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Automators 78: WWDC 2021: Shortcuts Comes to macOS



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Hooray! Apple has made Shortcuts for the Mac. On this episode of Automators, Rose and I dive deep on our initial impressions with the Mac version of Shortcuts and how well it plays with traditional Mac automation.

This episode of Automators is sponsored by:

DEVONthink, the Ultimate Database Tool (Sponsor)



DEVONthink for Mac


This week MacSparky is sponsored by DEVONthink. There are a lot of ways to manage a database on your mac, but in my opinion, there is no better tool than DEVONthink. Just a few of the things I use DEVONthink for include:

  • A reliable repository of research documents. DEVONthink will hold as many documents as you can throw at it. In addition, it makes import (and export) easy, so you can have all that power without feeling trapped.

  • A research assistant. DEVONthink uses artificial intelligence to analyze and connect your documents in ways that may not otherwise occur to you.

  • An OCR Tool. Everything you store in your DEVONthink Pro library gets OCR’d. It just happens.

  • An Automation Tool. DEVONthink lets you build powerful automation subroutines into your library to help tag, move, and organize documents.

One of my uses for DEVONthink is legal research. I dump legal cases, statutes, regulations, and law review articles in DEVONthink whenever I’m working on a thorny problem and let DEVONthink grind on the documents before I do. It is spooky what DEVONthink finds when I start searching my legal database. It’s like having my own research assistant. You could also do the same with all of your personal records. Dump them into a DEVONthink database and let DEVONthink sort it for you.

DEVONthink supports multiple sync methods and lets you even use your own sync password, so everything is encrypted. If you’ve got an iPad or an iPhone, you can access your DEVONthink data there, too, with DEVONthink to Go.

It is this combination of power and security that makes DEVONthink the clear winner. You can think of DEVONthink as your paperless office. You can automate your workflow from capture to filing, editing to publishing. It stores all your documents, helps you keep them organized, and presents you with what you need to get the job done.

Interested? MacSparky readers can get a 20% discount on DEVONthink. Use the code MACSPARKY2021 at checkout. This is a limited-time offer, so check it out now.

Coherence X4 for macOS


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Coherence X4 is out now. It’s a major update to Coherence. If you don’t know about Coherence, it’s a tool that allows you to turn any website into a Chrome-powered app on your Mac, and it’s great if you’re looking for SSB (site-specific browser) tools in general, or to replace electron apps in particular. With Coherence, you can do things like:

  • Create a Google Drive app that works as well as Chrome without having to use Chrome as your default browser

  • Create a desktop app for Roam Research, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Google Meet

  • Make a customizable app for Slack, Whatsapp, or any other electron-based app with the ability to add extensions or customize

  • Create isolated, incognito workspaces for multiple sites like your banking applications or email and messaging. 

Features with this update include the ability to return to where you left off when you click on the dock icon. With this quick resume, there’s no restart. There’s also an App Gallery so you can easily browse for apps and workspaces, and instantly add them to your Mac. You can also create Incognito apps that always launch in Incognito mode for consistent privacy and data security.

I’ve tried a lot of these browser-in-a-box style apps over the years and this is, by far, the best one I’ve ever used.

MPU 592: WWDC 2021 and the Future of Mac Automation


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This week on Mac Power Users, we were fortunate to interview Apple executive Vivek Bhardwaj about the new Shortcuts for the Mac and what it means for traditional and future Mac Automation. Stephen and I also dive deep into the rest of the WWDC announcements and what they mean for the Apple platforms in general. The interview came out great and there is tons of insight in this show about WWDC. (Also, if you’d like to read the interview, Stephen got it transcribed and posted it over at 512 Pixels.)

iOS 15 Voice-to-Text Dictation

I’ve been running tests on iOS 15 voice-to-text dictation. The below video demonstrates an iOS 15 vs. an iOS 14 comparison on two iPhones with the same processor. iOS 15 is slightly faster and more accurate. Because it is being done on-device, you are also freed from the whims of your Internet connection.

Where iOS 15 really pulls ahead is the removal of the blasted timer. No longer do you have to randomly restart dictation as you dictate. This will be a game changer when it releases. The below video shows demonstrates this difference.

Focused 127: Focusing a Team, with Ken Case




Ken Case joins Mike and me on this week’s Focused to talk about how the Omni Group focuses their work teams, the lessons they’ve learned from forced changes due to COVID, and the benefits of planning for disruption.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

  • Memberful: Best-in-class membership software for independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more. Get started now, no credit card required.

  • Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

  • ExpressVPN: High-speed, secure and anonymous VPN service. Get an extra three months free.

Focus Mode and Contextual Computing


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Watching WWDC Monday, one announcement that landed with me was the new Focus feature. (If you follow my podcasts, this shouldn’t be a surprise.) Regardless, I’ve spent the last few days playing with this new feature, and I like it. Focus is like Do Not Disturb, except it solves most of the limitations associated with Do Not Disturb.

First, Build a Wall

With Focus mode, I can set a specific kind of focus. One of mine is Podcasting. When you set up a Focus mode, your Apple devices put up walls to keep out distractions while you work on focused work. That may be the best part of the Focus feature: It starts with a wall. It’s then up to you to punch very specific (and small) holes in that wall. The fact that it begins with the concept that everything is blocked is why it works.

Make Exceptions for People

You can then add specific people that can breakthrough. Getting interrupted while trying to make an entertaining show is distracting. So in the case of my Podcasting Focus, the only people that can get through are my podcast partners and my wife.

Make Exceptions for Apps (or Don’t)

Next, you can poke holes for app notifications. In the case of podcasting, the only app I’m letting through is Zoom on my Mac. In my “Legal Work” Focus, it’s a different set of apps. This is the nice thing about switches and dials. Different areas of focus require different kinds of walls.

Consider Time-Sensitive Notifications

In addition to exceptions for people and apps, you can also make space for time-sensitive notifications to get through. Maybe this is something like a delivery notification or a notice that your Lyft driver is waiting. While I’ve got this option turned on for some of my Focus setups, it’s off for podcasting. Again, no interruptions are allowed when the mic is hot.

Let Folks Know

You can also auto-respond, letting people know you are in Focus mode and giving them a way to breakthrough if something is truly important. I use this feature in most modes.

Choose a Home Screen

If that’s not enough, you can also have your phone go to a specific home screen when you set the Focus mode. This includes pages you usually keep hidden. I will be setting up a hidden page of apps I use when I play music (metronome, tuner, sheet music app, and music app for play-along) and tie it to a reasonably liberal Focus mode. Then when I trigger the mode, I get the hidden music tools home screen.

Focus Automation

You can trigger Focus mode based on app usage, time of day, or, location. Alternatively, “Smart Activation” uses all of these variables for the device to turn it on for you. Also, the Shortcuts integration is bi-directional. I could just as easily run a Shortcut that has an action that triggers the Music Focus mode. It’s up to you.

The Walls Go Up Everywhere

Another great point about Focus mode is that it works across all your devices. If I set this Podcasting Focus Mode on my Mac, it also kicks in on my iPhone and iPad. For years, my pre-podcast ritual involved finding stray Apple devices to turn off before hitting the red button. This solves that.


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Room for Improvement

I am digging Focus mode but already see a few things I’d like added/changed. First, picking multiple contacts for exceptions is slow and painful. I’d prefer it also give me an option to select contact groups, like “family” or “clients”. I would also like the ability to duplicate focus modes as a starting point for new modes. Finally, I’d like to be able to customize the focus notification based on the specific Focus mode.

Focus Mode and Contextual Computing

Regardless, this new feature is aces. Moreover, it dovetails with my never-ending quest to further contextualize all of my time with technology. When I want to write a contract, I need my digital gizmos to set me up for that task and no other. When I want to make music, it should be the same. With a bit of effort, Focus mode will bring this power to all of us and across all of our Apple devices. I’m only two days into figuring out the best workflows for Focus mode, but I can already see how this will be a fixture of my work (and leisure) time going forward.

Mac Power Users 591: HyperCard All the Way Down, with Adam Engst



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With over 30 years of history, TidBITs is the longest-running tech publication covering Apple in the world. This week on Mac Power Users, one of its founders, Adam Engst, drops by the show to talk about his writing workflow, unusual input devices, and how WWDC has changed over the years.

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.

  • The Intrazone, by Microsoft SharePoint: Your bi-weekly conversation and interview podcast about SharePoint, OneDrive and related tech within Microsoft 365.

  • Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.

Automators 77: Unicorn Automation, with Kathy Campbell



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Rosemary and I are joined by the Unicorn Sidekick, Kathy Campbell, to talk automation on this week’s episode of Automators. From Lightroom and handling thousands of photos, to Shortcuts for launching music playback, there’s plenty of automation to discover!

This episode of Automators is sponsored by: