Join Stephen and me on this episode of Mac Power Users as we go deep on the Mac menu bar, comparing our contrasting philosophies and walk through our favorites. We also explore how macOS 26’s multiple Control Centers are changing the game. This episode…
Listen & read notes →Misguided Optimization – Seth Godin
In some 30 years of representing businesses, a universal truth that emerged was that every time a company I represented got taken over by one of those sharp-pencil guys, they lost their way. Seth Godin’s recent piece on how short-term optimization leads to enshitification…
Continue reading →Memory is King, Again
I’ve been buying Macs forever. For most of that time, the conventional wisdom was simple: Get as much memory as you can afford. Back then, everyone was doing video editing or photo work. Memory was expensive. So you bought as much as your budget…
Continue reading →Why I Still Use Shortform After Three Years (Sponsor)
Shortform sponsored this post, but they didn’t tell me what to write. Here’s my honest take on a service I’ve been using since 2023. MacSparky readers get a free trial and $50 off the annual plan at Shortform. I have a shelf full of books…
Continue reading →The M5 vs. M6 MacBook Pro Buyer’s Dilemma
This post brought even more questions about M5 vs M6 MacBooks Pro. The timing is weird this year. The M5 MacBook Pro arrives soon. (Likely March 4!) The M6 arrives later in the year with a completely new design and OLED display. You could…
Continue reading →The Red Badge Won
When it comes to my home screen, I don’t like to show too many apps. I prefer to work in context instead of apps. So those context shortcuts in my dock do a lot of the heavy lifting. While on this quest to banish…
Continue reading →Donkey Work – What I Actually Want AI to Do
I’ve been using the term “donkey work” a lot lately, and some of you have been asking what I mean by it. Fair enough. Let me explain. When I started paying attention to AI, I realized pretty quickly that I didn’t want it writing…
Continue reading →The Apple March 4 Experience
Apple just announced a “special Apple Experience” on March 4 in New York, London, and Shanghai. Not an “event.” An “experience.” The rumor mill has up to nine new products in play: MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and Max, MacBook Air with M5, iPhone…
Continue reading →Mac Power Users 836: Welcome, Stephen
On this episode of Mac Power Users, I officially welcome Stephen Robles as co-host, exploring his background in music, podcasting, and his Mac setup. Then, rapid-fire questions, putting Stephen on the spot for some Apple hot takes! This episode of Mac Power Users is…
Listen & read notes →Why the M5 Matters If You Run AI Locally
Apple says the M5 delivers 4X the peak GPU compute for AI compared to the M4. Most tech sites reported the number and moved on. I don’t think people have fully grasped what this means for running AI locally. The gain isn’t just faster cores. Apple…
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