Mac Power Users 468: Mixing Macs and Microsoft with Christina Warren



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Christina Warren, tech commentator, podcaster, and Cloud Developer Advocate at Microsoft, drops by this week’s episode of Mac Power Users to talk about using a Mac at work, the state of PowerPoint, and how to get the most out of tech when traveling the world.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • Hover: Show the world what you’re passionate about with 10% off your first purchase.

  • Luna Display: The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code POWER at checkout for 10% off.

  • TextExpander, from Smile: Recall your best words. Instantly, repeatedly. Get 20% off your first year.

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

Outline like a Pro with Omni Outliner (Sponsor)

This week MacSparky is sponsored by OmniOutliner, the best outliner available for the Mac, iPad, and iPhone. OmniOutliner combines powerful outlining tools plus a smart, simple interface to allow you to make beautiful outlines that can be as complex as you need them to be and no more than that. With smart columns, scriptability, custom styles, and templates, you can’t go wrong. You can share your data between all versions of OmniOutliner, so you always have your outlines available to you.

I use OmniOutliner to outline contracts and complex legal transactions for my day job. I also use it to outline all of my field guides. The combination of powerful outlining tools with synchronization across all of my devices is a winner for me. No matter where I am if I think of something I want to add to the next field guide, OmniOutliner is right there waiting for me to update it. I’ve heard from listeners and readers that use OmniOutliner for all sorts of things, like writing a novel, creating a family tree, or just collecting their thoughts.

To learn more, head over to the OmniOutliner website and download the free trial today.



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The Latest iPad Videos Get It Right

Last week Apple released a collection of new videos about getting work done on the iPad. I finally got around to watching them today and they are really good. What I like about them is that each video takes its time demonstrating actual workflows. I think that is what we need to see if we are looking to get more out of the iPad. They even call out specific non-Apple apps.

I also appreciate how they demonstrate more real-world uses. Instead of using the iPad with scuba gear to map an ancient wreck, they have people taking notes and making presentations. Not nearly as sexy as prior “iPad use” videos but so much more relevant to most of us.

These are some of my favorite tutorial-ish content that I’ve seen from Apple in years. They even have a film showing how they shot the videos with the iPad itself. Keep them coming Apple.






Mac Power Users 467: Fitness Apps & Tech



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On this week’s episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen and I discuss how the iPhone and Apple Watch can be helpful in managing health and fitness, and coupled with the breadth of options in the App Store, they can become powerful tools in improving our well-being. 

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. 

  • Luna Display: The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code POWER at checkout for 10% off.

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

Automate Your Text with TextExpander (Sponsor)


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This week MacSparky is sponsored by TextExpander. Copy and paste is an inefficient way to keep track of the things you type again and again. TextExpander makes you more productive by taking care of all those words and phrases for you. TextExpander works in all your apps so you can use it everywhere, like Microsoft Word and Excel, Adobe Illustrator and InDesign, and Apple’s Pages.

TextExpander does way more than that. With TextExpander you’ll see your snippets everywhere. It syncs between your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Windows PC instantly.

They’ve got free snippet groups for all sorts of folks including job recruiters, freelancers, airport codes, brand names, and more at the TextExpander website (or you can download some of mine).

TextExpander even lets you run AppleScripts. For example, I use TextExpander to auto address emails with Apple Mail.

Best of all, with TextExpander you don’t have to work alone: TextExpander for Teams lets you manage and share snippets with your coworkers or the entire company. Use this link to get 20% off. 

The Future of Twitter

Stephen Hackett wrote a short post last week about a couple of data points that make him worry about the future of Twitter. In addition to Stephen’s points, I’d add to the list a concern that Twitter is trying way too hard to turn itself into a Facebook-level revenue generator when, fundamentally, that’s just not the Twitter we all originally signed on for. It is this limited scope that makes me like Twitter, and the harder they try to become a huge ad-selling platform, the more turned off I get.

I’m not certain the service is doomed. This is probably wish-casting, but I believe Twitter could be more successful in the long run if it simply went back to he original vision.

Speaking of Passwords

SplashData released their list of top 100 worst passwords of 2018. “123456” tops the list and “password” is a close second. Take a look at the list and make sure you’re not making it easy for the hackers.

I happily use 1Password (full disclosure: sometimes an MPU sponsor) for this. There are plenty of password options out there. Just please use one of them. Digital security is under increasing threat. Don’t walk around with your fly down.

Hackers Now Sharing 773 Million Compromised Emails

Troy Hunt did some digital spelunking and found a group of shared files, “Collection #1,” with 773 million emails and passwords. Yikes!

I bang on about password security a lot; this is why. Read this article and check your email against the database to see if you are on the list. It doesn’t necessarily mean your current password is exposed (unless you never change it). My podcast listeners are already familiar with my practice of routinely changing all of my critical passwords every time we change the clock for daylight savings. If you are on the Pwned list, change yours today.