Now that I’ve been in Endor Studios for a few years, I’m getting a better idea how to use the room. So I’ve made a few changes and in this video, I bring you up to date.
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Walt’s Flywheel
I recently saw a link to The Walt Disney Productions 1957 Strategy Diagram (via Kotke). I’ve seen this several times, and every time, it impresses me. Specifically, the Disney Company treats their movies as the source material for everything else they make, whether it be music, books, or theme park rides. When it all works properly, they had a virtuous circle where the movie characters generated interest in the theme parks, and the theme park visitors’ experiences generated interest back in the movies. If something doesn’t tie into the overall flywheel, then it probably shouldn’t be there.
I try to do the same thing with my tiny MacSparky empire, and this 67-year-old chart still makes a lot of sense to me.
YouTube and Vision Pro
The announcement that YouTube will no longer allow Christian Selig to publish Juno for Vision Pro is disappointing but not surprising. I remember when companies that made content for the internet wanted everyone to have the best possible experience. Things today feel quite the opposite. Not only is YouTube not willing to make an app for Vision Pro, but they apparently don’t want a good one to exist.
Checking My Work With AI
Here’s another interesting use for AI. While I’m not a fan of using it to write for me, I’m okay with it checking my work. In this video I show you how I do that in both ChatGPT and Notion AI.… This is a post for the Early Access and Backstage MacSparky Labs Members. Care to join? Or perhaps you need to sign in?
Mac Power Users 765: Inventing the Internet, with Glenn Fleishman
Glenn Fleishman, freelance journalist, book author, editor, and comics and type historian, joins Stephen and me on this episode of Mac Power Users to share what he’s up to and some of his favorite workflows.
This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:
- Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.
- Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac. Get one month free.
- KRCS: Apple Premium Reseller. Get free next-working-day delivery.
Automators 165: Moom and Window Management
In this episode of Automators, Rosemary and I explore Moom 4 and other window management tools for macOS.
This episode of Automators is sponsored by:
- Notion: Try the powerful, easy-to-use Notion AI today.
The Lab Report for October 4, 2024
In this week’s episode: A YouTube app for Vision Pro is removed from its App Store, several Apple rumors are floating, Meta gets a big fine, and I help you tame your notifications in this week’s recommended Labs Video.
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Dark Noise Update
Dark Noise is one of my favorite applications. I first used it years ago as my go-to white noise generator. (I particularly like the thunderstorm sound.) Over the years, I’ve become friends with the developer, Charlie Chapman, who does all the right things with his application.
So it’s no surprise to me that he recently released a version that now gives you Dark Noise controls in Control Center. If you haven’t played with Control Center on iOS 18 yet, you really should. It gives us all of the stuff we’ve been asking for for years now. It’s fully customizable with multiple screens, and while I haven’t nailed down my Control Center strategy just yet, I’m having a great time figuring it out.
The More Repairable iPhone 16
The iFixit teardown of the iPhone 16 is interesting. Apple is continuing to creep towards better repairability each year.
A constant problem for folks who like to crack their phones open is glue. Specifically, there’s a lot of adhesive inside these devices, and getting rid of it to do any repair is time-consuming and messy. Apple solved that with the battery in the new iPhone by using electrically activated adhesive. You apply a low-voltage current to it, and the battery pops out. It’s an interesting technology that I didn’t even know existed.
If you’d like to learn more about what’s inside your phone, check out the full iFixit video below.
Customizing Your Lock Screen in iOS 18
With iOS 18, you can now change your lock screen widgets. In this video I demonstrate how to do that and share a few strategies for making the most of it.
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