MindNode for Mac 2.0


The gang over at MindNode has been busy re-writing MindNode for Mac and today we get to see the final product with the release of MindNode 2.0 (App Store) (Website).

Having used the beta for a month, I heartily recommend the new version (which is on sale for a short time). For me, MindNode has sat in that sweet spot with just enough features to satisfy me but not so many as to make the application overly complex. 

This application has always had a nice clean design and been very easy-to-use. With the new update, they continue with that same design philosophy but adds several new powerful features:


Outline Mode

I have this left brain/right brain thing constantly going on where I want to see my data visually as a mind map but also in outline format. For some time MindNode has had the ability to display your mind map as an outline on iOS. Now it has that feature on the Mac too.

Notes

You can now add notes to any node in your mind map. It’s a great way to remove clutter but also add more information at the same time.


Stickers

The new version includes its own built in library of clipart that you can use throughout your mind map. The artwork is superb and fits the aesthetic of MindNode perfectly. I never used clipart before in mind maps because I always thought it looked silly. I’ve started using it with this new version and I’m quite happy with it.

Web Access

Stuck on a computer without MindNode installed? No problem. You can now access your documents on the web. It supports folding and unfolding of nodes and displaying attached notes.

MindNode is currently on sale for $19.99 which is 33% off its normal retail price.


Automating Subject Line and Message Body with TextExpander

The below screencast is one of nine that I did for the new version of TextExpander for the Mac. At the end, I added a bit about automating email subject lines and message bodies with one snippet and I seem to have touched a nerve. I’ve received a ton of email about this. A lot of people didn’t realize this is possible. 

The trick is the Tab key. In most mail applications, the tab key moves you from the subject line to the message body. Setting the curser in the subject line, you can have a TextExpander snippet type the subject line, the tab key, then the message body. For instance:

Subject: How about some waffles?
%key:tab%%
Dear Jason,
I’m really hungry for some waffles. How about you?

Your pal,
David

If you are automating email that includes a standard subject line this can be a huge time saver. Don’t forget you can also include variables and fill-in snippets in the subject line as well. For instance, if you are standardizing the email for your monthly invoice, the subject line snippet could be:

ACME %b Invoice

which would render as:

ACME June Invoice

Anyway, if this stuff interests you, it wouldn’t hurt to watch the below screencast. If you’d like to see more in this screencast series, click on the “Playlist” button. I’m proud of all of them.

Stack Social Summer Bundle




I get sent notes about software bundles at least once a week and I ignore most of them but this new Summer Mac Bundle from Stack Social is worth checking out. There are several apps in here that I’ve paid full price for and use regularly.

For $19.99, you get all of the following:

  • iStat Menus 5 ($16.00) – http://bjango.com/mac/istatmenus – iStat Menus puts advanced system information just a glance away. From your Mac’s menu bar, you can monitor in a variety of real-time information, including CPU and RAM usage, drive storage, and network activity. I love this app.
  • Jump Desktop ($29.99) – https://jumpdesktop.com/#jdmac – This is one of the top-rated, top-selling VNC/RDP clients in the Mac App Store (1000+ ratings, 4.5 stars). Up until a few months ago, I used to use it nearly every day to remote into the PC at my office. 
  • NoteBook 4 ($49.99) – http://www.circusponies.com/ – NoteBook is the most versatile and note-taking solution for the Mac. I know attorneys that swear by this application for managing their litigation cases. It’s also an excellent tool for students.
  • Noiseless ($17.99) – http://macphun.com/noiseless – Noiseless greatly improves low-light photos by cleaning up the digital noise. This is the first time it’s been sold outside the Mac App Store.
  • Hider 2 ($19.99) – http://macpaw.com/hider – Hider 2 gives you a quick and easy way to selectively hide and encrypt files on your Mac, with a gorgeous user-experience that anyone can figure out. Hider 2 is making its debut outside of the Mac App Store in this bundle.
  • Beamer ($15.00) – http://beamer-app.com/ – Beamer does what every Apple TV owner has wanted to be able to do at some point: stream any kind of media to their Apple TV
  • App Tamer 2 ($14.95) – http://www.stclairsoft.com/AppTamer/index.html – App Tamer pauses apps in the background so they don’t use your CPU, which also extends battery life in laptops.
  • Chatology ($19.99) – http://flexibits.com/chatology – Chatology lets you quickly search all your chat logs (across services and clients).
  • Unibox ($19.99) – https://www.uniboxapp.com/ – This email client is one of the hottest new apps to be released in the last few months.  It’s never been sold outside of the Mac App Store until now, so it’s never been in a bundle before.

