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:

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Apple’s “Let Loose” Event Set for May 7

We’ve been talking about new iPads for months. It looks like it’s nearly time for release with Apple’s announcement of the “Let Loose” event, scheduled for May 7. The event, confirmed to be an all-digital affair, sure looks to be iPad-focused with the prominent display of Apple Pencil.

Mirroring the online format of last October’s “Scary Fast” event, this one will be at 7 a.m. PT (10 a.m. ET) via Apple’s website. The centerpiece of the event is expected to be the new iPad Pro lineup. Rumors suggest that both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch models will feature OLED displays, making them thinner than their predecessors. This upgrade is anticipated to enhance the visual experience, offering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors.

Also, the iPad Air is rumored to get a new 12.9-inch model. This would follow other Apple product lines getting a less expensive larger model like the 15-inch MacBook Air and the iPhone Plus models.

An intriguing piece of the “Let Loose” puzzle is the tease of a new Apple Pencil. Enhanced with “Find My” integration and magnetically swappable tips, this stylus is rumored to redefine digital drawing and writing. Additionally, a potential “Squeeze” gesture feature could introduce a new layer of interactivity, adding to its versatility. It won’t be long now.

OmniFocus 4.2 Brings Relative Dates to Perspectives

OmniFocus continues to evolve, and with the release of version 4.2 it brings a slew of enhancements that promise to improve your productivity whether you’re on a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch (or even using the new Apple Vision Pro). A few features stand out:

Custom perspective rules are the big one for me. New filtering rules based on dates, repeating tasks, and project groupings allow for more granular organization and review of tasks. You can also set perspective views on relative dates (today, tomorrow, yesterday, and any variation thereof.)

It’s worth noting that this update went out to all versions of OmniFocus simultaneously; I consider that a benefit of SwiftUI.

Mac Power Users 741: In the Apple Trust Zone

On this Mac Power Users feedback episode, Stephen and I catch up on listener feedback, share some unique uses for Freeform, discuss some good Apple Watch apps, and talk about the Mac’s startup sound.

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