Post Category → not-labs

visionOS Experiments and Thoughts

The visionOS SDK kit has only been out a few days, but developers are already digging in. Initial reports are encouraging. App developers are getting their apps up and running in the new spatial computing platform. MacStories did a great job collecting posts from many experimenting developers.

There are two things that come to mind seeing how quickly Developers are adapting:

This is part of the SwiftUI Master Plan

Developers that have been building their SwiftUI muscles are getting paid back right now. visionOS runs on SwiftUI. Developers that are up to speed on it are getting an easy on ramp on the new platform.

This is only Phase One

While it’s great seeing conventional existing apps get displayed in the new spatial computing platform, I consider that just phase one. Phase two is where it gets interesting. That’s when developers come up with applications that could only work on the new platform. I don’t know what those killer apps will be yet, but some enterprising developers are cooking them up right now.

The app I’d love to see is a spatial computing enabled planning/idea development application, where I could put the headset on and have a 10’ x 10’ (or bigger) board I could use to develop ideas and plans. I would probably make it contextual and instance it somewhere in Yosemite or Yellowstone, but it would be the place I’d go to work on big ideas. Then when I’m done, I could take the headset off and go make a sandwich.

DEVONthink: The Best Solution 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.

And, of course, there’s so much more, from an iOS companion app, email archiving, scanning, or even an embedded web server for sharing your data securely with your team.

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

MacWhisper 3.0

MacWhisper, the app that uses an AI Large Language Model to create transcripts, just got its third major update. Improvements include:

  • New full transcript mode
  • Podcast mode, which can transcribe a podcast by adding the audio files for each host.
  • System App transcription. Record and transcribe your zoom meetings or any other audio source on your Mac
  • Faster speed (up to 40%).

I can’t help but feel that we are at an inflection point with voice to text and it is getting a lot easier to use and implement. MacWhisper is part of this wave.

Apple Software Beta Day

Today Apple released the second developer beta builds. This second beta usually deals with any obvious problems from beta 1 plus starts to show the areas where they are willing to reconsider decisions. As users, these early betas are the best time to weigh in on bits we’d like to see changed. The further the train gets down the track, the harder it is to back it up. I’d guess we’ll get beta 3 in another few weeks and, hopefully, before that, a public beta. My fingers are crossed.

Perhaps even more noteworthy, Apple also released the Vision Pro Software Development Kit (SDK). This is the first release of this SDK for the new platform. One of the nice bits about being in Cupertino during WWDC week was observing my indie developer friends’ eyes as they discussed developing for the new platform. To date, there has been no “killer” augmented reality apps. Indie developers plan on changing that.

Mac Power Users 697: A Niche of a Niche

On this feedback episode, Stephen and I keep unpacking WWDC, talk about our time with the new betas and work through some listener feedback.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • 1Password: Never forget a password again.
  • SaneBox: Stop drowning in email!
  • Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
  • Electric: Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting.

SaneBox: Email Deep Clean (Sponsor)

How are you doing with email storage? It’s not that you meant to hoard your emails. You were going to deal with them … some day. But time has passed, and these old emails are piling up and taking up space. If you’re thinking about clearing out some space and cleaning up your inbox, SaneBox, this week’s sponsor at MacSparky, has a new feature that could help you out. 

With Email Deep Clean, you can free up space and declutter your inbox. You choose a date, and SaneBox will scan for emails older than that date. SaneBox will analyze the email in your account and send you an analysis of the biggest offenders: what contacts, newsletters, stores, and/or websites are taking up storage. SaneBox will also come up with the senders that are no longer relevant, and you can choose if you want to delete to them. 

If you find that your email account is slower than it used to be, it could be because it’s bloated. Use SaneBox’s Email Deep Clean to trim the clutter from your inbox and get it back in shape. You can try SaneBox out for yourself by signing up for a free trial, and, as a friend of MacSparky, you’ll get a $10 credit you can use towards a SaneBox subscription. Get rid of inbox clutter and focus on the email that matters with SaneBox.

Mac Power Users 696: App Subscription Check-In

Subscriptions aren’t just the future of software anymore, but they are how many developers are running their businesses today. On this episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen and I open up our App Store accounts to discuss what we’re paying for and why.

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.
  • NetSuite: The leading integrated cloud business software suite. Get a special one-of-a-kind financing offer: no interest, no payments for six months.
  • Unite for macOS, from BZG Apps: Turn any website into a deeply customizable app on your Mac. Get 20% off any Unite license for one week only.
  • Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code MPU at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

Paul Mayne on Day One and Apple’s Journal App

Day One’s creator wrote a blog post about Apple’s new journaling app and its relationship to Day One. It’s too early to tell exactly how deep the Journaling app will go, but I doubt it matches the Day One feature set, which has been growing for years. I generally agree with Paul in that I don’t think the Journal app will “Sherlock” Day One. Indeed I could see many folks starting with the Journal app and then moving up to Date One once they get it about journaling.