The combination of simple-to-use automation tools (like TextExpander) and OmniFocus’s Mail drop is changing the way people get things done. Jeff Taekman (a clever fellow and one of our guests on MPU 100 recently wrote up his meeting workflow using all these pieces and it is definitely worth checking out.
Down Time
People often ask about how I manage to keep a day job, do the podcast, write books, and otherwise cause mischief all at once. The answer is, very carefully. I use all these technologies I write about not just to fiddle, but also to keep the car racing forward. It also helps that I really enjoy all these things. Additionally, there are many things I don’t do in order to make time.
However, lately I’ve been giving some thought to down time. Merlin Mann talks about this intermittently on Back to Work. The idea is that if you’re racing forward at all times and don’t stop to just relax a bit, you are going to miss some really great opportunities. I’m not sure where I stand on this. I’d argue that I do have lots of down time, which I spend with my family. My kids are no longer toddlers and spending time for them is just fun without nearly so much worry about how they may step off a balcony or contrive to find some other way to get into trouble. Nevertheless, there really isn’t much me time. There isn’t zero me time either, just not much.
So last week I got sick. I wasn’t very sick. I just had a cold. But for a few days, I couldn’t screencast, I couldn’t dictate, and I just felt pretty crappy. Again, that’s okay. Everybody gets sick. The trouble is that my race car is hurtling down the track at very high speed and just a few days of reduced productivity caused several projects to get seriously out of whack. When you are going this fast, just a little bit of wobble in the wheels can result in a smoking fireball against the nearest brick wall. I’m better now and the race car is running nearly full speed again and this most recent brick wall was avoided but this has me wondering if perhaps Merlin isn’t right.
MPU 120: Taking Notes with Mike Rohde
This week’s Mac Power Users includes a really fun interview with Mike Rohde. Mike is a UI designer, a nerd, and a super-nice guy. He also just wrote a book, The Sketchnote Handbook, that I’m currently obsessing over. In addition to gushing all over Mike about his new book, we talk about how to takes notes digitally (with a Mac and iPad) and analog with some of Mike’s tools and tricks. It is a really great episode. Check it out.
I’d also recommend picking up Mike’s book if you have any interest in learning a few new tricks with your pencil and pen. I think visually and Mike’s techniques are already helping me out.
Live Action Toy Story
Anticipating OmniFocus 2
While The Omni Group finishes cooking OmniFocus 2 for the Mac, they are giving away a free temporary license for OmniFocus 1. If you’ve been on the fence about this app, here is an excellent chance to kick the tires. Also, if you decide to try it, make sure to watch my screencasts.
MacSparky Sponsorship Changes
Starting next week, sponsorship at MacSparky is getting a lot easier. I’ve dropped out of all ad networks. If you want to buy a week, send me a note. There will only be one ad per week and the site will look better for it.
Macworld 2013: Free Tickets for MacSparky Readers
It’s already January and Macworld/iWorld is just a few weeks away. If you are near San Francisco at the end of the month, you should go. Macworld is one of the highlights of my year, every year. It is a place where Mac geeks rein supreme and the guy behind you in the sandwich line just may be able to teach you some AppleScript.
I’ll be posting again as the event gets closer about my goings on. For now, I’m certain I’ll be at the OmniFocus Setup and Debut on Thursday the 31st, my Macworld session on iBooks author Friday February 1st at 5pm, and at the Smile booth Saturday February 2 at 3pm. I’m doing more and will post it all when schedules get set.
In the meantime I’ve got access to this magic link that gets a free exhibit hall pass or an iFan pass for just $50. (The iFan pass is the way to go, by the way.)
I know I sound like a broken record on this last point but if you do go, make sure to make new friends and introduce yourself to people. If you see me, I expect a “hello”. At Macworld you are among family.
Sponsor: Igloo Software
We’re back from the holidays… slightly heavier; slightly more determined. We have goals. We have resolutions. And we will make them happen.
… we think.
Sure, clearing out your inbox is a great intention – but finding a sustainable solution for business collaboration is better. While it might be tough to change the way your teams work together, now is the right time to move past the frustrations of yesteryear.
Bring your documents, versions and conversations together in one place. Get an intranet you’ll actually like.
Try Igloo.
The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500
This week Fujitsu released its latest desktop ScanSnap, the iX500. I was provided an early review unit and I’ve been putting it through its paces for the last several weeks. This is a really nice upgrade.
When I first heard there was going to be a new desktop ScanSnap, part of me wondered how it would differ from the successful S1500. I’ve been using an S1500 for years and that scanner is a real trooper. The iX500 is not an iterative improvement. Fujitsu made some big moves with this new scanner. To begin, The iX500 works on both the Mac and the PC. Fujitsu is now officially off the separate Mac and PC product trains which makes things easier for multi-platform users.
Mobile Scanning
One of the best new features is the ability to use an iOS or Android app to scan directly to your mobile device. The iX500 includes a built in WiFi radio and, once mobile scanning is enabled and you’ve got it on your network, you can scan to your iPad, iPhone, or Android device by setting in the paper and pushing the button. To enable this you first need to install the ScanSnap to a Mac or PC and download the mobile app but after that, you can go completely mobile. Your Mac doesn’t even need to be turned on. Fujitsu made a nice video showing off mobile scanning.
More Reliable
The ScanSnap has always been good at detecting when it grabs more than one sheet. This newest version improves upon ultra-sonic sensor technology to make it even more reliable. The new ScanSnap also does a better job with long documents and plastic cards.
The ScanSnap also got upgraded software. The newer software makes it easer to set up custom scanning projects and send data to local and cloud storage services. In short, the Quick Menu is better and more customizable. It includes all of the usual suspects like Dropbox, Evernote, Google docs, and SugarSync. There is also a new card scanning app for Mac, CardMinder. I’ve always appreciated how Fujitsu supports the Mac. The software works great, is fast, and doesn’t feel like an afterthought. (I can’t say that for all third party hardware makers and the Mac.)
If you’ve got an existing S1500 should you be upgrading? Probably not unless you want the mobile scanning. If you have been on the fence, however, now is the time to buy a new Fujitsu scanner. Learn more from Fujitsu.
Disclosure: Fujitsu is a sponsor of the Mac Power Users. That does not color my opinion of their ScanSnap scanners. If they were junk, I’d tell you. I gladly paid $450 of my dollars to buy my personal ScanSnap many year ago and it still works great.
Pen Porn: Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen
I’ve always prided myself on using cheap pens. I scoffed at Parker and passed on Mont Blanc. Why get some fancy-pants pen I’d lose or break when I can get Pilot G2’s by the dozen at Staples.
Things started to go south, however, when Michael Lopp came on the Mac Power Users and pointed me to Jet Pens, a website that pushes all of my pen-geek buttons. I started buying the Zebra Sarasa pens, which are not much more expensive than my G2s and really nice. Little did I know they were my gateway drug.
About six months ago, I found the Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen. Finally, an expensive pen I could really get behind. I’ve been using it daily now since I first bought it and it gives me more joy than a pen should while at the same time instilling an irrational fear of losing it. There is no way I can justify the purchase but I do love using this pen. Pen Addict summarizes it much better than I ever could.