This is one of those bundles where just one or two apps can justify the purchase. If you do buy it through this post, I also get a little affiliate money. Who doesn’t like that?

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Gabe Weatherhead on His New 15″ MacBook Pro

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“It’s the nicest computer I’ve ever owned, just like I bet the next one will be in 3-4 years.”

Gabe Weatherhead upgraded his three-year-old MacBook Pro for a new one and found several pleasant surprises.

I also use Gabe’s technique of installing a short list of applications when setting up a new Mac and making the remaining apps “earn” their way in. Looking at my new MacBook about a month in, I’ve now got 103 items in my Applications folder. When it comes to Apps, I’m apparently a hoarder.

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Techtonic Podcast

This week I joined the gang at the TechTonic podcast to talk about Photos, the “digital hub”, and what to do when your friends ask you about Android.

∞

Pixelmator for iOS Arrives on iPhone


One of the reasons I’ve not got too bent out of shape about no localized editing on Photos for Mac is because for years now I’ve been doing all of my heavy-duty photo editing in Pixelmator for Mac. Last year Pixelmator arrived on the iPad and it’s great. In some ways it’s better than the Mac version. I especially like using the iPad version on my couch while fiddling with pictures. Also, iOS Photos does an even better job of integrating third party photo apps than its Mac counterpart does. 

Today Pixelmator released an iPhone version of Pixelmator. The new iOS version of Pixelmator takes advantage of Apple’s Metal technology to add new Distort tools. I’ve been using the beta and it was killing me not to include this in my Photos Video Field Guide. In addition to bringing a very robust set of photo editing tools, there are also filters accessible straight from Pixelmator in the Photos application.

Best of all, it’s universal. If you’ve already bought Pixelmator for your iPad, you’ll get it for free on your phone.

Have you noticed how many iOS iPad-only apps are going universal and finding their way to the iPhone? I think there are several reasons for this trend including the bigger iPhone screens, better processors, and better development tools. Pixelmator is great in my pocket. The below video provides an overview.

Apple Watch and Bold Text


A few weeks ago I guested on The Talk Show and John Gruber and I talked about everyone’s favorite new gadget. John made the comment that he turned on Bold Text in the Brightness and Text Size setting. This is a strange setting and requires you to reboot the watch to take effect. During the show, I went ahead and switched it on and have kept it that way since. I don’t have much to add to what John said during the show except an endorsement. With Bold Text turned on, complications are easier to read and look better and in most other views text is also easier to read but doesn’t usually look better. 

TextExpander for Mac Version 5

Today Smile Released TextExpander for Mac, Version 5. The new version has some great new features including the ability to recognize frequently typed phrases and offer to create new snippets for you, remind you when you type a phrase for which you already have a snippet, improvements to fill-in snippets, iCloud sync, and Java Script support. I did a whole series of videos on the new version and they came out great. There are 10 videos in total and they really give you the soup-to-nuts training in TextExpander. If you are already a pro, just watch the “What’s New” video below.

App Camp For Girls Funding Campaign and Matching Funds Offer


I am so proud of my friend Jean MacDonald (Twitter). She left her business and took an enormous risk to start App Camp for Girls. Jean is truly making a dent in the universe.

I am also particularly proud of the role Mac Power Users listeners and MacSparky readers have played thus far in App Camp for Girls’ success. Not only have you provided financial support, several of you have also donated your time and expertise. It actually makes my heart swell.

Today App Camp for Girls has started a new public funding campaign. The funding goal is $100,000. These funds will be used to bring the program to more girls and more locations. Just as important, success there will convince corporate sponsors that App Camp is for real and help win even more corporate sponsorships.

Matching Funds!

Katie and I feel strongly about this. So much so that we’ve agreed to personally match funds contributed to App Camp for Girls by Mac Power Users listeners up to the first $1,000. Nothing would make me happier than writing a big check. So why don’t you help me out with that?

To participate:

1. Donate to the App Camp Indiegogo campaign as you normally would, including choosing from one of the available perks.

2. Email a copy of your donation receipt (feel free to redact any personal information but leave the amount) to feedback@macpowerusers.com with the words “AppCamp 3.0” (no quotes) in the subject line.

3. Katie and I will jointly match MPU listener donations up to $1,000.


Jean MacDonald will be our guest on Mac Power Users in early June to give us an update on her progress and talk about how she used technology to get a non-profit up and running. I’m hopeful we’ll also be able to announce we’ve raised enough money to sponsor a Mac Power Users team at App Camp for Girls this summer.