clever application and if you find yourself frequently working with right clicks or scripting, it’s a useful app. The application is sandboxed and available through the Mac App Store.


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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.