Manage PDFs with PDFpen (Sponsor)



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This week, MacSparky is sponsored by PDFpen for Mac. Preview does a good job at very basic PDF edits but if you need more powerful tools for PDFs, look no further than PDFpen and PDFpen Pro. I use PDFpen Pro nearly daily to manage and create digital documents for my day job. I like PDFpen because it brings so much to the table. PDFpen version 11 released last month with a lot of new features:

  • Split-view mode for editing

  • New Font Bar for expressive font control

  • Import scans from Continuity Camera

  • Customize page-number locations

  • Add multiple items to the Library at once

  • Option to turn off guides

  • Medical/Legal dictionaries for OCR (English language)

  • Automatic deskew independent of OCR

  • Option to specify default zoom

  • Specify Facing Pages settings for individual documents

  • Improved Sidebar

  • Edit Form Elements Properties for multiple form fields simultaneously (PDFpenPro)

PDFpen can even take a PDF document and turn it into a workable Microsoft Word file. In that sense it is also a PDF deconstruction tool and so very handy. PDFpen does all of this, and so much more. Smile also offers PDFpen for iPad and iPhone for editing PDFs for when you are on the go.

Head over to the PDFpen website for a full list of features. Also, make sure to let them know you heard about it here at MacSparky. 

Cardhop Updates

Cardhop, the popular address book replacement app from Flexibits for iPhone and iPad and for Mac got a nice update today. There are several new features including multiple business cards, customizable contact templates, smart groups (my personal favorite new feature), and more. You can learn more at the Flexibits Blog and download the apps with the above links. I also made them a few short videos on the update. Below is the iOS video.

Mac Power Users 487: Josh Centers: Beta Spelunker



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Josh Centers is the managing editor at TidBITS, which has been covering the world of Apple for nearly 30 years, and is a writer for the Take Control of series of books. He sits down with Stephen and me on this week’s episode Mac Power Users to talk about his writing, the tools he uses, and why running Apple betas can be a real adventure. 

Guest Starring: Josh Centers

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • eero: Never think about WiFi again. Get $100 off.

  • MOO: Custom business printing and design. Use promo code PRINTMOO for 15% off when you spend $50 or more.

  • 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.

PDFpen 11

Recently, Smile Software released the most recent version of PDFpen (now 11) for Mac. PDFpen has been a long time sponsor of the Mac Power Users so you can take this how you will, but I also use PDFpen every day in my law practice. I love how it can take a basic PDF document and apply optical character recognition and, even in a pinch, convert it to a workable Word document. It’s a tool I use almost daily. With the new version we got some nice new features:

– Split-view mode for editing

– New Font Bar for expressive font control

– Import scans from Continuity Camera

– Customize page-number locations

– Add multiple items to the Library at once

– Adds option to turn off guides

– Adds Medical/Legal dictionaries for OCR (English language)

You can learn more over at Smile Software.

Project Planning with inShort (Sponsor)



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This week MacSparky is sponsored by inShort (website) (Mac App Store) (iOS App Store). inShort is a project planning application for the Mac, iPhone, and iPad that lets you plan projects and processes graphically across all of your Apple devices. Click on the above image to get the idea. This brings a new paradigm to process and project planning and is worth checking out. 

One of the more innovative features is the way it allows you to embed processes and drill down to the level of detail you need at the moment. The trick with inShort is to build a detailed diagram, and from there the application creates a Gantt chart to execute your plan.

inShort takes a unique approach to project planning and is worth checking out. The inShort development team has also added a satellite service, workflow.link that gives you a way to work with, edit, and manage your projects from any device with a web browser. 

Want to learn more? Check out the website and read the developer’s PDF. 

Focused 75: Intentional Constraints



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Mike and I are continuing the conversation on moving the needle by talking about intentional constraints on the latest episode of Focused. Mike embarks on a task management spirit quest, I share my bullet journal advice, and we consider the balance of process and results.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

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

  • Hover: Get 10% off any domain name — extensions for anything you’re passionate about.

  • Timing: The automatic time-tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase.

Mac Power Users 486: Essential iOS Apps



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Join us for this week’s episode of Mac Power Users as Stephen and I scroll through our iPhones and iPads to share some of our most used iOS apps. 

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.

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

  • Direct Mail: Create and send great looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.