Post Category → not-labs

Mac Power Users 705: macOS Window Management

Since the dawn of multitasking, users have needed to juggle things on their screens. Apple has taken several swings at building good window management tools into macOS, but better solutions can be found in a long list of third-party apps. Stephen and I have tried just about all of them for this episode of Mac Power Users.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

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Automators 134: Looking through the Window of Automation

On this episode of Automators, Rosemary and I are joined by Sal Soghoian to talk about everything from launchers such as Alfred, to window management, and more voice control!

This episode of Automators is sponsored by:

  • ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free.
  • TextExpander: Your Shortcut to Efficient, Consistent Communication. Get 20% off.
  • Taskbone: Gets more out of your productivity tools. Get special onboarding support for a limited time only.

15 Years of OmniFocus

Tim Stringer shared this thoughtful post about the 15-year anniversary of OmniFocus, and I felt like I had to weigh in. Like Tim, I had a long, complicated journey with task management on the Mac before OmniFocus showed up.

It’s easy to forget how lousy task management apps were on the Mac before OmniFocus. It was a wasteland. Indeed, it was so bad that most of us resorted to using OmniOutliner with Ethan Schoonover’s “Kinkless GTD” modifications.

We were all enthusiastic when word got out that the Omni Group was making a proper task manager. I started using it with the earliest public beta and still use it today. People ask why a guy like me, known for trying out every potential app on the market, keeps using the same task manager for all these years, and the answer is simple: There is nothing better.

I considered moving to an alternate task manager when I stopped practicing law. I spent time running my tasks out of the Reminders app, Obsidian, and several other popular task managers, both cloud-based and native apps. I even tried an all-paper system for a few months. None of them held up compared to OmniFocus. And the thing is that OmniFocus keeps extending its lead.

Most recently, with all of the work Sal Soghoian is doing, you can automate anything in OmniFocus and add your own features. Sal’s even figured out a way to allow you to control the entire application with your voice. (Here’s an interview I did with Sal in the MacSparky Labs on that topic.)

The software business is tricky. Keeping your app relevant and modern for 15 years is no easy task, so I tip my hat to all the hard-working folks at the Omni Group (past and present). OmniFocus has been a instrumental tool for me now for 15 years and I have them to thank.

August Live Events in the MacSparky Labs

We’ve got a lot on deck in the MacSparky Labs for August

  • The Notifications Webinar a few days ago went great. I’ll be releasing a video for members in the next few days
  • August 11 – Focus Session (Levels 2-3)
  • August 17 – Q3 Midpoint Planning Call (Level 3)
  • August 19 – Monthly Meetup (Levels 2-3)
  • August 24 – Deep Dive on Planning Your Ideal Week (Level 3)
  • August 31 – Focus Session (Levels 2-3)

If you are an Early Access or Backstage member, you should have received an email with all the details and links. If you’d like to get access to these live events, why not join the MacSparky Labs?

This Month in the MacSparky Labs

Here’s what I sent out to Labs Members in July 2023:

  • 2023-07-31 – Notification Week Announcement (Levels 1-3)
  • 2023-07-28 – The Lab Report – 28 July 2023 (Levels 1-3)
  • 2023-07-28 – Obsidian Field Guide Status Update (Level 3)
  • 2023-07-26 – Using CleanShot X (Levels 1-3)
  • 2023-07-25 – Testing AudioPen (Levels 2-3)
  • 2023-07-24 – The July MacSparky Labs Meetup (Levels 2-3)
  • 2023-07-21 – The Lab Report – 21 July 2023 (Levels 1-3)
  • 2023-07-19 – Apple’s New Autocorrect and Predictive Text (Levels 1-3)
  • 2023-07-18 – Renaming Files with Name Mangler (Levels 2-3)
  • 2023-07-17 – Addressing AI with Friends (Levels 1-3)
  • 2023-07-14 – The Lab Report – 14 July 2023 (Levels 1-3)
  • 2023-07-12 – Changes to Apple Notes in the 2023 Betas (Levels 2-3)
  • 2023-07-11 – Sparky’s Prime Day Purchases and a Few Recommendations (Levels 1-3)
  • 2023-07-10 – Setting Up and Using Downie (Levels 2-3)
  • 2023-07-07 – July Meetup Details (Levels 2-3)
  • 2023-07-07 – The Lab Report – 7 July 2023 (Levels 1-3)
  • 2023-07-06 – Q3 Planning with Sparky (Level 3)
  • 2023-07-04 – The OS Betas Deep Dive (Level 3)
  • 2023-07-03 – A Stream Deck Intervention (Levels 1-3)
  • 2023-07-01 – Q3 Planning with Sparky (Level 3)

If you’d like to be a part of the MacSparky Labs, you can join right here.

Focused 183: Practicing Focus

Join Mike and me on this episode of Focused as we discuss how we inject focus into our workdays, and Mike shares about his tiny house retreat experience.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

  • Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
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A Cellular MacBook

I don’t usually comment on Apple patents because there are so many of them, and they typically don’t mean what you think they mean.

However, this one about improved cellular technologies in MacBooks has me taking the bait. The case for a cellular MacBook in the Intel days was good. The case for a cellular MacBook in the age of Apple silicon is infinitely better. Apple already makes devices with Apple chips that have cellular radios. Indeed, quite a lot of them. In my opinion, at this point, every MacBook purchase should have a “Would you like a cellular radio with this?” checkbox on it, just like the iPads do. 

If I had to guess, Apple is waiting to release its own long-awaited cellular radio chip before taking the plunge. However, if Apple still doesn’t have a cellular radio option for the MacBook when that day arrives, I’ll be out of ideas as to why not. 

Mac Power Users 703: The Portable HomePod Mini Lifestyle

On this Mac Power Users feedback episode, Stephen and I check out some additional Safari extensions, answer some listener questions, discuss the Studio Display, and address a recent controversy about the sailing workout type on the Apple Watch.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • TextExpander: Get 20% off with this link and type more with less effort! Expand short abbreviations into longer bits of text, even fill-ins, with TextExpander.
  • Tailscale: Secure remote access to shared resources. Sign up today.
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Automators 133: Personal Automation Fun

Rosemary and I are sharing a collection of our favorite personal automations ranging from task and project management to home automation on this episode of Automators.

This episode of Automators is sponsored by:

  • Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
  • Electric: Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting.
  • HelloFresh: Use code automators50 for 50% off plus free shipping.