Posts Tagged → sponsor

WinterFest 2024: Great Tools for a Productive New Year (Sponsor)

The new year is almost here, and with it comes fresh projects, big ideas, and opportunities to grow. Whether you’re writing your next novel, finishing a research project, planning your business, or journaling life’s moments for your loved ones, having the right tools makes all the difference.

That’s why I’m excited to have WinterFest 2024 as this week’s sponsor. This annual event brings together a curated collection of artisanal software–thoughtfully crafted tools designed to help you think, write, and create more effectively.

WinterFest is a celebration of software artisans–small teams of developers who care deeply about their tools and their customers. These aren’t cookie-cutter apps churned out by big corporations. These are finely honed tools that are constantly updated, well-supported, and built to help you do your best work.

No gimmicks. No bloated bundles. Just great software with a terrific discount for a limited time.

I’ve been using and recommending many of these tools for years. They’re the kinds of apps you rely on every day–apps that spark creativity, improve productivity, and make hard work feel a little easier.

With WinterFest 2024, you’ll find tools for:

  • Writing — from outlines to manuscripts to polished final drafts.
  • Researching — collecting and organizing your ideas with ease.
  • Planning — structuring your projects, goals, and next steps.
  • Thinking — capturing, exploring, and refining your best ideas.

Each tool works seamlessly on its own and plays well with others, creating a powerful and flexible workflow tailored to your needs.

For a limited time, you can grab these incredible apps at a significant discount. Just head over to the WinterFest website and check it out.

Timing – A Smarter Way to Track Your Time (Sponsor)

Staying on top of your time is crucial–but it’s not always easy. Between juggling client work, creative projects, and the administrative overhead of running a business, time can slip through your fingers. That’s exactly why I’ve been so impressed with Timing. It’s a Mac app that automates time tracking, giving you a clear picture of how you’re actually spending your day.

Traditional time trackers force you to remember to click “start” at the beginning of a task and “stop” when you’re done. Forget to press that button? Your records become a patchwork of guesswork. Timing fixes that. It automatically records how long you spend in each app, document, and website–no manual input is required. The result is a richly detailed timeline of your day, presented in a way that’s intuitive and insightful.

Over time, Timing learns which activities belong to which projects. It uses intelligent rules and machine learning to categorize your work, so you can quickly see how your hours break down by client, project, or activity type. And when it’s time to invoice clients or measure project profitability, Timing’s reports practically build themselves. The app’s built-in reporting tools make it simple to generate clear, professional summaries you can trust.

Timing integrates with your Mac’s workflow without getting in the way. However, it is that you pay for your shoes and whatever apps you’re running, Timing runs quietly in the background, capturing the data you need. The app’s privacy features let you exclude sensitive activities, ensuring you’re only tracking what matters to you.

Timing helps you identify patterns you might never have noticed. Maybe you’re spending more time than you realize on email, or maybe your brainstorming sessions are shorter–but more frequent–than you’d think. Armed with this knowledge, you can make intentional adjustments: block out more time for deep focus, limit unproductive browsing, or optimize your meeting schedule.

If you’ve been frustrated by manual timers or unsure where your day really goes, give Timing a spin. It’s helped me better understand my workflow and given me the data I need to make meaningful improvements. Head over to Timing’s website to learn more, start a free trial, and see how much more productive (and confident) you can be with an accurate view of your time.

Thanks to Timing for sponsoring MacSparky this week!

Get Organized with DEVONthink (Sponsor)

official application icon for DEVONthink

I often hear from listeners and 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 AI engine assists you with filing and searching, while the extensive search language includes advanced Boolean operators.

DEVONthink features a flexible sync system that supports many cloud services — or lets you synchronize over your local network — with everything securely encrypted. This gives you the choice for whichever 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 best 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 using your own AppleScript code.

DEVONthink just continues to get better. In the latest update they improved PDF annotation, Evernote import, Markdown functionality, and added even more AppleScript and JavaScript automation.

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

Yoink for Improved Drag-and-Drop

This week MacSparky is sponsored by Yoink (Website) (for Mac) (for iOS). Dragging and dropping files from one place to another is a common task, but it’s not that easy.

You have to click on the file you want to move, drag it over to the destination of your choice, and drop it there. This can be done if you’re lucky enough to land in the right spot and have just the right windows open next to each other. You also have to do this while looking at your monitor, which means that every time you drag something around, you are distracted from what else might be happening in front of your eyes. Moving files shouldn’t feel like defusing a bomb.

Yoink allows users to easily drag & drop items, getting files exactly where they belong and without having to have everything set “just right” in advance. They have a version for Mac, iPhone, and iPad and I use it daily. Everybody needs a shelf. Make your technology shelf Yoink.

There are several reasons I chose Yoink over its competitors. First, I like the design. It looks nice but also gets out of the way when I’m not using it. Second, Yoink has been around for a while, and it has both stability and a rich set of features. Get Yoink if you need a shelf app that won’t let you down.

Yoink’s developer also has two other useful apps, ScreenFloat (a screenshot utility) and Transloader (a download utility). You can get a bundle with all three apps in the App Store.

