A few months ago, I started using Notion as a collaboration backend for the various things I put out into the Internet.… This is a post for the Early Access and Backstage MacSparky Labs Members. Care to join? Or perhaps you need to sign in?
Mac Power Users 730: “Treat It as an Intern,” with Jeff Richardson
Jeff Richardson returns to Mac Power Users to talk about how AI has changed the way he works with documents, and how technologies like spatial computing and Standby can impact day-to-day workflows.
This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:
- 1Password: Never forget a password again.
- Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.
- Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac. Try it for free today.
- We Got Your Mac: Your guide to Mac adoption at scale. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple’s Lunar New Year Video
Whatever gene it is that makes you defenseless to heart-warming marketing videos, I’ve got it. I clicked on this video just to see how good it looked, being shot on iPhone 15 Pro Max. Within thirty seconds, I was hooked and entirely forgot about it being shot on iPhone, which is likely the point.
The Lab Report for February 2, 2024
It’s time for the latest Lab Report from MacSparky, covering this week’s Apple news and updates…This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members only. Care to join? Or perhaps do you need to sign in?
The JLPGAA PowerBook 170
Stephen Hackett is at it again. Here’s a video in testament to a Mac I had no idea existed. If only Apple were willing to be more whimsical with Mac colors today.
This Month in the MacSparky Labs
Here’s some of the content that was released in the Labs for the month of January 2024:
- 2024-01-31 – Q&A with MacSparky – January 2024 (Levels 1-3)
- 2024-01-30 – Collaborative Email with Spark Mail (Levels 2-3)
- 2024-01-29 – Kagi Search (Levels 1-3)
- 2024-01-29 – Sparky’s Focus Modes (Levels 2-3)
- 2024-01-26 – Lab Report for January 26 (Levels 1-3)
- 2024-01-25 – Testing PodHighlighter (Levels 2-3)
- 2024-01-24 – What’s New in iOS 17.3 (Levels 1-3)
- 2024-01-22 – Vision Pro Thoughts (Levels 1-3)
- 2024-01-19 – Lab Report for January 19, 2024 (Levels 1)
- 2024-01-19 – Vision Pro Order Day (Levels 1-3)
- 2024-01-18 – Repeating Task Strategy in Reminders (Labs 1)
- 2024-01-18 – Task Management Deep Dive (Level 3)
- 2024-01-17 – Q1 Planning Video (Levels 2-3)
- 2024-01-15 – Apple Vision Pro Thoughts (Levels 1-3)
- 2024-01-12 – Lab Report for January 12, 2024 (Labs 1)
- 2024-01-11 – Using Serinity App on Your Mac (Labs 1)
- 2024-01-10 – Labs January Meetup (Levels 2-3)
- 2024-01-08 – The Case for Journaling (Levels 2-3)
- 2024-01-07 – Early Access to the Productivity Field Guide (Levels 2-3)
- 2024-01-05 – Lab Report for January 5, 2024 (Levels 1-3)
- 2024-01-04 – The Case for Journaling (Levels 1-3)
- 2024-01-03 – Quarter 1 Planning Webinars (Level 3)
- 2024-01-01 – Happy New Year from Sparky (Levels 1-3)
If you’d like to be a part of the MacSparky Labs, you can get more information and join right here.
Vision Pro Video Reviews Are In
The Vision Pro review videos are all now dropping. The ones I’ve enjoyed the most are listed below. I think it’s fun that this new product category has got everyone doing some head scratching. None of the reviews have yet gone deep on using the device for productivity. That’s something I intend to explore.
One interesting effect of watching these reviews with my wife in the room is that she now wants her own fitted light seal to watch all her Disney movies in Theater mode. So, if you watch the below links with loved ones around, you’ve been warned.
Using Apple Vision Pro: What It’s Actually Like! (Marques Brownlee)
Focused 196: Focus and the Reading Life, with Maryanne Wolf
Cognitive neuroscientist and reading warrior Dr. Maryanne Wolf joins Mike and me on this episode of Focused to talk about the science of reading and how what we read changes our brains.
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.
- Harvard Business Review: The leading destination for smart management thinking. Subscriptions start at just $10/month with code FOCUSED.
Q&A with MacSparky (January 2024)
It’s time for some questions and answers in the MacSparky Labs. Topics include the Vision Pro, OmniFocus 4, Obsidian, DEVONthink…This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members. Care to join? Or perhaps you need to sign in?
Capture Your Ideas Easily with Whisper Memos
I’m pleased to welcome a new sponsor to MacSparky: Whisper Memos.
I love this app’s blend of utility and simplicity. You just open the app and start talking. It uses AI technologies to get an excellent transcription of your words, separated logically into paragraphs. You then get an email with an AI-generated subject line, so you’ve got your words captured with no extra effort. It’s that simple. You talk, and your words are reliably transcribed and captured.
Whisper Memos also shines on Apple Watch, and if like me you’re sporting the Apple Watch Ultra, you can set the Action Button to start a recording in the app. You can also add a complication on your Watch face; no need to open the app, just tap and talk!
Behind the scenes, Whisper Memos is using OpenAI and GPT-4 to get the best possible transcription, and Google Firebase for authentication and data protection. You can opt out of storing your transcripts in your account, so Whisper Memos just sends them to your email and then dumps them, leaving no traces on their server
I’ve been using it (on Private Mode) for months now. It’s simple and incredibly useful. If you like to record your ideas and thoughts, I think you’ll love it, too.