Join Mike and me on the latest episode of Focused. We’re sharing some thoughts about what we’re up to in the new year and the personal changes we’re making to our routines.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Focused 143: Thinking Annually
Post Category → Uncategorized
My Free Journaling Webinar This Friday
One of the things that has been most helpful to me throughout this transition is my journal. Stopping to collect your thoughts and writing them down during times of significant change can help. First, it’s a way to record what you are going through. I can look back on those entries in years (or decades) and get a window into that prior version of me. More importantly, journaling helps me clarify my thoughts and ideas about what I am feeling and thinking in the moment. I learn a lot about myself in the process of journaling. The last few weeks have only reinforced that for me.
Also, when it comes to journaling, I’ve experimented with everything from fancy pens and paper, to custom scripts and software. I’ve made all the mistakes, and I have the scars to show for it. This Friday, I want to share a little bit of that wisdom in a free webinar all about journaling. I’ll share my thoughts on the process and some of my favorite workflows. Whether you want to go analog or digital, I’ll have some ideas for you. I would love for you to join in.
Sparky’s Journaling Webinar
Date: January 21, 2022
Time: 10:00 Pacific
If you can’t make it, no problem. There will be a video replay link available for a short time after the webinar for anyone that signs up. See you there.
The Difference Between Keyboard Maestro and Shortcuts for Mac
I’ve had a lot of questions about the relationship between Keyboard Maestro and Shortcuts for Mac. Specifically, is Shortcuts for Mac going to replace Keyboard Maestro? In a word, no.
I’ve spent a lot of time working with Shortcuts for Mac. It’s had a rocky start, but the Shortcuts team has the right idea for Shortcuts for Mac, and they are increasingly overcoming the significant technical changes between the iPhone/iPad and the Mac. I fully expect they will get things sorted out over time, and in the end, we’ll have a stable version of Shortcuts for the Mac to go along with an already stable version of Keyboard Maestro.
Regardless, the two tools will remain very different.
If you’ve ever used Shortcuts on your iPhone or iPad, you get essentially the same toolset on the Mac with Shortcuts for the Mac. Some of the better uses of Shortcuts are for working with personal data like contacts and calendar entries. Those things are possible with Keyboard Maestro but in ways that are not nearly as user-friendly as Shortcuts. For example, I usually write AppleScripts when working with contacts in Keyboard Maestro. It can work, but it takes a lot of work.
Another thing Shortcuts is good for is inter-app automation, provided those apps have Shortcuts support. There is no faster way to create simple automations between applications than Shortcuts when you have robust built-in support in the participating apps.
All that said, Keyboard Maestro is significantly more powerful. With Keyboard Maestro, you can create conflict palettes, script menu bar selections, and do so much more that is not and never will be possible with Shortcuts. One of my Keyboard Maestro scripts looks at the website and pushes a button on the screen, no matter where it is. Don’t hold your breath for getting that feature in Shortcuts … ever.
I’ve come around to thinking a lot lately about the idea of Project Scope with regard to Apple products and software. From the outside, things are always a bit murky, but if you pay attention, you can see what they are aiming for with most of the things they make. To me, the Scope of Shortcuts for Mac is to help users create simple automations to help them be more productive with their Macs. Apple is aiming at things like opening a window or creating a calendar event. Shortcuts for Mac is not aimed at the Keyboard Maestro feature set. That is a power user thing that they’re happy to leave in the hands of Keyboard Maestro. Think of Keyboard Maestro and Shortcuts for Mac more like complementary tools. A mallet is nice. A chisel is nice. But it is all the better having both.
Mac Power Users 623: Collaboration and Project Planning
Very few people work alone at the top of a mountain. For the rest of us, things like team collaboration and project planning are a very real part of our work. Stephen and I talk about these topics on this episode of Mac Power Users and discuss some apps and services that can make working with others easier and more productive.
This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:
- SaneBox: Stop drowning in email!
- Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.
- Wealthfront: Invest for the long term on your terms. Get your first $5,000 managed for free.
- Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
Automators 93: Automating MacSparky
I’ve made a few changes and it’s time for an Automator-style audit. In this episode of Automators, Rose and I cover email, task management, calendars, desktop setups, web automation, and more.
This episode of Automators is sponsored by:
- LinkedIn Jobs: Post a job for free by visiting this link.
- TextExpander: Your Shortcut to Efficient, Consistent Communication. Get 20% off.
- DEVONthink: Get Organized — Unleash Your Creativity. Use this link for 10% off.
- Hover: Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name.
It’s Not Too Late
I read this Bloomberg article reporting that the average age of the top 10 podcasts is seven years. The article makes the case for how hard it is to launch a successful podcast in a crowded market and while all of that is true, I don’t agree with the insinuation that it is somehow too late to make a relevant and popular show. In fact, this touches a nerve for me. This idea, that it’s too late to make a good podcast, is not new. When we were in the development stage of the Mac Power Users, we were told by several reputable podcasters that we were “too late” to start an Apple-related podcast. I remember one guy telling me there was “no oxygen left in the room.” Of course, that was not true.
Nobody looked at a Picasso painting and said, “That’s it, folks. We’ve reached Peak Art. There is no point doing any more painting.” The fact is that everything is evolving and every new voice leaves its mark.
I don’t care what kind of art you want to make, it’s not too late. It’s never too late.
Dropbox is Getting Support for Apple Silicon
Some good news as reported by 9to5 Mac. I’ve been using Maestral for months now as my Dropbox replacement client and I have no complaints. I’ll cover Maestral in more detail later, but the short review is: Fewer features. Less nonsense. No problems.
Unrelated, I also am hearing from sources that Dropbox is divesting from its substantial investment in buggy-whip factories. They’ve decided that the horseless carriage might be here to stay.
Track Your Time with Timing (Sponsor)
This week MacSparky is sponsored by Timing. Timing is a time tracking app that records your time automatically and then reviews it for you later.
It’s a new year and time to get rolling with some new habits. The problem is that your perception of how you are spending your time is a lot different from reality. How can you make changes without good data? It’s hard to track your time if you’re doing a bunch of different things at once or don’t have the right tools.
That’s where Timing comes to the rescue. With Timing, you instantly see how you are spending your time so you can work more productively and make smarter decisions about how to spend your time.
The Timing app makes recording and reviewing your time easy with automatic tracking and a simple interface for adding details about what you did each day so you can see how much time was focused on each task. In addition, you can use Timing to share projects and times across your team while preserving each team member’s privacy.
I even made some screencasts on how I use Timing. I run Timing on my Mac every day, and you should too. Download the free 14-day trial today and get 10% off for the first year!
Personal Retreat Video and Planning PDF
Jason Snell did a retreat, and he liked it. I made this video a few years ago, but I think it is worth sharing again. When I did that video, I thought I’d be clever and make you sign up for my newsletter to get the PDF. In hindsight, that was dumb. If you’d like to do a retreat, here you go.
622: Exploring HomeKit with Shane Whately
Stephen and I are joined by HomeKit expert Shane Whately on this episode of Mac Power Users to talk about the apps, products and automations that can be used together to make any home smarter. With HomeKit, anyone can scale from a single smart bulb to a house full of technology.
This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:
- 1Password: Have you ever forgotten a password? You don’t have to worry about that anymore.
- TextExpander from Smile: 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 from Smile.
- Electric: Stop stressing over scattered devices. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting.
- Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code MPU at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.