Join Mike and me on this episode of Focused as we discuss our quarterly planning processes and share our intentions for the next quarter.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Because I cover Artificial Intelligence so much in the MacSparky Labs, I currently have paid accounts for all three of the big services: Google’s Gemini, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and Anthropic’s Claude. Of the three, I’ve always had a soft spot for Claude. I like the way it thinks; its tone, reasoning, and writing style just seem to resonate with me.
That said, for a long time, Claude had a pretty significant Achilles heel: no web access. You’d ask it something timely or specific, and it would give you a polite shrug.
That changed last week when Anthropic added web search to Claude as a beta feature. I’ve had it turned on since the announcement using Claude 3.7 Sonnet, and it’s made a significant difference.
Just yesterday, I was researching local contractors to help with some fire-hardening improvements on my home. I asked Claude to assist, and it actually delivered solid, relevant results from the web. This is the kind of query that would have stumped Claude a month ago.
The feature feels early — definitely “beta” — but it’s also entirely usable. It’s fast, the results are helpful, and most importantly, Claude now feels like it’s playing in the same league as its competitors when it comes to real-world usefulness.
One thing to note: web search isn’t turned on by default. You’ll need to dive into Claude’s settings to enable it. But if you’re a Claude user, it’s absolutely worth flipping that switch.
There are some nice features for window controls on macOS but what if you don’t use the Apple’s Magic Keyboard? I have a solution.
… This is a post for MacSparky Labs members only. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.
2025 sponsorship slots at MacSparky are filling up. There’s still a bit of availability left for the remainder of the year, but not much.
If you’re interested in getting your product or service in front of an Apple-centric, productivity-loving audience with no respect for money, now’s a good time to reach out. Let me know.
The Whisper Memos developer has a new app for the Mac, WhisperType. In this video, I kick the tires and I’m impressed with the balance it strikes for AI-based transcription.… This is a post for the MacSparky Labs Early Access and Backstage Access members. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.
DEVONtechnologies has just released the public beta of DEVONthink 4, and it’s a substantial upgrade. Now the beta is officially here.
I’ve been using the beta, and I can confirm: this is a real leap forward. DEVONthink 4 is smarter, faster, and more modern in all the right ways. They’ve taken everything that made DEVONthink 3 great and brought it into 2025 with a thoughtful touch, especially when it comes to Artificial Intelligence.
And really, that’s no surprise. DEVONthink was using AI before AI was a buzzword. Now with version 4, they’ve taken it up a notch: integrating modern large language models like ChatGPT and Claude, enabling natural language search, tagging, summarizing, and even interactive document conversations. And you get to decide whether to use local or cloud-based models. It’s a smart, privacy-conscious approach that fits the DEVONthink ethos perfectly.
Beyond AI, DEVONthink 4 introduces versioning, audit-proof databases, a redesigned web interface for teams, enhanced automation tools, and a new license model that makes future upgrades easier to manage.
You can download the public beta and give it a try yourself. If you already own DEVONthink 3, there are upgrade paths available, including a free upgrade if you bought it recently.
This update feels exactly like what you’d expect from the DEVONthink team: powerful, modern, and built with care.
iCloud is the glue that holds much of the Apple ecosystem together, syncing data and content between devices. On this episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen and I walk through what is possible by using the iCloud website, including the data recovery tools, account settings, and more.
This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:
I finally got around to reading ChatGPT’s Student Guide to Writing with ChatGPT, and I think it’s pretty good. The reality is that these tools aren’t going away, and students today should learn how to use them to improve their work product, not replace it.
The guide offers a solid list of ideas — none of which include the prompt, “Please write this for me.” Instead, it emphasizes using AI as a tool to refine thinking, generate ideas, and improve clarity. That’s exactly how I use AI in my own writing.
For example, I’ve been experimenting with having AI read my draft blog posts and ask me clarifying questions. More often than not, those questions push me to refine my ideas and make the post better. The AI isn’t writing for me; it’s helping me sharpen my own words.
For students (and writers in general), the key is understanding that AI is most useful as a creative assistant, not a shortcut. The better your input, the better your output.
If you’re curious about using AI in your writing, I’d recommend checking out the guide.
I recently took a flight and following touchdown, a crew member made a surprise announcement: this landing marked our captain’s final flight after 30 years piloting aircraft. We all applauded. As we disembarked, the captain stood in the aisle, offering each passenger a farewell.
When it was my turn, I congratulated him. I actually thought about what I’d say. “I hope your next adventure is as exciting as this one was.” His eyes met mine, serious and somber, as he quietly replied, “This was it.” I was swept onward by the flow of passengers, but he held my eye for just a moment longer. The sadness on his face has stayed with me.
Life is full of transitions. I’ve faced many — shifting careers, watching my kids grow up, leaving behind the identity I had built as a lawyer. Most big changes in life aren’t surprises. Retirement doesn’t sneak up overnight, and children don’t grow up in secret. Yet, some of us still find ourselves flat-footed when life’s inevitable curves appear. It’s tempting to ignore change, to stick our heads in the sand, pretending it’s far away, until suddenly we’re facing a stark realization: “This was it.”
I’ve written before about the importance of continuously Knitting Your Parachute. Asking yourself often, “What’s next, and how do I make that work?” is a practice I deeply believe in. It’s an approach that keeps hope alive, turns anxiety into anticipation, and keeps you engaged with life.
This week, I encourage you to spend a few quiet moments reflecting: What’s your next move, and how can you embrace it? Whether you’re graduating, shifting careers, or facing retirement, don’t wait until change feels overwhelming. Life’s bends in the road are inevitable, but how we meet them, that’s entirely up to us.
Let’s commit never to find ourselves in a position where we have to quietly say, “This was it.”
It’s stories like this that led me to make the Productivity Field Guide.
If you’ve been paying any attention to social media lately, you’ve probably noticed how much better AI multi-modal art has gotten. The zeitgeist has definitely latched onto this — mainly to generate Studio Ghibli-style art of themselves.
It’s impressive and once again raises the big questions about AI and art. Artists spend years honing their craft. Now, with these new tools, anyone is just a prompt or two away from generating convincing images of themselves and their friends. How are we supposed to feel about that?
I’m still working through my own thoughts on AI and intellectual property, but one thing’s for sure: this toothpaste isn’t going back in the tube.
As an example, I had the new ChatGPT engine generate some drawings for a recent Productivity Field Guide webinar I did on Habits being a useful tool for becoming your best self. I explained to ChatGPT that I wanted to illustrate how habits, once ingrained, become part of your identity. It made this image. Remarkable.