Macworld Agrees: Dragon Dictate 4 is Better

Today Kirk McElhearn weighed in for Macworld on the new Dragon Dictate. It’s better. I thought version 3 was pretty good and yet version 4 is noticeably better. I’ve received some email from readers following my initial thoughts on Dragon Dictate 4 on two subjects.

First, I’m asked if the UI is in parity with the Windows version. It’s not. The gap gets narrower with each successive release but most things (particularly voice corrections) just seem smoother on the PC version. For me, however, the ability to run it on my Mac trumps any difference.

The other subject I’m hearing about from readers is how they had such a hellish time getting their upgrade or experiencing some other hijinks with their purchase. I heard this from several people. It sounds like in most cases it eventually got sorted out but took much longer than it should have. That’s no excuse and Nuance needs to get better at dealing with individual consumers. All I can say in this regard is stick it out if you want the best possible voice recognition on the Mac. Dragon’s it.

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MPU 183: Merlin’s Fifth

This week Merlin Mann came back to the Mac Power Users. Merlin was our original workflow guest and his annual visits are always one the highlights of our year. This year we cover the emerging technologies in home automation and talk about what makes some apps stick while others never do.

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Sponsor: GroovBoard




This week’s sponsor is the GroovBoard. The GroovBoard is a lap desk and stand that turns your iPad into the perfect couch computer. Make yourself comfortable and get some writing done with a real keyboard while the GroovBoard holds your iPad at the perfect angle.

Like to pull up your knees but still want to use your iPad comfortably? No problem. Want to just relax and read an ebook without having to hold the iPad in your hand? Check. No matter if you want to use your iPad to write, read, draw, paint, make music, play games or watch movies, the GroovBoard will hold on to your iPad, Apple Wireless Keyboard and stylus, so you don’t have to.

Each GroovBoard is beautifully hand-crafted in Germany from a selection of fine hardwoods. Models currently come in alder, antique oak, apple (of course), bamboo, beech, cherry, maple and walnut and fit a wide variety of interior design styles. I got the walnut and keep it by my couch. It works great with my new iPad Air and it just looks classy.

The GroovBoard is made in Germany but if you use the coupon code MACSPARKY, you get free worldwide shipping. That’s a savings of $24 for shipping to the United States. The code is only good through March 30 so get yours now.

Thanks GroovBoard for sponsoring MacSparky.

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Changing Your Short Name in OS X


If you set up your new Mac and don’t pay close attention, your short name (which is used for UNIX directories) might turn out kind of goofy. Moreover, if you have two Macs with two different short names, a lot of your automation scripts may not work without a lot more baby-sitting than they’d require if you had identical short names. For the longest time, changing your short name in OS X was a lot more difficult than it should have been and fraught with opportunities to screw up your Mac. I thought that continued to be true until I read this post by Dan Frakes yesterday. 

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Microsoft Office for iPad Imminent, Again

Several website, including The Verge, are reporting that Microsoft is about to announce Microsoft Office for iPad. While we’ve heard this before, this one feels more real than past promises and threats. I believe there has been a war raging on the inside at Microsoft between factions that wanted to keep Office on Microsoft Platforms only (to help drive sales of Microsoft platforms, like the Surface) and those others that see the iPad as a 100 million plus potential Office customers. I bet it was ugly.

Assuming they do release Office for iPad, I hope they do it right and include advanced formatting like styles and track changes. A few weeks ago I’d have said that is unlikely based on what they did on the iPhone. It seemed more likely that the resolution to the internal conflict over Office on iPad was to release it for the iPad but make it so pedestrian that Office power users are still required to go to a Microsoft platform. However, having spent a little time with OneNote for iPad, I’m hopeful. Either way, my money’s on them requiring an Office 365 subscription to get in the door.

Of course it could also be possible this is, once again, nothing but vapid rumors. If that is the case, the question becomes at what point do we stop caring if Office shows up on the iPad? I know several people that have already crossed that bridge.

How People Really Read the Web

I read this article in Time with some interest. Recent research shows that most people spend less than 15 seconds on web pages and the that perhaps compelling content is more important than page views.

As I’ve grown the blog and the podcast over the years, I’ve occasionally bumped into advertising-types and conversations with them always devolve to CPM and “counting eyeballs”. The thing is, I’ve never been about that stuff. I don’t publish intentionally controversial content to gin up numbers. I don’t limit the RSS feed to just a portion of the articles I publish. In general, I try to not do anything hostile to my readers in the name of the almighty page view. While I’d like to take credit for coming up with this on my own, my thinking was really shaped by John Gruber, who was the first blogger I saw that simply refused to play whack-a-mole on his website. Ironically, I found the above-linked Time article through John’s site.

I hope that advertisers and content creators pick up on this. The relationship between blog readers and podcast listeners is one of trust, not click-throughs.

MPU 182: The Traveling Geek

This week’s Mac Power Users is all about how Katie and I, as affirmed geeks, travel. In this episode you will learn some helpful tips AND the depth of my neurosis. I call that a win-win. As a follow up to my point about windshield mounts for your car, listener Paul writes in with this helpful link about exactly where you can legally use such devices.

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How the Tablet Made an Ass of the PC

John Kirk for Tech.pinions

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“If you compare an Elephant (PC) to an Ass (Tablet), there is no question that the Elephant (PC) is superior. But that’s missing the point entirely. Because if you compare the task at hand – say, riding into town, or sending an email – to the available tools, then the lowly Ass (Tablet) kicks the Elephant’s (PC’s) keister every time.”

Amen. The only point I’d add is that where elephants and asses are more or less genetically stuck, tablets are evolving quickly towards elephant status. Remember, we’re only a few years into this journey.

(via Daring Fireball)

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Ella Fitzgerald: Mack the Knife, 1960 Berlin




In 1960, Mack the Knife was a relatively new song and people loved it. So on a whim, Ella added it to a performance she was doing in Berlin. The trouble was that she didn’t know the words very well and about halfway through had a lyrics train wreck. If this were any other singer in the world, this would be ugly. However, when Ella forgets lyrics, songs actually get better. Don’t believe me. Check this out.

Bring Your Daughter to App Camp for Girls at Macworld/iWorld


App Camp for Girls and Macworld/iWorld are joining forces this year to offer a special App Camp for Girls on March 29 right in Moscone Center during Macworld. They are looking for girls 12 and up to come and learn about app development. If you were already thinking about going to Macworld, why not bring your daughter along so she can join in the geek-fest. That’s what I’m doing. Girls planning on attending the App Camp can get a free pass with this link.