New TextExpander and Video Series

Smile Software has released a new version of TextExpander. This upgrade has been a long time in the making and is the culmination of a lot of work. TextExpander got a new design and now you’ll store your snippets at TextExpander.com. There are a lot of advantages to keeping your snippets at TextExpander.com. To start out, you can now share snippets and snippet groups. The application can do this on an individual basis and also among work teams. This lets management create snippets that are used, for instance, in a customer service department across the company.

This new model also lets TextExpander share your snippets among multiple platforms. You can share your snippets on the Mac, iPad, iPhone, and now on Windows. The Windows app is currently in beta but I’ve been testing it and it’s pretty great seeing TextExpander work on Windows. This will be especially nice for those of you stuck using a PC at the office.

I’ve made a series of videos about the new version that you can find here. There are a total of 10 videos and watching these make you a TextExpander pro. They are, essentially, a free MacSparky Field Guide on TextExpander so make sure to check them out.

With all of these changes, Smile has switched TextExpander to a subscription model. I know that makes some users nervous but, frankly, I think it is a good idea. As a fan of productivity software, I’d really like the companies that make my favorite tools stay in business. In order for TextExpander to continue to get the love and attention it needs to make my life so much easier, it needs ongoing support. TextExpander is so worth it.

MPU 313: Education and iPad

This week on the Mac Power Users, Fraser Speirs joined us to talk about his school’s one to one iPad program after five years, how he ditched his Mac for his iPad Pro, and comparing the various iPadsand iPad Pros on sale today.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • PDFpen from Smile With powerful PDF editing tools, available for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, PDFpen from Smile makes you a Mac Power User.
  • The Omni Group They’re passionate about productivity for Mac, iPhone and iPad.
  • Marketcircle They help small business grow with great Mac, iPhone and iPad apps including Daylite and Billings Pro.
  • Squarespace: Enter offer code MPU at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

Supercharge your Jumbo iPad

Jeff Richardson over at iPhone JD bought one of those fancy 29W USB-C Chargers and Apple’s USB-C to Lightning cable to speed up charging his 12.9″ iPad Pro and he likes it. There have been several posts on this and the short version of the story is that where it normally takes overnight to fully charge a 12.9″ iPad Pro, with the 12W adapter, you get the job done in a few hours. This only works with the big iPad Pro (not the new 9.7″ variation) and comes with a price tag of $73 for the charger and cable. While all of this is great to hear, it also makes me think the charger that came in the box with my >$1,000 iPad should probably have a bit more horsepower.

Fantastical Version 2.2 Ships

Today Flexibits released version 2.2 of Fantastical for the Mac. They could’ve easily named this update version 3.0. There are a lot of new features in this update including:

  • Microsoft Exchange support
  • Attendee availability support
  • Dual timezones – Your timezone on the left and your co-worker’s timezone on the right. It’s super-useful.
  • Background visual refresh
  • Multiple selections
  • Better location search

There is a bunch more. Below is a short video I made for the gang at Flexibits showing off the new features of Fantastical version 2.2.

Which 9.7 Inch iPad?

Since my post last week about the big iPad, I’ve received quite a few emails from people asking which 9.7 inch iPad they should buy. Apple has now taken the iPad more in the direction of the Macs where there is a standard model and a pro model. I think it’s a good move for the iPad and gives Apple the freedom to stretch out a bit with the pro models.

Now there are two 9.7 inch iPads: the iPad Air 2, which is a little long in the tooth but still a very good iPad, and the iPad Pro. So if you want a 9.7 inch iPad, which way do you jump?

Going in, I’d say that neither one is a bad choice. (Buying the iPad mini 2, which is remarkably still for sale, *is* a bad choice.) The starting point is the cost difference. Comparing pricing isn’t as easy as you’d think as a result of the way Apple configures the storage. The 9.7″ iPad Pro starts at $599 for 32GB and jumps $150 to $749 for 128GB. The iPad Air 2 with 64GB is $499. So for an additional $100 you jump to an iPad Pro but only get half the storage. Let’s pretend 32 GB is enough for you. In that case, what exactly are you getting?

Better Processor

The iPad Air 2 features an A8 processor and the iPad Air Pro features an A9. That’s one extra “A”. While the iPad Air was ahead of its time when first released, it’s now approaching a few years old and if you’re looking to hold onto your iPad for awhile, that A9 processor will make your iPad more viable a few years down the road.

“Pro” Features

Having used an iPad with Pencil support and a Smart Connector for a few months, I can’t imagine going back. Smart Connector keyboards always “just work” and I can’t help but think Apple has more in mind for that connector than just keyboards.

