Craig Hockenberry is the first person that I saw point out the ability to switch your Apple Watch to put the digital crown on the elbow side and he makes a pretty good case for it. Ergonomically, it’s definitely better. Also, with the digital crown on the hand side of the watch, I was occasionally activating Siri when I’d bend my wrist in too far and press on the crown. I’ve only been trying the Hockenberry flip for a day but I think I may just keep it like this.
Jazz Friday: Alice in Wonderland by Dave Brubeck
Today is Disneyland’s 60th birthday so I though I’d pick a Disney-related jazz track. One of my favorites is Alice in Wonderland, by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. This track is on an album full of Disney tunes called Dave Digs Disney from 1957. The Dave Brubeck quartet was one of the pioneers of the West Coast Jazz movement and is one of the most distinctive in jazz with Paul Desmond’s lilting melodies on Alto Sax and Dave Brubeck’s harmonics on Piano. Alice in Wonderland delivers on all counts.
Home Screens: MacSparky in 2015
This week I thought I’d feature my own home screen. So here you go.
Some Apps of Note
Apple Maps
I know Apple Maps is the whipping boy but it’s got a lot better over the last few years. It’s no longer “Apple Maps Bad”. Also, I like using Siri with Maps. (“Hey Siri, Get directions home.”)
Tweetbot
My love of Tweetbot on iPhone just barely exceeds my disdain for the iPad version. I’ve been using it for years and occasionally look for something new and I always come back.
Slack
I’ve just recently started participating in some Slack channels and I’m hooked. The Slack app keeps evolving and that’s a good thing.
This app on my home screen is aspirational. I’ve never been much of an Instagram user but am trying again. (I’m “MacSparky” on Instagram if you’re interested.)
The Audio Row
Music, Overcast, Beats, and Sonos for my audio needs. I’m hooked on Overcast for podcasts. Before Apple bought Beats, they had a promotional price through AT&T. I tried it and it stuck. I have a lot of great playlists and like the way it works so easily with the Sonos at home.
The Productivity Row
I’ve written about MindNode, OmniOutliner, Editorial, and Soulver at length. I’d just add that I find it surprising how often I work on mind maps and outlines on my iPhone.
Unread
RSS feeds are my guilty pleasure. I read through feeds every day and for awhile now, I’ve been doing it in Unread.
I’ve been using Pocket as my read-it-later service for a few years and am getting ready to embark on an Instapaper experiment but for now Pocket is still on my home screen.
1Password
1Password is a great password management tool but it also has the ability to store secure notes behind a separate wall on my phone. I use those all the time.
Photos
I guess there’s no secret that I really like the new Photos. Now it’s on my home screen.
Fantastical
Fantastical really pushes all my buttons as an iOS calendar application. The list view of data connects with my brain and new event entry is also a breeze.
OmniFocus
Workflow
I also really like having Workflow on my iPhone. Are you keeping up with the updates to Workflow? You should.
Drafts
There is no faster way to get words from my brain to my phone than Drafts.
After all these years, I still love my iPhone. It is probably my most important piece of technology.
Want to See my Apple Watch Face?
Here you go. I’m definitely a “Utility” man. I keep turning the numbers on the face on and off. (Currently off.) I’ve tried several other faces and none of them have stuck. For complications I’m using fitness, weather, and next event.
The Future and Past of Apple’s San Francisco Font
Mark Gurman reports that iOS 9 and OS X 10.11 might very well get the San Francisco Font, currently used on the Apple Watch. If true Helvetica Neue will go down in history as the George Lazenby of Mac fonts. Given that Apple designed the San Francisco font, I would not be least bit surprised if they brought it to all of their platforms. (John Gruber points out that San Francisco is now the font used on the new MacBook keyboard.)
I like San Francisco on the watch. It is clean and clearly designed to be on a screen and not piece of paper. I have no idea how San Francisco will look on the phone and Mac, but I’m curious. I’m probably not the person to make such decisions though since I was a fan of, and actually turned in a college paper using the original Mac San Francisco font. Yes. This one.
The Incomparable on David Letterman
Today is David Letterman’s last show. Like a lot of people my age, Dave was one of my original stick-it-to-the-man inspirations. This week Jason Snell produced a very special episode of The Incomparable, Monkey Cam, with interviews from some very smart people and an excellent narrative about David Letterman’s career and what it means. If you have any interest in this stuff, I’d urge you to listen to this one hour episode.
Following Up with the New MacBook Keyboard
Since I posted my initial review of the new MacBook, I’ve received a lot of email about the keyboard. From other new MacBook owners, the feedback has largely agreed with me that the keyboard is inferior to that on the MacBook Pro or iMac with a few vocifous objectors who felt that the smaller throw keyboard is superior. I guess that shouldn’t surprise me. The way a keyboard feels is definitely a personal preference thing.
Regardless, more water has run under the bridge since I put out the first review and my opinion of the keyboard has not changed. I still don’t think it is as good as the keyboard on my old MacBook Pro but it’s not so terrible that it’s a dealbreaker. Moreover, as time goes by, I think of it less and less and instead just get my work done on this amazingly light laptop with this amazingly crisp text. I sold MacBook Pro and it is now happily being used to edit video. I haven’t missed it at all.
Home Kit Reportedly On the Way
Last year Apple announced Home Kit. It has been nearly a year now and Home Kit support in third party devices is expected to ship soon according to the Verge. I’m interested in home automation and have a mixture of WeMo switches and Hue lights throughout my house. One of the challenges is that every little ecosystem has its own app and and own idiosyncrasies. Hopefully Home Kit solves that. We’ll find out soon.
MPU 257: Workflows with Merlin Mann, Episode VI
This week Merlin Mann returns for his annual visit to Mac Power Users. This is one of my favorite episodes every year. This year we discuss hardware and software updates and if it’s necessary to keep up with the latest and greatest, Merlin’s growing use of iOS over Mac OS, and kids and technology use.
Did you also know we just received a new episode of You Look Nice Today? YLNT involves Merlin, Scott Simpson, and Adam Lisagor recording their often bizarre and always funny conversations, adding a little bit of ukulele-ladden post production, and releasing it to the world.
The Talk Show: Workin’ in Pajamas
This week I had the real pleasure of joining John Gruber on The Talk Show. We talked about The Watch, career choices, dress shoes, the new MacBook, and Photos. It was a lot of fun and at several points John had me in giggle fits.
Jazz Friday: Art Pepper’s Over the Rainbow
Art Pepper was one of the most influential alto saxophonists in the 50s and 60s and considered one of the founders of the West Coast Jazz movement. As a Californian, I’m a fan of West Coast Jazz in general and Art Pepper in particular. There was a lightness to his sound that is delightful. Unfortunately, Art had a lifelong heroin problem and, frankly, a rough life including several prison stints. There is a great documentary about Art Pepper, called Art Pepper: Notes from a Jazz Survivor. Over the Rainbow (iTunes) is a great Art Pepper track because he plays the whole thing solo and really stretches out.