Shortform sponsored this post, but they didn’t tell me what to write. Here’s an honest take from someone who’s been using their service for years. On most days, I am not the person who curls up with a book for two hours. I’d like…
Continue reading →Focused 255: Feedback
On this episode of Focused, Mike and I work through a batch of listener questions on burnout. Can a hobby burn out the same way work can? What do you do with the guilt of slowing down? We also get into Joan Westenberg’s essay…
Listen & read notes →Mac Power Users 847: Actually Useful A.I.
This week, Stephen and I made an episode about AI. I know. We tried to just talk about what’s working for each of us right now. We get into dictation, AI browsers, MCP, what Apple Intelligence might become, and the smaller weirder projects we…
Listen & read notes →Why Stretch Goals Are a Trap
I want to talk about stretch goals, because I think they’re doing you more harm than good. The idea sounds reasonable. You pick your top three priorities for the week, then you add a few more items labeled “stretch goals.” If you get to…
Continue reading →A Rostrum from LoveFrom
Jony Ive’s LoveFrom studio redesigned the rostrum at Christie’s, the lectern where auctioneers stand to sell the world’s most expensive things. John Gruber wrote about it last month, and the photos are worth a look. Anything that crosses Apple and furniture making lands on…
Continue reading →April in the MacSparky Labs
MacSparky Labs members get to participate in member events and receive a number of exclusive videos and podcasts each month. Here’s a summary of offerings this past month: April 2026 2026-04-30 – April in the MacSparky Labs (M,I,P) (Post) 2026-04-30 – April Deep Dive…
Continue reading →Lab Report — May 1, 2026
The iOS 26.5 update is nearly here — the last of the 26-series releases before WWDC. It brings monthly subscription billing to the App Store, end-to-end RCS encryption, and a new Suggested Places feature in Apple Maps.
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Deep Dive – Robot Assistant + NotePlan
This month’s Labs Deep Dive was about moving your Robot Assistant setup from Obsidian to NotePlan…
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When Phishing Stops Looking Like Phishing
Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder of WordPress, almost got hooked by an Apple ID phishing scam in March. He wrote up the whole thing on his blog, and it’s a story everyone using an Apple ID should read. This wasn’t a sloppy email with broken…
Continue reading →Sparky’s Automated Blinds
I added new smart blinds to the studio. They open at sunrise, close at 4 p.m. when the afternoon sun hits my desk, and I can shut them with a voice command on my way out…
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