Last month saw the release of the latest major update to Keyboard Maestro. Version 9 adds several new features, including multiple editor menus, a method for extracting text from images, and dark mode. That’s just the start. They also added support for the Elgato Stream Deck, which is pretty fun. I’m going to be doing a free update to the Keyboard Maestro Field Guide adding videos on the version 9 features just as soon as I get done shipping the new Shortcuts Field Guide, which is imminent.
More on Voice Control
I’ve already written (and posted a video) on my love of macOS Catalina and iOS 13’s Voice Control accessibility feature. Steven Aquino fills in a lot more detail about the new feature on MacStories. My appreciation for Voice Control has only increased throughout the beta process. I’ve canceled my Dragon Anywhere subscription, and I’m using the feature daily for dictation. I like it so much that I find myself dictating to my iPadOS 13 iPad while I’m sitting in front of my Mojave Mac.
The custom dictionaries still aren’t syncing between the devices. (I’m not even sure if they are supposed to sync, but that sure would be nice.) Either way, if you’re interested in voice to text, things are going to get much better with the new operating systems.
How OmniFocus for the Web Works
The Omni Group is sponsoring MacSparky this week, so I guess you can take this with a grain of salt, but I continue to be impressed with OmniFocus for the Web. For a web implementation of an iOS application, it has a lot more power than I expected. I didn’t realize the way they were pulling it off.
They are running Objective-C and Swift on Mac servers that then output to the web. This isn’t a simple web application. This is a Mac application driving to the internet. The OmniGroup explains in further detail at Inside OmniFocus.
The Relay Family Feud and Trophy Giveaway
Bell not included.
The Relay Fifth Anniversary live show was a lot of fun. You can watch the video below. Since my team came out victorious, I find myself in possession of a precious trophy, one of only five in the world. I have, however, decided to part with it. As you may know, Relay has partnered with St. Jude to help them raise money to take care of sick children. I’m going to give my extremely rare and valuable trophy to whoever makes the biggest contribution to St. Jude between the time of this post and midnight Pacific on September 13. If you want to be considered, send me proof and write “Trophy Contest” in the email subject line. I’ll pay for shipping, so long as you are not on the moon. Wouldn’t this look nice on your desk?
Automating Shortcut Links
The Shortcuts team continues to delight. Today’s iOS 13.1 Beta 2 added a new feature that lets you automate the process of getting a downloadable iCloud link for your shortcuts. Neat! Rosemary Orchard explains it in detail.
Kind of Blue for 60 Years
Kind of Blue by Miles Davis, my favorite album, celebrated its 60th anniversary a few weeks ago. Below is a YouTube video explaining what makes Kind of Blue so special. Here’s an older video featuring Herbie Hancock. People disagree on the best track on the album. I’d pick “Blue in Green”. There’s something about that first note with that Harmon mute that just gets me every time.
A few years ago I did an interview with Myke Hurley where I talked about the album. Please note it was 5am when we recorded that. I was not the high jazz man I sounded like. I was just not entirely awake yet.
Either way, if you don’t own a single jazz album and were to get just one, I’d recommend Kind of Blue. I have never met anyone who didn’t enjoy it at some level.
Focused 81: Breaking the Twitch, with Anthony Ongaro
Anthony Ongaro joins us on the latest episode of Focused to talk about practical minimalism, designing an intentional life, and his multipotentialite resume, which covers everything from musician to log roller.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
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FreshBooks: Online invoicing made easy.
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Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
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Daylite: Learn more about Daylite and start a free 30-day trial.
The Siri Apology
Last week, Apple issued an apology for their practice of having their contractors review Siri audio for quality control. I’m glad that they are making changes, and I appreciate the plain language in the apology. I can only imagine how much pressure there was to “lawyer” it up. I like that Apple takes privacy seriously, and if I had to bet a nickel, I would say they will learn from this experience.
That said, I hope they still figure a way out to get good feedback on Siri, including its failures. Privacy is important. Siri getting better is also important.
Mac Power Users 498: Back to School with Jake Wilson
On this week’s episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen and I chat with Jake Wilson, an elementary school principal (and a student himself), about using technology in and beyond the classroom, ranging from smart boards and shortcuts to Google Docs and waffles.
This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:
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1Password: Have you ever forgotten a password? You don’t have to worry about that anymore.
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The Omni Group: We’re passionate about productivity for Mac, iPhone and iPad.
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Linode: High performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
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Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code MPU at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Why the iOS 13.1 Beta is a Good Thing
With the latest round of iOS 13 beta updates, Apple released iOS beta 13.1 before iOS version 13.0 was released to the general public. So right now I’m running a beta of the first update to an operating system that’s not out yet. Now that Apple will be announcing new phones on September 10, I’m sure they are under a deadline to have an operating system in those new devices. Put simply, they had to cut off iOS 13.0 development and move some of the promised features to the 13.1 update.
One take on this development is that Apple blew it. I disagree. These yearly updates to the various Apple operating system are necessary to keep Apple on the cutting edge. I do not want them approaching this task from a conservative mindset. I believe it’s just such a fear of missing shipping dates that, at least partly, explains why the iPad stagnated for so long.
If anything, I feel like the fact that Apple missed some of the features with the .0 release but are going to get them in the .1 release means Apple got this year about right.
Years (or even months) from now nobody’s going to remember when exactly the new automation triggers for Shortcuts arrived. They will, however, be very happy that those automation tools exist.
I hope Apple doesn’t take their inability to get all the features in the initial release as a sign that they need to scale back next year. Keeps pushing, Apple.