Post Category → not-labs

The OmniFocus 4 Launch

I’ve been using OmniFocus since the first beta. That’s over 15 years in one app. If you know me, you know that’s not usually the thing I do. When it comes to apps, a part of me always feels like I’m missing something just over the horizon. I’ve spent more time than I should have looking at the competition, yet I always end up with OmniFocus. If you’re on the Apple platforms, I don’t know of anything better. That’s even more true with version 4.

  • The whole thing is built on SwiftUI: That explains why it took them a while to get this out the door, but it also assures the future of the app. Easy updates, cross-platform UI, compliance with future platforms (ahem, Vision Pro), and many other benefits come from the Omni Group doing the hard work upfront.
  • Common UI across all devices: With version 4, everything works everywhere.
  • Insanely good automation: Sal Soghian leaving Apple was Apple’s loss and the OmniGroup’s gain.

My hat’s off to the Omni Group on this release. It was a difficult road, but they’ve released a great update. I’ll have more to say on this in future posts.

DEVONthink: The Place for Documents and Files (Sponsor)

I often hear from listeners/readers looking for a research solution in the Mac ecosystem. My favorite app for this, without a doubt, is DEVONthink. DEVONthink is the most professional document and information management application for the Mac. It’s the one place for storing all your documents, snippets, or bookmarks, and working with them.

The Integrated A.I. assists you with filing and searching, while the extensive search language with advanced Boolean operators.

DEVONthink features a Flexible sync system that supports many cloud services – or lets you synchronize over the local network too – with everything securely encrypted. This gives you the choice for however syncing works best for you!

It has Smart rules and flexible reminders that let you automate all parts of your workflow and delegate boring, repeating tasks. Let DEVONthink automatically organize your data with rules you define!

DEVONthink’s AppleScript dictionary is one of the largest on the Mac. There’s no part of DEVONthink that can’t be automated. Extend DEVONthink’s functionality with your own commands by adding them to its Scripts menu.

Even templates can have scripts inside and you can set up new documents with data from placeholders, or inserted by your own AppleScript code.

DEVONthink To Go, the iOS companion app, has really seen a lot of updates this year. The latest version, 3.8, adds in-document search to text documents, formatted notes, and RTFs. Search using quotes and Boolean operators. When you open a document from a global search, DEVONthink To Go reuses the query to highlight occurrences in the document. You can now also undo and redo many item actions, from moving and replicating to converting and more. It even now shows replicated or duplicated items in color, just like on the Mac.

I find DEVONthink’s combination of innovative features and automation support irresistible. Interested? MacSparky readers can get a 20% discount on DEVONthink.

Stolen Device Protection

There’s a new feature heading to iOS 17.3 after the New Year that will make it harder for someone to shoulder-surf your passcode and change your Apple ID on you. This is directly aimed at the vulnerability Joanna Stern wrote about in the Wall Street Journal. The new feature will require Face ID to get to saved passwords, and changing your Apple ID password will be subject to a security delay unless you do it from a familiar location, like home or work.

You’ll need to turn it on when it ships, but my initial take is that it seems like the right balance of security and convenience. I doubt we’ll see 17.3 before February.

Mac Power Users 722: Bringing Devices Together

On this Mac Power Users feedback episode, Stephen and I revisit Apple Notes and talk about Name Drop. Also, I share the good news about a new battery pack.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • 1Password: Never forget a password again.
  • MasterClass: Give one annual Membership and get one free.
  • Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.
  • Tailscale: Secure remote access to shared resources. Sign up today.

Did You Order Your 2024 Focused Wall Calendar?

Focused 2024 Wall Calendar

The Focused 2024 wall calendar is available!

It puts your entire year on the wall so you can see how you’re doing and when you’re busy. My daughter often walks into Endor Studios to look at my calendar so she knows when I’m available. This would be an excellent tool for anybody working at home or with a team.

We’ve put a lot of work into the design of this calendar over the years, and it’s both functional and attractive.

If you haven’t done so yet, you can order yours today.

Making Light, Candles that Create Focus (Sponsor)

This week MacSparky is sponsored by Making Light Candles, my favorite source for candles (both as gifts and for myself). There is something special about lighting a candle. It’s a ritual we humans have been doing for a long time, and I find it an excellent way to stay focused and in the moment.

Making Light Candles are great for this. It’s a small family business with over forty years of experimentation and a solid commitment to sustainability. They use all-natural soy waxes, cotton wicks, reusable and recyclable containers, and a carefully curated collection of beautiful fragrances.

With a Making Light subscription, you (or your loved one) will get a monthly delivery of several Making Light candles, matches, and a nice note.

And when you gift a Making Light subscription, you’re helping spread the idea of focus. The subscription is based on using the candle as a ritual to do something you love. I treat these candles as special and burn them only when working on my most important projects. The ritual of lighting the candle, the smell, and the entire process now triggers my brain into focus mode. It’s like a shortcut but for your brain. When I’m done, I blow out the candle, and it waits for the next time I need to engage in that project.

These rituals work on our brains. They help you stay focused and more in the moment for the most important things you do. When you give a Making Light subscription, tell your recipient about this idea and how this is your small way to help them with their essential work. They’ll appreciate that.

And while you’re doing it, you’ll know you are helping a small family-owned and operated company that focuses on making the best products and giving back. (One of my favorite things about the company is their focus on teaching kids to make candles and burn wax instead of their brains on social media.)

Best of all, use the code “Sparky” and get a $10 discount code on any new subscription. This offer is time-limited, and the holidays are approaching, so don’t miss out.

721: “Technological Empathy,” with Kourosh Dini

Dr. Kourosh Dini is an author, musician, and psychiatrist who uses Apple gear to improve the lives of those he works with. On this episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen and I speak with him about his tools, including DEVONthink, OmniFocus, and more.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • 1Password: Never forget a password again.
  • Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
  • Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
  • Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door.