Tasks are Stored Intentions

I recently heard my friend, Kourosh Dini, explain tasks as “stored intentions”. I think that’s a wonderful outlook for tasks. Too often, we think of tasks as obligations or future sources of guilt. And really, all they are is unfulfilled intentions.

Intentions, like tasks, can change. They should adapt as circumstances change. This flexibility is more important than any task management tool. It reminds you that your attitude towards task management and your choice to commit to a task are personal and can be adjusted to suit your needs.

This Month in the MacSparky Labs

Here’s what took place in the Labs for the month of April 2024:

  • 2024-04-30 – Building Virtual Seneca (Levels 2-3)
  • 2024-04-26 – The Lab Report for April 26, 2024 (Levels 1-3)
  • 2024-04-24 – Relative Dates with OmniFocus 4.2 (Levels 1-3)
  • 2024-04-23 – Podcast – FOD – Visit-based Productivity with Kourosh Dini (Levels 2-3)
  • 2024-04-23 – Video – FOD – Visit-based Productivity with Kourosh Dini (Levels 2-3)
  • 2024-04-19 – The Lab Report for April 19, 2024 (Levels 1-3)
  • 2024-04-17 – Using TimeZone in Alfred (Levels 1-3)
  • 2024-04-17 – April 2024 Deep Dive – Ideal Weeks (Level 3)
  • 2024-04-16 – Testing Godspeed Task Manager (Levels 2-3)
  • 2024-04-12 – The Lab Report for April 12, 2024 (Levels 1-3)
  • 2024-04-10 – Stream Deck Profiles and Focus Modes (Levels 1-3)
  • 2024-04-09 – Should I Ditch My ScanSnap? (Level 2)
  • 2024-04-08 – My Current Infatuation with Whisper-based Transcription (Level 1)
  • 2024-04-05 – A Few Ideas from Q2 Planning (Levels 1-3)
  • 2024-04-05 – The Lab Report for April 5, 2024 (Level 1)
  • 2024-04-04 – Q2 2024 Planning Session (Level 3)
  • 2024-04-03 – Labs Meetup – April 2024 (Level 2)
  • 2024-04-03 – Launching Shortcuts with Alfred (Level 1)
  • 2024-04-02 – Using Shapr3D to Design for 3D Printing (Level 2)

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

Hypothetical M4 iPads

Mark Gurman is now reporting that the new iPad Pro we’ll get next week may include the M4 chip. Because that particular chip is expected to have new AI features, the argument is that adding it to the new iPad Pro would help boost sales as Apple goes deeper into AI at WWDC in June.

While I think Apple will turn the M4’s AI features into a selling point, I find it hard to believe we’ll get one next week. They still haven’t released the M3 chip for all the existing Mac hardware. Wouldn’t it be strange if an iPad had an M4 while the Mac Studio was still on an M2? The good news is we don’t have to wait long to find out.

Mac Power Users 742: All About Mimestream, with Neil Jhaveri

Neil Jhaveri founded Mimestream, a macOS email app for Gmail users. On this episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen and I talk to Neil about his time at Apple, Mimestream’s roadmap (including an iOS version and supporting non-Google services), and email’s place in today’s world.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.
  • Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
  • Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac. Try it for free today.

Fixkey.ai: Make Your Writing Better Today (Sponsor)

This week’s sponsor, Fixkey.ai, is an excellent implementation of AI that you can start using today. Fixkey is an app on your Mac that, with a single keystroke, will grab your text and check it against an artificial intelligence grammar checker. It can then intelligently rephrase an entire sentence, and you do not need to manually click on individual problems; it just fixes them. It can even show you what it changes. You don’t need to click on single words to correct them. Just trigger Fixkey and let it do its work.  

I’ve been using it for several months, and I’m impressed. I love that it works everywhere and gives me a way to quickly clean up and improve my writing. Its ubiquity is what really makes it work. Type anywhere on your Mac, and you still have Fixkey.ai at your back.

With Fixkey Pro, you can access all the new features, 24-hour support, and unlimited use of AI models to translate any language into English. You can even set up custom prompts. Best of all, the gang at Fixkey.ai will give you a 30% discount with coupon code, MACSPARKY30.

Focused 202: Slow Productivity

Mike and I use this episode of Focused to consider Cal Newport’s philosophy on organizing knowledge work in a sustainable and meaningful manner.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

  • Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
  • Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
  • Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.