Also, the Pencil is great. Event though I’m not much of an artist, I use the pencil every day for work. Also, the pencil is relatively new. I can only imagine what sorts of uses there will be for it in the future.

The Camera

There’s a 12MP sensor (and 5MP FaceTime camera) in the 9.7 inch iPad Pro. If you’re shooting movies and pictures with your iPad, the improved camera is a big deal.

Better Color and Sound

I’m definitely curious about the new True Tone display. This feature will be a big deal for some and not so much for others. The speakers are also noticeably better. I was playing a movie in my bedroom with the 12.9 inch iPad Pro and my family complained it was too loud … from another room. That never happened with any prior iPad.

Not Everything is Better

As mentioned above, unless you’re willing to go up to the 128GB model, going with the iPad Air 2 gets you more storage. Also, both 9.7 inch iPads have the same amount of Ram, 2GB.S

Decisions, Decisions

I think the Pencil and faster processor make the iPad Pro compelling. Budget would be an excellent reason to move down to the iPad Air 2 but if you can swing it, I think the iPad Pro and the Apple Pencil are going to be pretty great for several years to come.

My MacBook MenuBar


I’m starting a new post series here at MacSparky where I feature some nerd’s Mac MenuBar with a discussion of some of their favorite cool little MenuBar apps. I’m starting with the MenuBar on my MacBook. So here it is.

Fantastical

While Fantastical has matured into a full-fledged calendar application, it has never stopped being a killer MenuBar application. I add calendar events every day on my Mac with my preferred keyboard shortcut, Control-Option-Command-F. (Website)(App Store)

Apple Time

Putting the time next to the date just makes sense. I don’t use the AM/PM indicator. I know if it is morning or evening … usually.

Carrot Weather

This is one of those apps that I first found on the iPhone. I live in southern California so I don’t normally keep the weather in my MenuBar. However lately we’re getting some very occasional rain and I don’t want to be caught off guard. Once, “storm watch” is over, I’ll remove it, or move it inside Bartender. (Website)(App Store)

Dropzone

Because I often run apps in full screen, I use Dropzone to move apps between screens. There’s a bunch of apps like this but I particularly like Dropzone because you can create little script-like automations. For example, I have one that moves files to my Dropbox action folder. (Website)(App Store)

TweetBot

There are a lot of good Twitter apps. My favorite is Tweetbot. (Website)(App Store)

Battery

I’ve been doing some tests lately on my laptop battery so I’ve got percentages turned on. They’re usually turned off.

Bartender

Bartender is that magic application that lets me hide MenuBar apps inside a second drawer. This is so useful, especially on my small MacBook screen. So here’s my bartender bar. (Website)


Paste

Paste is one of a series of clipboard apps I’m testing for a future story here. No recommendations on this app yet. Still testing. (Website)(App Store)

Default Folder X

This is an app I’ve used on the Mac for a long time. It’s a load/save dialogue box enhancement but it also has a handy MenuBar app. (Website)

BetterTouchTool

Man do I love BTT. If you’ve not tried this application, you should. (Website)

Flux

With iOS 9.3 and Night Shift, I’ve been curious about Flux, that brings a similar feature to your Mac. I’m not sold and still playing with the settings. (Website)

Hazel

My precious. (Website)

Script Menu

There’s a lot of ways to fire off AppleScripts but I do like, in a pinch, using the trackpad for script.

Time Machine

Yup. I’m still doing that.

Trip Mode

If you spend any time tethering your Mac to your iPhone, get this app. It allows you to turn off data-hog apps and services when tethered and can make the difference between you busting through your data cap on your next trip. (Website)

PopClip

You know how you can select text on your iPhone and get options to perform tricks on that text? PopClip does the same for your Mac. (Website)(App Store)

Dropbox

Of course. (Website)

1Password

I know a lot of 1Password users that don’t bother with the MenuBar app. They’re making a mistake. The 1Password MenuBar app is great. (Website)(App Store)

About Dark Mode

For giggles a few months ago, I switched my MacBook’s menubar to dark mode. I expected things to break and for it to drive me crazy. It didn’t. I’ll switch it back at some point but if you’ve been hesitant to try Dark Mode, you shouldn’t be.

FBI vs. Apple: Where is this Going?

Several times over the course of my legal career, I’ve either had cause to delay a hearing on motion or had opposing counsel do the same. While nothing I have ever worked on has the sex appeal of the FBI vs. Apple, I can tell you that sometimes the reason for the delay is because one party thinks they’re losing and want some time to either get additional evidence or find some other way out.

With the FBI vs. Apple matter, the stakes are very high in terms of public relations and important but probably not as high in terms of legal precedent. A federal magistrate judge is a pretty important person but also at the bottom of the federal precedent pecking order. I’ve had a lot of people write me asking if they think this delay was the result of reconsideration at the FBI and my answer would be, “quite possibly”.

