I’ve been teasing a third party Toggl app on the various podcasts now for months. The app is called Timery and if you are tracking time through the Toggl service, you’re going to want to check this out. It has a clean interface, it’s rock solid, and has excellent automation support, including Siri Shortcuts. MacStories did an excellent write up a few weeks ago.
Focused 75: Intentional Constraints
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:
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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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Hover: Get 10% off any domain name — extensions for anything you’re passionate about.
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Timing: The automatic time-tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase.
Mac Power Users 486: Essential iOS Apps
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:
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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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Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code MPU at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
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Direct Mail: Create and send great looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.
Automators 25: WWDC 2019 Automation Update
On the latest episode of Automators, Rose and I are on the ground at WWDC in San Jose to bring you up to speed on the new automation heading to iOS and iPadOS. We also recap WWDC, the Automator’s meetup, and Rose describes how she lost a fight with a leaf.
This episode of Automators is sponsored by:
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Timing: The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase.
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PDFpen 11, from Smile: Your ultimate PDF viewing and editing app for the Mac.
Apple’s Renewed Interest in iPad and Mac
One thing that is clear here in San Jose is Apple’s renewed focus on the Mac and iPad. The argument that Apple has turned exclusively into the “iPhone company” no longer holds water. Maybe that is a result of the fact that Apple has literally saturated the entire planet with iPhone sales or just because Apple is catching up in terms of its own internal growth and more able to walk and chew gum but suddenly the Mac and iPad are getting lots of love from Apple.
The Mac
We had a great episode of Mac Power Users this week where we interviewed Doug Brooks, the new Mac Pro’s product manager. One thing that came out of talking to Doug was the incredible amount of effort that went into the new Mac Pro hardware. They were even dragging it on and off trucks to see how it could handle a video production environment. I can only imagine the R&D costs of this new computer that will, in all likelihood, have a very small (but dedicated) audience.
Apple has now got a Mac all along the price/performance spectrum for just about everyone. I don’t thing we are at the end of this Mac hardware renaissance either. There are rumors of new MacBooks, presumably with a new keyboard, and ARM-based Macs, which would have insane battery lives.
The iPad
Over the last few years, Apple has nailed down the iPad hardware again with options ranging along the price and performance curves. In my opinion, the new iPad Pros are unquestionably the best iPads ever made. I’m typing these very words on one.
For some time now, the problem with the iPad has been the software. People who genuinely want to use the iPad more, get turned off by silly friction points. My white whale on iOS 12 was how difficult the iPad made it to create a new folder while saving an email attachment to iCloud storage (something I do multiple times a day) and poor tag management. It looks like one of those two problems is solved by iOS 13. Indeed, iOS 13 looks to knock off quite a few of the rough edges for people looking to get work done on their iPad. I’ll report more on this once the iOS 13 betas get more stable and I can spend more time with it.
Moreover, with the announcement of iPadOS as a new operating system, Apple has publicly elevated the iPad operating system as something separate and distinct from the iPhone. In years past at WWDC, Apple has sometimes made iPad improvements a point of focus and other times ignored it entirely. By making iPadOS, its own thing, Apple appears to now be holding itself accountable for iPad improvements every year. I hope that means there are folks inside Apple now assigned to doing nothing but making the iPad better every day.
Regardless, I’m pleased with this renewed focus on Mac and iPad. I love the iPhone, but I get most of my work done on Macs and iPads and on both of those platforms there remains plenty of work to be done.
Mac Power Users 485: WWDC and Interview with the Mac Pro Product Manager
Stephen and I have boots on the ground in San Jose for WWDC 2019. In the latest episode of Mac Power Users, we interview Doug Brooks, the Apple product manager for the new Mac Pro. Afterward, we share initial thoughts on updates to macOS and the brand new iPadOS. I have some tough questions for Stephen about his future and the new Mac Pro, and we get to share the good news about the brand new “Sparky Button.” Finally, we give you the lowdown on our WWDC experiences.
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: Get 10% off any domain name — extensions for anything you’re passionate about.
Keynote and Mac Pro Photos
I had a lot of fun yesterday at the Keynote and Mac Pro preview center. Here’s a few photos with some additional thoughts.
Attending the Keynote
Add Features to Apple Mail with SaneBox (Sponsor)
Recently, I was talking to a nerd-friend about email, and he explained how he likes email but just wished it had a few additional features, like deferred mail. What he didn’t realize is that he could have all of that immediately, in Apple Mail, with this week’s sponsor, SaneBox. SaneBox is the solution to so many email problems. SaneBox is the email service that adds a pile of productivity features to your email, regardless of what email client you use. For a lot of folks, email is a constant pain point, and it doesn’t need to be. With SaneBox at your back, you can:
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Wake up every day to find the SaneBox robots have automatically sorted your incoming email for you so you can address the important and ignore the irrelevant.
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Defer email for hours, days, or weeks, so it is out of your life until a more appropriate time. They’ve even added a new feature that can optionally auto-reply to snoozed email with something like, “I’m sorry, but I’m underwater right now. I’ll get back to you in a few days.”
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Set secret reminders so if someone doesn’t reply to an important email, SaneBox gives you a nudge to follow up.
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Automatically save attachments to the cloud (like Dropbox).
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Use their SaneForward service to automatically send appropriate emails to services like Evernote, Expensify, and Kayak.
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Move unwanted email to the SaneBlackHole and never see anything from that person again.
The list goes on. For instance, you can have SaneBox send an auto-reply when you defer an email. Why not straighten out your email by getting a SaneBox account today? If you sign up with this link, you even get a discount on your subscription.
Last Call for Introductory Pricing on Keyboard Maestro Field Guide
The response thus far has been pretty amazing for the Keyboard Maestro Field Guide. Thanks to everyone that purchased it. I really enjoyed making it and I’m happy it is resonating. I’m already hearing about some cool automations that customers have created and incorporated into their daily lives.
If you are thinking about buying the Keyboard Maestro Field Guide, now’s the time. The introductory price ends this weekend.