Guilherme Rambo at 9to5 Mac seems to have some good sources in Cupertino. He recently published a long list of expected iOS 13 features that focus on productivity. The list looks good. I was sorry to see no mention of improvements to the Files app though.
Mac Power Users 478: Journaling with Day One
Journaling can be an excellent way to collect your thoughts and reflect on the events of the day. Join us on this week’s episode of Mac Power Users as Stephen and I talk about how the journal app Day One makes it easy to do so with your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and more.
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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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.
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In JJ We Trust…
The Teaser …
The Star Wars Celebration Panel on Episode Nine …
Automators 21: Invoicing, Writing, and Regular Expressions with Dr. Drang
In this episode of Automators, Rosemary and I interview the mysterious internet legend Dr. Drang. We talk about Python, Perl, and AppleScript and dive into regular expressions, Shortcuts, Drafts, and Keyboard Maestro. Then, we show how you can combine all of these in various different workflows!
This episode of Automators is sponsored by:
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Luna Display: The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code AUTOMATORS at checkout for 10% off.
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TextExpander, from Smile: Try the new release with the visual editor. Get 20% off your first year.
Get More From Your Mac With BetterTouchTool (Sponsor)
This week MacSparky is sponsored by BetterTouchTool, the Mac App that gives your input devices superpowers. While Apple makes some excellent trackpads and mice, the built-in gestures are just a taste of what you could do with those devices. With BetterTouchTool, you can completely re-design your Touch Bar, configure various Magic Mouse and Trackpad gestures, define keyboard shortcuts, bind standard mouse buttons, use the Siri Remote with your Mac and do tons more.
BetterTouchTool offers many actions to automate various tasks on your Mac. These can be assigned to any input-device trigger you choose. Additionally, it contains some handy features like window snapping, a clipboard manager, a screenshot editor, and much more. It even includes a free iOS app to control your Mac and trigger actions remotely. If you have a MacBook or MacBook Pro, this app is an absolute game changer.
Recently, the BetterTouchTool Community was begun, which you can find at community.folivora.ai. Users have shared some amazing presets there, including some very advanced custom Touch Bar setups that you should check out.
One of my favorite Better Touch Tool gestures lets me quit the current app by pinching with my thumb and two fingers. Whenever I want to shut down a bunch of apps, and my hand is on the trackpad, there is no faster way.
BetterTouchTool comes with a 45-day trial after which you can choose between a license that includes all updates for two years and a lifetime license.
BetterTouchTool has been around for nine years, and I’ve been using it the entire time. With BetterTouchTool, I can make my Mac dance. You 2should too. MacSparky readers can purchase BetterTouchTool for 15% off at checkout by using the coupon code MACSPARKYBTT for a limited time. So don’t delay. Go to folivora.ai to learn more and take advantage of the special limited-time, 15% discount on BetterTouchTool.
The New iMac and the iMac Pro
Today Jason Snell released his iMac review. I like this review for several reasons. First, he reviewed a high-end iMac, not the entry level machine as people so often do. Second, Jason uses an iMac Pro daily.
I’m often asked by readers and listeners exactly where the cutoff point is between the high-end iMac and the low end iMac Pro. With Jason’s insight and familiarity with both machines, we finally have an excellent resource. In addition to the performance trade-offs, Jason also covers some of the new technologies included in the iMac Pro which still have yet to make their way down to the iMac line. Those differences are substantial. I explained how I love my iMac Pro at length on my gear page. I still feel the same.
Mac Power Users 477: Mobile Music and Production with Jakob Haq
Jakob Haq, a musician and YouTuber from Sweden who creates, edits, and publishes all of his content with his iPhone and iPad, joins us on this week’s episode of Mac Power Users.
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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Bombas: The most comfortable socks in the history of feet. Use this link for 20% off.
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Hover: Extensions for anything you’re passionate about. Grab a .ME domain for $9.99.
Checking in with Apple Music
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple Music is now bigger than Spotify with 28 million subscribers. If that’s true, it doesn’t surprise me. Apple has a considerable advantage in that it is baked into iOS, works with Siri, and just more convenient for iPhone owners.
I thought it would be a good time to check in on Apple Music since I haven’t written much about it since it initially launched. We’ve enjoyed a family subscription ($15/month) since launch. Everyone in my family loves music and, oddly, we all listen to different kinds of music. As a result, we have downloaded a lot more music than we would have if we were paying for tracks and we are getting our money’s worth on Apple Music.
I haven’t used Spotify, but I know its users are big fans of the recommendations. I don’t feel the same rabid love for Apple Music recommendations that my Spotify-wielding friends profess. Still, the suggestions are good. No longer does it throw artists at me from my kids’ playlists. (Sorry Hannah Montana.) The recommended playlists are a good assortment of artists I already love, artists I’d like to hear more, and artists I’ve never heard of before but are nevertheless in my wheelhouse. I like Apple’s recommended playlists and their A-Lists, where I’ve found several new interesting artists. I also like the easy ability to share tracks, as I’ve often done here.
While the user interface has improved over the years, there is still room for improvement. For instance, the buttons across the bottom of the music app are too opinionated. I’ve never listened to Beats 1 and don’t use radio stations. Nonetheless, some of the most valuable real estate in the user interface is taken up with a Radio button. Those buttons should be customizable.
Radio button .. why are you there?
By far, my favorite Apple Music feature is the depth of the catalog. I’ll frequently think of some obscure album and, more often than not, have it playing in minutes. Just a few weeks ago I woke up with an old Chuck Mangione song, Carousel, in my head. The song was recorded in 1975 and the last time I heard it had to be in the 70’s. Nevertheless, Apple Music had Carousel playing throughout my house in minutes.
Accomplish More Every Day with OmniFocus (Sponsor)
This week MacSparky is sponsored by OmniFocus, the task manager I’ve used for years to stay on top of my work and make time for play.
OmniFocus not only offers its users power, it also comes with flexibility. You can make this app work the way you think. Need tags? OmniFocus has them. Want to review your active project routinely? OmniFocus does that. Need to quickly get your tasks out of your brain and into your Mac/iPad/iPhone? OmniFocus makes task capture trivial.
With OmniFocus, you have all the tools. This week has been bananas for me. Because of some work commitments, I only have time for the few most critical tasks every day. OmniFocus is helping me out with that because I tag the most important tasks (I use “Big Rock”) and OmniFocus has a perspective to show me the big rocks every day. This week. I’m just doing those items. Next week, when things slow down a bit, I can dive deeper, but for now, I see exactly what I need. It’s a simple perspective and I’m adding a screenshot at the bottom of this post.
I use OmniFocus every day to keep my life together. There is no way I could run a law practice, video business, three podcasts, and be a dad without the powerful tools that OmniFocus gives me. Why not check it out for yourself? Head over to the OmniFocus website and download the free trial. Make sure to let them know you heard about it here at MacSparky.com.
Focused 70: Digital Decluttering, with Shahid Kamal Ahmad
Video game developer Shahid Kamal Ahmad is back on the latest episode of Focused to talk about his digital declutter, staying present, and quieting the voices in your head with an intentional approach to managing your technology.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
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FreshBooks: Online invoicing made easy.
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ExpressVPN: High-speed, secure, and anonymous VPN service. Get 3 months free with a 1-year package.
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Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.