Sponsor: inShort




This week MacSparky is sponsored this week by inShort. inShort is a project planning and diagramming tool like you’ve never seen before. The application has a unique interface that lets you see a project from the 20,000 foot view and then, with just a few taps, drill down into the details. For example, in the below project plan, you can click on the individual boxes to get further details on any specific component.


I like the way this application handles Gantt charts to include schedules for the work and material resources, as well as places.


inShort is a serious project planning and diagramming application but it could be used for so much more, like planning out a dissertation, creating a lesson plan, or even your own personal goals. It’s always under active development with new features in the pipeline.

inShort is easier to use than ever with a clever tutorial that show’s off the power of the application and teaches you how it works at the same time. There are versions for both the Mac and iOS. To learn more visit the inShort website and check out the User Guide. My thanks again to inShort for sponsoring MacSparky.com.

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MPU 331 – Stephen Hackett: Collector of Macs

Mac user, collector, and … yes … YouTuber Stephen Hackett joins this week’s episode to explain essential cloud-based services used to run the Relay Network, his growing collection of Macs, and his photo and video workflows.

Sponsors include:

  • Hover: Simplified domain management. Use code AUTOMATION to get 10% off your first purchase.
  • The Omni Group They’re passionate about productivity for Mac, iPhone and iPad. 
  • Automatic The connected car company that improves your driving and integrates your car into yoru digital life. Enter code MACPOWER to get 20% off your purchase. 
  • Fracture Bring your photos to life.

Camera+2 for iPad

I’ve been getting most of my photo editing done these days on iPad with Apple Photos, Pixelmator, and Snapseed. Camera+ just released version 2 for iPad and it is now firmly in the rotation for me. As the name implies, Camera+ gives you lots of control over the iPad camera but what I really like about the new version for iPad are the photo editing tools. 


I’ve always been a fan of Camera+’s “Clarity” filter which, as “push one button to make it better” filters go, a lot better than most. I also like the way you can use the brushes (via finger or Apple Pencil) to apply localized changes.

One gripe with this app though is its lack of Apple Photos extension support. Maybe there’s a good reason but the app doesn’t tie into the native Photos app so you have to make a copy of a photo into the app and then manually save the edited copy back to Apple Photos. That part feels stone-age to me. That aside, I like the Camera+ for iPad update. (Website)(App Store)

Pokémon Go

I realized what a square I’ve become when I kept mispronouncing Pokémon to my kids. So I decided to bone up and did so over at iMore. Serenity Caldwell has been killing it over there with Pokémon Go tutorials for several days. Next I’ll be giving my kids Pokémon tips and go from being a square to a weirdo (which is my usual role in their lives).

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MPU 330: I’m Not Familiar with Wookiepedia

This week’s Mac Power Users is up. It’s our monthly feedback show and we have lots of great content on subjects like MPU workflows on a PC, merging Apple IDs, cleaning up after being scammed, more iOS photography, and family tech support.

Sponsors include:

  • Igloo: An intranet you’ll actually like, free for up to 10 people.
  • Fujitsu ScanSnap ScanSnap Helps You Live a More Productive, Efficient, Paperless Life. 
  • Gazelle Sell your iPhone for cash at Gazelle! 
  • Sanebox Stop drowning in email!

Sponsor: OmniPlan

This week MacSparky is sponsored by OmniPlan. OmniPlan combines the simplicity and beauty that comes with all Omni Group apps with some serious planning power including features like Microsoft Project compatibility, Monte Carlo simulations, network diagrams, and earned value analysis. OmniPlan takes advantage of the Omni Group’s OmniPresence syncing service to make everything sync across to your Mac, iPad, and iPhone.

A lot of people are interested in OmniPlan but not sure how to get started. The Omni Group just released a series of videos called the “Project Planning 101” series. In it, they explain, in the context of world domination, how to easily set up your own project planning workflows. I’ve embedded the first in the series below. Thanks again OmniPlan for supporting MacSparky.
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Clockwise 144

This week I had the pleasure of joining Jason Snell, Dan Moren, and Georgia Dow on the Clockwise podcast. In 30 minutes we solved the world’s problems relating to email, virtual reality, two-factor authentication, and the privacy vs. services debate. Easy. Right?

ScanSnap Cloud

Fujitsu recently released the ScanSnap Cloud, a cloud-based service for ScanSnap users. The idea behind ScanSnap cloud is pretty clever. Your scanner connects to the Internet and sends all scans up to ScanSnap Cloud where they are then distributed to your cloud service of choice, like Dropbox, Box, One Drive, Evernote, and others. ScanSnap Cloud can figure out if your scan is a document, receipt, business card, or photo and then can follow your specific instructions based on the category of document. ScanSnap Cloud will also do some rudimentary OCR and, where it finds a date in the document, set the file name to match.

The net effect of this service is that it allows you to remove your scanner from your computer. You can put it anywhere in your house or office where it has access to Wi-Fi and your scanning works just fine. I’ve been using my ScanSnap iX500 in my laundry room with ScanSnap Cloud. Now I just scan the mail as it comes in the door. I can trash and recycle as appropriate right there and the paper never even makes it up the stairs to my home office. Getting the scanner off my desk frees up more space and having the scanner next to the recycle bin means I scan things immediately now, as opposed to the old system where I let it pile up until the weekend. Win-win.

They made a clever video, below.

Full disclosure: Fujitsu has been a long time sponsor of the Mac Power Users and I’ve been a long-time customer of their products.