Get Organized with DEVONthink (Sponsor)

official application icon for DEVONthink

I often hear from listeners and 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 AI engine assists you with filing and searching, while the extensive search language includes advanced Boolean operators.

DEVONthink features a flexible sync system that supports many cloud services — or lets you synchronize over your local network — with everything securely encrypted. This gives you the choice for whichever 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 best 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 using your own AppleScript code.

DEVONthink just continues to get better. In the latest update they improved PDF annotation, Evernote import, Markdown functionality, and added even more AppleScript and JavaScript automation.

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

SoundSource: Superior Sound Control for Your Mac (Sponsor)

This week, MacSparky is sponsored by SoundSource, a utility I use daily. The problem with the Mac’s native sound controls is that they are designed for people who need them once every few years. If you need to adjust your sound settings more than that, you need SoundSource.

Whether you listen to podcasts, rock out with music, or stream video, SoundSource is for everyone who uses audio on their Mac. SoundSource gives you per-app audio control, letting you change the volume of any app, and route individual apps to different audio devices. Mute your browser, or send music to one set of speakers and everything else to another.

Want to improve sound quality? Use SoundSource to apply effects to any audio on your Mac. Boost volume levels, add an equalizer, and even apply advanced Audio Units. SoundSource also provides fast access to your Mac’s audio devices, so there’s no need to dig around in System Preferences when you need to adjust things.

Oh, and one more thing…if you have a DisplayPort or HDMI device that fails to offer volume adjustment, SoundSource can help there too. It gives those devices a proper volume slider, and the Super Volume Keys feature makes your keyboard volume controls work as well. Neat! All this power is available right from your menu bar, with SoundSource.

SoundSource, like all of Rogue Amoeba’s audio capture apps, has recently been updated to be easier to install than ever before. Gone are the restarts and system settings adjustments that used to be necessary. Now you can be up and running in under a minute.

Through the end of October, MacSparky readers can save 20% off any purchase from Rogue Amoeba, with coupon code SPARK20. Learn more and download a free trial on the SoundSource site.

And don’t forget, SoundSource is from Rogue Amoeba, which is the authority for sound processing on your Mac.

Get Organized with DEVONthink (Sponsor)

official application icon for DEVONthink

I often hear from listeners and 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 AI engine assists you with filing and searching, while the extensive search language includes advanced Boolean operators.

DEVONthink features a flexible sync system that supports many cloud services — or lets you synchronize over your local network — with everything securely encrypted. This gives you the choice for whichever 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 best 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 using your own AppleScript code.

DEVONthink just continues to get better. In the latest update they improved PDF annotation, Evernote import, Markdown functionality, and added even more AppleScript and JavaScript automation.

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

Unite 5 – Turn Web Apps into Supercharged macOS apps (Sponsor)

Unite 5 for macOS takes your web experience to the next level, transforming websites into feature-rich Mac apps. Powered by a completely redesigned WebKit browser, Unite 5 offers a more immersive and customizable browsing experience.

What sets Unite 5 apart? They’ve gone beyond just app conversion. Their new intricate link-forwarding rules give you unparalleled control over web interactions, making your web apps smarter and more integrated than ever before.

Some highlights of Unite 5:
Advanced Link-Forwarding: Navigate your web apps like a pro.
Revamped Browser Engine: Faster, more reliable, and tailored for macOS.
Enhanced Customization: More ways to make your web apps truly yours.

Create powerful web apps in seconds, such as:

  • A Gmail client that integrates seamlessly with macOS.
  • A resource-efficient Slack or Discord app with full notification support.
  • A dedicated AI app for ChatGPT or Claude.AI
  • A Robinhood or Figma app that feels native on your desktop.

MacSparky readers get an exclusive 20% off this week. Use the promo code ‘MacSparky’ at checkout or visit http://bzgapps.com/unitesparky.

Experience Unite 5 for yourself with a 14-day free trial, or access it as part of the Setapp subscription.

Get Organized with DEVONthink (Sponsor)

official application icon for DEVONthink

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 AI engine assists you with filing and searching, while the extensive search language includes advanced Boolean operators.

DEVONthink features a flexible sync system that supports many cloud services — or lets you synchronize over your local network — with everything securely encrypted. This gives you the choice for whichever 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 best 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 insert them using your own AppleScript code.

DEVONthink just continues to get better. In the latest update they improved PDF annotation, Evernote import, Markdown functionality, and added even more AppleScript and JavaScript automation.

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

Get Organized with DEVONthink (Sponsor)

official application icon for DEVONthink

I often hear from listeners and 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 AI engine assists you with filing and searching, while the extensive search language includes advanced Boolean operators.

DEVONthink features a flexible sync system that supports many cloud services — or lets you synchronize over your local network — with everything securely encrypted. This gives you the choice for whichever 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 best 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 using your own AppleScript code.

DEVONthink just continues to get better. In the latest update they improved PDF annotation, Evernote import, Markdown functionality, and added even more AppleScript and JavaScript automation.

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