I don’t talk about it at MacSparky much but I served as a judicial extern for a federal judge a long time ago and spent some time in the trenches. That got me thinking about where this is all heading.

One point I think is generally missed by the tech press is that no matter what happens with the magistrate judge or, for that matter, the next judge on the next case, this issue will not get resolved for some time. An issue this big is going to work its way up through the Court of Appeals. Both Apple and the government know that and I suspect everybody is in it for the long haul.

The tech press also often writes about how a legislative solution will solve this and while on principal that makes sense, practically I’m not so sure. Judges generally prefer that the legislature come up with a specific law for questions before it rather than requiring the court to interpret some 200-year-old law that was never intended for regulating cellular phone encryption. I have my doubts as to whether any law could get passed given the current stalemate in Congress but given the way everyone goes a little crazy whenever the word “terrorist” is used, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that they could pass a law. Indeed, such a law is already in motion.

However, thinking forward if Congress were to pass some sort of backdoor legislation and the President were to sign it into law, I expect we would land right back in the courts as Apple and other manufacturers and consumer protection groups, like the EFF, challenge such a law on constitutional grounds. That, in turn, would lead to more trips up the ladder at the courts of appeal and, most likely, the Supreme Court.

The best case scenario at the legislative end would be for a law to be passed restricting access and prohibiting the government from requiring backdoors in cellular phones. Let’s just say I’m not holding my breath for that one. In my opinion if there is going to be a law passed, it’s going to be a law requiring installation of a backdoor and not the opposite.

If that’s not enough to make your head spin, now think about 50 different individual state legislatures and countless foreign nations also taking a crack at requiring back door access to cell phone data.

Ultimately, I believe this question as to whether or not the government can force access into our mobile devices has to be decided by the Supreme Court. Until then, a great cloud will hang over this entire issue and for the next few years I’m guessing we will see lots of ink spilled on this issue. Put simply, even if the FBI backs down on the San Bernardino case, this issue is hardly over for any of us, including Apple.

“We Messed Up”

There are a lot of reasons why I love supporting small software companies. I was reminded of this today reading this post from the Hours team about their recent botched launch. It’s refreshing seeing a company take responsibility for mistakes and setting it right without any hedging. I’m pretty sure you’d never see a post like this from a big company.

Thanks @tbaucells for the link.

Which iPad Pro?

Since Apple’s big announcement earlier this week, I’ve received a lot of emails from people asking me whether or not I would keep my jumbo iPad Pro or, if I had the choice, trade it in for the newer, smaller, 9.7 inch iPad Pro.
 
 In my case, I would keep the big one. In my head, I’ve run the little mental exercises watching a truck run over my big iPad Pro (cringe) and then determining which one I would buy. 

The new 9.7 inch iPad Pro has some additional features in terms of a better camera and a screen that adjusts ambient light but none of that is really a reason to choose one over the other for most people. To me, the big question is whether you want it really big or just kind of big. I can understand why some people hate the big iPad because of the unwieldy screen size but I’m just so damn productive with it. 
 
Split screen on the big iPad Pro is amazing. Apps are nearly full size and super easy to read and manipulate. Reading and annotating documents on the large-size iPad Pro is also a joy. Combined with the Apple Pencil, I’m chewing through hundred page contracts like nobody’s business. One of my most productive workflows is annotating a document on the iPad Pro with the pencil while sliding in the Dragon Anywhere app to dictate notes about certain sections as I read and annotate. I then send the annotated contract along with my notes to the client.
 
Another workflow that I’m enjoying is Apple Mail on the left and OmniFocus on the right every morning as I work through my email and task list. I find this more efficient then working through the same data on my laptop and, just as importantly, more delightful.
 
Another benefit is the general category of typing. The Apple keyboard cover works just fine for me and takes very little space. The big iPad Pro is also the first iPad that I’ve been able to easily type on glass, particularly in landscape. I’ve tried a lot of 9.7 inch iPad keyboards and none of them are as good as what I’m using on the big iPad Pro. They are just too cramped.

While all of these workflows would be possible on the 9.7 inch iPad Pro, they would also be more difficult. I’m sure I would like the increased portability of the smaller iPad Pro but for me it’s not worth it. One way I’ve cheated on this a bit is that I have an aging iPad mini that works fine when portability is king.

I get that everyone is different and, frankly, for most people the 9.7 inch iPad Pro is probably the right answer but I can also tell you that having used the large iPad Pro now for several months, it’s the most productive I’ve ever been with an iPad and I’m not giving it up anytime soon.