I printed this iPhone stand several months ago, and I’m mixed about it. On the one hand, I find it really attractive. On the flip side, I cannot reach the iPhone’s buttons while it’s in the stand. The jury’s still out.
My New iPhone Stand
The Lab Report for January 17, 2025
In this week’s episode of The Lab Report: Is TikTok really going to shut down? a TSMC chip factory in Arizona, Sparky tells us about several Apple product rumors, and the Skeleton Crew is back as a fun media recommendation.
… This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members. Care to join? Or perhaps you need to sign in?
Google’s Search Market Share Now Below 90%
This hasn’t happened since 2015. We are exiting a world where there is one dominant search engine. AI search is the new thing (even though most people don’t realize it yet) and there is plenty of competition emerging. I expect a big push from Google on using Gemini for search…soon.
ChatGPT as Task Manager?
ChatGPT can now handle reminders and tasks. They’ve added a specific model for this purpose: “4o with scheduled tasks”. And if you ask it to give you a reminder at a certain time or create a task list, it’ll do that for you.
I didn’t see this coming. I think we’re going to see a lot of action in the LLM space as they start interacting with external apps as agents. Putting tasks in ChatGPT feels like a step in that direction.
In order to use this feature, you’ll need a paid account. Currently, you can only run 10 active tasks at a time, so this feels a lot more like an experiment than anything else.
221: A Focus on Creativity
Mike and I use this episode of Focused to consider the relationship between productivity and creativity, how focus plays a role in the creative process, and the details of our own creativity systems.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
- Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED.
- Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
The Case for Apple Mail Filtering
Apple Mail AI filtering is taking a beating from the critics. While we really can’t judge it until Apple implements it on all platforms, there are things about it that I like. I share what these things are in this video.
… This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members. Care to join? Or perhaps you need to sign in?
Everything is Still Remix
I recently had an opportunity to rewatch Kirby Ferguson’s video. It’s eight years old and still excellent.
Listen Later: Get Your Articles as Podcasts (Sponsor)
This week, MacSparky is pleased to welcome back Listen Later as a sponsor. Listen Later is a service that transforms articles, emails, and PDFs into personalized podcast episodes using their advanced AI narrator. This allows you to listen to your reading list during commutes, workouts, or any time you’re on the go.
This service really scratches an itch for me. There is so much good long-form content out there these days and consuming it while washing the dishes, walking the dog, or on a long commute is very satisfying.
Their AI not only narrates but brings life to the content with a quality that stands out among AI voices. You can access your personalized podcast episodes on all devices through any podcast app, ensuring you stay connected with your preferred content anytime and anywhere.
Beyond articles, Listen Later can also convert emails and PDFs into podcasts, making it perfect for transforming work documents, newsletters, or any textual content into listenable formats. Additionally, Listen Later can translate content into multiple languages, making global content accessible and enjoyable in your preferred language.
Sign up for the service today, and you’ll receive $2 of free credit, providing an easy way to try it out for yourself at no risk. Experience the convenience of turning your reading list into a personalized podcast with Listen Later.
Mac Power Users 779: An AirPods Launcher
In this Mac Power Users feedback episode, Stephen and I discuss AI-powered dictation solutions, the safety features built in to many Apple products, and some listener feedback.
This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:
Update: How Sparky Uses Notion
In the past year, my use of Notion as a collaboration tool has gone deeper, but I also haven’t fully adopted it for everything I do. Here’s an update video on how Notion fits for me.… This is a post for the Early Access and Backstage MacSparky Labs Members. Care to join? Or perhaps you need to sign in?