MPU 514: Apple is Listening — The 2019 Mac Pro, with Thomas Grove Carter



Mac+Power+Users+Artwork.png


Speaking of the new Mac Pro, we are releasing this week’s episode of Mac Power Users early. We were fortunate to interview Thomas Grove Carter, a video editor who has been using Final Cut Pro X on the 2019 Mac Pro with the Pro Display XDR. Thomas pushes the new hardware to its limits and we talk about the power of the new machine, it’s flexibility and how it unlocks new types of workflows for video editors.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

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

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

  • eero: Get your WiFi fixed as soon as tomorrow! Free overnight shipping.

  • Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy.

Hello, New Mac Pro

The New Mac Pro is now available for sale, and it’s a beast. I think it’s prettier on the inside than the outside. Granted, this computer is for a tiny population of power users (I am not one of them), but I’m thrilled that Apple once again has something at the very top end. Marques Brownlee has had one for a few weeks and has some initial thoughts below.

For fun, you can now go to the Apple online store and price one out. They even have a rack mount version coming soon. Again, remember this computer is probably not for you. It’s made for folks that push it to the limit. For those folks, the benchmarks on this new Mac are amazing. When I was at WWDC, I spoke with an Apple rep that is a former Pixar employee. He had the entire set for Toy Story 4 loaded in a single Mac Pro. I remember my question to him, “Isn’t that something that you’d need a fleet of computers for?” His answer, “Until now.”

My congratulations to Apple for making the necessary course corrections to make this happen.

Mac Power Users 513: Catalyst Apps on the Mac, with John Voorhees



Mac Power Users Artwork.png


John Voorhees joins us on the latest episode of Mac Power Users to talk about Mac Catalyst, which allows for iPad apps to be developed for macOS. We review some early examples and talk about the technology and what it could mean for the Mac and iPad in the future.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • 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.

  • Linode: High performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.

  • Hover: Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name.

SaneBox, The Email Tool That Works Everywhere (Sponsor)

This week MacSparky was sponsored by SaneBox, the email service that can help you get control of your inbox. For a lot of folks, email is a constant pain, and it doesn’t need to be. With SaneBox, you add a powerful set of email tools that can work in just about any email client. SaneBox allows you to:

  • Wake up everyday to find that 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.

  • 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 such as Evernote, Expensify, and Kayak.

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

One of the best parts about SaneBox being a web services is that it works no matter which mail application you prefer. If you want to jump between different mail apps on your iPad, no problem. SaneBox is a set of tools that will move with you between different applications on different platforms with no trouble at all.

Why not straighten out your email today? I’ve been a paying subscriber for years and can’t imagine getting by without it. If you sign up with this link, you even get a discount off your subscription.

Automators 38: Simon Leeb and Pushcut



Automators Artwork.jpg


App developer Simon Leeb joins Rosemary and me on the latest episode of Automators to talk about his journey that turned into building the automation app Pushcut. We also stray into the world of iBeacon and automation.

This episode of Automators is sponsored by:

  • PDFpen, from Smile : The ultimate tool for editing PDFs on the Mac.

  • Flatiron School: Launch a career in tech with Flatiron School’s modern curriculum paired with one-on-one support from dedicated career coaches, all just in 15 weeks.

  • FreshBooks: Online invoicing made easy.

The Official MacSparky Yule Playlist

It is hard to believe December is already upon us. I’ve been refining my jazz holiday Apple Music playlist, appropriately called “Yule”. If you want some holiday cheer and you subscribe to Apple Music, here you go. In my opinion, this playlist is best listened to on shuffle.

Mac Power Users 512: Ask the Genius



Mac Power Users Artwork.png


On this week’s episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen steps behind the Genius Bar (or into the Genius Grove, as it were) to provide tips for troubleshooting Macs, iOS devices and iCloud. Then, we talk about the new 16-inch MacBook Pro and how someone should prioritize features when buying a new computer.

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.

  • Away: Thoughtful luggage for modern travel. Get $20 off a suitcase with promo code mpu.

  • Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code MPU at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.